絳侯周勃世家

The Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, was a man of Pei. His forebears came from Juan and later moved to Pei. Bo made his living weaving silk mats and screens, and regularly played the xiao flute at funerals. He was also a trained archer serving in the county militia.

When the High Ancestor first rose as Duke of Pei, Bo served as personal attendant and followed him to attack Huling and take Fangyu. Fangyu rebelled and they fought to retake it, driving the enemy back. They attacked Feng, struck the Qin army east of Dang, returned to garrison Liu and Xiao, then attacked Dang again and destroyed it. Bo was first to scale the walls at Xiapi, and was given the rank of Fifth Grand Officer. They took Meng and Yu, struck Zhang Han's chariot forces — Bo serving as the rearguard — and pacified Wei territory. They attacked Yuanqi and Dongmin, advanced to Li and took it, attacked Niesang where Bo was again first to scale the walls, struck the Qin army below E and broke it, pursued to Puyang, and took Zhencheng. They attacked Duguan and Dingtao, seized Wanqu by surprise, and captured the magistrate of Shanfu. They took Linji in a night raid, attacked Zhang, advanced to Juan and broke it, struck Li You's army below Yongqiu, and attacked Kaifeng — Bo being among the first to reach the walls.

Later, Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang. The Duke of Pei and Xiang Yu withdrew east toward Dang. From the initial rising at Pei to the return to Dang took one year and two months. King Huai of Chu enfeoffed the Duke of Pei as Marquis of Anwu and made him Chief of Dang Commandery. The Duke of Pei appointed Bo as Commander of the Tiger Guards. In this capacity Bo followed the Duke of Pei to pacify Wei territory, broke the Commandant of Dong Commandery at Chengwu, defeated Wang Li's army, was first to scale the walls of Changshe, attacked Yingyang and Goushi, cut the river crossings, struck Zhao Ben's army north of Shi, attacked the Governor of Nanyang, Qi, from the south, broke through Wuguan and Yaoguan, shattered the Qin army at Lantian, reached Xianyang, and destroyed Qin.

When Xiang Yu arrived, he made the Duke of Pei King of Han. The King of Han gave Bo the rank of Marquis of Weiwu. Bo followed him into Hanzhong and was appointed General. They returned to pacify the Three Qin. Reaching Qin territory, Bo received the revenue fief of Huaide. He attacked Huaili and Haozhi — rated top merit. He struck Zhao Ben and the Metropolitan Governor Bao at Xianyang — top merit. He attacked Qi to the north, struck the armies of Zhang Ping and Yao Ang, pacified Qian to the west, returned to take Mei and Pinyang, laid siege to Zhang Han at Feiqi, broke the Western Deputy, defeated the Bandit Ba army, attacked Shanggui, and guarded Yaoguan to the east. He then shifted to fight Xiang Ji, attacked Quni — top merit — returned to guard the Ao Granary, and pursued Xiang Ji. After Xiang Ji's death, Bo went east to pacify the Chu territories of Si and Donghai commanderies, taking twenty-two counties in all. He returned to garrison Luoyang and Liyang, and was granted the shared revenue of Zhongli with the Marquis of Ying.

As a general, he followed Emperor Gao against the rebel Zang Tu, King of Yan, and defeated him below Yi. Of all units under his command, more men held the honored road-guard position than any other. He was given the rank of Full Marquis, with a split tally heritable in perpetuity. His fief was Jiang, with 8,180 households. He was styled Marquis of Jiang.

As a general, Bo followed Emperor Gao to strike the rebel Han Wang Xin in Dai, forcing the surrender of Huoren. Advancing to Wuquan, he defeated the Hu cavalry north of Wuquan, then turned to attack Han Xin's army at Tongdi and broke it. Returning, he forced the surrender of six cities in Taiyuan. He struck the combined force of Han Xin and the Hu cavalry below Jinyang, broke them, and took Jinyang. Later he struck Han Xin's army at Shashi, broke it, and pursued the fleeing enemy eighty li. He returned and attacked three cities of Loufan, then struck the Hu cavalry below Pingcheng. Again, more of his soldiers held the honored road-guard position than any other unit. Bo was promoted to Grand Commandant.

He struck Chen Xi and slaughtered Mayi. His troops beheaded Chen Xi's general Chengma Chi. He attacked the combined forces of Han Xin, Chen Xi, and Zhao Li at Loufan and broke them, capturing Xi's general Song Zui and the Governor of Yanmen. He then took the Governor of Yunzhong, the Chancellor Jisi, and the general Xun. He pacified seventeen counties of Yanmen Commandery and twelve counties of Yunzhong. He then struck Xi again at Lingqiu, broke him, beheaded Xi, and captured his Chancellor Cheng Zong, General Chen Wu, and Commandant Gao Si. He pacified nine counties of Dai Commandery.

When Lu Wan, King of Yan, rebelled, Bo took over as Chancellor-General in place of Fan Kuai, struck and took Ji, captured Wan's Great General Di, Chancellor Yan, Governor of Xing, Grand Commandant Ruo, and Imperial Secretary Shi, and slaughtered Hundu. He broke Wan's army at Shanglan and again at Juyang, pursued to the Great Wall, and pacified twelve counties of Shanggou, sixteen of Youbeiping, twenty-nine of Liaoxi and Liaodong, and twenty-two of Yuyang.

In total, following Emperor Gao, Bo captured one Chancellor of State, two Chancellors, three each of generals and officials of two-thousand-bushel rank; independently broke two enemy armies, took three cities, pacified five commanderies and seventy-nine counties, and captured one Chancellor and one Great General.

Bo was by nature blunt, stubborn, and solid. Emperor Gao considered him a man to whom great affairs could be entrusted. Bo had no taste for letters. Whenever he summoned Confucian scholars for discussion, he would sit facing east and bark at them: "Get to the point!" He was that rough and unpolished.

By the time Bo returned from pacifying Yan, the High Ancestor had already died. He served Emperor Hui as a full marquis. In the sixth year of Emperor Hui, the office of Grand Commandant was established, and Bo was appointed to it. Ten years later, Empress Lü died. Lü Lu, as King of Zhao, had been made Supreme General of Han; Lü Chan, as King of Lü, had been made Chancellor of State of Han. They controlled Han power and intended to destroy the House of Liu. Bo, though Grand Commandant, could not enter the army gates. Chen Ping, though Chancellor, could not conduct state business. So Bo and Ping conspired together, destroyed the entire Lü faction, and enthroned Emperor Wen. The full account is in the chapters on Empress Lü and Emperor Wen.

Once Emperor Wen was enthroned, he made Bo Right Chancellor, awarded him five thousand catties of gold, and increased his fief to ten thousand households. After a little over a month, someone advised Bo: "You destroyed the Lü clan and installed the King of Dai. Your prestige shakes the realm. Yet you accept lavish rewards and occupy the highest position in the Emperor's favor. Keep this up and disaster will follow." Bo grew fearful and felt the danger himself. He asked to return the chancellor's seal. The Emperor consented.

Over a year later, Chancellor Ping died, and the Emperor again made Bo chancellor. After ten-odd months, the Emperor said: "I previously decreed that the marquises should go to their fiefs. Some have not yet complied. The chancellor is the man I most rely upon — let him set the example." Bo was thus dismissed from the chancellorship and sent to his fief.

Over a year later, whenever the Governor or Commandant of Hedong inspected the district and came to Jiang, the Marquis of Jiang — fearing arrest and execution — would don his armor and have his household retainers stand armed to receive the officials. Subsequently, someone submitted a memorial accusing Bo of plotting rebellion. The case was sent to the Commandant of Justice, who delegated it to the authorities in Chang'an. Bo was arrested and interrogated. Terrified, he did not know what to say. The clerks gradually harassed and humiliated him. Bo paid a thousand catties of gold to the prison clerk. The clerk wrote on the back of a wooden tablet and showed it to him: "Call the princess as your witness." The princess was Emperor Wen's daughter, married to Bo's eldest son Shengzhi — the clerk was coaching him to invoke this connection.

All the additional fiefs and gifts Bo had received, he had given to Bo Zhao. When the crisis worsened, Bo Zhao spoke to Empress Dowager Bo, who also believed there was no rebellion. At the next morning audience, the Empress Dowager hurled her headdress at Emperor Wen, saying: "The Marquis of Jiang held the Emperor's seal and commanded the Northern Army. He did not rebel then — and now, living in one small county, he wants to rebel?" After reading the Marquis of Jiang's deposition, Emperor Wen apologized: "The investigators were merely verifying the facts and will release him." He dispatched an envoy bearing the imperial tally to pardon the Marquis of Jiang and restore his title and fief.

When the Marquis of Jiang emerged from prison, he said: "I once commanded a million soldiers — yet how was I to know how powerful a prison clerk could be!"

The Marquis of Jiang returned to his fief. He died in the eleventh year of Emperor Wen and was given the posthumous title Marquis Wu ("the Martial"). His son Shengzhi inherited the marquisate. After six years, having married a princess and fallen out with her, he was convicted of murder, and the fief was abolished. After a gap of one year, Emperor Wen chose the most worthy of Zhou Bo's sons — Yafu, Governor of Henei — and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Tiao, to continue the line of the Marquis of Jiang.

Before Yafu was enfeoffed, while still serving as Governor of Henei, the physiognomist Xu Fu examined him and said: "In three years you will become a marquis. Eight years after that, you will serve as general and chancellor, holding the balance of the state — as honored as any subject can be, with none to equal you. Nine years after that, you will starve to death." Yafu laughed: "My elder brother has already inherited my father's marquisate. If he should die, his son would inherit — how would I become a marquis? And if I am destined to be as honored as you say, why then would I starve to death? Show me the sign." Xu Fu pointed to the lines around his mouth: "There are creases running into the mouth. This is the mark of one who starves." Three years later, his brother Shengzhi committed a crime. Emperor Wen chose the worthiest of the Marquis of Jiang's sons; all recommended Yafu. So Yafu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Tiao, continuing the line.

Six years before the end of Emperor Wen's reign, the Xiongnu launched a massive incursion along the frontier. The Emperor deployed three armies: Liu Li, the Director of the Imperial Clan, as general at Bashang; Xu Li, Marquis of Zhuzi, at Jimen; and Yafu, Governor of Henei, at Xiliu — all to defend against the Hu.

The Emperor went in person to inspect the troops. At the Bashang and Jimen camps, he rode straight in; the officers and cavalry lined up to escort and see him off. Then he went to the Xiliu camp. There the soldiers and officers wore full armor, their blades sharpened, bows drawn to the full. The Emperor's advance riders arrived but were not admitted. The advance riders said: "The Son of Heaven is coming!" The Commandant of the camp gate replied: "The General's orders state: 'In the army, obey the General's commands — not the Son of Heaven's edicts.'" Shortly after, the Emperor himself arrived and was again denied entry. The Emperor then sent an envoy bearing the imperial tally to order the General: "I wish to enter and inspect the troops." Only then did Yafu transmit the order to open the camp gates.

The gate guards told the imperial escort: "The General's regulations: no galloping within the camp." The Son of Heaven reined in and rode slowly. At the headquarters, General Yafu, armed, saluted with a bow and said: "A man in armor and helmet does not prostrate himself. I request permission to greet you with military protocol." The Son of Heaven was moved. He straightened in his chariot and leaned forward on the crossbar in a gesture of respect. He sent a man to announce: "The Emperor respectfully commends the General." The ceremony complete, he departed.

Once outside the camp gates, all the courtiers were astonished. Emperor Wen said: "Ah! This is a true general! The camps at Bashang and Jimen were child's play — their commanders could easily be ambushed and captured. But Yafu — who could assail him?" He praised Yafu for a long time. A month later, the three armies were disbanded. Yafu was appointed Commandant of the Capital.

When Emperor Wen was near death, he warned the Crown Prince: "If there is ever a crisis, Zhou Yafu is truly the man to command the army." After Emperor Wen died, Yafu was made General of Chariots and Cavalry.

In the third year of Emperor Jing, Wu and Chu rebelled. Yafu was promoted from Commandant of the Capital to Grand Commandant and sent east to strike Wu and Chu. He petitioned the Emperor: "The Chu troops are swift and aggressive — it is hard to face them head-on. I request permission to use Liang as a buffer, cut their supply lines, and bring them under control that way." The Emperor approved.

The Grand Commandant assembled his forces at Xingyang. Wu was currently attacking Liang, and Liang sent urgent pleas for rescue. The Grand Commandant led his army northeast to Changyi and dug in behind deep ramparts. Liang sent envoys daily begging the Grand Commandant for relief. The Grand Commandant held to his strategy and refused to go. Liang appealed directly to Emperor Jing, who sent an envoy with an edict ordering Yafu to rescue Liang. The Grand Commandant did not comply. He stayed behind his walls and instead dispatched light cavalry under the Marquis of Gonggao and others to sever Wu and Chu's supply lines from the rear.

Wu's troops ran short of grain and grew hungry. They repeatedly tried to provoke a battle, but Yafu never came out. One night, panic broke out in the camp — soldiers attacked each other in the confusion, and the disturbance reached the Grand Commandant's own tent. The Grand Commandant lay still and did not rise. Before long, order was restored.

Later, Wu's forces rushed the southeast corner of the ramparts. The Grand Commandant ordered his men to defend the northwest. Sure enough, the crack troops struck the northwest — and could not get in. Starving, Wu's army withdrew. The Grand Commandant unleashed his elite troops in pursuit and crushed them. King Bi of Wu abandoned his army and fled south with a few thousand warriors, taking refuge at Dantu south of the Yangtze. Han forces pressed their advantage, capturing and subduing the rest. A bounty of a thousand catties of gold was placed on the King of Wu. A month later, men of Yue beheaded the King of Wu and presented his head.

The entire campaign of attack and defense lasted three months, and Wu and Chu were destroyed. Only then did the generals acknowledge that the Grand Commandant's strategy had been correct. From this point on, King Xiao of Liang bore a grudge against the Grand Commandant.

Upon returning from the campaign, the Grand Commandant office was restored. Five years later, Yafu was promoted to Chancellor. Emperor Jing valued him highly. But when Emperor Jing deposed Crown Prince Li, the Chancellor firmly objected and could not be moved. Emperor Jing grew distant from him. And whenever King Xiao of Liang came to court, he would speak to the Empress Dowager about the Marquis of Tiao's failings.

Empress Dowager Dou said: "The Empress's brother Wang Xin should be made a marquis." Emperor Jing demurred: "The Marquises of Nanpi and Zhangwu — the late Emperor did not enfeoff them; only after I took the throne were they enfeoffed. Wang Xin has not yet earned it." The Empress Dowager said: "Each ruler acts according to his times. When Dou Changjun was alive, he never received a marquisate; only after his death did his son Pengzu receive one. I deeply regret it. Hurry and enfeoff Wang Xin!" The Emperor said: "Let me discuss it with the Chancellor."

When consulted, Yafu said: "The High Emperor's covenant states: 'No one not of the Liu clan shall be made king; no one without merit shall be made marquis. Whoever violates this, let the realm attack him together.' Wang Xin, though the Empress's brother, has no merit. To enfeoff him would violate the covenant." Emperor Jing fell silent and let the matter drop.

Later, five Xiongnu kings including Xu Lu surrendered, and Emperor Jing wished to enfeoff them as an incentive for future defectors. Chancellor Yafu said: "They betrayed their own lord to surrender to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty enfeoffs them, how will you hold your own subjects to the standard of loyalty?" Emperor Jing said: "The Chancellor's opinion is not acceptable." He enfeoffed all five, including Xu Lu, as full marquises. Yafu thereupon pleaded illness. In the third year of the middle period of Emperor Jing's reign, he was dismissed from the chancellorship on grounds of illness.

Shortly afterward, Emperor Jing summoned the Marquis of Tiao to dine with him in the inner palace. A large slab of meat was set before him — uncut, with no chopsticks provided. The Marquis of Tiao, displeased, turned to ask the steward for chopsticks. Emperor Jing watched and smiled: "Is this not to your satisfaction?" The Marquis of Tiao removed his cap and bowed in apology. The Emperor rose; the Marquis of Tiao hurried out. Emperor Jing watched him go and said: "This resentful man is not fit to serve a young sovereign."

Shortly after, the Marquis of Tiao's son purchased five hundred sets of armor and shields from the imperial workshops — burial goods for his father's eventual funeral. He hired laborers but refused to pay them. The laborers, learning that the equipment had been illicitly purchased from the imperial armory, angrily filed a report accusing the son, and the case implicated the Marquis of Tiao. When the report reached the Emperor, he sent the case to the authorities. The clerks interrogated the Marquis of Tiao with written charges, but he refused to answer. Emperor Jing cursed: "I have no use for him." He was summoned before the Commandant of Justice, who demanded: "Does the Marquis intend to rebel?" Yafu said: "The equipment I bought is for burial — what rebellion?" The clerk said: "Even if the Marquis does not rebel above ground, he clearly means to rebel underground." The interrogation grew more brutal.

When he was first arrested, the Marquis of Tiao had tried to kill himself, but his wife stopped him, and so he did not die but was brought before the Commandant of Justice. He refused to eat for five days, vomited blood, and died. His fief was abolished.

After a gap of one year, Emperor Jing enfeoffed another of Zhou Bo's sons, Jian, as Marquis of Pingqu, to continue the line of the Marquis of Jiang. He died after nineteen years, with the posthumous title Marquis Gong ("the Respectful"). His son Jiande inherited, served thirteen years as Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, but was convicted of submitting impure gold at the ritual libation offering in the fifth year of Yuanding, and the fief was abolished.

The Marquis of Tiao did indeed starve to death. After his death, Emperor Jing enfeoffed Wang Xin as Marquis of Gai.

The Grand Historian says: When the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, was still a commoner, he was a rough and simple man whose abilities did not exceed the ordinary. Yet when he followed the High Ancestor to settle the realm, rose to the positions of general and chancellor, and the Lü clan plotted usurpation, Bo rescued the state from peril and restored it to order. Even Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou — what more could they have done? As for Yafu's use of troops — his stern authority, his iron resolve — even Rangju could not have surpassed him! Yet he was self-satisfied and unlearned, rigid in principle and unyielding. In the end, he was driven to ruin. How tragic!