留侯世家

Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, was of Korean descent. His grandfather Kaidi had served as chancellor to Duke Zhao of Han, King Xuanhui, and King Xiang'ai. His father Ping served as chancellor to King Xi and King Daohui. In the twenty-third year of King Daohui, Ping died. Twenty years after his death, Qin destroyed Han. Liang was still young and had not yet entered Han's service. When Han fell, Liang had three hundred household servants. His younger brother had died but he left the body unburied, devoting his entire family fortune to recruiting an assassin to kill the King of Qin and avenge Han — because his grandfather and father had served as chancellor to Han for five generations.

Liang once studied ritual at Huaiyang. Traveling east, he visited Lord Canghai. He obtained a strongman and had a iron mace forged weighing one hundred and twenty catties. When the First Emperor of Qin went on an eastern tour, Liang and his agent ambushed the emperor at Bolangsha — but struck the wrong carriage, hitting the escort vehicle. The First Emperor was enraged and ordered a massive manhunt throughout the realm, searching for the assassin with extreme urgency — all on Zhang Liang's account. Liang changed his name and went into hiding at Xiapi.

Liang was once strolling leisurely across a bridge at Xiapi when an old man in rough brown cloth came to where Liang stood, deliberately dropped his shoe off the bridge, turned to Liang and said: "Boy! Go down and fetch my shoe!" Liang was stunned and wanted to strike him. But because the man was old, he forced himself to contain his anger, went down, and retrieved the shoe. The old man said: "Put it on me!" Since Liang had already fetched the shoe, he knelt and put it on the old man's foot. The old man received it with his foot, smiled, and walked away. Liang was utterly astonished and watched him go. The old man walked about a li, then came back and said: "You are teachable, boy. Meet me here at dawn in five days." Liang, mystified, knelt and said: "Yes." Five days later at dawn, Liang went. The old man was already there and said angrily: "You made an appointment with an old man and arrive late — what kind of conduct is this?" He left, saying: "Come earlier in five days." Five days later at cockcrow, Liang went. The old man was already there again and again said angrily: "Late again — why?" He left, saying: "Come earlier yet in five days." Five days later, Liang went before midnight. After a while, the old man also came and said with pleasure: "This is how it should be." He produced a bound text and said: "Read this and you will become the teacher of kings. In ten years, you will rise. In thirteen years, boy, you will see me in Jibei — the yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng will be me." He departed without another word and was never seen again. At daylight Liang examined the book — it was the Grand Duke's Art of War. Liang marveled at it and studied it constantly, committing it to memory.

While living at Xiapi, Liang acted as a knight-errant. Xiang Bo, who had killed a man, came to Liang for refuge.

Ten years later, Chen She and others rose in rebellion. Liang likewise gathered over a hundred young men. Jing Ju had proclaimed himself Acting King of Chu and was at Liu. Liang intended to join him but encountered the Lord of Pei on the road. The Lord of Pei was leading several thousand men, campaigning west of Xiapi. Liang joined him. The Lord of Pei appointed Liang as Master of the Stables. Liang repeatedly explained the Grand Duke's Art of War to the Lord of Pei, who found it excellent and constantly employed his strategies. When Liang offered the same teachings to others, none could grasp them. Liang said: "The Lord of Pei is surely Heaven-sent." He therefore followed him and never went to see Jing Ju.

When the Lord of Pei reached Xue and met Xiang Liang, Xiang Liang established King Huai of Chu. Liang then persuaded Xiang Liang: "You have already installed a Chu heir. Among the princes of Han, the Lord of Hengyang, Cheng, is worthy — install him as king and gain another ally." Xiang Liang sent Liang to find Han Cheng and installed him as King of Han. Liang was appointed Han's Shentu and, together with the King of Han, led over a thousand men west to reclaim Han territory. They captured several cities, but Qin recaptured them each time, and they operated as guerrilla forces around Yingchuan.

When the Lord of Pei marched south from Luoyang through Huanyuan Pass, Liang brought his troops to join him. Together they took over ten cities in Han territory and destroyed Yang Xiong's army. The Lord of Pei ordered King Cheng of Han to hold Yangzhai while Liang accompanied him south to take Wan, then west through Wuguan. The Lord of Pei wanted to attack the Qin army below Yao Pass with twenty thousand men. Liang advised: "The Qin forces are still strong — they must not be taken lightly. I hear their general is a butcher's son, the sort of merchant who can be swayed by profit. I suggest you make camp, send agents ahead with provisions for fifty thousand men, plant extra banners on every hilltop as decoys, and have Li Yiji take valuables to bribe the Qin general." The Qin general did indeed agree to betray, proposing to join forces and march west together to seize Xianyang. The Lord of Pei was inclined to accept. Liang said: "Only the general wants to defect — the rank and file may not follow. If they refuse, the situation becomes dangerous. Better to strike while their guard is down." The Lord of Pei attacked the Qin army and routed it. Moving north to Lantian, they fought twice more and the Qin army was completely defeated. They advanced to Xianyang, and the Qin king Ziying surrendered to the Lord of Pei.

The Lord of Pei entered the Qin palace. The chambers and curtains, dogs and horses, precious treasures and women numbered in the thousands. He was inclined to stay and make it his residence. Fan Kuai urged him to withdraw, but the Lord of Pei would not listen. Liang said: "It is because Qin was lawless that you have been able to reach this place. To rid All-Under-Heaven of a cruel tyrant, you should adopt an austere manner. Yet you have barely entered Qin and already settle into its pleasures — this is what is called 'aiding Jie in his cruelty.' Moreover, 'honest words offend the ear but benefit conduct; bitter medicine is foul to the taste but cures disease.' I urge you to heed Fan Kuai's words." The Lord of Pei then withdrew his army to Ba Shang.

Xiang Yu arrived below Hong Gate, intending to attack the Lord of Pei. Xiang Bo rode through the night into the Lord of Pei's camp, sought out Zhang Liang in private, and proposed they flee together. Liang said: "I am here on behalf of the King of Han to escort the Lord of Pei. To abandon him in his hour of crisis would be dishonorable." He told the Lord of Pei everything. The Lord of Pei was alarmed: "What am I to do?" Liang said: "Does my lord truly intend to defy Xiang Yu?" The Lord of Pei said: "A petty scholar advised me to seal the passes and admit no other lords, saying all of Qin could be mine — so I listened to him." Liang said: "Does my lord believe he can resist Xiang Yu?" The Lord of Pei was silent for a long time, then said: "Of course I cannot. What now?" Liang then brought Xiang Bo to meet the Lord of Pei. The Lord of Pei drank with Xiang Bo, toasted his health, and arranged a marriage alliance between their families. He had Xiang Bo convey his assurance that he had no intention of defying Xiang Yu — that the sealing of the passes was only a precaution against bandits. The subsequent encounter with Xiang Yu resolved the crisis — the details are in the account of Xiang Yu.

In the first month of the first year of Han, the Lord of Pei became King of Han, ruling Ba and Shu. The King of Han gave Liang a hundred yi of gold and two dou of pearls. Liang presented them all to Xiang Bo. The King of Han also had Liang send lavish gifts to Xiang Bo and ask him to request that Hanzhong be added to the Han domain. The Hegemon-King agreed, and they obtained Hanzhong. When the King of Han set out for his domain, Liang accompanied him as far as Baozhong, then was sent back to Han. Before parting, Liang advised the King of Han: "Why not burn the plank roads behind you as you go, to show All-Under-Heaven you have no intention of returning east, and put the Hegemon-King's mind at ease?" The King of Han had Liang return, and as he traveled, he burned the plank roads.

When Liang reached Han, the Hegemon-King refused to let King Cheng proceed to his domain — because Liang had accompanied the King of Han. Instead he kept Cheng with him and took him east. Liang told the Hegemon-King: "The King of Han has burned the plank roads — he has no thought of returning." He also informed the Hegemon-King by letter that Tian Rong, King of Qi, had rebelled. The Hegemon-King therefore put aside his western concerns about the King of Han and led his army north to attack Qi.

The Hegemon-King ultimately refused to release the King of Han, demoted him to a marquisate, and then killed him at Pengcheng. Liang fled, slipping through enemy lines to rejoin the King of Han, who by then had already returned to pacify the Three Qin. The King of Han reappointed Liang as Marquis of Chengxin and took him along on the eastern campaign against Chu. They reached Pengcheng but the Han army was defeated and retreated. At Xiayi, the King of Han dismounted, leaned against his saddle, and asked: "I am ready to abandon everything east of the passes — who is worthy to share the enterprise with me?" Liang stepped forward: "Qing Bu, King of Jiujiang, is a fearsome Chu general who has a grudge against the Hegemon-King. Peng Yue has joined Tian Rong's rebellion in the Liang region. These two can be deployed at once. Among Your Majesty's own generals, only Han Xin can be entrusted with a major independent command. If you wish to give territory away, give it to these three — and Chu can be destroyed." The King of Han sent Sui He to persuade Qing Bu, King of Jiujiang, and dispatched agents to liaise with Peng Yue. When King Bao of Wei rebelled, he sent Han Xin with an army to defeat him, and from there Han Xin went on to conquer Yan, Dai, Qi, and Zhao. In the end, it was the combined power of these three men that destroyed Chu.

Zhang Liang was frequently ill and never held an independent field command. He served as a strategist, accompanying the King of Han from time to time.

In the third year, Xiang Yu pressed a desperate siege on the King of Han at Xingyang. The King of Han was anxious and fearful. He consulted with Li Yiji on a plan to undermine Chu's authority. Li Yiji said: "In ancient times, Tang conquered Jie and enfeoffed Jie's descendants at Qi. King Wu conquered Zhou and enfeoffed his descendants at Song. Now Qin has abandoned virtue and righteousness, invaded the altars of the lords, extinguished the descendants of the Six Kingdoms, and left them without a foot of land. If Your Majesty could restore the descendants of the Six Kingdoms and give them their seals, their rulers, ministers, and people would all honor Your Majesty's virtue, turning toward you in admiration and willing to serve as your subjects. With virtue and righteousness thus demonstrated, Your Majesty could face south as hegemon, and Chu would certainly fold its garments and come to pay court." The King of Han said: "Excellent! Have the seals carved at once. You, sir, can deliver them as you go."

Before Li Yiji had departed, Zhang Liang arrived from outside to pay his respects. The King of Han was eating. He said: "Zifang, come forward! A guest has devised a plan to undermine Chu's authority." He relayed Li Yiji's proposal and asked: "What does Zifang think?" Liang said: "Who devised this plan for Your Majesty? Your cause is lost." The King of Han said: "How so?" Zhang Liang replied: "Allow me to borrow the chopsticks before you to lay out the calculation." He said: "When Tang conquered Jie and enfeoffed his heir at Qi, it was because he could command Jie's life and death. Can Your Majesty command Xiang Ji's life and death?" "Not yet." "That is the first impossibility. When King Wu conquered Zhou and enfeoffed his heir at Song, it was because he could take Zhou's head. Can Your Majesty take Xiang Ji's head?" "Not yet." "That is the second impossibility. When King Wu entered Yin, he honored Shang Rong's village, freed Jizi from prison, and sealed Bigan's tomb. Can Your Majesty seal the tombs of sages, honor the villages of the worthy, and bow before the gates of the wise?" "Not yet." "That is the third impossibility. He distributed the grain of the Juqiao granaries and scattered the wealth of the Deer Terrace to the poor. Can Your Majesty empty the treasury and give to the destitute?" "Not yet." "That is the fourth impossibility. When the Yin campaign was done, he converted war chariots to civilian carriages, turned weapons upside down, and covered them with tiger skins to show All-Under-Heaven that war was over. Can Your Majesty lay down arms and practice civil governance, never using troops again?" "Not yet." "That is the fifth impossibility. He pastured the war horses on the southern slopes of Mount Hua to show there was no further need for them. Can Your Majesty retire the horses?" "Not yet." "That is the sixth impossibility. He released the draft oxen in the shade of the Peach Grove to show he would no longer requisition supplies. Can Your Majesty release the oxen and stop requisitioning?" "Not yet." "That is the seventh impossibility. Moreover, the wandering scholars of All-Under-Heaven have left their families, abandoned their ancestral graves, and forsaken their old friends to follow Your Majesty — all in the hope of obtaining a small piece of land someday. If you now restore the Six Kingdoms and install the heirs of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Qi, and Chu, every wandering scholar will return to serve his own lord, go back to his own kin and ancestral graves. With whom will Your Majesty then conquer All-Under-Heaven? That is the eighth impossibility. Furthermore, Chu's strength is unchallenged. If the six restored kingdoms bend to Chu once more, how would Your Majesty command their allegiance? If you truly follow the guest's plan, your cause is lost." The King of Han stopped eating, spat out the food in his mouth, and cursed: "Wretched pedant — he nearly ruined my enterprise!" He ordered the seals melted down at once.

In the fourth year, Han Xin conquered Qi and wished to declare himself King of Qi. The King of Han was furious. Zhang Liang persuaded him, and the King of Han sent Liang to deliver the royal seal to Han Xin. The details are in the account of the Marquis of Huaiyin.

That autumn, the King of Han pursued Chu south of Yangxia, fought unsuccessfully, and fortified at Guling. The allied lords failed to arrive as promised. Liang advised the King of Han, who adopted his plan. The lords all came. The details are in the account of Xiang Ji.

In the first month of the sixth year, the meritorious ministers were enfeoffed. Liang had never fought in battle. Emperor Gaozu said: "Devising strategy within the command tent and determining victory a thousand li away — that is Zifang's achievement. Choose any thirty thousand households in Qi for yourself." Liang said: "I first rose at Xiapi and met Your Majesty at Liu — Heaven placed me in Your Majesty's service. Your Majesty used my plans, and I was fortunate that they sometimes succeeded. I wish only to be enfeoffed at Liu — I dare not accept thirty thousand households." He was therefore enfeoffed as Marquis of Liu, together with Xiao He and the others.

The Emperor had already enfeoffed over twenty of the most meritorious ministers. The rest quarreled day and night over their respective contributions without resolution, and no further enfeoffments were issued. The Emperor was at the Southern Palace in Luoyang. From the elevated corridor, he looked out and saw groups of generals sitting together on the sand, talking. The Emperor asked: "What are they discussing?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Does Your Majesty not know? They are plotting rebellion." The Emperor said: "The realm has just been settled — why would they rebel?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Your Majesty rose from common cloth and used these men to win All-Under-Heaven. Now that Your Majesty is Son of Heaven, those enfeoffed are all old friends and intimates of Xiao He and Cao Shen, while those executed are all men who had been Your Majesty's personal enemies. Now the military officers are tallying their merit and realizing that there is not enough land under Heaven to reward everyone. They fear that Your Majesty will be unable to enfeoff them all and may instead dredge up their past offenses and execute them. Therefore they gather to plot rebellion." The Emperor grew worried: "What is to be done?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Of all the people Your Majesty has despised, whom do the ministers all know you hate the most?" The Emperor said: "Yong Chi and I go back a long way. He repeatedly humiliated me. I have wanted to kill him, but his merit was too great, so I have held back." The Marquis of Liu said: "Enfeoff Yong Chi at once, and make sure the ministers see it. When they see that even Yong Chi has been made a marquis, every one of them will rest easy." The Emperor thereupon held a feast, enfeoffed Yong Chi as Marquis of Shifang, and urgently ordered the chancellor and censor to finalize the merit assessments and carry out the enfeoffments. When the ministers rose from the feast, they all said with relief: "If even Yong Chi can be made a marquis, we have nothing to worry about."

Liu Jing proposed to Emperor Gaozu: "Make your capital at Guanzhong." The Emperor was uncertain. His senior ministers, most of whom were men from east of the mountains, urged him to establish the capital at Luoyang: "Luoyang has Chenggao to the east and the Xiao and Mian passes to the west. It backs against the Yellow River and faces the Yi and Luo rivers — its natural defenses are formidable enough." The Marquis of Liu said: "Luoyang may have these defenses, but the area within is small — no more than a few hundred li across. The farmland is poor, and it is exposed to attack from all four sides. This is not a land from which to project military power. Guanzhong, by contrast, has the Xiao and Hangu passes on the left, the Long and Shu highlands on the right, a thousand li of fertile fields, the abundance of Ba and Shu to the south, and the profit of the nomad pastures to the north. It is shielded on three sides and needs only one face to control the eastern lords. When the lords are at peace, the Yellow and Wei rivers transport the wealth of the realm westward to feed the capital. When the lords rebel, the current flows downstream, carrying men and supplies wherever needed. This is what they call a fortress of metal a thousand li across — a Heavenly Storehouse. Liu Jing's proposal is correct." Emperor Gaozu set out that very day, driving west to establish the capital at Guanzhong.

The Marquis of Liu followed him through the passes. The Marquis of Liu was constitutionally sickly. He immediately took up Daoist breath exercises and grain avoidance, shut his doors, and did not emerge for over a year.

The Emperor wished to depose the heir apparent and install Ruyi, King of Zhao, the son of Lady Qi. Many ministers remonstrated, but none could make the Emperor abandon the idea. Empress Lü was terrified and did not know what to do. Someone told her: "The Marquis of Liu is skilled at strategy, and the Emperor trusts him." Empress Lü had the Marquis of Jiancheng, Lü Ze, press the Marquis of Liu: "You have always been the Emperor's chief strategist. Now he wishes to replace the heir. How can you sleep soundly?" The Marquis of Liu said: "In the past, the Emperor was often in dire straits and was kind enough to use my plans. Now that All-Under-Heaven is at peace, he wishes to change the heir out of personal affection. This is a matter of flesh and blood — even if a hundred ministers like me objected, it would make no difference." Lü Ze pressed him: "Devise a plan for me." The Marquis of Liu said: "This cannot be won by argument. There are four men the Emperor has been unable to recruit. They are old men who consider the Emperor rude and contemptuous, and have therefore hidden in the mountains, refusing on principle to serve the Han. Yet the Emperor holds them in the highest regard. If you could spare no expense in jade, silk, and treasure, have the heir compose a letter in humble language, send a comfortable carriage, and dispatch a persuasive envoy to earnestly invite them — they should come. When they come, keep them as honored guests. Have them accompany the heir to court from time to time, so the Emperor sees them. He will certainly be astonished and ask who they are. When he learns these four men are worthy, it will be a great asset." Empress Lü had Lü Ze send agents bearing the heir's letter, with humble words and generous gifts, to invite the four men. They came and were lodged at the Marquis of Jiancheng's residence.

In the eleventh year, Qing Bu rebelled. The Emperor was ill and wanted to send the heir to command the campaign. The four men deliberated: "The very reason we came was to protect the heir. If the heir leads the army, the situation becomes dangerous." They advised the Marquis of Jiancheng: "If the heir takes the field and wins, his position gains nothing — he is already heir. If he returns without success, disaster follows. Moreover, the generals the heir would command are all fierce veterans who helped the Emperor conquer All-Under-Heaven. Having the heir lead them is like making a sheep command wolves — none will exert themselves, and failure is certain. We have heard the saying: 'The child carried in the mother's arms is the one the father loves.' Lady Qi attends the Emperor day and night; King Ruyi of Zhao is always held in his arms. The Emperor has said, 'I will never place an unworthy son above the one I love' — it is clear he means to replace the heir. You must urgently ask Empress Lü to find a private moment to weep before the Emperor and say: 'Qing Bu is the fiercest general in All-Under-Heaven, an expert in warfare. The present generals are all Your Majesty's old comrades and equals. Making the heir command them is like making a sheep lead wolves — none will serve. And if Qing Bu hears of it, he will march west with drums beating. Though Your Majesty is ill, force yourself into a supply wagon and direct the campaign from your bed. The generals will not dare hold back. Though it means hardship, do it for the sake of your wife and children.'" That night, Lü Ze immediately went to see Empress Lü. She found her moment and tearfully delivered the argument, exactly as the four men had intended. The Emperor said: "I always knew that wretched boy was not fit to be sent. I shall go myself." He personally led the eastern campaign. The ministers remaining in the capital all escorted him to Ba Shang. The Marquis of Liu, though ill, forced himself to rise and met the Emperor at Quyu. He said: "I ought to follow, but my illness is severe. The Chu people are swift and fierce — I urge Your Majesty not to contest their sharp edge directly." He then advised: "Appoint the heir as General-in-Chief to oversee the garrison forces in Guanzhong." The Emperor said: "Though Zifang is ill, force yourself to serve as the heir's tutor from your sickbed." At that time Shusun Tong served as Grand Tutor; the Marquis of Liu served in the capacity of Junior Tutor.

In the twelfth year, the Emperor returned from crushing Qing Bu's army. His illness had worsened, and he was even more determined to replace the heir. The Marquis of Liu remonstrated, but the Emperor would not listen, and Liang withdrew on grounds of illness. Grand Tutor Shusun Tong argued the case by citing ancient and modern precedents, threatening to die for the heir's cause. The Emperor appeared to agree but still intended to make the change. At a court banquet, the heir was in attendance. The four men accompanied the heir. All were over eighty, with snowy beards and brows, wearing robes and caps of imposing dignity. The Emperor was startled and asked: "Who are these men?" The four stepped forward and each stated his name: Dongyuan Gong, the Elder of Jiao Li, Qi Li Ji, and Master Xia Huang. The Emperor was astonished: "I sought you gentlemen for years. You fled and hid from me. Now how is it you accompany my son?" The four men all said: "Your Majesty scorns scholars and is given to cursing. We would not endure such insult — so we fled in fear and hid. But we have heard that the heir is a man of benevolence and filial devotion, respectful and fond of scholars. All under Heaven strain their necks, wishing to die for the heir. That is why we came." The Emperor said: "I trouble you gentlemen to complete the task of guiding and protecting the heir."

The four men offered their toasts and withdrew. The Emperor watched them go, then summoned Lady Qi and, pointing at the four men, said: "I wished to replace him, but those four men assist him. His wings are fully formed — he cannot be moved. Empress Lü will truly be your master." Lady Qi wept. The Emperor said: "Dance the Chu dance for me. I will sing you a Chu song." He sang: "The swan soars high — a single beat, a thousand li. Its pinions are full-fledged — it crosses the four seas. It crosses the four seas — what can be done! Though there be stringed arrows — where could they reach!" He sang several verses. Lady Qi sobbed and wept. The Emperor rose and left, and the banquet was ended. That the heir was never replaced was ultimately due to the Marquis of Liu's stratagem of recruiting these four men.

The Marquis of Liu followed the Emperor on the campaign against Dai, devising a remarkable stratagem at Mayi. He was also involved in establishing Xiao He as Chancellor of State, and the many matters of state he discussed privately with the Emperor were beyond count — but since they did not concern the survival or destruction of the realm, they are not recorded here. The Marquis of Liu declared: "My family served as chancellors of Han for generations. When Han was destroyed, I did not begrudge a fortune of ten thousand gold to avenge Han against mighty Qin, and All-Under-Heaven was shaken. Now with a three-inch tongue I have become teacher to an emperor, been enfeoffed with ten thousand households, and hold the rank of marquis. This is the summit a commoner can reach — for Liang, it is enough. I wish to abandon the affairs of the human world and follow Master Red Pine in his wanderings." He took up the practice of grain avoidance and Daoist breathing exercises to lighten the body. When Emperor Gaozu died, Empress Lü, grateful to the Marquis of Liu, forced him to eat, saying: "A human life lasts but a moment — like a white colt glimpsed through a crack. Why torment yourself so?" The Marquis of Liu could not refuse and grudgingly ate.

Eight years later he died. He received the posthumous title Marquis Wencheng — "the Cultured and Accomplished." His son Buyi succeeded to the marquisate.

Thirteen years after his encounter with the old man on the bridge at Xiapi, the Marquis of Liu was traveling with Emperor Gaozu through Jibei and indeed found the yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng, exactly as foretold. He took it and had it enshrined. When the Marquis of Liu died, the yellow stone was buried with him. At every winter and summer sacrifice when the family visited the tomb, they made offerings to the yellow stone.

The Marquis of Liu's son Buyi, in the fifth year of Emperor Wen, was convicted of disrespect and the marquisate was abolished.

The Grand Historian remarks: Most scholars deny the existence of spirits, yet assert there are mysterious forces. Take the case of the old man the Marquis of Liu met, who gave him the book — it is truly uncanny. Emperor Gaozu escaped from peril time and again, and the Marquis of Liu was always instrumental. Can this be called anything but fate? The Emperor said: "For devising strategy within the command tent and determining victory a thousand li away, I am no match for Zifang." I imagined such a man must be imposing and extraordinary in stature. But when I saw his portrait, his face and figure were delicate as a beautiful woman's. As Confucius once said: "To judge a man by his appearance is to err as I did with Ziyu." The Marquis of Liu is proof of the same.

The Marquis of Liu — spirited and unconventional, his heart burning with righteous grief. Five generations of chancellors serving Han, then in a single morning, allegiance transferred to the Han dynasty. Presenting the shoe earned him the book; his strategic calculations were divine. He installed the Lord of Hengyang, and as Shentu stood guard. At Ba Shang he averted disaster; at Guling he resolved the crisis. People call him one of the Three Heroes; his argument of the Eight Impossibilities has no equal. He wished to wander with Red Pine — a white colt that could not be tethered. What heroic vision — and yet his frame was anything but imposing.