高祖本紀（中）

In the fourth month, the armies are disbanded at Xihe, and the feudal lords each depart for their kingdoms. As the King of Han proceeds to his domain, the King of Xiang sends thirty thousand soldiers to escort him; several tens of thousands more from Chu and the other lords follow of their own accord. They enter the Bao Valley from south of Du. As they advance, they burn the plank roads behind them — partly to guard against surprise attack by the other lords, and partly to signal to Xiang Yu that they have no intention of returning east. Upon reaching Nanzheng, many generals and soldiers desert along the way and flee home. The troops all sing songs longing to return east. Han Xin addresses the King of Han: "Xiang Yu has made kings of those generals who served him well, yet Your Majesty alone has been banished to Nanzheng — this is exile. Your officers and soldiers are all men from east of the mountains. Day and night they stand on tiptoe looking homeward. Use them now while their ardor is keen, and great deeds can be accomplished. Once All-Under-Heaven is settled and men grow comfortable, they can never be used again. Better to decide at once on an eastern campaign and contend for mastery of All-Under-Heaven."

In the eighth month, the King of Han employs Han Xin's strategy: he returns by the old road through Chencang and launches a surprise attack on Zhang Han, King of Yong. Zhang Han meets the Han forces at Chencang but his troops are defeated and he falls back. He makes a stand at Haozhi but is defeated again and flees to Feiqiu. The King of Han thereupon pacifies the territory of Yong. He advances east to Xianyang, besieges Zhang Han at Feiqiu, and dispatches his generals to subdue the commanderies of Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun. He orders Generals Xue Ou and Wang Xi to march out through Wuguan, combining forces with Wang Ling's troops in Nanyang, to escort the Venerable Sire and Lady Lü from Pei. But Chu hears of this and sends troops to block them at Yangxia; they cannot get through. Chu appoints the former magistrate of Wu, Zheng Chang, as King of Han to resist the Han armies.

In the second year, the King of Han pushes east to take territory. Sima Xin, King of Sai, Dong Yi, King of Di, and Shen Yang, King of Henan, all surrender. Zheng Chang, King of Han, refuses to submit; Han Xin is sent to crush him. The King of Han then establishes the commanderies of Longxi, Beidi, Shangjun, Weinan, Heshang, and Zhongdi; beyond the passes he establishes the commandery of Henan. He installs the Han Grand Commandant Xin as the new King of Han. Any general who has brought about the surrender of ten thousand men or an entire commandery is enfeoffed with ten thousand households. The frontier fortifications along the Yellow River are repaired. All the former Qin imperial parks, gardens, and pools are opened so that the common people may farm them. In the first month, the younger brother of the King of Yong, Zhang Ping, is captured. A general amnesty is proclaimed.

The King of Han marches out of the passes as far as Shan, where he comforts the elders beyond the passes, then returns. Zhang Er comes to see him, and the King of Han receives him generously.

In the second month, he orders the Qin altars of soil and grain demolished and the Han altars established in their place.

In the third month, the King of Han crosses the Yellow River at Linjin. Wei Bao, King of Wei, joins him with troops. They take Henei and capture Shen Yang, King of Yin, establishing the commandery of Henei. They cross southward at Pingyin Ford and reach Luoyang. Dong Gong, a village elder of Xincheng, intercepts the King of Han and tells him of the death of the Righteous Emperor. When the King of Han hears this, he bares his arms and weeps bitterly. He then proclaims a state mourning for the Righteous Emperor, observing it for three days. He dispatches envoys to announce to all the feudal lords: "All-Under-Heaven jointly enthroned the Righteous Emperor and served him as sovereign. Now Xiang Yu has banished and murdered the Righteous Emperor in the south of the Yangtze — an act of supreme treason and depravity. We personally conduct the mourning rites; let all the feudal lords don white garments of grief. We shall mobilize the full strength of the armies within the passes, muster the soldiers of the Three Rivers, and sail south down the Yangtze and Han. We call upon the kings of the feudal lords to join us in striking down those who murdered the Righteous Emperor."

At this time the King of Xiang is campaigning northward against Qi. Tian Rong fights him at Chengyang but is defeated and flees to Pingyuan, where the people kill him. All of Qi surrenders to Chu. But Chu burns the cities and walls, and carries off Qi's women and children as captives. The people of Qi rebel. Tian Rong's brother Heng sets up Rong's son Guang as King of Qi, and the new King of Qi revolts against Chu at Chengyang. Although Xiang Yu hears that the King of Han is advancing east, he is already entangled with the Qi armies and resolves to finish them before turning to face Han. The King of Han therefore succeeds in coercing the armies of five feudal lords into his coalition and enters Pengcheng.

When Xiang Yu hears of this, he withdraws from Qi, marches out through Lu and Huling to Xiao, and engages the Han forces in a great battle east of Lingbi on the banks of the Sui River. He utterly destroys the Han army, slaughtering so many soldiers that the Sui River ceases to flow. He then seizes the King of Han's father, mother, wife, and children at Pei and holds them hostage in the Chu camp. At this, the feudal lords — seeing Chu's strength and Han's defeat — all abandon the King of Han and return to Chu's allegiance. Sima Xin, King of Sai, flees to Chu.

The King of Han stations his army south of Xingyang and builds a walled corridor connecting to the Yellow River to draw grain from the Ao Granary. He holds off Xiang Yu for over a year. But Xiang Yu repeatedly raids and seizes the corridor, and the Han army runs short of food. Xiang Yu then lays siege to the King of Han. The King of Han sues for peace, offering to cede everything west of Xingyang to Han. The King of Xiang refuses. The King of Han, deeply worried, adopts Chen Ping's stratagem: he gives Chen Ping forty thousand catties of gold to sow discord between Chu's sovereign and his ministers. As a result, Xiang Yu grows suspicious of the Second Father, Fan Zeng. Fan Zeng — who at this very moment is urging Xiang Yu to press the siege and take Xingyang — becomes furious at the mistrust, pleads old age, and begs leave to return home as a common soldier. He dies before reaching Pengcheng.

The Han army's food runs out entirely. At night, over two thousand women are sent out through the east gate wearing armor. Chu attacks them from all four sides. General Ji Xin then mounts the king's carriage, pretending to be the King of Han, and deceives Chu. The Chu soldiers all shout "Ten thousand years!" and rush to the east side of the city to look. Thus the King of Han escapes through the west gate with a few dozen horsemen. He leaves the Imperial Secretary Zhou Ke, Wei Bao, and the Duke of Zong to hold Xingyang. All the officers and men unable to follow remain in the city. Zhou Ke and the Duke of Zong say to one another: "A king who has turned traitor against his own state cannot be trusted to hold a city." They then kill Wei Bao.

After the King of Han escapes from Xingyang and returns to the passes to raise fresh troops, Yuan Sheng counsels him: "Han has been pinned at Xingyang for years and is always on the defensive. If Your Majesty marches out through Wuguan, Xiang Yu will surely lead his army south in pursuit. Build deep ramparts and hold fast, giving the forces between Xingyang and Chenggao time to rest. Meanwhile, send Han Xin to pacify Zhao north of the River, link up with Yan and Qi, and then return to Xingyang — it will not be too late. This way, Chu must guard against threats on every side, its strength will be divided, and Han will be rested. When you fight again, the destruction of Chu is certain." The King of Han follows this plan, marching his army into the area between Wan and Ye, where he joins Qing Bu to gather troops.

Xiang Yu hears that the King of Han is at Wan and, just as predicted, leads his army south. The King of Han fortifies his position and refuses battle. At this point Peng Yue crosses the Sui River, engages the Chu generals Xiang Sheng and the Duke of Xue at Xiapi, and inflicts a major defeat. Xiang Yu wheels east to strike Peng Yue. The King of Han then moves north and stations his army at Chenggao. After routing Peng Yue, Xiang Yu hears that the King of Han has reoccupied Chenggao. He turns west again, takes Xingyang, executes Zhou Ke and the Duke of Zong, captures Xin the King of Han, and then besieges Chenggao.

The King of Han slips away. With only the Marquis of Teng sharing his chariot, he escapes through the Jade Gate of Chenggao, crosses the Yellow River northward, and rides through the night to Xiuwu. At dawn, claiming to be a messenger, he gallops into the camp of Zhang Er and Han Xin — and seizes command of their army. He then sends Zhang Er north to recruit more soldiers in Zhao, and orders Han Xin east to attack Qi. With Han Xin's forces now under his direct control, the King of Han's strength is restored. He advances to the bank of the Yellow River and feasts the army south of Xiao Xiuwu, intending to resume offensive operations. But the palace gentleman Zheng Zhong persuades him to build high ramparts and deep trenches instead, and avoid a pitched battle. The King of Han follows this advice, and sends Lu Wan and Liu Jia with twenty thousand infantry and several hundred cavalry across Baima Ford into Chu territory to join Peng Yue in striking at the Chu army west of Yanguo, retaking more than ten cities in the Liang region.

The Marquis of Huaiyin, having received his orders to march east, has not yet crossed the Pingyuan region. The King of Han sends the scholar Li Yiji to persuade King Tian Guang of Qi to break with Chu and ally with Han against Xiang Yu. But Han Xin, following the advice of Kuai Tong, attacks and overruns Qi regardless. The King of Qi boils Li Yiji alive and flees east to Gaomi. When Xiang Yu hears that Han Xin has mobilized the armies north of the Yellow River and destroyed both Qi and Zhao, and is preparing to attack Chu itself, he dispatches Long Ju and Zhou Lan to intercept. Han Xin joins battle; the cavalry commander Guan Ying charges, and the Chu army is utterly destroyed. Long Ju is killed. King Guang of Qi flees to Peng Yue. At this point, Peng Yue with his forces controls the Liang region, constantly harassing the Chu army and cutting its supply lines.

Chu and Han remain locked in a prolonged stalemate with no resolution. The able-bodied suffer under endless military campaigns; the old and weak are exhausted from hauling provisions. The King of Han and Xiang Yu face each other across the ramparts of Guangwu and exchange words. Xiang Yu challenges the King of Han to single combat. The King of Han enumerates Xiang Yu's crimes: "At the start, you and I alike received our commission from King Huai: whoever first entered and secured Guanzhong would be made its king. You broke this covenant and banished me to Shu and Hanzhong — that is your first crime. You forged orders to kill the Champion General Song Yi and elevated yourself — your second crime. After rescuing Zhao you should have reported back, but instead you commandeered the armies of the feudal lords and forced your way into the passes — your third crime. King Huai decreed that whoever entered Qin should not plunder, yet you burned the Qin palaces, dug up the First Emperor's tomb, and pocketed its treasures — your fourth crime. You forced the surrender of the Qin king Ziying and then killed him — your fifth crime. You treacherously buried alive two hundred thousand Qin youths at Xin'an and made kings of their Qin commanders — your sixth crime. You gave your own generals the best lands and expelled the rightful rulers, driving their subjects to rebel — your seventh crime. You expelled the Righteous Emperor from Pengcheng, seized his capital for yourself, stole the King of Han's territory, and took all of Liang and Chu for your own — your eighth crime. You secretly had the Righteous Emperor assassinated south of the Yangtze — your ninth crime. To serve as a subject and murder your sovereign, to slay those who have surrendered, to govern without fairness, to make treaties without honor — this All-Under-Heaven will not tolerate. This is supreme treason and depravity — your tenth crime. I lead a righteous army, joined by the feudal lords, to punish a cruel brigand. I need only send convicted criminals to strike you down — why should I trouble myself with single combat?" Xiang Yu, in a great fury, has a concealed crossbowman shoot the King of Han. The bolt strikes him in the chest. But the King of Han touches his foot and cries out: "The wretch has hit my toe!" Despite his wound, the King of Han lies abed. Zhang Liang insists that the King of Han rise and inspect the troops, to steady the soldiers' morale and prevent Chu from exploiting the situation. The King of Han goes out to review the army, but his condition worsens severely. He then races back into Chenggao.

At this time, Peng Yue controls the Liang region with his forces, continually harassing the Chu army and severing its supply lines. Tian Heng goes to join him. Xiang Yu repeatedly strikes at Peng Yue and the others, while the King of Qi, Han Xin, presses his attack against Chu. Xiang Yu grows fearful. He makes a treaty with the King of Han to divide All-Under-Heaven in two: everything west of the Honggou Canal shall belong to Han; everything east shall belong to Chu. Xiang Yu returns the King of Han's father, mother, wife, and children. The whole army shouts "Ten thousand years!" The two sides then part and go their separate ways.

Xiang Yu breaks camp and withdraws east. The King of Han intends to withdraw west as well, but Zhang Liang and Chen Ping persuade him to pursue. He advances and halts his army south of Yangxia, arranging to converge with Han Xin the King of Qi and Peng Yue the Marquis of Jiancheng for a combined assault on the Chu army. But when he reaches Guling, they fail to appear. Chu strikes the Han army and inflicts a major defeat. The King of Han retreats behind his ramparts and digs deep trenches to hold his position. Applying Zhang Liang's counsel — offering generous fiefs to secure their commitment — Han Xin and Peng Yue both march to join him. Liu Jia enters Chu territory and besieges Shouchun. After the reverse at Guling, the King of Han sends envoys to summon the Grand Marshal Zhou Yin to raise the troops of Jiujiang and bring them to join the King of Wu. Zhou Yin marches through Chengfu, and together with Liu Jia and the armies of Qi, Liang, and the other lords, all converge in a great assembly at Gaixia. The King of Wu, Qing Bu, is made King of Huainan.

In the fifth year, Gaozu and the armies of the feudal lords jointly attack the Chu forces and fight the decisive battle against Xiang Yu at Gaixia. The Marquis of Huaiyin commands three hundred thousand troops and takes the van. General Kong holds the left wing; General Fei holds the right. The Emperor takes position in the rear; the Marquis of Jiang and General Chai hold the reserve behind the Emperor. Xiang Yu's soldiers number perhaps one hundred thousand. Huaiyin engages first and is pushed back. Generals Kong and Fei then close from the flanks; when the Chu troops falter, the Marquis of Huaiyin surges forward again, and the Chu army is routed at Gaixia. Xiang Yu's soldiers hear the Han army singing songs of Chu, and believe that Han has already conquered all of Chu. Xiang Yu himself breaks and flees, and with that his army disintegrates entirely. The cavalry commander Guan Ying pursues and kills Xiang Yu at Dongcheng, taking eighty thousand heads. All of Chu is thereupon subdued. Only Lu holds out for Chu and will not surrender. The King of Han leads the armies of the feudal lords north and shows the elders of Lu the head of Xiang Yu. Lu then surrenders. Xiang Yu is buried at Gucheng with the honors due to the Duke of Lu. The King of Han returns to Dingtao, rides into the camp of the King of Qi, and seizes command of his army.

In the first month, the feudal lords and the generals and ministers jointly petition for the King of Han to be honored as Emperor. The King of Han says: "I have heard that the title of Emperor belongs only to the worthy. I will not presume to accept it based on empty words and hollow praise." The assembled ministers all say: "Your Majesty rose from the humblest origins, punished the brutal and the treasonous, and pacified All-Under-Heaven. Those with merit have been rewarded with lands and titles. If Your Majesty does not assume the imperial title, none of us can feel secure. We are prepared to defend this with our lives." The King of Han demurs three times. Unable to refuse, he says: "If you gentlemen truly believe this serves the realm, then let it serve the realm." On the jiawu day, he assumes the position of Emperor on the north bank of the Si River.

The Emperor declares that the Righteous Emperor left no heir. Since the King of Qi, Han Xin, is familiar with the customs of Chu, he is transferred to be King of Chu, with his capital at Xiapi. The Marquis of Jiancheng, Peng Yue, is made King of Liang, with his capital at Dingtao. The former King of Han, Xin, remains King of Han, with his capital at Yangzhai. Wu Rui, King of Hengshan, is transferred to be King of Changsha, with his capital at Linxiang. Because the Lord of Fan's general Mei Xuan rendered meritorious service and followed the army into Wuguan, the Lord of Fan is honored. The King of Huainan, Qing Bu, the King of Yan, Zang Tu, and the King of Zhao, Ao, all retain their existing titles.

All-Under-Heaven is settled. Gaozu establishes his capital at Luoyang; all the feudal lords submit as subjects. The former King of Linjiang, Huan, had sided with Xiang Yu against Han. Lu Wan and Liu Jia are ordered to besiege him; he does not surrender for several months, and when he finally does, he is executed at Luoyang.

In the fifth month, all soldiers are demobilized and sent home. Sons of feudal lords residing within the passes are exempted from taxation for twelve years; those who return to their home regions, for six years; all are given one year of rations.

Gaozu holds a banquet in the Southern Palace at Luoyang. Gaozu says: "Let the marquises and generals hide nothing from me; speak the truth freely. Why is it that I won All-Under-Heaven? And why is it that the house of Xiang lost it?" Gao Qi and Wang Ling answer: "Your Majesty is rude and contemptuous toward others, while Xiang Yu was benevolent and kind to people. And yet, when Your Majesty sent men to attack cities and seize territory, those who surrendered were given a share of the conquest — Your Majesty shared the profits with All-Under-Heaven. Xiang Yu was jealous of the worthy and envious of the able; when men achieved merit he harmed them, when men showed talent he suspected them. When he won battles he gave no credit; when he gained lands he shared no rewards. This is why he lost All-Under-Heaven."

Gaozu says: "You know one reason but not the other. To devise strategies within the command tent and determine victory a thousand li away — in this I am no match for Zifang. To steady the state, care for the people, manage the flow of supplies, and keep the grain roads open — in this I am no match for Xiao He. To command an army of a million, win every battle, and take every stronghold — in this I am no match for Han Xin. These three are heroes among men. I was able to employ them — this is why I won All-Under-Heaven. Xiang Yu had one Fan Zeng and could not even use him — this is why he was captured by me."