韓信盧綰列傳

Han Xin, King of Han, was a collateral descendant of King Xiang of the old Han state. When Xiang Liang restored the Chu line, the Han royal house was also restored, with Hengyang Jun Cheng as King of Han. The Duke of Pei sent Zhang Liang to subdue the old Han territories and acquired Han Xin as a commander. After pacifying the Three Qins, the King of Han confirmed Han Xin as King of Han. In the spring of the fifth year, he received the tally as King of Han, ruling Yingchuan.

The following spring, the Emperor judged that Han Xin's territory — near the strategic regions of Gong, Luo, Wan, and Ye — was too close to the realm's military heartland. He decreed that Han Xin be relocated to rule north of Taiyuan and defend against the Hu, with his capital at Jinyang. Han Xin petitioned to govern from Mayi instead. That autumn, the Xiongnu under Maodun besieged him in force. Han Xin repeatedly sent envoys to negotiate with the Xiongnu. Han suspected him of disloyalty. Fearing execution, Han Xin allied with the Xiongnu to attack Han, surrendered Mayi to the barbarians, and defected.

In the winter of the seventh year, the Emperor personally led an attack, shattering Han Xin's army at Tongdi. Han Xin fled to the Xiongnu. The Emperor advanced to Pingcheng. At Baideng, the Xiongnu cavalry surrounded the Emperor. He sent generous gifts to the Chanyu's consort, who persuaded Maodun to lift the siege. After seven days, the Xiongnu cavalry gradually withdrew.

In the spring of the eleventh year, the former King Han Xin returned with Xiongnu cavalry and occupied Canhe. Han sent General Chai to attack. Han Xin wrote in reply: "I now bear three crimes against Your Majesty, yet I wish to live in this world — this is why Wu Zixu came to grief in Wu. My longing to return home is like a paralyzed man who never forgets standing, or a blind man who never forgets seeing — but circumstances make it impossible." They fought. General Chai destroyed Canhe and killed Han Xin.

Lu Wan was a man of Feng, from the same village as the future Emperor Gaozu. Their fathers were close friends, and Gaozu and Lu Wan were born on the same day. When Gaozu was still a commoner, Lu Wan was his constant companion. In the eighth month of the fifth year, Lu Wan was made King of Yan.

In the twelfth year, Lu Wan gathered his palace women, family, and several thousand cavalry at the Great Wall, watching and waiting, hoping the Emperor would recover so he could go in person and beg forgiveness. In the fourth month, Emperor Gaozu died. Lu Wan then led his followers across the frontier into Xiongnu territory. The barbarians mistreated and plundered him, and he constantly longed to return. After a little over a year, he died among the Hu.

Chen Xi was a man of Yuanqu. In the seventh year of Gaozu, he was enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed chancellor of Zhao to supervise the border troops in Zhao and Dai. Whenever Chen Xi traveled through Zhao on home leave, over a thousand carriages of retainers followed him. Zhou Chang saw this and warned of trouble. In the seventh month of the tenth year, Chen Xi revolted with Wang Huang and others, declaring himself King of Dai. In the winter of the twelfth year, Fan Kuai's troops pursued and killed Chen Xi at Lingqiu.

The Grand Historian remarks: Han Xin and Lu Wan did not come from families that had accumulated generations of virtue and merit. They exploited the opportunities of a moment through cleverness and force. Internally they were suspected for being too powerful; externally they relied on barbarian peoples for support. In the end they fled to the Xiongnu — how pitiful!