Real Histories
There was a man named Ying Bu, one of six brothers, all surnamed Ying. During the Qin Dynasty, he was a commoner. When he was young, a fortune-teller told him, "You will commit a crime in the future and then become a king." When he grew up, he really did commit a crime and received the punishment of 黥刑 (qing xing) (a type of branding involving facial tattoos). Ying Bu laughed and said, "Looks like that prophecy's coming true!" When the people around him heard this, they mocked him.
Later, Ying Bu was sentenced to forced labor in Mount Li because of his crime. There were hundreds of thousands of people in Mount Li, and Ying Bu became acquainted with the leaders there. He and his crew hightailed it to the Yangtze and turned bandit. During the uprising led by Chen Sheng, Ying Bu joined the rebellion and formed a force of several thousand people. The ruler of Fan even married his daughter to him. After Zhang Han defeated Chen Sheng and the army of Lu Chen, Ying Bu led his troops north and defeated the Qin army commanders, then headed east. Hearing that Xiang Liang had established a foothold in Jiangdong Kuaiji, he crossed the Yangtze River and joined Xiang Liang. Chen Ying, whose family had been generations of generals for the Chu state, led his troops to join Xiang Liang and crossed the Huai River. Ying Bu and General Pu also led their troops to join Xiang Liang.
Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River and defeated Jing Ju, Qin Jia, and others. Ying Bu was always at the forefront of the fighting. When Xiang Liang arrived in Xue, he heard that King Chen had died, so he proclaimed Huai as the King of Chu. Xiang Liang called himself the Martial Trustworthy Lord, and Ying Bu was appointed Lord Dangyang. Xiang Liang died in the Battle of Dingtao, and King Huai moved the capital to Pengcheng, where all the generals, including Ying Bu, gathered. At that time, the Qin army was attacking Zhao, and Zhao sent for help multiple times. King Huai appointed Song Yi as commander-in-chief, Fan Zeng as second-in-command, Xiang Yu as third-in-command, and both Ying Bu and General Pu as generals, all under Song Yi's command, to go north and aid Zhao. Later, Xiang Yu killed Song Yi on the river, and King Huai appointed Xiang Yu as commander-in-chief, with all the generals submitting to him. Xiang Yu ordered Ying Bu to cross the river first and attack the Qin army. After Ying Bu won multiple battles, Xiang Yu led the entire army across the river and defeated the Qin army, resulting in the surrender of Zhang Han and others. The Chu army often won battles, ranking among the top in the states, and the other states submitted to Chu mainly because Ying Bu consistently triumphed over superior numbers.
Xiang Yu led his troops west to Xin'an and had Ying Bu and others launch a night attack on Zhang Han's Qin army, annihilating over 200,000 soldiers. At Hangu Pass, they were unable to enter, so Xiang Yu had Ying Bu and others launch a surprise attack from the side, breaking through the Qin army below Hangu Pass and entering Guanzhong, reaching Xianyang. Ying Bu always led the charge. Xiang Yu rewarded the generals, appointing Ying Bu as King of Jiujiang and establishing his capital in Liu.
In April of 206 BC, the various feudal lords concluded their affairs in the capital and returned to their respective states. Xiang Yu supported Huai as emperor, moving him to Changsha, and secretly ordered Ying Bu and others to attack him. In August, under cover of darkness, Ying Bu sent troops to attack the emperor, and in Chen County, the emperor was killed.
In 205 BC, King Tian Rong of Qi rebelled against the Chu state. Xiang Yu went to attack the Qi state and also recruited soldiers from Jiujiang. King Ying Bu of Jiujiang excused himself from going due to illness, only sending a few thousand men to make do. Later, the Han army defeated the Chu army in Pengcheng, and Ying Bu refused to support the Chu army again, citing illness. Xiang Yu held a grudge against Ying Bu, sending messengers to rebuke and summon him multiple times, but Ying Bu became increasingly afraid and dared not go. Xiang Yu was sweating bullets – the Qi and Zhao states were giving him trouble in the north, and the Han army was breathing down his neck in the west. The only one he could rely on was King Ying Bu of Jiujiang, who was talented. Xiang Yu wanted to personally use him, so he did not attack him.
In the third year of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang fought a big battle with Xiang Yu in Pengcheng and lost, retreating to Liangdi and then to Yuxian. Liu Bang said to his followers, "A guy like Xiang Yu? He's not in my league when it comes to running the country!" At that moment, an envoy named Sui He interjected, "What are you getting at, Your Majesty?" Liu Bang replied, "If someone can get the King of Huainan to betray Xiang Yu and keep him stuck in Qi for a couple of months, I'll have this whole kingdom in the bag!" Sui He said, "I will go!" So he went to Huainan with twenty men.
When they arrived in Huainan, they first went to see the Prime Minister, but they couldn't meet the King of Huainan for three days. Sui He said to the Prime Minister, "The King's avoiding me because he thinks Chu's got the upper hand. That's why I'm here. If I can see the King and what I say is right, then that’s what the King wants to hear. If I'm wrong, chop off my head and these twenty guys' heads right here in the Huainan marketplace. That'll show everyone which side you're really on!" Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister quickly reported the matter to the King of Huainan, who then granted an audience to Sui He.
Suihe said, "The King of Han asked me to respectfully deliver a letter to the Great King. I'm scratching my head here—how close are you to the Chu Kingdom?" King Huainan replied, "I'm under his thumb." Suihe said, "Both you and Xiang Yu are lords. If you're submitting to him, you must think the Chu Kingdom is powerful and reliable. Xiang Yu attacked the Qi Kingdom, leading the charge and toiling alongside his men in the front lines. You should mobilize all the troops of Huainan, personally lead them, and be the vanguard of the Chu army. But you only sent four thousand people to help the Chu Kingdom. Is that all there is to being his vassal? When Liu Bang was fighting in Pengcheng, Xiang Yu hadn't even returned from the Qi Kingdom yet. You should have led the troops of Huainan across the Huai River, rushing day and night to battle Xiang Yu in Pengcheng. You have so many troops, but no one has crossed the Huai River; you're just sitting around watching who wins and who loses. Is relying on others really like this? The Great King relies on the Chu Kingdom in name only to protect himself. I think that's not worth it.
The reason why the Great King doesn't dare to betray the Chu Kingdom is that he thinks the Han Kingdom is weak. Although the Chu Kingdom's military strength is formidable, everyone believes that the Chu Kingdom is unjust because they betrayed and killed the righteous emperor. Although the King of Chu relies on victory and thinks he’s strong, Liu Bang has gathered various vassals, defended Chenggao and Xingyang, transported food from Shu and Hanzhong, dug deep ditches, and built high walls, dividing troops to guard fortresses. When the Chu army returned, passing through Liang and deep into enemy territory eight or nine hundred miles, they wanted to fight but couldn't find an opportunity; they wanted to attack but were unable to do so. Their old men and sick were hauling supplies a thousand miles. When the Chu army arrived at Xingyang and Chenggao, the Han army stood firm, unable to advance or retreat. Therefore, the military strength of the Chu Kingdom is not to be relied upon. If the Chu Kingdom defeats the Han Kingdom, other vassals will also be afraid and come to each other's aid. Chu's strength will only attract the whole world's armies against it. So, the Chu Kingdom is not as good as the Han Kingdom—it's pretty clear which side's going to win."
Your Majesty is abandoning the mighty Han in favor of Chu, a state teetering on the brink of collapse. I fear you've been misled. It's not that Huainan's army could wipe out Chu, but if we can tie Xiang Yu up for a few months, the Han will have the whole darned country. Let me take your sword back to the Han king. He'll make you a king, give you land – Huainan's yours for the taking! The Han king sent me to you with this, uh, *suggestion*, hoping you'll give it some thought." The King of Huainan said, "I will follow your arrangements." He agreed, but kept it under his hat.
A Chu envoy showed up, hot on Ying Bu's trail to get him to send troops. He was holed up at the inn. Su He barged in, grabbed the best seat, and said, "Jiujiang's already with the Han. What makes Chu think you're still in the game?" Ying Bu was stunned. The Chu envoy stood up. Su He took the opportunity to say to Ying Bu, "This has gone far enough. Off with his head! Then we join the Han, and we'll be in the money!" Ying Bu said, "Then do as you say, I will raise troops and kill him now!" So Ying Bu iced the envoy and attacked Chu. Chu sent Xiang Sheng and Long Qie after Huainan, while Xiang Yu himself went after Xiayi.
After a few months, Long Qie smashed Ying Bu's forces in Huainan. Ying Bu wanted to lead his troops to join the Han Dynasty, but he was afraid that the King of Chu would kill him, so he secretly went to the Han Dynasty with Sui He. When they arrived in the Han Dynasty, the Han King was chilling in bed, soaking his feet, and called Ying Bu to see him. Ying Bu was immediately angered and regretted coming to the Han Dynasty, wanting to commit suicide. However, when he left the room and saw the tents, carriages, food, and attendants, pretty much the same as the Han King's setup, Ying Bu was overjoyed. He then sent people to Jiujang. Chu had already sent Xiang Bo to recruit the army in Jiujang and killed all of Ying Bu's family members. Ying Bu sent people to Jiujang, lined up support from old friends and powerful Han officials, and brought several thousand people to join the Han Dynasty. The Han sent reinforcements to Ying Bu, and together they pushed north, all the way to Chenggao. In July of the fourth year, the Han King made Ying Bu King of Huainan and ordered him to attack Xiang Yu together.
In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty, Ying Bu sent people into Jiujang and captured several cities. In the sixth year, Ying Bu and Liu Jia entered Jiujang, convinced Chu's Grand Marshal, Zhou Yin, to defect, and then the army of Jiujang joined the Han army to attack Chu, defeating the Chu army at Gaixia. Xiang Yu died, the war was over, and the Han King held a banquet to celebrate. However, the Han King belittled Sui He's contributions, calling him a stuffy Confucian and questioning what use they were. Sui He knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, when you went after Pengcheng and the King of Chu had not left Qi, you only brought fifty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry. Could you have taken Huainan?" The Han King replied, "No." Sui He continued, "Your Majesty sent me with twenty men to Huainan. If we can achieve your goals, wouldn't my contribution be greater than fifty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry? But you call me a stuffy Confucian and say the world does not need Confucians, what does this mean?" The Han King said, "I was just considering your contributions." He then appointed Sui He as the Commander of the Guard. Ying Bu was officially appointed as the King of Huainan, with his capital at Liu. Jiujang, Lujiang, Hengshan, and Yuzhang were all under Ying Bu's jurisdiction.
In the seventh year, Ying Bu paid a courtesy call on the Han King in Chen. In the eighth year, he paid a courtesy call on the Han King in Luoyang. In the ninth year, he paid a courtesy call on the Han King in Chang'an.
In the eleventh year, Empress Lü killed Han Xin, which spooked Liu Pi. That summer, the Han Dynasty also killed Prince Liang Peng Yue and made his flesh into ground meat, sending it to the other princes as a warning. When the ground meat arrived in Huainan, King Liu Pi was hunting and freaked out when he saw it. He secretly mustered his troops, ready for any trouble.
Liu Pi's favorite concubine fell ill, so he sent her to see a doctor. This doctor lived next door to court physician Ben He. The concubine often visited the doctor, and Ben He, who fancied himself a big shot, showered her with gifts and got drunk with her at the doctor's. One day, while serving the king, she called Ben He a great guy. When Liu Pi heard this, he became angry and asked her, "How do you know he is a good person?" She told Liu Pi the whole story. Thinking Ben He was in on it, Liu Pi became even madder. Ben He, fearing for his life, called in sick. This made Liu Pi even madder, and he wanted to arrest Ben He. Seeing the writing on the wall, Ben He ratted Liu Pi out to the emperor, claiming he was plotting a rebellion.
After the emperor read the report from Benhe, he discussed it with Xiao He. Xiao He said, "Liu Bi shouldn't have done this. It's probably because Benhe has a grudge against Liu Bi and deliberately framed him. We should arrest Benhe and send someone to secretly investigate the Prince of Huainan." As a result, when Liu Bi heard that Benhe had escaped after accusing him, and the emperor already suspected that he was secretly opposing the court, along with some evidence found by the Han envoys, Liu Bi had Benhe's family executed and then rebelled. When the news of the rebellion reached Chang'an, the emperor then pardoned Benhe and appointed him as a general.
The emperor summoned all the generals and asked them, "Xiang Yu has rebelled. What do we do?" Everyone said, "Let's just send troops and take him out. What's he gonna do?"
Ruyin Marquis Teng Gong (Teng Bi) also consulted a former prime minister of Chu. The prime minister said, "He'll definitely rebel." Teng Gong asked, "The emperor made him a king with his own kingdom and a fancy title. Why would he rebel?" The prime minister replied, "Two years ago he killed Peng Yue, last year he killed Han Xin. Those three were all equally important, and Xiang Yu was scared, so he rebelled." Teng Gong told the emperor this and said, "I've got a friend, old Xue Gong, former prime minister of Chu. He's a sharp cookie – we should ask him."
The emperor summoned Duke Xue and asked him. Duke Xue replied, "Xiang Yu's rebellion isn't surprising. If Xiang Yu uses the best strategy, the Shandong region will no longer belong to the Han Dynasty; if he uses a moderate strategy, it's hard to predict the outcome; if he uses the worst strategy, then Your Majesty can rest easy." The emperor asked, "What is the best strategy?" The prime minister replied, "Take the Wu region to the east, take the Chu region to the west, annex the Qi state to take over the Lu region, then use written orders to command the Yan and Zhao states to submit and consolidate your own territory. Then the Shandong region will no longer belong to the Han Dynasty." "What is the moderate strategy?" "Take the Wu region to the east, take the Chu region to the west, annex the Han state to take over the Wei region, secure the granaries and supplies at Aocang and Yucheng, and control the strategic pass at Chenggao. Then the outcome is hard to predict." "What is the worst strategy?" "Take the Wu region to the east, take the Xiacai region to the west, seek an alliance with Yue, escape to Changsha, then Your Majesty can rest easy, and the Han Dynasty will be fine." The emperor asked, "What strategy will he most likely use?" The prime minister replied, "He will use the worst strategy." The emperor asked, "Why would he abandon the best and moderate strategies and use the worst strategy?" The prime minister replied, "Xiang Yu is originally from the wilderness, rising to power as a warlord. He's only looking out for himself, with no thought for the long-term good of the people, so he will use the worst strategy." The emperor said, "You are right!" He then made Duke Xue a marquis. Then he appointed Prince Liu Zhang as the King of Huainan. Finally, the emperor personally led his troops east to conquer Xiang Yu.
At first, Ying Bu was already plotting a rebellion. He said to himself, "The Emperor's old and war-weary. He definitely won't come to personally suppress me. Even if he sends generals, those generals are only afraid of Han Xin. Now that they are dead, the rest are no match for me!" So he rebelled. It went exactly as Xue Xu predicted. Ying Bu first attacked Jingchu in the east, and King Jing Liu Jia fled and eventually died in Fuling. Ying Bu seized Jingchu's army, crossed the Huai River, and attacked the State of Chu. The State of Chu split their forces into three armies between Xuzhou and Tongxian, trying to use this strategy of diversion to rescue. Someone advised the Chu generals, saying, "Ying Bu is good at warfare, and the common people are afraid of him. Moreover, in military strategy, fighting on the enemy's territory will lead to a dispersion of forces. Now that you are divided into three routes, if Ying Bu defeats one route, the remaining two will definitely flee. No way they could support each other!" The Chu generals did not listen. Ying Bu did indeed defeat one route of the Chu army, and the other two Chu armies scattered and ran.
Next, Ying Bu advanced westward and met Liu Bang's army on the west side of Qixian. Ying Bu commanded a crack army, while Liu Bang stationed in Yongcheng, observing from afar the formation of Ying Bu's troops, reminiscent of Xiang Yu's army, which Liu Bang detested. Facing off from a distance, Liu Bang demanded, "Why the rebellion, Ying Bu?" Ying Bu replied, "I want to be emperor!" Liu Bang went ballistic, and then the two sides engaged in a bloody battle. Ying Bu's army was defeated and fled in disarray. After crossing the Huai River, they tried to regroup and fight several times, but were always outmatched. In the end, Ying Bu escaped to Jiangnan with only over a hundred men. Ying Bu was related to the Changsha king, so the Changsha king's men tricked him into fleeing to Yue territory. Believing it to be true, he followed them to Fanyang. As a result, the people of Fanyang killed Ying Bu in a farmer's field in Zixiang, and that was the end of Ying Bu.
Later, Liu Bang appointed his son Liu Zhang as the King of Huainan and appointed Ben He as Marquis of Qisi. Many generals were rewarded for their achievements.
Sima Qian asked: Were Ying Bu's ancestors actually descended from Gao Tao after the Chu State destroyed the six small countries of Ying and Liu during the Spring and Autumn Period? He'd been punished, so how'd he become such a ruthless, power-hungry dude? Xiang Yu's family killed millions of people, and Ying Bu always led the evil deeds. His merits surpassed the vassals, and with these merits, he obtained the throne, but ultimately could not escape the fate of becoming a great criminal in the world. The origin of disaster lies in favoring concubines; jealousy and suspicion lead to chaos, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the country!
Wei Bao, originally a prince of the Wei Kingdom, had a brother, Wei Jiu, who was granted the title of Lord of Ningling during the Wei Kingdom. After the Qin Kingdom destroyed the Wei Kingdom, Wei Jiu was demoted to a commoner. When Chen Sheng rose in rebellion and declared himself king, Wei Jiu joined him. Chen Sheng sent a Wei native, Zhou Shi, to reclaim the land of Wei, and after the land was reclaimed, everyone wanted to make Zhou Shi the King of Wei. Zhou Shi said, "With the whole country in chaos, now's the time for loyal subjects to step up. With everyone rebelling against Qin, making a Wei king is the right thing to do." Qi and Zhao each sent fifty chariots to support him as the King of Wei. Zhou Shi declined and went to meet Wei Jiu in Chen territory. After much back and forth, Chen Sheng finally sent someone to make Wei Jiu King of Wei.
Zhang Han defeated Chen Sheng and then attacked Wei Jiu, the King of Wei, at Linji. Wei Jiu sent Zhou Shi to seek help from the Qi and Chu kingdoms. The Qi and Chu kingdoms sent Xiang Ta and Tian Ba to follow Zhou Shi to rescue Wei. Zhang Han ultimately defeated Zhou Shi's army, surrounding Linji. For his people, Wei Jiu decided to surrender, agreeing to kill himself after surrendering.
Wei Bao escaped to the Chu Kingdom. King Huai of Chu gave Wei Bao a few thousand men, allowing him to reclaim the land of Wei. Xiang Yu defeated the Qin Kingdom and subjugated Zhang Han. Wei Bao reclaimed over twenty cities of the Wei Kingdom. Xiang Yu then made Wei Bao King of Wei. Wei Bao led his best troops to follow Xiang Yu into the pass. In the first year of the Han Dynasty, Xiang Yu assigned lands to his princes and wanted to take the Liang lands for himself, so he moved Wei Bao to Hedong and made him King of Western Wei.
After Liu Bang conquered the three Qin states, he crossed a Yellow River ford. Wei Bao (or King Wei Bao) offered his kingdom to Liu Bang and followed him to attack Pengcheng in the Chu Kingdom. The Han army was defeated and retreated to Xingyang, prompting Wei Bao to request to return home to visit his sick family. After returning to the Wei Kingdom, he betrayed Liu Bang near the Yellow River ford. Liu Bang, therefore, sent Han Xin to capture Wei Bao in Hedong and bring him to Xingyang, transforming Wei Bao's kingdom into counties. Liu Bang had Wei Bao guard Xingyang. With the Chu army laying siege to Xingyang, Zhou Ke killed Wei Bao.
Peng Yue, from Changyi, was known as Zhong. He was a fisherman in the Juye Marsh before becoming a bandit leader. During the uprising of Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang, some young people said to Peng Yue, "A lot of heroes are fighting the Qin. You should join them!" Peng Yue replied, "It's a war between two giants. Let's see how it plays out."
More than a year later, over a hundred young lads gathered by the riverbank and went to see Peng Yue, saying, "Be our boss!" Peng Yue declined, saying, "I ain't your boss." After repeated requests from the young people, he finally agreed. He told everyone to meet at sunrise the next day, or else they'd get the chop. The next day, more than ten of 'em were late, the last bloke not showing until noon. At this point, Peng Yue said, "Look, I'm getting on a bit, and you lot *really* want me in charge. Too many of you were late to kill 'em all, so let's just off the last one." So he had the last guy bumped off, then put up a shrine and *that* was that. He was officially in charge. His lads were proper scared stiff, none of 'em daring to look him in the eye. Peng Yue started fighting and picking up stragglers, and soon had a thousand-strong army.
When Liu Bang attacked Changyi from the north of Dang, Peng Yue gave him a hand. Before they took Changyi, Liu Bang scarpered west. Peng Yue left his army in Juye, picking up Wei stragglers. Xiang Yu went back to the capital, handed out titles, then buggered off. Peng Yue had ten thousand men, but hadn't picked a side. In the autumn of the first year of the Han, Prince Tian Rong of Qi rebelled against Xiang Yu and sent Peng Yue a general's seal, telling him to attack the Chu army at Jiyin. Xiang Yu sent Xiao Gong Jiao to attack Peng Yue, but Peng Yue wiped the floor with him. In the spring of the second year of the Han, Liu Bang teamed up with King Wei Bao and other princes to attack the Chu army from the east. Peng Yue and his thirty thousand strong army joined Liu Bang at Waihuang. Liu Bang said, "Peng's taken back more than ten Wei cities, so let's make him King of Wei. King Wei Bao's King Wei Jiu's brother, so he's the right man for the job." So Liu Bang made Peng Yue Prime Minister of Wei, letting him run the army and sort out Liang.
After Xiang Yu defeated Liu Bang in Pengcheng, Liu Bang hightailed it west. Peng Yue, on the other hand, gave up all the cities he'd taken and scarpered to the Yellow River with only his army. Three years later, in Liu Bang's third year as king, Peng Yue was constantly on the move, helping Liu Bang hit the Chu army hard and cutting off their supplies in Liangdi (now Shangqiu area in Henan Province). In the winter of Liu Bang's fourth year as king, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang were locked in a standoff in Xingyang, and Peng Yue took advantage of the situation to capture seventeen cities like Suiyang and Waihuang. When Xiang Yu heard about this, he freaked out and quickly dispatched Cao Jiu to guard Chenggao while he personally led his troops to recapture the cities Peng Yue had taken, recapturing them all. Peng Yue had to hightail it north to Gucheng (now Queshan County in Henan Province). In the autumn of Liu Bang's fifth year as king, Xiang Yu went south to attack Yangxia, and Peng Yue grabbed twenty-plus cities around Changyi and over 100,000 bushels of grain to support Liu Bang's army.
After Liu Bang was defeated, he quickly sent someone to invite Peng Yue to join forces in attacking the Chu army. Peng Yue said, "Things are just settling down in Wei, everyone's still scared of Chu. Now ain't the time to jump ship." Later, Liu Bang pursued the Chu army, but was defeated by Xiang Yu at Guling. Liu Bang, looking all glum, said to Zhang Liang, "None of those other princes' armies are taking my orders. What should I do?" Zhang Liang analyzed, "You didn't really *want* Tian Xin to be king of Qi, and he knows it. Peng Yue was the big cheese in Liang (southern Shandong and northern Henan), and he'd done you a bunch of favors. You only made him Wei's prime minister because of Wei Bao. Now that Wei Bao is dead, no one has inherited his position, and Peng Yue himself wants to be a king, but you never gave him a straight answer. You gotta make a deal with Peng Yue and Tian Xin: if the Chu army is defeated, offer Peng Yue the land from Suiyang north to Gucheng – make him King of Liang. Give Tian Xin everything east of Chendi to the coast. Tian Xin's family's from Chu; he's itching to get his old land back. Be generous, and they'll help. Otherwise, you're sunk." Upon hearing this, Liu Bang liked the sound of that, and sent someone to see Peng Yue. He followed Zhang's plan. Peng Yue showed up at Gaixia with his troops, and together they smashed the Chu army. Xiang Yu was done for. Spring came, and Peng Yue became King of Liang, with his capital at Dingtao. Later, Peng Yue paid Liu Bang a visit in Chendi in year six, and again in Chang'an in years nine and ten.
Ten years ago, in the autumn, Chen Xi rebelled in Dai Di, and Emperor Gaozu personally led the troops to deal with it. When he arrived in Handan, he summoned Prince Liang, Liu Bi, to lead the troops to support him. Prince Liang, Liu Bi, feigned illness and sent a general to lead the troops to Handan. Emperor Gaozu hit the roof when he heard this and sent someone to chew out Prince Liang. Prince Liang was afraid and wanted to go and apologize in person. His subordinate Hu Ze said, "Your Highness, if you didn't go at the beginning and only go now after being rebuked, you'll be walking right into a trap! You might as well rebel!" Prince Liang didn't listen to him and continued to pretend to be sick. Because of this, Prince Liang was angry and wanted to kill the steward. As a result, the steward fled, sought refuge in the Han, and exposed the plot of Prince Liang and Hu Ze to rebel.
So the emperor secretly sent people to arrest Prince Liang. Prince Liang was unaware and was taken away and imprisoned in Luoyang. The officials found evidence of Prince Liang's rebellion and requested punishment. In the end, the emperor was merciful, pardoned him, demoted him, and exiled him to Qingyi County in Shu. Prince Liang traveled west to Zhengdi and met Empress Lü, who was on her way from Chang'an to Luoyang. On the way, Empress Lü met Prince Peng Yue. Peng Yue saw Empress Lü and cried, claiming he was wronged and requested to stay in his original Changyi. Empress Lü agreed and took Peng Yue with her to the east to Luoyang. Empress Lü told the emperor, "Although Prince Peng is a big shot, exiling him to Shu is a threat for us. It's better to just kill him. That's why I brought him here."
So Empress Lü had her subordinates frame Peng Yue for another rebellion. The Justice Minister, Wang Tian, reported and requested the wiping out of Peng Yue's entire family. The emperor approved, and Peng Yue's whole family was killed, and Peng Yue's kingdom was abolished.
Sima Qian said: Although Wei Bao and Peng Yue came from humble backgrounds, they once swept through thousands of miles of land, proclaimed themselves lonely and widowed, ruled the south as kings, and fought countless bloody battles, winning again and again. They both harbored thoughts of rebellion in their hearts, and if they didn't die, they ended up imprisoned and tortured. Why is this so? Anyone of average ability or more would feel ashamed of their actions, let alone emperors and generals! They were no different from others, just smarter and more strategic, but had no real foundation. Once they gained a bit of power, like a cloud bursting forth and a dragon taking flight, they wanted to fulfill their ambitions and assess their abilities, so they fought to the bitter end, even in prison.
Zhang Er was from Liang. When he was young, he served as a retainer to Lord Xinling of Wei. Later, Zhang Er ran afoul of the law and fled to a place called Waihuang. In Waihuang, the daughter of a wealthy family was exceptionally beautiful, but she married an ordinary servant. After her husband died, she returned to her father's friend. Her father's friend knew Zhang Er from before and said to her, "If you want to find a good husband, then marry Zhang Er." She quickly asked her father's permission and married Zhang Er. At that time, Zhang Er was on the run, but her family looked after him well, so Zhang Er gathered a group of followers and gained considerable influence across a wide area. Later, he became the magistrate of Waihuang County in the State of Wei, and his reputation grew even further.
Chen Yu, also from the State of Liang, studied Confucianism and often went to Kuxing in the State of Zhao to further his education. In Waihuang, a wealthy man named Gong Chengshi married his daughter off to him. Gong Chengshi also knew that Chen Yu was not an ordinary person. Chen Yu had great respect for Zhang Er from a young age, and the two of them were like brothers.
After the Qin state destroyed the Liang state, Zhang Er lived in Waihuang. When Liu Bang was still a commoner, he often hung out with Zhang Er and stayed for several months. Several years after the Qin state took down the Wei state, it was already known that Zhang Er and Chen Yu were big shots in Wei, and a reward was offered for their capture, with a bounty of one thousand gold for Zhang Er and five hundred gold for Chen Yu. Zhang Er and Chen Yu changed their names and went to the Chen region together, becoming caretakers to make a living. The two lived together. Once, when the gatekeeper was about to whip Chen Yu, Chen Yu wanted to resist, but Zhang Er quickly held him down and took the whipping. After the gatekeeper left, Zhang Er pulled Chen Yu under a mulberry tree and rebuked him, saying, "Do you remember what I told you before? Now you want to fight with a gatekeeper over a petty squabble?" Chen Yu felt ashamed. Qin's most wanted posters were posted everywhere to find them, so they took advantage of their position as caretakers to spread the word on the sly and passed messages discreetly through the back alleys.
Chen Sheng rebelled in Qixian, attacking the Chen region with a huge army. Zhang Er and Chen Yu went to visit Chen Sheng. Chen Sheng's bodyguards had heard of Zhang Er and Chen Yu's reputation before but had never seen them, and they were very happy to meet them. Chen Sheng's fellow villagers, those prominent figures, advised him, "You're armored, you've got the weapons, lead soldiers to overthrow the tyrannical Qin, bring Chu back, keep it strong, and you've earned the crown! You're in charge of the whole army; you gotta be king! We hope you can crown yourself King of Chu!"
Chen Sheng asked the two people who advised him to declare himself king. These two people replied, "The Qin Dynasty is truly too brutal. They wipe out countries, smash their temples, sever their descendants, exhaust the strength of the people, and extort their wealth. General, you're fearless, facing the danger of death to eliminate the scourge of the brutal Qin for the world. If you crown yourself as soon as you arrive in Chen territory, people will think you're just doing it for yourself. Hold off on becoming king for now, quickly lead your troops westward, send people to support the descendants of the Six States, establish your own power, and increase the strength to resist the Qin Dynasty. More enemies means they're weaker; we unite, we're stronger. In this way, there will be no enemies in the field, no strongholds in the city, and we'll crush the Qin, grab Xianyang, and then the other princes will fall in line. After the princes lose their countries, they can be rebuilt, and we can influence them with benevolence, thus achieving imperial ambitions. Just crowning yourself in Chen? No one's gonna buy that!" However, Chen Sheng did not listen to them and eventually declared himself king.
Chen Yu went to advise King Chen again, saying, "Your Majesty, march your Liang and Chu armies west, aiming to break through the Hangu Pass, without yet recovering the territory of Hebei. I know Zhao inside and out – the people, the land. Let me take some crack troops north and grab Zhao." So, King Chen appointed his old friend, Wu Chen, a man from Chen, as the general, Shao Sao as the commander, and appointed Zhang Er and Chen Yu as his right-hand men, giving them three thousand soldiers to march north and attack Zhao territory.
The officers crossed the Yellow River from Baima, arrived at various counties, and said to the local heroes, "The Qin Dynasty has been running a tyrannical regime, using cruel punishments to harm the people for decades. There's slave labor for building the Great Wall in the north and guarding the borders in the south. The whole country's a mess, and the people are exhausted, stripped bare to supply military expenses. Money is running out, manpower is depleted, and the common people can't survive. On top of brutal laws and punishments, families can't even find peace. Chen Sheng's uprising set an example for the people, occupying the Chu region for two thousand miles with no place left unresponsive. Everyone's furious, and people are seething with rage, getting revenge. They killed county officials in their counties and prefects in their prefectures. A powerful Chu state has now been set up, with Chen Sheng as king, and Wu Guang and Zhou Wen leading a million troops to attack the Qin Dynasty from the west. At this time, anyone who doesn't make a name for themselves isn't a hero! Think about it! Everyone hates the Qin! They've suffered for too long. Let's use this chance to crush the tyrant, avenge our families, and grab some land! This is our shot at glory!" The heroes all agreed with him. So they recruited soldiers and bought horses, and obtained tens of thousands of people, making Wu Chen their leader, calling him Lord Wuxin. They captured ten cities of the Zhao kingdom, while the other cities held out and wouldn't surrender.
Next, they led the army to attack Fanyang in the northeast. Fanyang resident Kuai Tong said to the county magistrate of Fanyang, "I heard you’re about to die, so I came to pay my respects. But I’m also here to celebrate your unexpected continued existence." The county magistrate of Fanyang asked, "Why do you say you want to pay your respects to me?" Kuai Tong replied, "Qin law was brutal. You’ve spent a decade here in Fanyang, leaving a trail of mutilated bodies and ruined lives. Yet, those grieving families dare not assassinate you because they fear the laws of the Qin. Now the empire’s crumbling, and Qin law means nothing. Those whose families you’ve wronged will come for you to avenge their families and make a name for themselves. The lords have all turned against the Qin, and the army of Wuxin is about to arrive. Young men are itching to off you and switch sides. Get me to Wuxin, and you’ll be out of this mess!"
The magistrate of Fanyang County sent Kuai Tong to meet Prince Wu Xin. Kuai Tong said, "You must be planning to win battles before seizing land, taking cities and land without a fight. I think this method is not right. If you follow my plan, you can settle a thousand miles with a single letter. What do you think?" Prince Wu Xin asked, "What does this mean?" Kuai Tong explained, "The soldiers in Fanyang County are currently being prepared to resist, but they're cowardly and greedy for wealth and honor, so they all want to surrender first. They're scared you'll be like the Qin officials who wiped out those ten cities and do the same to them. But now the young people in Fanyang are about to kill the magistrate and use the cities to resist you. Why don't you let me take your seal and appoint the magistrate of Fanyang County? Once the magistrate receives your seal, he will offer the cities to you, and the young people will not dare to kill him. Then let the magistrate of Fanyang ride in a magnificent carriage to patrol the border of Yan and Zhao. Seeing him, the border folk will know Fanyang's already surrendered and be encouraged to follow suit. This is what I meant by taking over a thousand miles with just a decree." Prince Wu Xin adopted his plan and let Kuai Tong take the seal to appoint the magistrate of Fanyang County. News of this prompted over thirty Zhao cities to surrender without a fight.
When they arrived in Handan, Zhang Er and Chen Yu heard that Zhou Zhang's army had entered Hangu Pass and were stopped at Xidi; they also heard that other generals were expanding territory for King Chen, and many were killed because of slander. They resented King Chen for not using their strategies, not appointing them as generals, and only letting them be lieutenants. So they persuaded Wu Chen, saying, "When King Chen raised his troops in Qixian and declared himself king in Chen, it didn't necessarily mean he had to be king after the six states. General, with just three thousand men, you have captured dozens of cities in Zhao and occupied Hebei alone. You need to be king to win the people over. Furthermore, King Chen is unreliable and capricious, and you may find it difficult to avoid disaster. Better to back his brother, or failing that, a Zhao prince. General, do not miss the opportunity; time waits for no one!" Wu Chen followed their advice and proclaimed himself King of Zhao. He appointed Chen Yu as Grand General, Zhang Er as Right Prime Minister, and Shao Sao as Left Prime Minister.
Word reached King Chen, who was furious and wanted Wu Chen and his family eliminated, and sent troops to attack Zhao. King Chen's Prime Minister Fang Jun advised, "Killing Wu Chen and his family before Qin is destroyed will just create another Qin. It would be better to congratulate him and have him quickly lead troops west to attack Qin." King Chen thought he made sense and followed his advice, putting Wu Chen's family and others under house arrest in the palace and appointing Zhang Er's son Ao as Duke of Chengdu.
Chen Wang sent messengers to congratulate Zhao Wang and pressed Zhao to attack westward at Hangu Pass. Zhang Er and Chen Yu advised Zhao Wang that Chen Wang wasn't being sincere; it was all a trick. They suggested that instead of advancing west, Zhao should attack Yan and Dai to the north, take back Henan to the south, and boost its power. With the Yellow River to their south and Yan and Dai to the north, even if Chu beat Qin, they wouldn't easily take over Zhao. Zhao Wang saw their point and decided not to advance west, but to send Han Guang to attack Yan, Li Liang to attack Changshan, and Zhang Yan to attack Shangdang. After Han Guang attacked Yan, the Yan people made him their king. Zhao Wang, along with Zhang Er and Chen Yu, pushed north until they hit the Yan border. One day, Zhao Wang got caught by the Yan army while he was out on his own. The Yan general locked up Zhao Wang, hoping to split the land with Zhao before letting him go. Yan had killed all the messengers they'd sent before when those messengers asked for land. Zhang Er and Chen Yu were freaking out. At this time, an ordinary soldier from Zhao said to them in their residence, "I'll go talk to Yan and get Zhao Wang back." The people in the residence laughed at him, saying, "Dude, we sent over a dozen messengers, and they all got killed. How are *you* gonna get the king back?" However, the soldier went straight to the Yan army camp.
The Yan general saw this soldier and asked him, "Do you know why I am here?" The soldier said, "You are here to seize King Zhao." The Yan general said, "Do you know what kind of people Zhang Er and Chen Yu are?" The soldier said, "They are both capable men." The Yan general asked again, "Do you know what their purpose is?" The soldier said, "They want to take King Zhao prisoner." The soldier from the Zhao kingdom smiled and said, "You still don't know what these two really want. Wuchen, Zhang Er, and Chen Yu have captured dozens of cities in the Zhao kingdom; each of them wants to set themselves up as king. A subject and a monarch are not equals. Just because the situation has just stabilized, they dare not openly declare themselves kings, so they first made Wuchen the king to stabilize the hearts of the people of Zhao. Now that the land of Zhao has been pacified, these two also want to claim kingship in Zhao, but the time is not ripe. You have imprisoned King Zhao now; these two, on the surface, say they want to save King Zhao, but in reality, they want the Yan kingdom to kill King Zhao so that they can claim kingship themselves. Taking on Zhao would be a huge challenge for Yan, not to mention Zhang Er and Chen Yu, these two ambitious warlords flanking them. Pinning King Zhao's death on Yan would make conquering them a breeze." The Yan general felt that what he said made sense, so he released King Zhao, and this soldier also went back with King Zhao.
After Li Liang captured Changshan, he returned to report. King Zhao sent Li Liang to attack Taiyuan. When he arrived at Shiyi, the Qin army had the Jing pass sealed shut, and Li Liang could not advance. At this time, a Qin general tricked Li Liang by pretending to be the Emperor and sent a letter to Li Liang; the letter was not sealed, and it said, "Li Liang, you used to work for me and received my appreciation. If you now betray Zhao and surrender to Qin, I will pardon your crimes and give you a high position." Li Liang received this letter and was torn, unsure whether to trust it.
So Li Liang returned to Handan to request reinforcements. Before reaching Handan, he met King Zhao's sister on the road, who was leading over a hundred riders out for a drink. Li Liang saw her from afar and thought it was King Zhao approaching, so he quickly knelt down by the side of the road to bow. King Zhao's sister, completely sloshed, didn't even recognize him and sent a soldier over to thank him. Mortified, surrounded by his low-ranking officers, Li Liang stood up feeling uneasy. One of his soldiers said, "Look, everyone's ditching Qin, right? Anyone with any guts is making themselves king. And Zhao's never respected you, and now his sister won't even give you the time of day! Let's go get her!" His subordinate's words lit a fire under him, and he sent men after the princess.
Later, Li Liang led his army to attack Handan. Handan was totally unprepared, and both Wu Chen and Shao Sao were killed. Zhao insiders tipped off Zhang Er and Chen Yu, letting them get away. Li Liang recruited these soldiers, gaining tens of thousands of troops. One of Zhang Er's contacts suggested, "You two are on the run, and clinging to Zhao is a dead end. Why not become kings yourselves? Justice is on your side – that's your ticket to success." Zhang Er found Zhao Xie, put him on the throne as King Zhao, and made Xindu the capital. Li Liang attacked Chen Yu, got his arse kicked, and ran back to Zhang Han.
Zhang Han led his troops to attack Handan, relocating the city's population to Hanoi and demolishing the city walls. Zhang Er and King Zhao Xie fled to Julu City, where Wang Li besieged Julu City with his forces. Chen Yu gathered troops from the Changshan area to the north and established a camp north of Julu City. Zhang Han's army camped in Jiyuan to the south of Julu City, constructing a supply route to the Yellow River to supply Wang Li with provisions. With ample food supplies, Wang Li's army fiercely attacked Julu City. The city was starved of food and men, prompting Zhang Er to send messenger after messenger pleading with Chen Yu for help. However, Chen Yu felt his forces were too few to defeat the Qin army and did not dare to come. After several months, Zhang Er grew angry and blamed Chen Yu, sending Zhang Yan and Chen Ze to reprimand him, saying, "What kind of friends are you? Now, with the King and Zhang Er in danger of dying at any moment, you refuse to bring your forces to help. If we're really brothers in arms, why not charge into the Qin camp and die together? At least some of us might survive!" Chen Yu replied, "Even if I went, it wouldn't save Zhao. We'd just be throwing our lives away. I'm not here to die with you; I want to avenge King Zhao and General Zhang. Dying now is like throwing meat to a tiger – what good would that do?" Zhang Yan and Chen Ze insisted, "This is desperate! We gotta die together to show we're true friends. Who knows what tomorrow brings?" Chen Yu finally agreed, saying, "What good would my death do? Fine, let's do as you say." So he sent five thousand men with them to scout the Qin lines, but they got wiped out.
At this time, Yan, Qi, and Chu all heard that Zhao was in danger and came to rescue. Zhang Ao also gathered the troops from Dai to the north, bringing over ten thousand soldiers and horses to support, all stationed outside Julu City, but none dared to attack the Qin army. Xiang Yu's army cut off the supply route of Zhang Han's food and supplies, and Wang Li's army were running low on supplies. Xiang Yu led all the armies across the Yellow River and ultimately defeated Zhang Han. Zhang Han retreated, and only then did the armies of various lords dare to attack and surround the Qin army in Julu, ultimately capturing Wang Li. She Jian committed suicide. Julu City was ultimately saved, all thanks to the efforts of the Chu army.
Wow, King Zhao and Zhang Er escaped from Julu together, and then began to thank the various lords. Zhang Er found Chen Yu and grilled him for not sending troops to rescue Zhao, and also pressed him relentlessly about what happened to Zhang Yan and Chen Ze. Chen Yu blew up, saying, "Zhang Yan and Chen Ze insisted I fight to the death. I sent five thousand men to probe the Qin army first, and the whole army was annihilated; none returned!" Zhang Er didn't believe it at all, suspecting that Chen Yu deliberately killed them, and kept pressing him. Chen Yu got even angrier, saying, "I didn't realize you expected so much from me! Do you think I would sacrifice my soldiers to save myself?" With that, Chen Yu took off his seal and handed it to Zhang Er. Zhang Er was stunned and didn't dare to accept it. Chen Yu stood up and said he needed to relieve himself. At this time, a guest said to Zhang Er, "I heard that 'a gift like this doesn't come along every day. You should take it!' Now General Chen is giving you the seal; not accepting it is not auspicious! Hurry up and take it!" Only then did Zhang Er take the seal and incorporate Chen Yu's army. When Chen Yu returned and saw that Zhang Er hadn't returned the seal to him, he stopped arguing and left directly. Zhang Er successfully incorporated Chen Yu's troops. As for Chen Yu, he only took a few trusted followers to fish and hunt in the marshes by the river. That's how Chen Yu and Zhang Er went their separate ways.
King Zhao Xie returned to his capital at Xindu. Zhang Er followed Xiang Yu and the other lords into the pass. In February, the first year of the Han Dynasty, Xiang Yu enfeoffed the lords. Zhang Er was renowned; many spoke on his behalf, and Xiang Yu himself had heard of his abilities, so he awarded him Zhao territory, naming him King of Changshan, with his capital in Xindu. Xindu was later renamed Xiangguo.
Many of Chen Yu's followers went to Xiang Yu and said, "Chen Yu and Zhang Er have both made great contributions to Zhao!" Because Chen Yu did not follow him into the pass, Xiang Yu, upon hearing that he was in Nanpi, granted him three cities surrounding Nanpi, and then moved King Zhao Xie to Dai as the King of Dai.
Zhang Er was enfeoffed as a prince, and Chen Yu became more and more angry, saying, "My and Zhang Er's contributions are equally great, but now Zhang Er is a king, while I am just a marquis. This is clearly an act of unfairness by Xiang Yu!" Later, Prince Tian Rong of Qi rebelled against Chu, and Chen Yu sent Xia Shuo to persuade Tian Rong, saying, "Xiang Yu has become the overlord of the world, but he is very unfair, giving all the good places to those generals who are close to him, and giving the bad places to the original lords. King Zhao has been relegated to Dai! I hope your Majesty will lend me troops to defend Nanpi against Chu." Tian Rong wanted to develop his power in Zhao to counter Chu, so he sent troops to help Chen Yu. Chen Yu took the opportunity to gather the forces of the three counties and launched a surprise attack on King Changshan Zhang Er.
Zhang Er was routed, fleeing for his life, thinking he had nowhere to go. He said, "I had a relationship with King Han before, and Xiang Yu is too powerful. If I seek refuge with King Han, perhaps I can then assess the situation in Chu." Gan Gong said, "As King Han advanced on Guanzhong, a conjunction of five stars appeared in the Eastern Well constellation. The Eastern Well Star represents the territory of Qin. The first to arrive there will definitely become the hegemon. Although Chu is now very powerful, they will eventually submit to King Han." Therefore, Zhang Er fled to King Han. At that time, King Han was pacifying the Three Qins and besieging Zhang Han in Feiqiu. Zhang Er went to see King Han, who received him with open arms.
After Chen Yu defeated Zhang Er, he recovered the land of Zhao and welcomed the King of Zhao back to Dai territory, and reinstated him as King of Zhao. The King of Zhao was grateful to Chen Yu and appointed him as the King of Dai. With Zhao newly pacified, and feeling his age, Chen Yu delayed going to Dai to take up his kingship; instead, he stayed in Zhao to assist the King of Zhao and appointed Xia Shuo as the Prime Minister to govern Dai.
In the second year of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang launched an expedition to Chu and sent envoys to Zhao, hoping to cooperate with Zhao. Chen Yu said, "I only went along with Liu Bang after he offed Zhang Er." So Liu Bang had everyone who'd known Zhang Er bumped off and sent his head to Chen Yu. Only then did Chen Yu send troops to assist the Han army. Later, the Han army got its butt kicked at Pengcheng. Chen Yu heard that Zhang Er was still alive, so he flipped on the Han.
In the third year of the Han Dynasty, Han Xin pacified Wei territory and sent Zhang Er to lead troops with him. They smashed the Zhao army at Jingxing, then whacked Chen Yu by the Zhi River and chased down King Zhao to Xiangguo, where they finished him off. The Han King reinstated Zhang Er as the King of Zhao. In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty, Zhang Er passed away and was posthumously named King Jing. His son, Ao, succeeded him as the King of Zhao. Princess Lu Yuan, the eldest daughter of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, became the queen of King Ao of Zhao.
In the year 200 BC, Liu Bang passed through Zhao, and Zhao's King Liu Ruyi was practically kissing Liu Bang's feet, serving him dinner himself that night and acting like a total doormat – more like a son-in-law than a king! But Liu Bang just sat there, legs sprawled, grumbling and cursing, treating the king like dirt.
The Prime Minister Guan Gao and Zhao Wu of the Zhao Kingdom, both in their sixties, used to be subordinates of Zhang Er. They were quick to anger. Guan Gao was furious as soon as he heard Liu Bang's attitude, and he shouted at King Zhao, "Our king's a spineless wimp!" Then he said to King Zhao, "Every big name's in on this revolt. Right now, you're kissing up to Liu Bang, but he doesn't give you the time of day. Let me kill the guy!" When Zhang Ao heard this, he was so anxious that he bit his own finger, causing blood to flow, and said, "You're way off base! Our country was destroyed before, and we owe everything to Liu Bang! He saved our bacon! Please don't speak like this again!" Guan Gao, Zhao Wu, and a dozen other ministers looked at each other and felt that Guan Gao was wrong. They said, "The king ain't no ingrate. Furthermore, we'd sooner die than lose face. We resent Liu Bang insulting our king, so we want to kill him. It ain't your fault, Your Highness! If we succeed, the credit goes to you; if we fail, we will bear the responsibility ourselves."
In 199 BC, Liu Bang returned from Dongyuan and passed through the Zhao Kingdom again. Guan Gao and the others waited by the wall of Bairén County, hoping to get Liu Bang alone. When Liu Bang passed by, he wanted to stay here for the night but felt uneasy and asked, "What is the name of this county?" "Bairén," they replied. Liu Bang frowned and said, "Sounds like 'forced to submit' to me!" Upon hearing this name, he got outta there fast.
In the ninth year of the Han Dynasty, Guan Gao's enemies learned of his plans and reported them to the emperor. The emperor then ordered the arrest of Prince Zhao and Guan Gao. More than ten people attempted suicide, but only Guan Gao angrily exclaimed, "Who told you to do this? The prince isn't rebelling, so why are you arresting him? If you all die, who will prove that the prince did not rebel?" He was then carted off with Prince Zhao to Chang'an. The emperor ordered the extermination of all Zhao officials and guests who supported Prince Zhao. Guan Gao, Meng Shu, and more than ten other guests were shaved, shackled, enslaved, and sent to Chang'an.
When Guan Gao arrived in Chang'an and was interrogated in prison, he said, "Only a few of us were involved in this matter; the prince truly did not know." The officials beat him mercilessly, leaving him a wreck, but he still did not say anything else. Empress Lu repeatedly pleaded for leniency, reminding the emperor that Zhang Ao was her nephew's husband. The emperor angrily replied, "If Zhang Ao ruled the empire, would his daughter be any worse off?" He did not listen to Empress Lu's advice. The court reported on Guan Gao, and the emperor said, "That's one tough dude! Find someone who knows him and have them talk to him quietly." Xie Gong, a high-ranking official, said, "I know a young man in my territory who knows him well. He's known for his integrity and loyalty to Zhao." The emperor then sent Xie Gong with the royal seal to interrogate Guan Gao in prison.
Lord Xie arrived in prison. Guan Gao looked up. "Lord Xie?" he asked. Lord Xie was as kind and amiable as usual, talking to Guan Gao and asking if Prince Zhang really had plans to rebel. Guan Gao replied, "Who doesn't love their parents and wives? My entire clan faces execution; would I sacrifice my loved ones for the king? I only wanted to prove the Prince's innocence; it was we who acted." He explained in detail what had happened, as well as the situation that Prince Zhao was unaware of. Upon his return, Lord Xie reported the truth to the Emperor, who then pardoned Prince Zhao.
The Emperor admired Guan Gao's unwavering loyalty, so he had Lord Xie inform Guan Gao of the situation, saying, "Prince Zhao has been released." At the same time, Guan Gao was let off. Guan Gao joyfully exclaimed, "Has my king really been released?" Lord Xie replied, "Yes. The Emperor values you highly, so he has pardoned you." Guan Gao said, "The reason I would rather die than say another word was to prove that Prince Zhang did not rebel. Now that the king has been released, my duty is complete; I have no regrets even if I die. Moreover, as a subject, if I have the crime of plotting to rebel and kill the monarch, how can I face the Emperor again? Even if the Emperor does not kill me, can I still have a clear conscience?" With that, Guan Gao sighed deeply and died. At that time, his reputation spread throughout the world.
After Zhang Ao was released from prison because he married Princess Lu Yuan, he was appointed as Marquis Xuanping. All the powerful people who entered the pass with Zhang Ao became princes or county governors. During the reigns of Emperors Xiaohui, Gao Hou, Wen, and Jing, the descendants of Zhang Ao's guests all became high officials.
Zhang Ao died in the sixth year of Empress Gao's reign, and his son Zhang Yan inherited the title of King Lu Yuan. Because his mother was the daughter of Empress Lü, she made him King Lu Yuan. However, King Yuan was young and had few brothers, so Empress Lü also conferred titles of marquis on Zhang Ao's two other sons by different concubines: one named Shou was appointed Marquis of Lechang, and one named Chi was appointed Marquis of Xindu. After Empress Gao's death, the Lü clan ran riot, and the ministers executed them, stripping King Lu Yuan, Marquis Lechang, and Marquis Xindu of their titles. Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne and restored Zhang Yan, the former King Lu Yuan, as Marquis of Nangong, continuing the Zhang family's titles.
Sima Qian said: Zhang Er and Chen Yu are both famous virtuous men in history. Their guests and servants were all talented individuals, and in the countries they resided in, none were not promoted to high positions. However, when Zhang Er and Chen Yu first supported each other, they trusted each other and were ready to go to the ends of the earth for each other. But when they gained power in the country and began to grab for power and prestige, they eventually turned against each other. This shows that their initial admiration and promotion of each other was only for personal gain, and their later betrayal was also due to self-interest! Their relationship was clearly all about power and self-interest, wasn't it? Although their reputation was high and they had many guests, they were nothing like Tai Bo and Yanling Jizi!
Meng Tian's ancestors were from the state of Qi. His grandfather, Meng Ao, defected from Qi to serve King Zhao of Qin and rose to the position of a high-ranking minister. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, Meng Ao was a military commander, conquering Chenggao and Xingyang from the state of Han and establishing the Sanchuan prefecture. In the second year, he attacked the state of Zhao and took thirty-seven cities. In the third year of Qin Shi Huang, Meng Ao attacked Han again, capturing thirteen cities. In the fifth year, he attacked Wei, conquering twenty cities and establishing the Dong prefecture. Meng Ao died in the seventh year of Qin Shi Huang. His son was named Meng Wu, and Meng Tian was Meng Wu's son. Meng Tian once worked as a clerk in a prison. In the twenty-third year of Qin Shi Huang, Meng Wu served as the deputy commander of Qin and, along with Wang Jian, attacked the state of Chu, winning a decisive victory and killing Xiang Yan. In the twenty-fourth year, Meng Wu attacked Chu again and captured the king of Chu. He also had a younger brother, Meng Yi.
In the 26th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, Meng Tian, relying on his family's achievements, became a general of the Qin state, attacked the Qi state, won a great victory, and was appointed as Grand Historian. After the unification of the country by the Qin state, Meng Tian led three hundred thousand soldiers to the north to expel the Xiongnu and reclaim the land south of the Yellow River. He built the Great Wall, utilized the terrain, and established fortified passes, stretching from Lintao to Liaodong for over ten thousand li. Then he crossed the Yellow River, occupied Yangshan, and continued his northward sweep. Meng Tian led the army in external battles for over ten years, stationed in Shangjun. At that time, Meng Tian's reputation struck fear into the Xiongnu. Qin Shi Huang highly respected the Meng clan, trusted, and valued them. He was particularly close to Meng Yi, who rose to the rank of Chief Minister. When going out, Qin Shi Huang would let him sit in the seat of honor beside him, and when entering the palace, he would serve by the emperor's side. Meng Tian was responsible for external military affairs, while Meng Yi was in charge of internal political planning. The two brothers were known for their loyalty, so no one in the court dared to compete with them for credit.
Zhao Gao was a commoner from a remote area of the Zhao state. Zhao Gao and his brothers grew up in a secluded part of the palace; their mother had been punished, and their family had been humble for generations. Qin Shi Huang heard that Zhao Gao was capable and knowledgeable in criminal law, so he promoted him to be the director of the Central Chariot Office. Zhao Gao secretly communicated with Prince Hu Hai, teaching him how to handle cases. Zhao Gao committed a serious crime, and Qin Shi Huang ordered Meng Yi to deal with him according to the law. Meng Yi, not daring to act unjustly, sentenced Zhao Gao to death based on his crimes and revoked his position as a eunuch. However, because the emperor appreciated Zhao Gao's dedication, he pardoned him and restored his official position.
Qin Shi Huang wanted to make a grand tour of the empire, planning to depart from Jiu Yuan and travel all the way to Ganquan. Therefore, he had Meng Tian construct a road from Jiu Yuan to Ganquan, involving cutting through mountains and filling valleys, spanning one thousand eight hundred li. This road has not yet been completed.
In the winter of the thirty-seventh year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, he traveled to Kuài jī (Kuaiji) and then journeyed northward along the coast to Láng yá (Langya). He fell ill on the way and sent Meng Yi back to offer sacrifices to the mountains and rivers to ensure his safe return, but he had not yet returned. Qin Shi Huang succumbed to illness at Shaqiu, and this matter was handled secretly, leaving the ministers unaware. At that time, Prime Minister Li Si, Prince Hu Hai, and Zhao Gao, the director of the Central Chariot Office, were serving by his side. Zhao Gao was favored by Hu Hai and wanted to make him emperor. He resented Meng Yi for having punished him according to the law in the past and harbored malicious intent. So, he secretly conspired with Prime Minister Li Si and Prince Hu Hai to establish Hu Hai as the crown prince. As soon as the crown prince was appointed, messengers were sent to execute Prince Fusu and Meng Tian on trumped-up charges. With Fusu already dead, Meng Tian was puzzled and requested an explanation in a memorial. The messenger stated that Meng Tian was an official of the court and needed to be reassigned. Hu Hai appointed Li Si's associates as the guards. When the messenger returned to report the situation, Hu Hai had already heard of Fusu's death and wanted to pardon Meng Tian. Zhao Gao, fearing the Meng clan would regain power and harboring hatred towards them, thwarted the pardon. When Meng Yi returned, Zhao Gao seized the opportunity to advise Hu Hai to eliminate the Meng clan, saying, "I heard that the late emperor wanted to select talented individuals for the crown prince, but Meng Yi advised against it. If he knew who was talented and didn't pick him, that's disloyal – playing games with the Emperor!" After hearing Zhao Gao's words, Hu Hai imprisoned Meng Yi in Dai. Meng Tian had already been imprisoned in Yangzhou. After Qin Shi Huang's coffin was brought back to Xianyang and buried, Hu Hai ascended the throne and became the second emperor of Qin. Zhao Gao grew even closer to Hu Hai, poisoning his ear against the Meng clan and constantly searching for reasons to accuse them.
Ziying said, "They say the former King Zhao killed his loyal minister Li Mu and favored Yan Ju. King Yan secretly listened to Jing Ke's plot and violated the agreement with the Qin state. King Qi Jian killed his old minister and favored the strategy of Hou Sheng. These three monarchs all lost their countries and brought disaster upon themselves by scrapping their old systems. Now the Meng clan serves as ministers and strategists of the Qin state, but the emperor wants to suddenly abandon them. I think this is a bad idea. I’ve heard that rash people can’t govern a country, and relying solely on clever people can’t protect a monarch. Killing loyal ministers and promoting weasels? Your court will lose faith. Your army will crumble."
Hu Hai just blew him off. He then sent an imperial censor, Qu Gong, who galloped to Daijun to deliver a message to Meng Yi, saying, "The late emperor wanted to establish a crown prince, but you obstructed it. Now the prime minister says you are disloyal to me and wants to implicate your family. Look, I’m letting you off easy. Consider it a mercy. I’m giving you the death penalty. You’re dead!"
Meng Yi replied, "If I couldn't read the late Emperor's mind, then a long, quiet life would be my reward for understanding him. If I do not know whether the crown prince is capable, the crown prince, alone, traveled the length and breadth of the empire, utterly isolated from the other princes; what reason do I have to doubt? The late emperor decided to crown the crown prince after years of planning; how dare I say anything against it or have any other thoughts! It's not about saving my own skin; it's about protecting the Emperor's good name. So, give me a fair shake, and let me die knowing why. Furthermore, following moral principles and achieving great things is fundamental; the quick resort to violence leads to the downfall of a nation. Duke Mu of Qin killed three loyal ministers, and the blame fell on Bai Qi, who was posthumously given the negative title of 'Miao.' King Zhaoxiang killed Lord Wu'an Bai Qi; King Ping of Chu killed Wu She; King Fuchai of Wu killed Wu Zixu. These four monarchs all made grave mistakes and were criticized by the people, deemed unwise by the other states. So, a moral ruler doesn't kill innocents or punish the innocent. I hope you will consider this carefully." The envoy understood Hu Hai's intentions and, without listening to Meng Yi's explanations, had him killed. Qin Er Shi sent an envoy to Yangzhou to find Meng Tian, saying, "General, you have made too many mistakes, and your brother Meng Yi has committed a serious crime. According to the law, even as an inner minister, you will be implicated." Upon hearing this, Meng Tian shot back, "My family has served the three Qin emperors faithfully, and we've got the record to prove it. I command 300,000 men, and even in chains, I could still raise a rebellion. However, I know I will die without doubt, yet I still adhere to my principles, not daring to tarnish the teachings of my ancestors or betray the grace of the late king."
He continued, "Long ago, when King Cheng of Zhou had just ascended the throne and was too young to speak, the Duke of Zhou took him to meet the ministers and ultimately brought peace to the kingdom. Later, when King Cheng was gravely ill, the situation became critical; the Duke of Zhou even performed a ritual, casting his own fingernails into the river as a symbolic act of taking responsibility, saying, 'The King is still young; I will handle the affairs of state. If there are any wrongdoings, I will bear the responsibility.' He then wrote down these words and hid them in the archives, which is enough to prove his loyalty! When King Cheng grew up and was able to govern the country, a treacherous minister slandered him by claiming, 'The Duke of Zhou has long wanted to rebel. If you are not careful, King, there will surely be chaos!' King Cheng flew into a rage upon hearing this, and the Duke of Zhou had to flee to the state of Chu. Later, when King Cheng reviewed the archives and found the Duke of Zhou's original oath, tears welled up in his eyes, and he said, 'Who said the Duke of Zhou wanted to rebel?!' So he killed that treacherous minister and invited the Duke of Zhou back. Therefore, the Book of Zhou says, 'One must conduct a thorough investigation.'
"Now, my family has served the court loyally for generations, only to meet this fate. There must be treacherous ministers scheming behind the scenes! Although King Cheng of Zhou made mistakes initially, he eventually corrected them, and the country prospered as a result; whereas Xia Jie killed Guan Longfeng, and King Zhou of Shang killed Prince Bi Gan, they remained unrepentant, and what was the result? They all died, and the country perished. So I say, mistakes can be corrected, and advice can be accepted. A thorough investigation is the practice of a wise monarch. My words are not meant to shirk my responsibility, but to offer a heartfelt plea, hoping Your Majesty will consider the welfare of the people and follow the right path!" The messenger said, "I am ordered to execute the sentence against you, General, and cannot relay your words to His Majesty." Meng Tian let out a long sigh and said, "What crime have I committed to warrant this unjust death?"
After a while, Meng Tian slowly said, "I really deserve to die. I built walls and moats all the way from Lintao to Liaodong, covering countless miles. Was there really no place where I disrupted the earth's veins? This is my fault!" After speaking, he killed himself by taking poison.
Sima Qian said, "I just returned from the north, taking the straight road, and all the way I saw the Great Wall and pavilions built by Meng Tian for the Qin state. Those projects of cutting mountains and filling valleys, really consumed a lot of effort from the common people! The land was still recovering from the recent wars. Meng Tian, as a famous general, should have advised Emperor Qin Shi Huang to reduce the burden on the people at that time, instead of just flattering and indulging him, undertaking huge construction projects. This led to the execution of his brothers, wasn't that his own fault?
The thing is, after the Qin conquest, there were many things to be done. The people were still reeling from the war, suffering heavy losses and hardship. As a great general, Meng Tian should have focused on pacifying the people, recuperating and rejuvenating, helping out those in need, looking after the old and vulnerable, and letting people live their lives in peace. But he chose to please Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and only wanted to build those projects that were a waste of manpower and money, putting the cart before the horse! His brothers were killed as a result; he only had himself to blame. Blaming it on bad feng shui? Give me a break!"
Li Si hailed from Shangcai in Chu. When he was young, he worked as a lowly clerk in the county and saw that the latrine rats scavenged scraps, constantly harassed by people and dogs. Later, Li Si entered the granary and saw that the rats there were feasting on mountains of grain, living safely and well-fed. At that time, Li Si sighed and said, "He realized that a person's success, like a rat's, depends entirely on where they choose to be!"
He then went to study the ways of kingship with Xunzi. After completing his studies, he felt the ruler of Chu unworthy of his loyalty, and the other six states were too weak to offer him any real opportunity. So he decided to go to the state of Qin in the west. He bid farewell to Xunzi, saying, "I have heard that one must not slack off when a good opportunity arises. The warring states are vying for power, and talented individuals can display their ambitions. Qin's king aimed to conquer all under heaven and claim the imperial throne, which is the perfect opportunity for common people to strive for success and persuade the lords! To remain in a lowly position without serving your country is like a beast, unable to seize an opportunity despite its potential. Therefore, the greatest shame is lowliness; the greatest sorrow, poverty. A man of true ambition doesn't languish in obscurity, content with comfort instead of serving his country. That's why I am going to persuade the King of Qin!"
Li Si arrived in the state of Qin just in time for King Zhuangxiang's death. He went to see the Prime Minister of Qin, Lü Buwei, seeking to work under him. Lü Buwei thought highly of Li Si and appointed him to a minor official post. Taking this opportunity, Li Si advised the King of Qin, saying, "Those who clean latrines are only there because of their proximity. To achieve greatness, one must seize the moment and be decisive. Why was it that Duke Mu of Qin, despite his dominance, was unable to conquer all six states in the end? It was because the rival states were powerful at that time, and the Zhou dynasty's control had not yet weakened, so the states took turns dominating and still respected the Zhou monarch. But starting from Duke Xiao of Qin, the Zhou dynasty declined, and the rival states began to annex each other, forming six states in the eastern region. Qin has continuously defeated the rival states for six generations. Now all the rival states are subservient to Qin, just like counties and districts. With the strong power of Qin and your wise leadership, as long as you make a firm decision, you can eliminate the rival states, establish an empire, and unify the country. This is a chance that comes only once in a thousand years! If you hesitate and delay, when the rival states regain their strength and unite against us, even with your talent like the Yellow Emperor's, you will not be able to unify the country!"
After hearing this, the King of Qin appointed Li Si as his Chief Historian, adopted his strategy, and secretly sent people with gold, silver, and jewels to persuade the lords of various states. Those who could be bought were bribed, while those who refused were assassinated with swords. Disrupting the relationships between the rulers and ministers of the various states, the King of Qin also sent his best troops and commanders to follow up. Later, the King promoted Li Si to be a guest official (a position of significant influence).
At that time, there was a Korean named Zheng Guo who came to Qin as a spy, pretending to be building irrigation canals. He was later discovered. The nobles of Qin advised the King, "Most of those sent by the rival states to Qin are spies; we should drive them all away!" Li Si was also on the list of those being expelled. So Li Si wrote a letter to the King of Qin, saying:
I hear they're kicking out officials who aren't from around here – that's crazy! Way back when, Duke Mu of Qin recruited talents widely. He brought in Youyu from the Rong, Baili Xi from the state of Wan, Jianshu from Song, and Pibao and Gongsun Zhi from Jin. None of these five were natives of Qin, but Duke Mu valued them greatly. As a result, they conquered over twenty states and eventually became the overlords of the Western Rong. "Duke Mu sought out talent, bringing Youyu from the west, Baili Xi from the east, Jianshu from Song, and Pibao and Gongsun Zhi from Jin. These five, though not natives of Qin, were employed by Duke Mu, leading to the conquest of twenty states and dominance of the Western Rong."
King Xiao of Qin greatly valued Shang Yang, implemented his reforms, transformed social mores, secured the happiness of the people, strengthened the country, and everyone was pleased. Other vassals became Qin's subjects, defeating the armies of Chu and Wei, expanding its territory by a thousand *li*, and to this day Qin remains powerful. "King Xiao used Shang Yang's methods to change customs, enrich the people, strengthen the country, secure the happiness of the people, earn the loyalty of the vassals, defeat the armies of Chu and Wei, and expand its territory by a thousand *li*, still governing strongly to this day." King Hui of Qin adopted Zhang Yi's strategies, conquered the Three Rivers region, annexed the western territories of Ba and Shu, recaptured Shangjun to the north, occupied Hanzhong to the south, controlled the land of the Nine Yis, conquered Yan and Ying, seized the strategic position of Chenggao to the east, took fertile land, ultimately shattered the alliance of the Six States, and made them all pay homage to Qin, a credit that continues to this day. "King Hui used Zhang Yi's strategies to conquer the Three Rivers region, annex the western territories of Ba and Shu, recapture Shangjun to the north, occupy Hanzhong to the south, control the land of the Nine Yis, conquer Yan and Ying, seize the strategic position of Chenggao to the east, take fertile land, and shatter the alliance of the Six States, making them all serve Qin, a credit that continues to this day." King Zhao of Qin valued Fan Sui, dismissed the Marquis of Rang, expelled Huayang, strengthened the royal power, suppressed the power of private families, gradually encroached on the territories of the feudal lords, and thus established Qin's imperial dominance. "King Zhao obtained Fan Sui, dismissed the Marquis of Rang, expelled Huayang, strengthened the royal power, suppressed the power of private families, encroached on the territories of the feudal lords, and thus established Qin's imperial dominance." These four monarchs all achieved success with the help of foreign officials. From these examples, we can see, what harm would it do to Qin if officials from other regions were excluded? Had these four kings rejected outsiders and refused to employ talented individuals, Qin would never have achieved its wealth and power, nor its renowned strength. "These four monarchs all relied on the achievements of outsiders. From this perspective, how could the outsiders be at fault in Qin! If these four monarchs had rejected outsiders, not employed talented individuals, the country would lack prosperity and profit, and Qin would not have its powerful reputation."
Now, Your Highness, you possess the jade of Kunlun Mountain, as well as treasures like the Suihou Pearl and the Heishi Bi. You wear the Mingyue Pearl, carry the Tai'e Sword, ride the Xianli Horse, have the Cuifeng Flag displayed, and play the Lingtuo Drum. None of these treasures are produced in the state of Qin, yet you are very fond of them. Why is that? Are only products from Qin allowed to be used? Shouldn't the Nightlight Jade adorn the court, the rhinoceros ivory products be suitable as precious gifts, the beautiful women from Zheng and Wei states be added to the palace, the good horses be kept in the stables, the gold and tin from Jiangnan be used for crafting, and the paintings from West Shu be used for art? Must everything used to adorn the palace, enrich it, please you, and be visually appealing come from Qin? Can the hairpins made of Wanzhu, the earrings made by Fu Ji, the delicate silk clothing, and the embroidered decorations not be presented to you? Can the beautiful and gentle women from the state of Zhao not serve by your side? Beating earthenware pots, playing the guqin, singing and dancing—these are the true music of Qin; the music of Zheng, Wei, Sangjian, Zhao, Yu, Wu, and Xiang are all music from other states. But now, you’ve abandoned the earthenware pots and guqin to listen to the music of Zheng and Wei, and given up the guqin to enjoy the music of Zhao and Yu. Why is that? It's all just for a bit of fleeting pleasure, a quick fix for your senses.
But your treatment of talent is different. You don't care if they're any good, or even if they're right or wrong; if they ain't from Qin, you boot 'em; if they're outsiders, you chuck 'em out. Looks like all you care about is pretty faces and fancy folk, while you ignore the common folk. That ain't the way to unite the world and boss around those lords! I've heard that rich lands mean more food, big countries mean big armies, and big armies mean brave soldiers. A big mountain ain't gonna turn its nose up at a little bit of dirt, is it? A big river don't care about a little stream. So, no borders, everyone's one big happy family, good harvests every year, and the gods are on your side – that's how the Five Emperors and Three Kings won every battle.
Now you are abandoning the people to support enemy countries, driving away guests to please the feudal lords, causing talented individuals in the world to retreat and not dare to enter Qin; you're just shooting yourself in the foot! Many treasures in the world are not produced in Qin; many loyal individuals are not from Qin. Now you are driving away guests to support enemy countries, harming the people to strengthen the enemies. You've got nothing left inside, and you've made enemies of all the lords outside. You're asking for trouble!
The King of Qin reversed his order, brought Li Si back, and took his advice. Li Si became top dog, and twenty years later, Qin Shi Huang united the whole country, became Emperor, and made Li Si his Prime Minister. He flattened all the city walls and destroyed all the weapons – no more need for 'em. No more lords, no more princes – just one big happy family, and no more wars!
In the 34th year, Qin Shi Huang held a banquet at the Xianyang Palace, where scholars and officials, including Zhou Qingchen, praised his achievements. However, a man from the Qi state named Chunyu Yue stepped forward and advised, "I have heard that the royal families of the Yin, Shang, and Zhou dynasties lasted for thousands of years by granting land to their descendants and meritorious officials, allowing them to serve as auxiliary forces. Now, Your Majesty rules over the entire world, yet your descendants are reduced to commoners. If someone like Tian Chang or the Six Ministers were to rebel, without loyal ministers by your side, how will you respond? I have never heard of a ruler lasting without learning from historical experiences. Now, Qingchen and others flatter you to your face, worsening your errors. They are not loyal ministers!" Qin Shi Huang handed this matter to Prime Minister Li Si for resolution. Li Si refuted Chunyu Yue's viewpoint and wrote, "In ancient times, the world was divided and in chaos, with no one able to unify it, leading to constant strife among the feudal lords. Those who always bring up ancient examples to criticize the present, using false words to distort facts, are fond of studying private schools, going against the system established by Your Majesty. Now that Your Majesty has unified the world, clearly defining right and wrong, and keeping everyone in their place; those private schools spread teachings that violate the laws, discussing them according to their own private studies when given orders, harboring discontent, gossiping in the streets, attacking the court, showing off their intelligence, and inciting the people to cause trouble. If this is not stopped, the monarch's authority will decline, and factions will form below. Therefore, it must be prohibited! I suggest that all books related to literature, poetry, and various schools of thought should be destroyed. Those who do not comply within thirty days will be punished and exiled to the border to serve hard labor. Only books on medicine, fortune-telling, and farming were spared. If anyone wishes to learn, let the officials be their teachers." Qin Shi Huang agreed to Li Si's proposal, ordering the confiscation of books related to poetry and various schools of thought to prevent the people from using ancient examples to criticize his rule. He made laws based solely on his own wishes, unifying the written language. He also built many palaces and mansions throughout the country. The next year, he toured the empire and attacked the barbarians, all thanks to Li Si.
Li Si's son, Li You, the governor of Sanchuan, returned to Xianyang on leave, and Li Si held a banquet at home. Loads of officials showed up to celebrate; the place was packed—a sea of carriages and horses, easily a thousand strong! Li Si looked at this scene and couldn't help but sigh, saying, "Ah, I have heard Master Xun say that 'what goes up must come down.' I, originally just an ordinary commoner from Shangcai, have gradually risen from a nobody from the sticks to my current position. The Emperor took a chance on me, and look where I am now! Now, among the court officials, no one has a higher position than me. I've hit the jackpot, haven't I? But... what goes up must come down, and I don't know what to do in the future!"
In the thirty-seventh year of Qin Shihuang's reign, in October, he went on an inspection tour to Kuaiji, then to the coastal areas, and as far north as Langya. Prime Minister Li Si and Zhao Gao, head of the Emperor's personal guard and keeper of the imperial seal, accompanied the Emperor. Qin Shihuang had over twenty sons, with his eldest son Fusu being sent to serve as a military supervisor, with Meng Tian as his general, because he kept giving the Emperor unsolicited advice. The youngest son Hu Hai was greatly favored and requested to accompany the Emperor on the tour, which was granted. The rest of his sons stayed behind.
In July of that year, the First Emperor arrived at Shaqiu, deathly ill. He had Zhao Gao write a decree to Prince Fusu, instructing him to hand over the army to Meng Tian and return to Xianyang to attend to the funeral. Before the decree could be delivered, the Emperor died. Zhao Gao held onto the decree and the imperial seal. Only Hu Hai, Prime Minister Li Si, Zhao Gao, and a few favored eunuchs knew of the Emperor's death, while the other ministers remained unaware. Li Si believed that since the Emperor died outside and had not appointed a crown prince, they should keep it secret for the time being. They kept the Emperor's body in a carriage. Officials continued their routine, presenting memorials and food offerings. Eunuchs emerged from the carriage to deliver imperial edicts.
Holding the seal granted by the Emperor to Fusu, Zhao Gao told Hu Hai, "The Emperor's dead, and he didn't name any other princes, just wrote to Fusu. Once he arrives, he'll become Emperor immediately, leaving you with nothing. What should we do?" Hu Hai replied, "Indeed, a smart ruler knows his people, and a smart dad knows his kids. If the father has passed away without appointing other sons, there’s nothing more to say!"
Zhao Gao argued, "No! The power's in our hands—yours, mine, and the Prime Minister's. You should think carefully about how to hold onto it. Besides, it's a whole lot different, being in charge versus taking orders, don't you think?" Hu Hai responded, "It's wrong to get rid of your older brother to put yourself on top. It's unfilial to ignore your father's last wishes just because you're scared of dying. And it's plain stupid to think you can get ahead just because someone else did something great. All three points go against morality, and the people of the world won't follow you. You'll also be in danger, and the state will decline as a result."
Zhao Gao said, "I heard that Tang and Wu killed their monarchs, and everyone thinks they did the right thing, not considering them disloyal. The Lord of Wei killed his own father, but the state of Wei praised his merits, and Confucius even recorded this incident, not considering him unfilial. Big things require big moves. Great achievers don't get bogged down in niceties. Different places and courts have their own rules, and the duties of officials are also different. Therefore, only focusing on trivial matters and forgetting the big picture will surely lead to danger in the future; hesitating will surely lead to regrets later on. Bold moves scare off the competition, and only then can one succeed. I hope you act quickly!"
Hu Hai sighed and said, "We're still in mourning! It's not the time to be bothering the Prime Minister."
Zhao Gao said, "This is our chance! We gotta strike while the iron's hot! Act quickly, it will be too late!"
Hu Hai followed Gao's advice. Gao said, "We can't do this without the Prime Minister on board. Let me help you talk to the Prime Minister."
Gao then said to Prime Minister Li Si, "The Emperor's dead. We were gonna send a letter to the Crown Prince, but he's gone too. The letter and the seal are with Hu Hai. It's up to you and me who becomes the next emperor. What do we do?"
Li Si said, "Are you crazy? This is treason! This is not something a subject should discuss!"
Gao said, "Let's be real, who's more powerful: you or Meng Tian? Who's got more clout? Who's got better connections? Who has fewer enemies? Who's closer to the Crown Prince?"
Li Si said, "You win on all counts. But why so aggressive?"
Gao said, "I am just a minor official in the palace, lucky enough to enter the Qin Palace by sheer chance, managing affairs for over twenty years. I have never seen a prime minister or a meritorious official in the Qin Kingdom who was dismissed and lived to see their sons become marquises or prime ministers. In the end, they all ended up being killed. The Emperor has over twenty sons, and you know them all. The Crown Prince is resolute and brave, deeply loved by the people, and capable of leading troops into battle. If he ascends to the throne, he will definitely appoint Meng Tian as prime minister. Your marquis seal will never return to your hometown. Do I need to say more? I have been tasked with teaching Hu Hai for several years, and I have not seen any flaws in him. He is kind and compassionate, values his scholars, and thinks things through carefully. Although he speaks reservedly, he respects scholars greatly. Among the princes of the Qin Kingdom, no one can compare to him. He can be the heir. Think about it carefully and make a decision!"
Li Si said, "You should dismiss this idea! I'm just following orders. How can I make the decision?"
Gao said, "Things can change in an instant; what's safe today might be dangerous tomorrow. How can you create a wise ruler without embracing the uncertainty of life and death?"
Li Si said, "I, Li Si, originally a commoner from Shangcai Township, was fortunate enough to be promoted by the Emperor as prime minister and appointed as a marquis. My descendants enjoy a noble status and generous salary, so my fate is tied to the Emperor's. How can I betray his grace? A loyal minister does not fear death and assists the monarch to the best of his ability; a filial son does not hesitate to protect the monarch through hardship. Everyone should do their job. Please stop talking, do not let me make a mistake!"
Gao said, "I have heard that sages adapt to changes and adjust in a timely manner, seeing the big picture. Things themselves are like this; there is no unchanging rule! Now, the power of the world is in Hu Hai's hands, and I can succeed. Moreover, confusing from the outside is called deception, controlling superiors from subordinates is called rebellion. When autumn frost falls, plants wither; when water ripples, all things grow. This is an inevitable law. Why are you being so cautious?"
Li Si said, "I have heard that in the state of Jin, the prince was deposed, and for three generations there was no peace; in the state of Qi, Duke Huan's brothers fought for power and both ended up dead; King Zhou killed his relatives, ignored advice, and the state eventually perished, with the ancestral shrines falling into disrepair. These three incidents all went against the will of heaven, and the ancestral temples lost their incense. I am just like them; how can I participate in such schemes?"
Gao responded, "Unity from top to bottom is the key to longevity; harmony inside and out ensures smooth sailing in all matters. If you follow my plan, you will forever enjoy the title of marquis, your descendants will thrive, surely live long and prosper, and be as wise as Confucius and Mencius. By giving up this opportunity now, calamity will befall your descendants—a chilling prospect. Wise men can turn disaster into fortune; why can't you see the light?"
Li Si looked up to the sky, sighed deeply with tears in his eyes, and said, "Oh, what a mess! Since I can't die, who can I trust with my life?" So Li Si listened to Gao's words.
Gao went to inform Hu Hai, "I will take the prince's order to notify the prime minister, and he will surely comply!"
So they hatched a plan, pretending to have received an order from the First Emperor, saying they wanted to crown Hu Hai as the prince. They then forged an imperial edict for Crown Prince Fu Su, stating, "I am touring the world, offering sacrifices to the spirits of famous mountains and rivers, praying for a long life. Now, Fu Su and General Meng Tian have been stationed on the border with tens of thousands of troops for over ten years, without any achievements, and instead suffering heavy losses. Fu Su has repeatedly criticized my actions in his memorials, saying he cannot return to the capital to become the prince, constantly harboring resentment. For his disloyalty, Fu Su will be put to death! Meng Tian, outside, also did not advise, clearly participating in their conspiracy. Unfaithful subjects will also be put to death, and their military power will be handed over to the deputy general Wang Li." This letter was sealed with the emperor's seal, and Hu Hai's confidant was sent to deliver it to Fu Su in the commandery.
The messenger arrived in Shangjun, read the imperial decree to Fusu, and Fusu bawled his eyes out upon hearing it. He went back to his room and wanted to commit suicide. Meng Tian stopped Fusu and said, "The emperor is far away on the border, and has not yet named a crown prince. We have 300,000 troops guarding the border, and you are here. This is a matter of national security! Just because a messenger came, you want to commit suicide. What if this is all a fake? Let's ask again, and again, if it really comes down to it, then die—it's not dark yet!" The messenger urged several times. Fusu, being righteous, said to Meng Tian, "My own father ordered my death! What's there left to ask?" After speaking, he committed suicide. Meng Tian refused to die, so the messenger handed him over to the local officials and detained him in Yangzhou.
The messenger returned and reported to Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, and Li Si, who were thrilled. Upon returning to Xianyang, the death of the First Emperor was announced, and Hu Hai ascended the throne as the Second Emperor of Qin. Zhao Gao was appointed as the Palace Minister and frequently participated in handling state affairs.
After the Second Emperor of Qin ascended the throne, he summoned Zhao Gao to discuss state affairs and said, "Living in this world is like trying to steer six wild horses through a doorway. Now that I have become the emperor, I want to enjoy life to the fullest, fulfill all my desires, keep the ancestors happy, ensure the happiness of the people, possess the world for a long time, and enjoy my life. Is this possible?"
Zhao Gao replied, "Only a wise monarch can achieve this; a foolish one cannot. I dare to speak out, even at the risk of being executed. I hope Your Majesty can pay a little attention. In the rebellion at Shacheng Palace, many princes and ministers harbored doubts. Those princes were the late emperor's brothers, and the ministers were appointed by the late emperor. Now that Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, they're all simmering with resentment and may cause trouble. Moreover, Meng Tian is dead, and Meng Yi is leading troops outside. I'm worried sick that things might go wrong. How can Your Majesty enjoy peace of mind?"
The Second Emperor asked, "What should we do?" Zhao Gao said, "We need to crack down hard, make the punishments harsher, let criminals implicate each other, exterminate their entire clans, eliminate those ministers, and distance yourself from relatives; raise up the poor and humble. Remove all the old ministers of the late emperor and replace them with those you trust. In this way, you'll get the credit for doing good, get rid of the troublemakers, and squash any plots against you. The officials will be so grateful, you can relax and enjoy yourself. There’s no better way than this."
The Second Emperor believed Zhao Gao's words and thus amended the laws. From then on, whenever officials or princes committed crimes, Zhao Gao immediately ordered severe torture. He had ministers like Meng Yi executed, had twelve princes publicly executed in Xianyang, and ten princesses in Du, confiscating their properties and implicating countless others.
Prince Gao wanted to escape but feared being wiped out, so he wrote a letter saying, "When the late emperor was alive, I dined in the palace and rode in the carriage; I received rewards of clothes and horses. I should have sacrificed myself for the late emperor, but I failed to do so, being a bad son and a bad subject. Disloyal people don't last long, so I request death, hoping to be buried at the foot of Mount Li. Please, show me some mercy."
After receiving the letter, Hu Hai was very pleased and showed it to Zhao Gao, asking, "Does this seem urgent to you?" Zhao Gao replied, "A loyal subject worries about dying, not plotting rebellion!" Hu Hai agreed to Prince Gao's request and rewarded him with a hundred thousand cash for burial.
The laws of the Qin Dynasty became increasingly strict, the punishments became heavier, and the ministers were all stressed out, with more and more people thinking of rebellion. Emperor Qin Er Shi embarked on a massive building spree, constructing the Afang Palace, major highways, and regular roads, while imposing heavier taxes and forced labor endlessly. At this time, soldiers Chen Sheng and Wu Guang from the Chu State started a rebellion, beginning in Shandong, with many outstanding talents joining them to set themselves up as kings of various states, rebelling against the Qin Dynasty. Their army marched to Hongmen, only to retreat.
Li Si tried several times to find an opportunity to advise Emperor Qin Er Shi, but the emperor ignored him completely. Later, Er Shi questioned Li Si, saying, "I heard Han Feizi say this privately: 'When Emperor Yao ruled, the palace was only three feet high, with no need to trim the beams, and the thatched roof did not need to be repaired, better than the conditions in an inn. In winter, wearing a deer hide robe, in summer, wearing hemp clothing, eating coarse grains, drinking vegetable stew, living in mud houses, drinking water from clay jars, better than the food in prison. Emperor Yu dug through the Longmen, dredged the nine rivers, managed the nine flood embankments, draining the accumulated water into the sea, resulting in being worn down to the bone, a haggard and exhausted face, and eventually dying of exhaustion in a foreign land, buried in Kuaiji, more grueling than any forced laborer's!' So, is the preciousness of being an emperor to make oneself suffer, live in a house like an inn, eat food like in prison, and do slave-like work? Only useless heirs would pursue this, not what a wise person should do. A wise person as emperor will only use the empire for their own pleasure; that is the preciousness of being an emperor. A so-called wise person will surely stabilize the world and govern the people. If one cannot even live well themselves, how can they govern the world? So I want to indulge myself, enjoy luxury and power for as long as I can, without a care in the world. What's the solution?"
Li Si's son Li You was the governor of Sanchuan prefecture. When Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and others launched a westward rebellion, Li You was unable to stop them. Zhang Han defeated Wu Guang and his army, and then blamed Li You and the Sanchuan prefecture, criticizing Li Si for, while he was one of the Three Excellencies, letting bandits run rampant. Li Si was terrified and wanted to save his life by climbing the ranks, but he didn't know what to do. So he played along with the Second Emperor and sought forgiveness. He wrote in response:
"Look, a good leader has to get things done and keep people in line! If you crack the whip, they'll work their butts off. This keeps everyone in line, and everyone, from the best to the worst, will work their tails off for the Emperor. That way, the Emperor can have total control, call the shots, and live the high life. That's leadership 101, so get it through your thick skulls!"
Shenzi once said, "Having control over the world without being arrogant and domineering is like treating the world as a ball and chain." What does this mean? In simple terms, it means not managing people but killing themselves trying to look after everyone, just like Yao, Shun, and Yu did. That's why it's called a "ball and chain"! If you don't learn the governing strategies of Shen Buhai and Han Feizi, don't understand how to manage people, and only think about your own comfort, slaving away for the people all day long, then wouldn't you just become a servant of the common people? That's hardly governing; what's to brag about? If you lord it over others, you look grand, they look small; if you put yourself out for others, you look small, they look grand. Therefore, those who sacrifice themselves for others are humble, and those who are flattered by others are noble, without exception. The ancient sages who were respected were noble, while the useless and despised were humble. Yao, Shun, and Yu sacrificed themselves for the world, yet people still respected them. That's not what respecting wise leaders is all about. So calling it a ball and chain isn't wrong, is it? It's because they didn't know how to manage people!
Han Feizi said, "A kind mother may have a bad son; a strict family will not have unruly subjects." Why is that? It's because he could impose severe punishments! Take Shang Yang's laws: even tossing dust on the road got you punished! Throwing dust is a minor offense, but the punishment is severe. Only a wise monarch can strictly enforce even minor offenses. If minor offenses are punished so severely, what about serious crimes? So, no one dared break the law.
Therefore, Han Feizi also said: "Ordinary cloth and silk, common people do not let go; a hundred *yi* of gold, even a thief wouldn't risk stealing." This does not mean that ordinary people are so easily tempted by small gains, while even hardened criminals are deterred by significant risk; nor does it mean that thieves do not steal because a hundred *yi* of gold is too heavy. It is because stealing will definitely be punished immediately, so thieves dare not steal a hundred *yi* of gold; and without swift and certain punishment, ordinary people will not give up the little cloth and silk. Therefore, with walls only five zhang high, even Lou Ji does not dare to invade easily; Mount Tai towering into the clouds, yet lame sheep can graze on it. If Lou Ji finds it difficult to cross a five-zhang high wall, does it mean that lame sheep can easily climb the hundred-ren high Mount Tai? The difference lies in the severity of the consequences!
Wise monarchs and sage emperors maintain their power and prestige not because of any special methods, but because they can make decisive decisions, enforce laws strictly, and punish harshly, so that people dare not disobey. If we do not work to prevent the people from committing crimes, but instead follow the example of an indulgent mother indulging a wayward son, isn't that just failing to understand what makes a good ruler? If we cannot implement the governance strategies of the sages, what's the use of being a leader then? That's just sad.
Look at how frugal and righteous ministers strengthen the court, ending extravagant pleasures; those ministers who dare to speak frankly and give advice to the emperor cause wild ideas to subside; the deeds of martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the country spread throughout the world, and the dangers of arrogance and extravagance naturally disappear. Therefore, wise monarchs not only need to achieve these three points, but also need to maintain a firm grip on power, manage their ministers effectively, and ensure a just legal system in order to be respected and powerful.
Any smart ruler can change the world, shape society, get rid of what they hate, and set up what they want. By doing so, they will be respected while alive and remembered well after they're gone. Therefore, an enlightened monarch must call the shots, so that power does not fall into the hands of their subjects. This way, they can shut down dissent, seal the mouths of those who offer advice, suppress the actions of martyrs, and control the flow of information. This will prevent external influences of benevolence and martyrdom, as well as internal challenges from advice and debate. Therefore, they can act decisively and independently, without anyone daring to oppose them. Only in this way can it be said that they truly understand the strategies of Shen Buhai and Han Fei, and Shang Yang's laws. A perfect system, brilliant strategies – and yet the world's a mess? Never heard of it! Therefore, it is said that "the royal road is easy to travel," and only an enlightened monarch can achieve this.
As a result, supervision is solid, and the subjects will not have evil intentions. With loyal subjects, peaceful world, the ruler will be powerful and respected. With effective supervision, the goals can be achieved, leading to a prosperous and powerful country, and a content and wealthy monarch. Therefore, as long as supervision's on point, there is no wish that cannot be fulfilled. Before anyone can fix their mistakes, who would dare to plot rebellion? In this way, the emperor's got it all figured out, even if Shen Buhai and Han Fei came back to life, they couldn't top this.
The memorial was presented, and Qin Er Shi was thrilled. Therefore, he implemented supervision even more rigorously, and officials who squeezed the people dry were considered good. Qin Er Shi said, "That's real supervision!" The streets were filled with the bodies of executed criminals, with piles of bodies accumulating in the market every day. The more people they killed, the more they were considered loyal ministers. Qin Er Shi said, "Now that's what I call supervision!"
At first, Zhao Gao became a high-ranking official (Langzhongling). He had too many enemies he wanted revenge on, fearing that the ministers would report him to the court. So he said to Hu Hai, "Your Majesty's authority comes from the fact that the ministers can only hear your voice and not see your face, which is why you use '朕' (I, the Emperor). Besides, you are young and may not be able to handle everything. If you make a mistake while dealing with political affairs in the court, you will appear weak in front of the ministers, which isn't a good way to demonstrate your wisdom and valor to the world. You should stay in the palace and handle political affairs only with your trusted advisors, those loyal to you, so that when problems arise, someone can help you make decisions. This way, the ministers wouldn't dare question anything, and everyone will think you're a great ruler." Hu Hai believed his words and stopped meeting with the ministers, staying in the palace all day. Zhao Gao often served by the emperor's side in handling political affairs, with Zhao Gao making all the decisions.
Zhaogao heard that Li Si wanted to give advice, so he went to see the Prime Minister Li Si and said, "There are many bandits in the eastern part of China. The emperor is urgently increasing forced labor to build the Afang Palace and hoarding a lot of useless animals. I want to speak my mind, but my rank is too low to get a word in. This is something someone in your position should do. Why don't you advise the emperor?" Li Si said, "Yes, I have wanted to speak up for a long time. But now the emperor does not attend court and stays deep in the palace. I can't even get a message to him, and it is difficult to see him." Zhaogao said, "If you can advise the emperor, I can arrange an opportunity for you to speak with him." So Zhaogao waited until Emperor Hu Hai was enjoying himself and the palace maids were serving in front, then he sent someone to inform the Prime Minister, "The emperor is free now; you can go and give him your advice." The Prime Minister came to the palace gate three times to ask to see the emperor. Emperor Hu Hai angrily said, "I often have free time, but the Prime Minister never comes. I am playing with my ladies, and the Prime Minister comes to see me. Does the Prime Minister look down on me? Is he trying to make me look bad?" Zhaogao took the opportunity to say, "This is not good! The Prime Minister was involved in the Sand Dune Conspiracy. Now that Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, the Prime Minister's power has not increased, indicating that he intends to carve out a kingdom for himself! Furthermore, if Your Majesty does not ask, the ministers dare not speak casually. The Prime Minister's eldest son Li You is the governor of Sanchuan County, and bandits like Chen Sheng in the Chu region are the sons of the counties under the Prime Minister's jurisdiction. That is why the bandits in the Chu region are so rampant. When they passed through Sanchuan County, the governor refused to send troops to resist. I heard that there were letters exchanged between them, but I have not investigated it thoroughly, so I dare not report it to Your Majesty. And the Prime Minister's influence outside the palace... it's even greater than yours!" Hu Hai believed it to be true. He wanted to punish the Prime Minister, but he was afraid of making a mistake, so he sent people to investigate the collusion between the governor of Sanchuan County and the bandits. After Li Si heard this news, he felt a sense of urgency to act.
At that time, the Second Emperor Qin was in Ganquan Palace, busy watching a slapstick show. Li Si couldn't see the Emperor, so he wrote a letter accusing Zhao Gao of wrongdoing. He said, "They say if you don't trust your ruler, the whole country suffers; and if you don't trust your husband, your family's ruined. Now, Minister Zhao Gao controls all the rewards and punishments in front of Your Majesty, acting like he's Your Majesty's equal, which is very inappropriate!
In the past, Zihan, advisor to the Song king, ran the whole show. He was so powerful that he took over within a year! Then there was Tian Chang, a servant of Duke Jian of Qi, who held the highest rank in the land and was as rich as the country itself. He bought off everyone – the people, the officials. Then he seized power, killed his rivals, and became king of Qi. These are all well-known facts.
Now Zhao Gao has evil ambitions and dangerous behavior, just like Zihan assisting the Song state. His wealth at home is as rich as Tian's in Qi. He's following in Tian Chang and Zihan's footsteps – and those are some bad footsteps, trying to steal Your Majesty's power. Your Majesty, if you do not guard against him, I'm afraid he's gonna stage a coup!"
Er Shi said, "What gives? Zhao Gao, he started out as a eunuch, but he wasn't content with the status quo, nor did he have any malicious intentions. He's always played it straight, striving to do good, and he rose through the ranks thanks to his loyalty and kept his position through honesty. I admire him very much, so why do you doubt him? And you're getting on in years, probably out of touch with what's going on. If I can't trust Zhao Gao, who can I trust? Besides, Zhao Gao's sharp, capable, knows the people, and he gets me. You should stop doubting him!" Li Si said, "No! Zhao Gao was low-born, greedy, and power-hungry. The higher he climbed, the more ambitious he got. That's why I said he is dangerous."
Before, Qin Er Shi believed in Zhao Gao, but now he was afraid that Li Si would kill Zhao Gao, so he secretly told Zhao Gao about this. Zhao Gao said, "The Prime Minister only fears me. If I'm gone, he'll probably try to take over next." So Er Shi said, "Then let the Minister of Justice deal with Li Si!"
Aw, man, this is awful! Li Si was double-crossed by Zhao Gao, thrown into prison. He looked up at the sky, sighed, and said, "Man, this is depressing! What am I supposed to do with this crazy emperor? In the past, Jie offed Guan Longfeng, Zhou whacked Prince Bi Gan, and King Fu Chai of Wu bumped off Wu Zixu. Were these three ministers not loyal? But they all died, and the monarchs they faithfully assisted also met a bad end. My intelligence and wisdom are nothing compared to theirs, but the cruelty of this Second Emperor is worse than that of Jie, Zhou, and Fu Chai. I guess dying for this country is my fate. Moreover, this Second Emperor's reign is a total mess! He killed his own brothers, took the throne for himself, killed loyal officials, favored villains, and extravagantly built the Afang Palace, screwing the people over. I advised him, but he never listened to me. In ancient times, wise kings had self-restraint in eating and drinking, set limits on possessions, and maintained standards for palaces and buildings. They issued orders, and if increasing expenses didn't benefit the people, they were strictly prohibited, leading to long-lasting peace. But now, he has turned against his brothers, disregarding consequences; killed loyal officials without considering the aftermath; and spent lavishly on palaces, increasing taxes without caring about the cost. The people are gonna be furious. Half the country's already in revolt, and he still can't see the situation clearly, continuing to rely on Zhao Gao as his assistant. I am certain that the enemy will be at the gates of Xianyang any day now, and then even the deer will be running wild in the palace!"
Li Si's words, man, they really hit home—every single one of them! He clearly analyzes the tyranny of the Second Emperor and his own tragic fate. He laments his unwavering loyalty, yet ends up executed, also predicting the impending downfall of the Qin Dynasty. Just like Jie killed Guan Longfeng, Zhou killed Prince Bigan, and King Fuchai killed Wu Zixu, these examples highlight the tragic reality that loyal ministers often do not meet a good end. His final words, "I'll see the enemy at the gates of Xianyang, and deer will be grazing in the palace courtyards!" are filled with sorrow and helplessness, foreshadowing the great disaster facing the Qin Dynasty. This speech shows us the helplessness and desolation of a loyal minister, and also reveals how empires fall.
Qin's Second Emperor sent Gao Han to interrogate Li Si, accusing him of treason and arresting his family and friends. Zhao Gao grilled Li Si, beating him mercilessly and giving him over a thousand lashes. The pain was unbearable; Li Si finally cracked and confessed. He figured he could talk his way out of it, given his past service. Luckily, his plea worked, and the Second Emperor, in a rare moment of clarity, pardoned him.
Li Si wrote a letter to Qin Er Shi from prison, saying, "I have been the Prime Minister for over thirty years, managing the land of Qin. The territory of Qin used to be a little over a thousand *li*, with only a few hundred thousand soldiers. Although my abilities are limited, I have always diligently enforced the laws, secretly cultivated advisors, showering them with gold and silver to influence the feudal lords, developed the army in secret, reformed the government, trained warriors, rewarded meritorious officials with promotions and raises, so that in the end we could bring Han and Wei to heel, smash Yan and Zhao, wipe out Qi and Chu, and ultimately unify the six states, capturing the kings of the six states, making Qin the imperial kingdom. This was my first great accomplishment. Not only did I expand the territory of Qin, but I also attacked the barbarians in the north and pacified the Baiyue tribes in the south, which all demonstrated the strength of Qin. My second great accomplishment was honoring the ministers, raising their titles, and consolidating their positions. My third achievement involved building the Altar of the Soil and Grain and ancestral temples to showcase the monarch's wisdom. Next, I standardized weights and measures, implemented them nationwide, and established the reputation of Qin. I built roads for swift travel and constructed places of leisure to please the emperor. I reduced punishments, lessened taxes, and ensured the people's loyalty, even beyond the grave. This was my seventh achievement. By these accusations, I should've been dead long ago. Your Majesty, your forbearance has allowed me to live until now. I implore you to consider this carefully!" After finishing the letter, Zhao Gao ordered his subordinates to throw the letter away, saying, "Prisoners don't get to write letters!"
Zhao Gao once again instructed a dozen or so underlings pretending to be inspectors, court officials, and attendants to interrogate Li Si. Li Si repeated himself, only to get another brutal beating. Later, Qin Er Shi sent people to question Li Si, who, as before, dared not say anything and ultimately confessed. Once the report was submitted, Qin Er Shi chortled, "If it wasn't for Zhao Gao, that weasel of a Prime Minister woulda had me fooled!" By the time Qin Er Shi's messengers got there to check on the Sanchuan governor, Xiang Liang had already offed him. The messengers showed up just as the Prime Minister was getting his comeuppance, and Zhao Gao cooked up some bogus evidence of Li Si's treason.
In July 208 BC, Li Si was sentenced to death by being sawed in half – public execution, naturally. Before they sawed him in two, they led Li Si out of jail, his son right beside him. He looked at his son, sighed, and said, "I was looking forward to hunting with you, boy, hounds and all, heading out from Shangcai's east gate after those tricky rabbits. Now look at us." Father and son wept bitterly, and in the end, Li Si's entire family was exterminated.
After the death of Li Si, the Second Emperor Qin appointed Zhao Gao as the Prime Minister. Zhao Gao ran the show. With his power growing, Zhao Gao presented a deer but claimed it was a horse. The Emperor asked, "Is that a deer?" "A horse!" they all chorused. Qin Er Shi was surprised and felt deceived, so he called for a diviner to make a prediction. The diviner spun this yarn: "Your Majesty, during the spring and autumn seasons when you offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and the spirits in the ancestral temple, if you do not fast properly, this is what happens. You should base your actions on good morals and fast diligently." So the Emperor went to the imperial hunting grounds to fast. One day, while hunting there, a random pedestrian walked in, and Qin Er Shi shot and killed him. Zhao Gao had his son-in-law, Xianyang magistrate Yan Le, report that someone had killed a person in an unknown location, shifting the blame to the imperial hunting grounds. Then Zhao Gao advised the Emperor, "Killing an innocent guy like that – that's asking for trouble from the heavens! The spirits will not protect you, and calamity will befall you. You should move out of the palace to avoid disaster." So the Emperor moved to Wangyi Palace.
Three days later, Zhao Gao forged an imperial order commanding the guards to wear plain clothes and carry weapons into the palace, then told the Emperor, "The Shandong bandits are here!" The Emperor climbed up for a look and nearly jumped out of his skin – a whole army! Zhao Gao took advantage of the situation to force Qin Er Shi to commit suicide. The Emperor tried to pass the imperial seal to someone else, but none of the officials dared to accept it. Three times, the palace nearly crumbled as he climbed the steps. Knowing he was doomed, Zhao Gao summoned Qin Shi Huang's brother, Ziying, and passed the imperial seal to him.
After Ziying took the throne, he was very afraid of Zhao Gao, so he feigned illness and stayed away from court, plotting with the eunuch Han Tang and his son to kill Zhao Gao. When Zhao Gao came to visit Ziying's illness, Ziying summoned him into the palace and had Han Tang assassinate Zhao Gao, executing his entire family.
He'd only been emperor for three months when Liu Bang's army entered Guanzhong from Wuguan, arrived at Xianyang, and every official and minister abandoned the Qin. Ziying and his wife bound themselves with a rope and surrendered by the side of the road. Liu Bang handed them over to his men. Xiang Yu later came and killed Ziying. And that was the end of the Qin Dynasty.
Sima Qian said that Li Si started from the common people, then spent time in various vassal states, and finally entered the Qin state as an official. Despite his flaws, he assisted the First Emperor and ultimately achieved the empire of the Qin Dynasty. Li Si reached the position of the Three Excellencies (the highest ranking officials), a very prestigious position. However, Li Si clearly knew the laws of development but did not properly govern the country to make up for the emperor's shortcomings. Instead, he flattered the emperor and lived a life of luxury, ruled with an iron fist, listened to the whispers of his enemies, deposed the crown prince, and made Hu Hai his heir. Once the rebellions began, Li Si finally tried to advise the emperor, but it was too late! Everyone thought Li Si was loyal, which is why he was executed by the Five Punishments. Looking at it another way, his downfall was actually related to his unorthodox thinking. If he had not been like that in the first place, his achievements could have been compared to those of Duke Zhou and Duke Shao (two legendary figures known for their wisdom and virtue).
So, basically, Sima Qian believed that although Li Si completely fell from grace, his early contributions were undeniable. It's just that his later actions went against how politics really worked, leading to a tragic outcome. If he had stuck to the right course, perhaps he could have accomplished something truly amazing. Later generations got him all wrong; he wasn't some loyal minister. His own bad choices were mostly to blame for his downfall.
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