Shiji 90 - Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue

魏 豹 彭 越 列 傳 第 三 十
Thirtieth biography – Wei Bao and Peng Yue　 　

魏 豹 者 ， 故 魏 諸 公 子 也 。 其 兄 魏 咎 ， 故 魏 時封 為 寧 陵 君 。 秦 滅 魏 ， 遷 咎 為 家 人 。 陳 勝 之 起 王也 ， 咎 往 從 之 。 陳 王 使 魏 人 周 市 徇 魏 地 ， 魏 地 已下 ， 欲 相 與 立 周 市 為 魏 王 。 周 市 曰 ： 「 天 下 昏 亂 ， 忠 臣 乃 見 。 今 天 下 共 畔 秦 ， 其 義 必 立 魏 王 後 乃 可 。 」齊 、 趙 使 車 各 五 十 乘 ， 立 周 市 為 魏 王 。 市 辭 不 受 ， 迎 魏 咎 於 陳 。 五 反 ， 陳 王 乃 遣 立 咎 為 魏 王 。
Wei Bao was a prince of the ruling family of Wei. His older brother was Wei Jiu, who had been enfiefed, when Wei was a kingdom, as Lord of Ningling. When Qin destroyed Wei, Wei Jiu was exiled and became a servant. When Chen Sheng uprised and became king, Wei Jiu joined him and served him. The king of Chen sent Zhou Shi, a native of Wei, conquer the territory of Wei. When it was submitted, the king and his minister wanted to name Zhou Shi king of Wei, but he declined, saying: “It is during periods of trouble that one can judge the loyalty of vassals. All the world has now revolted against Qin, and justice will only be done when a desendent of the kings of Wei is put on the throne.” Both the princes of Qi and Zhao sent more than fifty chariots to Zhou Shi, recognising him as the king of Wei. He returned the present, and sent an envoy fetch Wei Jiu in Chen. After five visits of the envoy, the king of Qin finally sent Wei Jiu to Wei, and made him king.　 　

章 邯 已 破 陳 王 ， 乃 進 兵 擊 魏 王 於 臨 濟 。 魏王 乃 使 周 市 出 請 救 於 齊 、 楚 。 齊 、 楚 遣 項 它 、 田 巴 將 兵 隨 市 救 魏 。 章 邯 遂 擊 破 殺 周 市 等 軍 ， 圍 臨 濟 。 咎 為 其 民 約 降 。 約 定 ， 咎 自 燒 殺 。
After Zhang Han defeated the king of Chen, he led his troops attack the king of Wei in Linqi. The king sent Zhou Shi ask Qi and Chu for help. On his request, the princes of the two kingdoms sent armies led by Xiang Tuo and Tian Ba rescue Wei. But Zhang Han attacked and defeated the armies of Zhou Shi and the two generals, and put the siege on Linji. Wei Jiu was arrested by his own people and surrendered to Qin. As he was taken, Wei Jiu immolated himself.généraux.　 　

魏 豹 亡 走 楚 。 楚 懷 王 予 魏 豹 數 千 人 ， 復 徇 魏 地 。 項 羽 已 破 秦 ， 降 章 邯 。 豹 下 魏 二 十 餘 城 ， 立 豹 為 魏 王 。 豹 引 精 兵 從 項 羽 入 關 。 漢 元 年 ， 項 羽 封 諸 侯 ， 欲 有 梁 地 ， 乃 徙 魏 王 豹 於 河 東 ， 都 平 陽 ， 為 西 魏 王。
Wei Bao escaped and fled to Chu. King Huai of Chu gave him a command of several thousand men, and sent him back conquer the land of Wei. At that time, Xiang Yu had defeated Qin and besieged Zhang Han. As Wei Bao has recaptured more than twenty cities of Wei, he was made king of Wei. Then, leading his best soldiers, he followed Xiang Yu inside the passes. On the first year of the Han, Xiang Yu gave titles to the feudal princes. He wished to keep the territory of Liang for himself, so he displaced king Bao of Wei to the east of the Yellow River and named him king of Western Wei, with his capital in Pingyang.　 　

漢 王 還 定 三 秦 ， 渡 臨 晉 ， 魏 王 豹 以 國 屬 焉， 遂 從 擊 楚 於 彭 城 。 漢 敗 ， 還 至 滎 陽 ， 豹 請 歸 視 親 病 ，至 國 ， 即 絕 河 津 畔 漢 。 漢 王 聞 魏 豹 反 ， 方 東 憂 楚 ， 未 及擊 ， 謂 酈 生 曰 ： 「 緩 頰 往 說 魏 豹 ， 能 下 之 ， 吾 以 萬 戶 封 若 。 」 酈 生 說 豹 。 豹 謝 曰 ： 「 人 生 一 世 閒 ， 如 白 駒 過 隙耳 。 今 漢 王 慢 而 侮 人 ， 罵 詈 諸 侯 群 臣 如 罵 奴 耳 ， 非 有 上 下 禮 節 也 ， 吾 不 忍 復 見 也 。 」 於 是 漢 王 遣 韓 信 擊 虜 豹 於 河 東 ， 傳 詣 滎 陽 ， 以 豹 國 為 郡 。 漢王 令 豹 守 滎 陽 。 楚 圍 之 急 ， 周 苛 遂 殺 魏 豹 。
When the king of Han came back from his campaign against the three Qin, he crossed to Yellow River in Linjin. King Bao of Wei handed him his kingdom and followed him to attack Chu in Pengcheng. The army of Han was defeated, and retreated towards Yingyang. Wei Bao then asked to go back in order to attend one of his close relatives, who was ill. He reached his kingdom, and, as soon as he had crossed the ford on the Yellow River (Longmen), he rebelled against Han. The king of Han, when heard that Wei Bao had revolted, did not attack him at once, as he needed to guard against Chu in the East. He summoned Li Sheng and told him: “go practice your eloquence on Wei Bao. If you can submit him, I will reward you with a fief of ten thousand households.” Li Sheng then talked to Wei Bao, who refused to submit, saying: “the life of one man goes through this era as quickly as a young white horse crosses a mountain pass. The king of Han is lazy and arrogant. He insults and curses at his feudal princes and vassals, just as if they were his slaves. This is not the politeness and respect which should exist between a lord and his subjects, I would not bear meeting him again.” The king of Han then sent Han Xin, who attack and took Wei Bao prisoner on the east of the Yellow River. He had him sent to Yingyang, and turned his kingdom into a prefecture. The king then ordered that Wei Bao be jailed in Yingyang. As the city, besieged by Chu, was about to fall, Zhou Ke had Wei Bao executed.

彭 越 者 ， 昌 邑 人 也 ， 字 仲 。 常 漁 鉅 野 澤 中， 為 群 盜 。 陳 勝 、 項 梁 之 起 ， 少 年 或 謂 越 曰 ： 「 諸 豪 桀 相 立 畔 秦 ， 仲 可 以 來 ， 亦 效 之 。 」 彭 越 曰 ： 「 兩 龍 方 鬥， 且 待 之 。 」
Peng Yue was a native of Changyi. His personal name was Zhong. He worked as a fisherman in the marshes of Juye, and was the head of a group of bandits. When Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang uprised, some of the younger brigands told Peng Yue: “all braves are claiming titles of princes and revolting against Qin, you should leave and join their cause.” Peng Yue answered: “Two dragons are fighting for one land, let us wait.”　 　

居 歲 餘 ， 澤 閒 少 年 相 聚 百 餘 人 ， 往 從 彭 越 ， 曰 ：「 請 仲 為 長 。 」 越 謝 曰 ： 「 臣 不 願 與 諸 君 。 」 少 年 彊 請， 乃 許 。 與 期 旦 日 日 出 會 ， 後 期 者 斬 。 旦 日 日 出， 十 餘 人 後 ， 後 者 至 日 中 。 於 是 越 謝 曰 ：「 臣 老 ， 諸 君 彊 以 為 長 。 今 期 而 多 後 ， 不 可 盡 誅 ， 誅 最 後 者 一 人 。 」 令 校 長 斬 之 。 皆 笑 曰 ： 「 何 至 是 ？ 請 後 不 敢 。 」 於 是 越 乃 引 一 人 斬 之 ， 設 壇 祭 ， 乃 令 徒 屬 。 徒 屬 皆 大 驚 ， 畏 越 ， 莫 敢 仰 視 。 乃 行 略 地 ， 收 諸 侯 散 卒 ， 得千 餘 人 。
More than one year later, the young people of the marshes mustered a troop of more than one hundred people. They came to Peng Yue and said: “Would you be our leader?” Peng Yue refused, saying : “I do not want to associate with you.” As the young men insisted, he agreed. They were to meet together the next morning at sunrise, and latecomers would be punished by death. The next day, at sunrise, more than ten men were late, the last of them showing up at midday. Peng Yue then refused to lead them, saying: “I am old, and you have insisted that I be your leader. We have agreed to meet today and many of you arrived late. I cannot kill them all, so I will execute the one who arrived last.” He then ordered the leader of the group to put the man to death. They laughed and said: “why should it come to this? We promise that this will not happen again.” Peng Yue grabbed the man and cut his head. Then, he prepared an altar, made a sacrifice, and began giving orders to his followers. All were awed and afraid by Peng Yue, and would not raise their heads and look at him. After that, he led them conquer lands, rallying the deserters from the armies of the feudal princes. He soon led a thousand men.　 　

沛 公 之 從 碭 北 擊 昌 邑 ， 彭 越 助 之 。 昌 邑 未下 ， 沛 公 引 兵 西 。 彭 越 亦 將 其 眾 居 鉅 野 中 ， 收 魏 散 卒 。項 籍 入 關 ， 王 諸 侯 ， 還 歸 ， 彭 越 眾 萬 餘 人 毋 所 屬 。 漢 元 年 秋 ， 齊 王 田 榮 畔 項 王 ， （ 漢 ） 乃 使 人 賜 彭 越 將 軍 印 ， 使 下 濟 陰 以 擊 楚 。 楚 命 蕭 公 角 將 兵 擊 越 ， 越 大 破 楚 軍 。 漢 王 二 年 春 ， 與 魏 王 豹 及 諸 侯 東 擊 楚 ， 彭 越 將 其 兵 三 萬 餘 人 歸 漢 於 外 黃 。 漢 王 曰 ： 「 彭 將 軍 收 魏 地 得 十 餘 城 ， 欲 急 立 魏 後 。 今 西 魏 王 豹 亦 魏 王 咎 從 弟 也 ， 真 魏 後 。 」 乃 拜 彭 越 為 魏 相 國 ， 擅 將 其 兵 ， 略 定 梁 地。
When the duke of Pei left Tang and marched north to attack Changyi, Peng Yue helped him. As Changyi had not fallen, the duke led him troops west. Peng Yue sent his soldiers garrison Juye, rallying deserters from Wei. After Xiang Ji had entered the passes, assumed leadership over the feudal princes, and came back, Peng Yue commanded to more than ten thousand men, and was allied to nobody. On the first year of the Han, in autumn, king Tian Rong of Qi revolted against king Xiang. The king of Han therefore sent an envoy offer Peng Yue a seal of general, and sent him down to Jiyin to attack Chu, who ordered duke Jiao of Xiao to lead an army attack Peng. The army of Chu was cut to pieces. On the second year of Han, in spring, the king of Han, together with king Bao of Wei and the feudal princes, marched east to attack Chu. Peng Yue, leading more the thirty thousand men, joined the armies of Han in Waihuang. The king of Han said : “Peng Yue and his troops took more than ten cities in Wei, we should hurry to put the heir of Wei on the throne. Now, king Bao of western Wei is the brother of king Jiu of Wei, he is the legitimate heir of the throne of Wei.” He then named Peng Yue premier of Wei, and, giving him the supreme command of his troops, sent him conquer and pacify the territory of Liang.　 　

漢 王 之 敗 彭 城 解 而 西 也 ， 彭 越 皆 復 亡 其 所 下 城 ，獨 將 其 兵 北 居 河 上 。 漢 王 三 年 ， 彭 越 常 往 來 為 漢 游 兵 ， 擊 楚 ， 絕 其 後 糧 於 梁 地 。 漢 四 年 冬 ， 項 王 與 漢 王 相 距 滎 陽 ， 彭 越 攻 下 睢 陽 、 外 黃 十 七 城 。 項 王 聞 之 ， 乃 使 曹 咎 守 成 皋 ， 自 東 收 彭 越 所 下 城 邑 ， 皆 復 為 楚 。 越 將 其 兵 北 走 穀 城 。 漢 五 年 秋 ，項 王 之 南 走 陽 夏 ， 彭 越 復 下 昌 邑 旁 二 十 餘 城 ， 得 穀 十 餘 萬 斛 ， 以 給 漢 王 食 。
When the king of Han was defeated in Pengcheng, his army was scattered and had to flee west. Peng Yue lost again all the cities he had conquered and, alone at the head of his troop, moved north to the upper course of the Yellow River. During the third year of the Han, Peng Yue served on many occasion as Han guerilla, he attacked Chu, and cut its supply from the kingdom of Liang. On the fourth year of the Han, in winter, as king Xiang and the king of Han were opposing each other in Yingyang, Peng Yue attacked and took Suiyang and seventeen cities in Waihuang. When king Xiang heard of it, he sent Cao Jiu defend Chenggao and marched east to recapture the cities which Peng Yue had taken, which all returned to Chu. Peng Yue led his armies north and fled to Gucheng. On the fifth year, in autumn, king Xiang had to flee south to Yangjia, and Peng Yue recapture more than twenty cities around Changyi, finding more than a million bushels of cereals there, which he used to supply the king of Han.　 　

漢 王 敗 ， 使 使 召 彭 越 并 力 擊 楚 。 越 曰 ： 「 魏 地 初 定 ， 尚 畏 楚 ， 未 可 去 。 」 漢 王 追 楚 ， 為 項 籍 所 敗 固 陵 。 乃 謂 留 侯 曰 ： 「 諸 侯 兵 不 從 ， 為 之 柰 何 ？ 」 留 侯 曰 ： 「 齊 王 信 之 立 ， 非 君 王 之 意 ， 信 亦 不 自 堅 。 彭 越 本 定 梁 地 ， 功 多 ， 始 君 王 以 魏 豹 故 ， 拜 彭 越 為 魏 相 國 。 今 豹 死 毋 後 ， 且 越 亦 欲 王 ， 而 君 王 不 蚤 定 。 與 此 兩 國 約 ：即 勝 楚 ， 睢 陽 以 北 至 穀 城 ， 皆 以 王 彭 相 國 ； 從 陳以 東 傅 海 ， 與 齊 王 信 。 齊 王 信 家 在 楚 ， 此 其 意 欲 復 得 故 邑 。 君 王 能 出 捐 此 地 許 二 人 ， 二 人 今 可 致 ； 即 不能 ， 事 未 可 知 也 。 」 於 是 漢 王 乃 發 使 使 彭 越 ， 如 留 侯 策。 使 者 至 ， 彭 越 乃 悉 引 兵 會 垓 下 ， 遂 破 楚 。 （ 五 年 ） 項 籍 已 死 。 春 ， 立 彭 越 為 梁 王 ， 都 定 陶 。
When the king of Han was defeated, he sent a messenger ask Peng Yue to join his forces with his and attack Chu. Peng Yue answered: “I just have pacified the kingdom of Wei, and still fear Chu. I cannot leave the country.” The king of Han pursued the army of Chu but was defeated by Xiang Ji in Guling. The king of Ha told the marquis of Liu: “The armies of the feudal princes refuse to join us, what can we do about it?” The marquis of Liu said: “King Xin of Qi took his throne against the will of your majesty. He therefore feels unsecure. Peng Yue was the first to pacify the territory of Liang, he did many glorious feats, yet, your majesty, because of Wei Bao, became its first ruler, and Peng Yue was named first minister of Wei. Now, Wei Bao is dead and has no descendents, and Peng Yue wants to become king, but your majesty has not yet decided. If you ally with these two states, you will triumph over Chu : all the region north of Suiyang, up to Gucheng,will be the vassal kingdom of king Peng, and all the territory east of Chen, to the ocean, will be ruled by king Xin of Qi. Besides, the family of King Xin of Qi is in Chu, and he probably hopes to get his native land back. If your majesty accepts to take these territories and give them to these two men, they will have to come to your help. If you do not, then the outcome of this affair is unclear.” The king of Han then sent an envoy to Peng Yue, following the advice of the Marquis of Liu. As the envoy was about to arrive, Peng Yue mustered all his men and joined him in Gaixia, where they defeated the armies of Chu. (On the fifth year,) Xiang Ji died. In spring, Peng Yue became king of Liang, his capital was in Dingtao.　 　

六 年 ， 朝 陳 。 九 年 ， 十 年 ， 皆 來 朝 長 安 。
On the sixth year, court audiences were held in Chen. On the ninth and tenth year, all attended imperial audiences in Chang’An.　 　

十 年 秋 ， 陳 豨 反 代 地 ， 高 帝 自 往 擊 ， 至 邯 鄲 ， 徵 兵 梁 王 。 梁 王 稱 病 ， 使 將 將 兵 詣 邯 鄲 。 高 帝 怒 ， 使 人 讓 梁 王 。 梁 王 恐 ， 欲 自 往 謝 。 其 將 扈 輒 曰 ： 「 王 始 不 往 ，見 讓 而 往 ， 往 則 為 禽 矣 。 不 如 遂 發 兵 反 。 」 梁 王 不 聽 ， 稱 病 。 梁 王 怒 其 太 僕 ， 欲 斬 之 。 太 僕 亡 走 漢 ， 告 梁 王 與 扈 輒 謀 反 。 於 是 上 使 使 掩 梁 王 ， 梁 王 不 覺 ， 捕 梁 王 ， 囚 之 雒 陽 。 有 司 治 反 形 己 具 ， 請 論 如 法 。 上 赦 以 為 庶 人 ， 傳 處 蜀 青 衣 。 西 至 鄭 ， 逢 呂 后 從 長 安 來 ， 欲 之 雒 陽 ， 道 見 彭 王 。 彭 王 為 呂 后 泣 涕 ， 自 言 無 罪 ， 願 處 故 昌 邑 。 呂 后 許 諾 ， 與 俱 東 至 雒 陽 。 呂 后 白 上 曰 ： 「 彭 王 壯 士 ， 今 徙 之 蜀 ， 此 自 遺 患 ， 不 如 遂 誅 之 。 妾 謹 與 俱 來 。 」 於 是 呂 后 乃 令 其 舍 人 彭 越 復 謀 反。 廷 尉 王 恬 開 奏 請 族 之 。 上 乃 可 ， 遂 夷 越 宗 族 ， 國 除 。
The tenth year, in autumn, Chen Xi provoked a rebellion in the kingdom of Dai. Emperor Gaodi went in person attack him. As he reached Handan, he called upon the king of Liang to send him soldiers. The king of Liang pretended to be ill, and ordered a general to lead his armies to Handan. The emperor was angered, and sent someone reprimand the king of Liang. The king was afraid, and intended to see the emperor in person and apologize. Hu Zhe, one of his general, said: “your majesty did not come the first time. If you come after a reprimand, you will be arrested upon your arrival there. You should better raise an army and revolt against the Han.” But the king of Liang did not listen to him and pretended he was ill. The king of Liang had a quarrel with the chief of his charioteers, and wanted to have him executed. The man fled, joined the Han, and informed the emperor that the king and Hu Zhe were planning to rebel. The emperor then sent a party to capture the king by surprise. He was not aware of it, and was arrested and jailed in Luoyang. As he had been pushed to rebel by one of his counsellors (but had refused), the king demanded that the penalties stated by criminal law be applied. The emperor pardoned him and made him a commoner. Then he exiled him in Qingyi, on the territory of Shu. Peng Yue therefore went west, and reached Zheng. There, he met Empress Lü, who was going from Chang’An to Luoyang. As she was looking at King Peng, on the side of the road, he began to cry, declaring that he was innocent, and that he wished to be sent back to his hometown of Changyi. The empress agreed, and brought him with her to Luoyang. But there, she plainly told the emperor: “The king of Peng is a brave. You have banned him to Shu, yet he now seems to have forgotten that he had caused troubles. You should have him executed. This is why I dare bring him back to you.” The, the empress ordered her followers to spead the rumour that Peng Yue was planning to revolt again. Wnag Tiankai, the head of imperial court, therefore asked the emperor to have Peng Yue executed, together with his family. The emperor accepted. All the parents of Peng Yue were killed, and his kingdom was given to somebody else.　 　

太 史 公 曰 ： 魏 豹 、 彭 越 雖 故 賤 ， 然 已 席 卷 千 里 ，南 面 稱 孤 ， 喋 血 乘 勝 日 有 聞 矣 。 懷 畔 逆 之意 ， 及 敗 ， 不 死 而 虜 囚 ， 身 被 刑 戮 ， 何 哉 ？ 中 材 已 上 且 羞 其 行 ， 況 王 者 乎 ！ 彼 無 異 故 ， 智 略 絕 人 ， 獨 患 無 身 耳。 得 攝 尺 寸 之 柄 ， 其 雲 蒸 龍 變 ， 欲 有 所 會 其 度 ， 以 故 幽 囚 而 不 辭 云 。
Commentary by Sima Qian : Although Wei Bao and Peng Yue came from poor families, they finally ruled over thousands of leagues, facing south and calling themselves “we” and it is often said that their victories were won walking through pools of blood. Yet, when they intended to rebel and finlly were defeated, they did not die, but were put in jail and tortured. Why was it so? Such a situation would be a shame for any man of more than average condition, how could it be endured by kings? In fact, these two men did not change with respect to their origins. Although their intelligence looked like that of superior persons, they only feared one thing: their death. As soon that they grasped some authority, they were like a vapour which raises and turns into a dragon, and strived to obtain the rank which they thought belonged to them. This is why they were jailed and not pardoned.