King Bi of Wu was the son of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang's brother Liu Zhong. After Liu Bang unified the country and stabilized it for seven years, he made Liu Zhong the King of Dai. However, the Xiongnu invaded, and Liu Zhong couldn't hold onto his kingdom and ran off, sneaking off to Luoyang and surrendering. Being his brother, the emperor couldn't bear to punish him severely, so he reduced him to Marquis of Heyang.
In the autumn of the eleventh year of Gaozu's reign, Huainan King Ying Bu kicked off a rebellion, grabbed Jingzhou in the east, took their army, crossed the Huai River, and attacked Chu. Emperor Gaozu personally led the troops to suppress him. At that time, Liu Zhong's son, Marquis of Pei Bi, a strapping twenty-year-old, was a cavalry officer under the emperor and participated in the battles at Qixi and Puidi, where they beat Ying Bu. Ying Bu fled and killed Prince Liu Jia of Jing, leaving no descendants.
The emperor worried the people of Wu and Kuaiji were too tough, and he didn't have enough powerful princes to keep them in line, plus he didn't have many sons. Therefore, he made Bi King of Wu, based in Pei County, overseeing three counties and fifty-three cities. As soon as he'd made him king, Emperor Gaozu carefully observed Bi and said, "You've got that rebellious glint in your eye, kid!" He regretted it in his heart, but since the appointment was made, he could only pat Bi on the back and warn him, "If the southeast blows up fifty years from now, don't let it be you. We're all family, so you must never rebel!" Bi quickly kowtowed and said, "I dare not, I dare not!"
Under Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Lü, when the country was just beginning to stabilize, the other kings were busy keeping the peace and building the economy. Wu had copper mines in Yuzhang County. Bi hired every criminal he could find, secretly made his own coins, and made salt from seawater, so he got rich without paying any taxes.
During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of Han, the Crown Prince of Wu entered the palace to meet the emperor and had the opportunity to play a game of Go with the Crown Prince. The teachers of the Wu Crown Prince were all from the state of Chu, known for their arrogance and disrespect. During the game, they were jostling for position and acting incredibly rude. In a rage, the Crown Prince killed the Wu Crown Prince right there at the board. The body of the Wu Crown Prince was then sent back to Wu for burial.
Upon the arrival of the body in Wu, the King of Wu was very angry and said, "We're all family. If he died in Chang'an, he should be buried there. Why bring him back?" He then sent the body back to Chang'an for burial. After this incident, the King of Wu started ignoring the court, faking illness to stay away.
The court knew that he was pretending to be sick because of his son's matter and found out that he was not actually ill. Every time envoys were sent from Wu, they were hauled in for questioning and punished. The King of Wu became afraid, increasingly uneasy, and tried to find ways to deal with the situation. Later, when envoys from Wu came to collect taxes in autumn, the Emperor questioned them. The envoys replied, "Your Majesty, the King's not really sick. But the Han's been rough on our envoys, so he's been playing possum. Besides, as the saying goes, 'seeing fish in deep water is bad luck' (this proverb suggests that seeing something hidden or mysterious is often a bad sign). He started faking it, but after getting the third degree and a tongue-lashing, he's scared stiff. He's out of options. Only you can let him off the hook and give him a fresh start."
So the emperor pardoned the envoys of the Wu Kingdom and sent them back, giving the King of Wu a walking stick and telling him to retire. This resolved the crisis in the Wu Kingdom, and the King of Wu's plans relaxed. However, because of the monopoly on copper and salt in the Wu Kingdom, the people had no tax burden, and things were sold at fair prices. Every year, talented individuals were looked after and rewarded in the villages. When officials from other counties wanted to come to the Wu Kingdom to arrest fugitives, the Wu Kingdom flatly refused to cooperate. In this way, forty years passed, keeping Wu strong.
At that time, Chao Cuo was the Crown Prince's advisor, deeply trusted by the Prince and often gossiping with him about how the King of Wu was messing up. He also wrote several times to Emperor Xiaowen, but Emperor Xiaowen was too soft to punish him, so the King of Wu became more and more arrogant.
When Emperor Xiaojing ascended to the throne, Chao Cuo became the Chief Imperial Secretary. He said to the emperor, "When Emperor Gaozu had just pacified the world, he had few brothers and his sons were still young. He generously granted fiefs to kings of the same surname, giving more than seventy cities to his nephew, Dao Hui Wang of the Qi Kingdom, over forty cities to his brother, Yuan Wang of the Chu Kingdom, and over fifty cities to his nephew, Bi Wang of the Wu Kingdom. This meant that three relatives were granted kingship, dividing almost half of the country's land. Now, the King of Wu had conflicts with the Crown Prince before and pretended to be sick to avoid attending court. According to ancient laws, this was a crime punishable by death. Emperor Xiaowen, out of sentimentality, did not punish him but forgave him with a few canes. However, he did not repent and became more arrogant. He was minting coins illegally, making salt by boiling seawater, and even plotting with rebels. Now, if we reduce his fiefdom, he may rebel sooner; if we do not reduce his fiefdom, he will rebel eventually. Reducing his fiefdom might bring the rebellion forward, but it would be less damaging in the long run; leaving things as they are would only delay the inevitable and make the eventual rebellion far worse."
In the winter of the third year, King Chu came to the court to see the emperor. Chao Cuo took the opportunity to tell the emperor, "Before King Chu Wuyi was in mourning for Empress Dowager Bo, he had an affair with a maid during the mourning period. He should be punished!" As a result, the emperor pardoned King Chu but only had his Donghai territory reduced. Using this as a pretext, Chao Cuo also suggested reducing the territories of King Wu to Yuzhang and Kuaiji. A year or two later, King Zhao committed a crime, and Chao Cuo again suggested reducing his jurisdiction to Hejian. King Ao of Jiaoxi was suggested to have six counties reduced due to selling official positions and titles.
The Han court was plotting to weaken Wu. King Wu was worried that his land would be reduced, so he planned to rebel. He thought that no one among the vassals could discuss important matters together. Hearing that King Ao was brave, competitive, and liked to fight, and that the people of Qi were both afraid and wary of him, he sent the minister Ying Gao to persuade King Ao. Without bringing any letters, he only conveyed the message orally: "King Wu, I have some concerns and dare not keep them to myself, so I have come to speak to you."
King Ao asked, "What is your advice?" Ying Gao said, "Right now, the emperor believes the slander of treacherous officials, favors bad people, enjoys petty favors, listens to the slander of small people, arbitrarily changes laws and regulations, seizes the land of the vassals, constantly increases taxes, kills good people, and becomes more excessive day by day. The people all say, 'They've scraped the barrel, and they still want more!' Wu and Jiaoxi are both famous vassal states, and now they are both targeted by the emperor. I’m afraid they won’t be able to survive. King Wu is in poor health and hasn’t visited the court for over twenty years. He has always been worried about being suspected by the emperor and unable to explain clearly. Now he lives in constant fear of the emperor. I hear you've had some bad luck with titles, and even if the emperor hasn't come for you yet, you're probably next on his list for land grabs."
King Jiaoxi said, "Yes, this is indeed the case. What do you plan to do?" Ying Gao said, "Birds of a feather flock together. People who are alike help each other out. Now, King Wu believes that he and Your Majesty share the same concerns, and he hopes to sacrifice himself to eliminate the world's troubles. Doesn't that make sense?" King Jiaoxi was shocked and said, "I couldn't do that! The Emperor's got me by the throat; what choice do I have but to be loyal?" Ying Gao said, "Chao Cuo, the Emperor's advisor, has misled the emperor, seized the land of the vassals, excluded loyal ministers and good generals, and the court's a powder keg. The vassals all have rebellious intentions, and the situation has reached its peak. We've had comets and plagues – signs of the heavens themselves turning against us! So King Wu thinks that by targeting Chao Cuo internally and following Your Majesty's army externally, we'll sweep through the land, and everyone will fall in line. If Your Majesty agrees, King Wu will lead King Chu to attack Hangu Pass, guard the food in Xingyang and Aocang, and resist the Han army's attack. Prepare the camp and wait for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty can personally command, then the world will be pacified, and we can divide the world in half. Wouldn't that be great?" King Jiaoxi said, "Okay!" Ying Gao returned to report to King Wu, who was still worried that King Jiaoxi would not agree. So King Wu went to Jiaoxi himself to seal the deal.
The ministers of the Jiaoxi Kingdom heard that the king was planning to rebel, so they advised him, saying, "Serving the Emperor – that's the ticket! Now, if you join forces with the Wu Kingdom to attack westward, even if things go well for your brother, that's when the real trouble starts. Those little kingdoms, they ain't even a tenth of a Han county, put together! Yet because of their rebellion, it worries the empress dowager. This is not a long-term plan!" However, King Jiaoxi did not listen at all. So, he sent messengers to contact the Qi Kingdom, Zichuan Kingdom, Jiaodong Kingdom, Jinan Kingdom, and Jinbei Kingdom, all of which agreed. King Jiaoxi even said, "Chengyang's a stand-up guy. Let him go after the Lus; we'll wait and see."
Then, those vassal states, just had their lands cut, and they were scared and ticked off at Chao Cuo. When the order to reduce the territories of the Wu Kingdom, Kuaiji Commandery, and Yuzhang Commandery reached the Wu Kingdom, the King of Wu rebelled first. In Jiaoxi, on Bingwu day of the first month, they killed officials of the Han Dynasty, including everyone below 2000 shi. Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Chu, and Zhao all did the same, then they all attacked westward together. The King of Qi had second thoughts, drank poison, and broke his promise. Jinbei's walls weren't finished, and their top clerk snatched the king, so they couldn't send any troops. The Jiaoxi Kingdom became the leader of these rebellious vassal states, with Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinan attacking and surrounding Linzi. The King of Zhao also rebelled and secretly contacted the Xiongnu, preparing to unite for battle.
When the seven countries started a rebellion, the King of Wu sent all his soldiers out and issued a decree throughout the kingdom, saying, "I am sixty-two years old this year, leading the troops to battle in person. My youngest son is fourteen years old, and he will fight alongside the other soldiers. All those who are around my age, or around the age of my son, must join the army!" In this way, the King of Wu mustered an army of over two hundred thousand. He also sent messengers to contact Minyue and Dongyue, and Dongyue also sent troops to help.
On New Year's Day, 154 BC, I (King Liu Bi of Wu) rose in rebellion in Guangling! I crossed the Huai River, then incorporated the Chu army. Then, I sent envoys to write letters to the various kings, saying:
To the Kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Zhao, Chu, Huainan, Hengshan, Lujiang, and the prince of Changsha! I hope you can listen to my opinion! The Han Dynasty now has corrupt officials in power, who have no merit to the world, and they have seized the lands of the vassal states, using various means to wrong our Liu family. They treat us vassal kings like dirt, suppress the late emperor's achievements, and promote those wicked scoundrels, throwing the kingdom into chaos and threatening the very existence of the state! The emperor's weak and can't see what's going on. I'm raising an army against them, and I want your support.
Although my Wu State has a small territory, it covers an area of three thousand li (approximately 1,500 kilometers); although the population is small, I can gather fifty thousand elite troops. I spent more than thirty years in Nanyue, and the Nanyue King and his people are willing to send troops to help me, capable of gathering over thirty thousand additional troops. Although my abilities are limited, I am willing to personally lead the troops and act together with all of you, the lords and rulers. Starting from Changsha, the Prince of Changsha will be responsible for capturing the northern area, then attacking the Shu region and Hanzhong to the west. King of Chu and the three Kings of Huainan, you must meet me on the western front; the lords of Qi and King of Zhao, you must capture Hejian and Henei, with some troops stationed at Linjinguan and others meeting me in Luoyang. King of Yan and King of Zhao, you already have an agreement with the King of Hu; King of Yan, you will capture Daijun and Yunzhong from the north, leading the Hu army to enter Xiaoguan and march straight to Chang'an, to restore the Emperor and secure the ancestral temple of Gaozu. I hope all of you can cooperate diligently.
The son of King Yuan of Chu and the three Kings of Huainan, many of you have been simmering with resentment for years and have long wanted to take action, but I have not received a clear answer from you, so I dare not act rashly. Now, if you can rally for the survival of our realm, revitalize the weak, and punish the tyrants and oppressors, it will be a blessing for the country and its people! Although my Wu State is poor, I have been frugal, saving money, repairing weapons, and storing food for more than thirty years, working day and night. I've done all this so I can count on your full support!
Those who can kill or capture the enemy's general will receive 5,000 pounds of gold and be granted 10,000 households; other senior generals will receive 3,000 pounds of gold and be granted 5,000 households; mid-level generals will receive 2,000 pounds of gold and be granted 2,000 households; officials ranked at 2,000 stones (approximately 2,400 pounds) will receive 1,000 pounds of gold and be granted 1,000 households; officials ranked at 1,000 stones (approximately 1,200 pounds) will receive 500 pounds of gold and be granted 500 households; all these individuals will be appointed as lords. Surrendered armies and cities will be granted households based on their numbers: for every 10,000 people, they will receive 10,000 households, equivalent to the credit for capturing a general; for every 5,000 people, they will receive 5,000 households, equivalent to the credit for capturing a senior general; for every 3,000 people, they will receive 3,000 households, equivalent to the credit for capturing a mid-level general; for every 1,000 people, they will receive 1,000 households, equivalent to the credit for capturing an official ranked at 2,000 stones; small officials will also be rewarded based on their contributions. All rewards will be double the usual military rate. Those who already have titles and land will not be counted again for additional appointments. I hope all kings can clearly inform the noblemen of these reward conditions; do not let them deceive me. I have plenty of money; you don't need to worry about where it comes from. Use it as needed. That's all for now; thanks, everyone!
The news of the rebellion of the seven states reached the emperor's ears. Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately dispatched Grand Marshal Zhao Youfu, along with 36 generals, to fight Wu and Chu; he also sent Marquis Quzhou Li Ji to attack the Zhao state; General Luan Bu was sent to confront the Qi state; and Grand General Dou Ying was stationed in Xingyang to monitor the armies of Qi and Zhao.
This was one heck of a crisis! The emperor directly mobilized many senior generals—Zhou Yafu, Li Ji, Luan Bu—big names for sure, showing just how seriously the Emperor took this Seven States Rebellion. And Dou Ying? He was the big cheese, the overall commander, which shows that the strategic deployment was quite thorough. The Emperor's speed and efficiency in mobilizing his troops was seriously impressive. Basically, the Emperor pulled out all the stops to crush this rebellion. Check out the players: Wu, Chu, Zhao, and Qi – all major players back then. Thirty-six generals! Makes you wonder how many of those guys we still remember today, huh? This history is wild, one thing after another – it's a real page-turner!
Hey, I heard the Wu-Chu rebellion is about to kick off. The war hasn't even begun, and Dou Ying's still on his way, and the Emperor's already asking Yuan Ang. Yuan Ang was at home at the time, and the Emperor summoned him into the palace. The Emperor was strategizing with Chao Cuo, getting the supplies ready, and asked Yuan Ang, "You used to be the Prime Minister of Wu, do you know about Tian Lubo of Wu? Now that the Wu-Chu states are rebelling, what's your take on this?" Yuan Ang replied, "Don't worry, they're already done for." The Emperor said, "The King of Wu's minting coins, boiling seawater for salt, and recruiting everyone he can, even old guys. That whole plan sounds kinda shaky. What gives? How do they dare to rebel? Why do you think they can't pull it off?" Yuan Ang answered, "The reason Wu can mint coins and make money from salt is because there's cash to be made. Where are these 'heroes' coming from? Even if Wu can attract heroes, those guys will tell the King not to rebel. Wu's got a bunch of losers, runaways, and counterfeiters—that's his army." Chao Cuo chimed in, "That's not a bad idea." The Emperor asked, "What should we do specifically?" Yuan Ang said, "I need to talk to you privately." The Emperor dismissed everyone else, leaving only Chao Cuo. Yuan Ang said, "This is between you and me." So he sent Chao Cuo away too. Chao Cuo hightailed it to the east wing, fuming mad. In the end, the Emperor asked Yuan Ang, who said, "The Wu-Chu states are writing to each other, saying, 'Hey, Gaozu's heirs all got their own lands. This Chao Cuo's messing with our territories! Let's kill him, get our land back, and call it a day!' So they're using the rebellion as an excuse to take out Chao Cuo, restore their original fiefdoms, and then lay down their weapons. The best way now is to kill Chao Cuo, send envoys to pardon the Wu-Chu states, and return the lands they lost, so we can put down the rebellion without bloodshed."
The emperor remained silent for a long time and said, "Is this idea really sound? I'm willing to sacrifice one person to keep the peace." Yuan Ang replied, "That's all I've got; I hope Your Majesty will consider it carefully." So the emperor appointed Yuan Ang as Chief Tutor and Duke Dehou, the grandson of the King of Wu, as Master of Ceremonies. Yuan Ang began to prepare for the journey. About ten days later, the emperor sent a lieutenant to arrest Chao Cuo and had him executed in the East Market. Yuan Ang was sent to perform the ancestral rites. Meanwhile, Duke Dehou, along with the emperor's relatives, was to convince the King of Wu to surrender, following Yuan Ang's plan. When they arrived in the state of Wu, the Wu and Chu armies had already attacked the territory of Liang. Due to his relationship with the King of Wu, Duke Dehou went to see the King of Wu first and read the imperial decree to him. When the King of Wu heard that Yuan Ang had come and knew he was there to persuade him to surrender, he smiled and said, "I've already declared myself emperor; who should I bow to?" He refused to see him, instead keeping Yuan Ang prisoner in the camp, hoping to use him as a bargaining chip. Yuan Ang refused to comply, and the Wu army wanted to surround and even kill him. Yuan Ang escaped under cover of darkness, made his way to the Liang army, and then returned to the palace to report.
Tiao Hou (that marquis) had six carriages whisk him away as he sped to Yingyang to rally his troops. When he arrived in Luoyang, he met Ju Meng and happily said, "All seven states have rebelled, and I didn't think I'd make it! I thought the other marquises had already captured Ju Meng, but he's still alive and kicking. As long as I guard Yingyang, there’s no need to worry about the east." When he arrived in Huaiyang, Tiao Hou asked his father's old friend, Deng Wey, "Got any ideas?" Deng Wey replied, "The army of Wu is too powerful; it won't do to confront them head-on. Although the army of Chu is lightly equipped, they can't hold out for long. Now, General, you should consider withdrawing the army to the northeast of Changyi and ceding Liangdi to Wu. Wu will definitely go all out to attack Liangdi. You should employ scorched earth tactics, sending light troops to cut off the waterways of the Huai River and Si River, blocking the Wu army's food supply route. Once Wu and Liang are both exhausted and out of supplies, then you can strike with a strong force. Wu will definitely be defeated!" Tiao Hou said, "Good idea!" So he adopted this suggestion, defending without leaving the south of Changyi, and sent light troops to cut off the Wu army's food supply route.
When the Wu King first launched his campaign, his minister Tian Lubo served as the Grand Marshal. Tian Lubo said, "Our army is all concentrated in the west; we’ll have a hard time winning without any surprise attack routes. I hope to get fifty thousand troops, try a flanking maneuver along the Jianghuai River, take down Huainan and Changsha, then enter Wuguan to meet with the king. This is also a good idea!" The prince of Wu cautioned, "This rebellion is a risky gamble. This army is difficult to rely on; even if we do, they might turn against the king. What should we do? Moreover, independently deploying troops for separate operations carries many risks, and the consequences are unpredictable, which could only weaken our strength." In the end, the Wu King did not agree to Tian Lubo's proposal.
A young general of the Wu Kingdom, General Huan, said to King Wu, "Wu excels in infantry warfare, best suited to mountainous terrain, while Han dominates with cavalry on the plains. I hope you can bypass the cities you pass through and make a swift advance west, seize Luoyang's arsenal and secure the granaries of Aocang, using the strategic advantages of the terrain to rally the feudal lords. Even without taking Hangu Pass, we'll control the empire. If you walk slowly, attacking cities along the way, the Han cavalry will catch up with us at the border of Liang and Chu, and we will fail!" King Wu asked the opinions of the old generals, and they replied, "That's a reckless plan from a greenhorn; he has no grasp of grand strategy!" So King Wu did not adopt General Huan's plan. King Wu centralized military power. Before even crossing the Huai River, he'd promoted his courtiers to generals, captains, and other ranks, yet Zhou Qiu remained overlooked. Zhou Qiu was from Xiapi; he fled to the Wu Kingdom because of a crime, eking out a living selling wine, and was known for his disreputable behavior. King Bi of Wu despised him and did not give him a position. Zhou Qiu went to see King Wu and said, "I'm unfit for regular army service, Your Majesty. I don't seek office, only a military commission." So King Wu granted it to him. Zhou Qiu immediately returned to Xiapi. When Xiapi heard that Wu had rebelled, everyone closed the city gates and defended. Reaching the waystation, Zhou Qiu had the magistrate of Xiapi summoned and promptly executed. Then Zhou Qiu gathered his brothers and some well-connected local officials, telling them, "King Wu's army is imminent; Xiapi will fall before nightfall. Surrender now to save your families and secure your future." After Zhou Qiu finished speaking, he urged everyone to spread the word, and everyone in Xiapi City surrendered.
Zhou Qiu obtained thirty thousand troops in a single night, sent someone to report to the King of Wu, and then marched north to attack the cities. By the time they reached Chengyang, his forces had exceeded one hundred thousand, and he routed the Chengyang garrison. Later, he heard that the King of Wu had been defeated and fled; Zhou Qiu realized he was on his own, so he led his troops back to Xiapi. He died of a festering boil before reaching Xiapi.
In the second month, the King of Wu was defeated and fled in a rout. The emperor then sent a furious message to his generals, stating: "I've heard that those who do good deeds will be blessed by the heavens; those who do evil deeds will be met with disaster. Emperor Gaozu personally recorded the merits and established the feudal states. You and Dao Hui left no descendants behind. Emperor Xiao Wen, with compassion in his heart, treated You's son Sui and Dao Hui's son Yang with special favor, allowing them to continue to worship their ancestors in the imperial ancestral temple as feudal states of the Han Dynasty. Their virtues can match those of heaven and earth, their merits can compare to the sun and moon. However, Bi of Wu repaid kindness with enmity, forgot gratitude and loyalty, and conspired with fugitives from all over the country to disrupt the currency system, pretending to be ill and shirking his duties for over twenty years. Court officials repeatedly requested punishment for Bi, but Emperor Xiao Wen tolerated him, hoping he would repent and do good deeds. Unexpectedly, he has now conspired with Wu of Chu, Sui of Zhao, Yang of Jiaoxi, Biguang of Jinan, Xian of Zichuan, and Xiongqu of Jiaodong to rebel, committing heinous acts of treason, threatening the imperial ancestral temple with armed force, killing court ministers and envoys, oppressing the people, harming the innocent, burning homes, desecrating graves, and committing extreme atrocities! Now they have committed an unforgivable crime, burning down the ancestral temple and looting sacrificial items. This breaks my heart! I am now in mourning attire, taking refuge in the main hall. General, you must encourage the scholars and officials to strike against these traitors! The more enemies we kill, the greater our merit. Those who bring back more than three hundred enemy heads will be rewarded with official positions, and all captured rebels must be executed, not a single one spared! Anyone who even thinks about questioning this order, let alone disobeying it, will be executed!"
The Emperor's edict was a real bombshell, basically saying Wu King Bi and his crew were guilty as sin and needed a serious smackdown. It was all about making an example of him, to scare anyone else thinking of doing the same thing. The Emperor listed all of Wu King Bi's previous misdeeds, from faking illness to cozying up to other princes, torching temples, and slaughtering innocents, all to show that Bi's crimes were unforgivable; he had to be wiped out. The final sentence, "Anyone who even thinks about questioning this order is dead meat," was filled with killing intent, showing the Emperor's determination and anger.
Initially, Wu King freaked out and led his troops across the Huai River, teaming up with the King of Chu to take down the Jibi army in the west, pursuing them fiercely. King Liang became terrified and sent six generals to take on Wu, but they got their butts kicked, with two Liang generals beaten and their soldiers fleeing back to Liang. Liang sent messengers to report to the Marquis, requesting support, but the Marquis flat-out refused. Liang then dispatched diplomats to speak ill of the Marquis in front of the Emperor, who ordered the Marquis to help Liang, but the Marquis kept making excuses and flat-out refused to send any troops. Liang had no choice but to appoint Zhang Yu, a loyal general from Han and Chu, who managed to beat back a few of Wu's soldiers. The Wu troops wanted to head west, but Liang's defenses were strong, so they attacked the Marquis's army and met at Xiayi. Wu's army was itching for a fight, but the Marquis just sat tight in his camp, refusing to budge. The Wu troops ran out of supplies and many starved. Despite numerous challenges, they eventually launched a desperate night attack on the Marquis's fortifications, attempting to break through from the southeast. The Marquis was prepared and sent troops to defend the northwest, resulting in the Wu troops breaking in from the northwest. Wu's army was smashed, with countless soldiers starving to death and the rest scattering like rats.
So the King of Wu, along with a couple thousand of his best men, slipped away under cover of darkness, hightailed it to Dantu, and hooked up with Dong Yue. Dong Yue had, like, ten thousand troops, so the King of Wu sent out some guys to round up his stragglers. The Han Dynasty sweet-talked Dong Yue, and he double-crossed the King of Wu. When the King of Wu went to rally the troops, Dong Yue had him whacked, chopped off his head, and sent it express mail to the Emperor. His sons, Zihua and Ziju, got out of Dodge and made it to Min Yue. After the King of Wu bailed, the army fell apart, and a bunch of guys surrendered to the Grand Marshal and the Liang army. King Wu's army got creamed, and he topped himself. Linzi, the capital of Qi, was surrounded by three other kingdoms for three months, but they couldn't take it. When the Han army showed up, the kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, and Zichuan hightailed it out of there. King Jiaoxi was totally freaked out. He was sitting there, shirtless and barefoot, guzzling down some water, and apologizing to the Queen Mother. His son, Prince De, said, "The Han army has traveled a long distance, and I see that they are exhausted. Now is the perfect opportunity to counterattack! We can gather the remaining troops of the King and catch them off guard. Even if we lose, we can still escape to the sea. It's not too late!" King Jiaoxi said, "My soldiers are exhausted and can't fight anymore." He didn't listen to his son.
Gonggao Hou Tui, a Han general, sent a letter to King Jiaoxi on the Emperor's orders, stating: "We're here to deal with you rebels. Surrender, and you'll live to see another day. Refuse, and your whole family's done for! What’s your decision, Your Majesty? Make a choice quickly!" King Jiaoxi, pants around his ankles, practically vibrated with fear, scrambling to the Han camp, blubbering apologies. Gonggao Hou Tui, all pomp and circumstance, received him and asked, "Your Majesty, please tell us the reason for your rebellion." King Jiaoxi knelt down, apologized, and explained that they'd teamed up to take down Chaocuo, that crooked Emperor's pet who'd been messing with the old laws and grabbing their land. Gonggao Hou Tui then revealed that Chaocuo had already been killed, questioning the true intention behind their rebellion. He slapped down the imperial decree and said, "Your call." King Jiaoxi, realizing his fate, chose to commit suicide. The Queen Mother, the Crown Prince, and the kings of Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinnan all followed him to the grave, their kingdoms swallowed by the Han. General Li laid siege to Zhao, and after ten months, the city fell, and the King of Zhao topped himself. King Jibei, forced into rebellion, got off lightly—demoted to King of Zichuan.
At the beginning, King Wu was the first to rebel, uniting with the army of the State of Chu and bringing in Qi and Zhao. The rebellion began in the first month, and by the third month, they were all defeated, with only Zhao holding out until the end. The Han Dynasty then made Liu Li, King Yuan's youngest son, the new King of Chu, and moved the King of Runan to Wu, making him King of Jiangdu.
Sima Qian said that King Helu of Wu inherited a kingdom his father had rebuilt. He was good at lowering taxes, winning the loyalty of his people and control of the region's resources. However, his son, Fuchai, was the beginning of the end. Fuchai lost to Goujian, and with it, his kingdom; his alliance with Yue led to his downfall. Chao Cuo's long-term vision ultimately cost him his life. Yuan Ang's silver tongue brought him favor at first, but ultimately led to his disgrace. Ancient feudal lords rarely controlled more than a hundred li, and coastal resources weren't typically divided up. This describes Wu's King Fuchai. This is clearly about Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo.
Sima Qian's words are actually summarizing historical lessons. Although King Helu of Wu was formidable, his son Fuchai's competitiveness ultimately led to the destruction of the kingdom, which truly reflects the saying "what brought you up will bring you down." He squandered his father's legacy, which is closely related to his personality and decision-making. The examples of Chao Cuo and Yuan Ang show that even in political struggles, even when acting for the country's good, one may end up with a tragic outcome by choosing the wrong side or making enemies of the wrong people. One was renowned for his political acumen, the other for his silver tongue; both had great success but ultimately failed due to power struggles. Sima Qian uses these two examples to warn future generations to be cautious, not to make wrong decisions due to impulsiveness or blind confidence. He wraps it all up with a couple of old sayings – really gives you a lot to think about!
