Records of Shu 2: Biography of the First Ruler

Records of Shu 2: Biography of the First Ruler

The First Ruler, Liu Bei

先主 劉備

The First Ruler’s surname was Liu, his personal name Bei, and his courtesy name Xuande. He was a man of Zhuo County in Zhuo Commandery and a descendant of Liu Sheng, King Jing of Zhongshan, a son of Emperor Jing of the Han. Liu Sheng’s son Liu Zhen was enfeoffed in the sixth year of Yuanshou as Village Marquis of Lucheng in Zhuo County, but he lost his marquisate over the matter of the tribute gold for the ancestral wine, and so his family settled there. The First Ruler’s grandfather was Liu Xiong and his father Liu Hong; for generations they served in the province and the commandery. Liu Xiong was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and rose in office to Magistrate of Fan in Dong Commandery.

先主姓劉，諱備，字玄德，涿郡涿縣人，漢景帝子中山靖王勝之後也。勝子貞，元狩六年封涿縣陸城亭侯，坐酎金失侯，因家焉。 ¹先主祖雄，父弘，世仕州郡。雄舉孝廉，官至東郡范令。

The First Ruler lost his father when young, and with his mother he made a living selling sandals and weaving mats. At the southeast corner of their house, by the fence, grew a mulberry tree more than five zhang tall; seen from afar, its dense foliage looked like the canopy of a small carriage. Passers-by all marveled that the tree was no ordinary one, and some said a noble man would surely come from that house. As a boy the First Ruler played beneath the tree with the other children of the clan and said, “I will surely ride in a carriage with a feathered canopy like this.” His uncle Zijing said to him, “Don’t talk such nonsense; you will get our whole family exterminated!”

先主少孤，與母販履織蓆為業。舍東南角籬上有桑樹生高五丈餘，遙望見童童如小車蓋，往來者皆怪此樹非凡，或謂當出貴人。 ¹先主少時，與宗中諸小兒於樹下戲，言：「吾必當乘此羽葆蓋車。」叔父子敬謂曰：「汝勿妄語，滅吾門也！」

At fifteen his mother sent him away to study, and together with Liu Deran, a member of the same clan, and Gongsun Zan of Liaoxi, he served Lu Zhi, a man of the same commandery and former Prefect of Jiujiang. Liu Deran’s father Liu Yuanqi often provided for the First Ruler, treating him the same as Deran. Liu Yuanqi’s wife said, “Each is a separate household; how can you always do this?” Liu Yuanqi said, “There is this boy in our clan; he is no ordinary man.” Gongsun Zan formed a close friendship with the First Ruler. Since Gongsun Zan was older, the First Ruler served him as an elder brother.

年十五，母使行學，與同宗劉德然、遼西公孫瓚俱事故九江太守同郡盧植。德然父元起常資給先主，與德然等。元起妻曰：「各自一家，何能常爾邪！」起曰：「吾宗中有此兒，非常人也。」而瓚深與先主相友。瓚年長，先主以兄事之。

The First Ruler did not much enjoy reading; he liked dogs and horses, music, and fine clothes. He stood seven chi five cun tall; when he let his arms hang, his hands reached below his knees, and when he turned his head he could see his own ears. He spoke little, was good at deferring to others, and did not show joy or anger on his face. He liked to befriend bold and chivalrous men, and young men vied to attach themselves to him. The great merchants of Zhongshan, Zhang Shiping, Su Shuang, and others, had amassed wealth of a thousand pieces of gold and traveled about Zhuo Commandery trading horses. When they saw him they thought him remarkable and gave him a great deal of money and goods. With this the First Ruler was able to gather a band of followers.

先主不甚樂讀書，喜狗馬、音樂、美衣服。身長七尺五寸，垂手下膝，顧自見其耳。少語言，善下人，喜怒不形於色。好交結豪俠，年少爭附之。中山大商張世平、蘇雙等貲累千金，販馬周旋於涿郡，見而異之，乃多與之金財。先主由是得用合徒眾。

At the end of Emperor Ling’s reign the Yellow Turbans rose up, and each province and commandery raised loyalist troops. The First Ruler led his followers under Colonel Zou Jing against the Yellow Turban rebels and won merit, and he was appointed Commandant of Anxi. When the commandery Investigator came to the county on official business, the First Ruler asked for an audience but was refused. He went straight in, tied up the Investigator, and gave him two hundred strokes of the rod; then he untied his seal ribbon, tied it around the man’s neck, bound him to a hitching post, abandoned his office, and fled. Soon afterward the Grand General He Jin sent the Chief Commandant Guanqiu Yi to Danyang to recruit troops, and the First Ruler went along with him. At Xiapi they encountered bandits; he fought hard and won merit, and he was appointed Assistant Magistrate of Xiami.

靈帝末，黃巾起，州郡各舉義兵，先主率其屬從校尉鄒靖討黃巾賊有功，除安喜尉。 ¹督郵以公事到縣，先主求謁，不通，直入縛督郵，杖二百，解綬繫其頸着馬枊，²棄官亡命。 ³頃之，大將軍何進遣都尉毌丘毅詣丹楊募兵，先主與俱行，至下邳遇賊，力戰有功，除為下密丞。

He again left office. Later he became Commandant of Gaotang and was promoted to Magistrate. Defeated by bandits, he went to take refuge with the General of the Household Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan recommended him as Major of a Separate Command and sent him with Tian Kai, Imperial Protector of Qing Province, to resist Yuan Shao, Governor of Ji Province. He won merit in battle several times and was made acting Magistrate of Pingyuan on probation, and later he took charge as Chancellor of Pingyuan. Liu Ping, a man of the commandery, had always looked down on the First Ruler and was ashamed to be beneath him, so he sent an assassin to stab him. The assassin could not bring himself to do it; he told the First Ruler about it and left. Such was his power to win men’s hearts.

復去官。後為高唐尉，遷為令。 ¹為賊所破，往奔中郎將公孫瓚，瓚表為別部司馬，使與青州刺史田楷以拒冀州牧袁紹。數有戰功，試守平原令，後領平原相。郡民劉平素輕先主，恥為之下，使客刺之。客不忍刺，語之而去。其得人心如此。 ²

When Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zan, the First Ruler and Tian Kai went east and garrisoned Qi. When Lord Cao campaigned against Xu Province, Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, sent envoys to Tian Kai to report the emergency, and Tian Kai and the First Ruler went together to relieve him. At that time the First Ruler had over a thousand troops of his own, together with Wuhuan and other mixed barbarian cavalry from You Province, and he had also gathered several thousand famine refugees. When he arrived, Tao Qian added four thousand Danyang troops to the First Ruler’s force, and the First Ruler then left Tian Kai and went over to Tao Qian.

袁紹攻公孫瓚，先主與田楷東屯齊。曹公征徐州，徐州牧陶謙遣使告急於田楷，楷與先主俱救之。時先主自有兵千餘人及幽州烏丸雜胡騎，又略得饑民數千人。既到，謙以丹楊兵四千益先主，先主遂去楷歸謙。

Tao Qian recommended the First Ruler as Imperial Protector of Yu Province, and he garrisoned Xiaopei. When Tao Qian fell gravely ill, he said to his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Mi Zhu, “No one but Liu Bei can bring peace to this province.” When Tao Qian died, Mi Zhu led the people of the province to welcome the First Ruler, but the First Ruler did not dare accept. Chen Deng of Xiapi said to the First Ruler, “Now the house of Han is in decline and the realm has been overturned. The time to achieve merit and accomplish great deeds is today. This province is prosperous and wealthy, with a million households and people, and we wish Your Excellency would condescend to take charge of its affairs.”

謙表先主為豫州刺史，屯小沛。謙病篤，謂別駕麋竺曰：「非劉備不能安此州也。」謙死，竺率州人迎先主，先主未敢當。下邳陳登謂先主曰：「今漢室陵遲，海內傾覆，立功立事，在於今日。彼州殷富，戶口百萬，欲屈使君撫臨州事。」

The First Ruler said, “Yuan Gonglu is close by at Shouchun. His family has produced five Excellencies in four generations, and all within the seas turn to him. You should give the province to him.” Chen Deng said, “Gonglu is arrogant and overbearing; he is not a master who can bring order out of chaos. We now wish to assemble a hundred thousand foot and horse for Your Excellency. At best you could set the ruler right and save the people, achieving the deeds of the Five Hegemons; at the least you could carve out territory, guard its borders, and have your merits written on bamboo and silk. If Your Excellency will not heed us, then I, Deng, will not dare heed Your Excellency either.”

先主曰：「袁公路近在壽春，此君四世五公，海內所歸，君可以州與之。」登曰：「公路驕豪，非治亂之主。今欲為使君合步騎十萬，上可以匡主濟民，成五霸之業，下可以割地守境，書功於竹帛。若使君不見聽許，登亦未敢聽使君也。」

Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, said to the First Ruler, “Is Yuan Gonglu a man who worries for the state and forgets his own house? He is dry bones in a tomb; why pay him any mind? In today’s affair the people are giving their support to the able. If Heaven offers and you do not take, regret will come too late.” The First Ruler then took charge of Xu Province. Yuan Shu came to attack the First Ruler, and the First Ruler resisted him at Xuyi and Huaiyin. Lord Cao recommended the First Ruler as General Who Guards the East and enfeoffed him as Village Marquis of Yicheng. This was the first year of Jian'an.

北海相孔融謂先主曰：「袁公路豈憂國忘家者邪？冢中枯骨，何足介意。今日之事，百姓與能，天與不取，悔不可追。」先主遂領徐州。 ¹袁術來攻先主，先主拒之於盱眙、淮陰。曹公表先主為鎮東將軍，封宜城亭侯，是歲建安元年也。

While the First Ruler and Yuan Shu were locked in a standoff for a month, Lü Bu took advantage of his absence to attack Xiapi. Cao Bao, the general guarding Xiapi, turned traitor and secretly welcomed Lü Bu. Lü Bu captured the First Ruler’s wife and children, and the First Ruler shifted his army to Haixi. When Yang Feng and Han Xian raided the region between Xu and Yang provinces, the First Ruler intercepted and attacked them and beheaded them both. The First Ruler sued for peace with Lü Bu, and Lü Bu returned his wife and children. The First Ruler sent Guan Yu to guard Xiapi.

先主與術相持經月，呂布乘虛襲下邳。下邳守將曹豹反，閒迎布。布虜先主妻子，先主轉軍海西。 ¹楊奉、韓暹寇徐、揚閒，先主邀擊，盡斬之。先主求和於呂布，布還其妻子。先主遣關羽守下邳。

The First Ruler returned to Xiaopei and again gathered troops, obtaining more than ten thousand men. Lü Bu resented this and personally led troops against him; the First Ruler was defeated, fled, and went over to Lord Cao. Lord Cao treated him generously and made him Governor of Yu Province. As the First Ruler was about to go to Pei to gather his scattered soldiers, Lord Cao supplied him with army provisions and gave him additional troops so that he could attack Lü Bu in the east. Lü Bu sent Gao Shun to attack him. Lord Cao sent Xiahou Dun, but he could not relieve him and was defeated by Gao Shun, who again captured the First Ruler’s wife and children and sent them to Lü Bu.

先主還小沛，¹復合兵得萬餘人。呂布惡之，自出兵攻先主，先主敗走歸曹公。曹公厚遇之，以為豫州牧。將至沛收散卒，給其軍糧，益與兵使東擊布。布遣高順攻之，曹公遣夏侯惇往，不能救，為順所敗，復虜先主妻子送布。

Lord Cao personally led a campaign east, helped the First Ruler besiege Lü Bu at Xiapi, and captured Lü Bu alive. The First Ruler recovered his wife and children and followed Lord Cao back to Xu. Lord Cao recommended the First Ruler as General of the Left and treated him with ever greater courtesy: when they went out they shared a carriage, and when they sat they shared a mat. When Yuan Shu wanted to pass through Xu Province and go north to join Yuan Shao, Lord Cao sent the First Ruler in command of Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao to intercept him. Before they arrived, Yuan Shu died of illness.

曹公自出東征，¹助先主圍布於下邳，生禽布。先主復得妻子，從曹公還許。表先主為左將軍，禮之愈重，出則同輿，坐則同席。袁術欲經徐州北就袁紹，曹公遣先主督朱靈、路招要擊術。未至，術病死。

Before the First Ruler set out, Dong Cheng, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and a maternal uncle of Emperor Xian, said that he had received a secret edict hidden in the Emperor’s robe sash, ordering that Lord Cao be put to death. The First Ruler had not yet acted. At this time Lord Cao said casually to the First Ruler, “The only heroes in the realm today are Your Excellency and I. Men like Benchu are not worth counting.” The First Ruler was just then eating, and he dropped his spoon and chopsticks. He then plotted together with Dong Cheng, the Colonel of the Changshui Garrison Chong Ji, the generals Wu Zilan and Wang Zifu, and others. As it happened, he was sent out on a mission, and the plot was not launched. When the affair came to light, Dong Cheng and the others were all executed.

先主未出時，獻帝舅車騎將軍董承¹辭受帝衣帶中密詔，當誅曹公。先主未發。是時曹公從容謂先主曰：「今天下英雄，唯使君與操耳。本初之徒，不足數也。」先主方食，失匕箸。 ²遂與承及長水校尉种輯、將軍吳子蘭、王子服等同謀。會見使，未發。事覺，承等皆伏誅。 ³

The First Ruler occupied Xiapi. When Zhu Ling and the others returned, the First Ruler killed Che Zhou, Imperial Protector of Xu Province, left Guan Yu to guard Xiapi, and himself returned to Xiaopei. Chang Ba of Donghai rebelled, and many commanderies and counties turned against Lord Cao and sided with the First Ruler, so that his followers numbered several tens of thousands. He sent Sun Qian to form an alliance with Yuan Shao. Lord Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to attack him, but they could not prevail. In the fifth year Lord Cao campaigned east against the First Ruler, and the First Ruler was utterly defeated. Lord Cao took over all his followers, captured the First Ruler’s wife and children, and also captured Guan Yu and returned with them.

先主據下邳。靈等還，先主乃殺徐州刺史車胄，留關羽守下邳，而身還小沛。 ¹東海昌霸反，郡縣多叛曹公為先主，眾數萬人，遣孫乾與袁紹連和，曹公遣劉岱、王忠擊之，不克。五年，曹公東征先主，先主敗績。 ²曹公盡收其眾，虜先主妻子，並禽關羽以歸。

The First Ruler fled to Qing Province. Yuan Tan, Imperial Protector of Qing Province, had once been recommended by the First Ruler as Flourishing Talent, and he led foot and horse to welcome him. The First Ruler went with Yuan Tan to Pingyuan, and Yuan Tan sent a messenger galloping to report to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao sent officers to receive him respectfully on the road, and he himself came out two hundred li from Ye to meet the First Ruler. After he had stayed for more than a month, the soldiers he had lost gradually gathered to him again. When Lord Cao and Yuan Shao were facing each other at Guandu, the Yellow Turbans of Runan under Liu Pi and others rebelled against Lord Cao in response to Yuan Shao.

先主走青州。青州刺史袁譚，先主故茂才也，將步騎迎先主。先主隨譚到平原，譚馳使白紹。紹遣將道路奉迎，身去鄴二百里，與先主相見。 ¹駐月餘日，所失亡士卒稍稍來集。曹公與袁紹相拒於官渡，汝南黃巾劉辟等叛曹公應紹。

Yuan Shao sent the First Ruler with troops to join Liu Pi and the others in raiding the area around Xu. Guan Yu escaped and returned to the First Ruler. Lord Cao sent Cao Ren with troops to attack the First Ruler, and the First Ruler returned to Yuan Shao’s army. Secretly wishing to leave Yuan Shao, he persuaded Yuan Shao to ally in the south with Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province. Yuan Shao sent the First Ruler with his own troops back to Runan, where he joined the bandit Gong Du and others, and their followers numbered several thousand. Lord Cao sent Cai Yang to attack him, but Cai Yang was killed by the First Ruler.

紹遣先主將兵與辟等略許下。關羽亡歸先主。曹公遣曹仁將兵擊先主，先主還紹軍，陰欲離紹，乃說紹南連荊州牧劉表。紹遣先主將本兵復至汝南，與賊龔都等合，眾數千人。曹公遣蔡陽擊之，為先主所殺。

After Lord Cao had defeated Yuan Shao, he personally attacked the First Ruler in the south. The First Ruler sent Mi Zhu and Sun Qian to open contact with Liu Biao. Liu Biao came out to the outskirts of the city to welcome him in person, treated him with the courtesies due an honored guest, increased his troops, and had him garrison Xinye. As more and more of the bold men of Jing Province gave their allegiance to the First Ruler day by day, Liu Biao grew suspicious of his intentions and secretly guarded against him. He sent him to resist Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and others at Bowang. After a long time the First Ruler set up an ambush, and one morning he burned his own camp and feigned flight. Xiahou Dun and the others pursued him and were defeated by the ambush.

曹公既破紹，自南擊先主。先主遣麋竺、孫乾與劉表相聞，表自郊迎，以上賓禮待之，益其兵，使屯新野。荊州豪傑歸先主者日益多，表疑其心，陰禦之。 ¹使拒夏侯惇、于禁等於博望。久之，先主設伏兵，一旦自燒屯偽遁，惇等追之，為伏兵所破。

In the twelfth year Lord Cao campaigned north against the Wuhuan. The First Ruler urged Liu Biao to make a surprise attack on Xu, but Liu Biao could not act on it. When Lord Cao campaigned south against Liu Biao, it happened that Liu Biao died, and his son Liu Cong succeeded him and sent envoys to request surrender. The First Ruler was garrisoned at Fan and did not know of Lord Cao’s sudden approach; only when Lord Cao had reached Wan did he hear of it, and he then left with his followers. As they passed Xiangyang, Zhuge Liang urged the First Ruler to attack Liu Cong, saying that Jing Province could be his. The First Ruler said, “I cannot bear to do it.” He halted his horse and called out to Liu Cong, but Liu Cong was too frightened to get up.

十二年，曹公北征烏丸，先主說表襲許，表不能用。 ¹曹公南征表，會表卒，²子琮代立，遣使請降。先主屯樊，不知曹公卒至，至宛乃聞之，遂將其眾去。過襄陽，諸葛亮說先主攻琮，荊州可有。先主曰：「吾不忍也。」³ 乃駐馬呼琮，琮懼不能起。

Many of Liu Cong’s attendants and people of Jing Province went over to the First Ruler. By the time they reached Dangyang, his followers numbered more than a hundred thousand, with several thousand baggage carts, and they covered a little over ten li a day. He sent Guan Yu separately with several hundred boats to meet him at Jiangling. Someone said to the First Ruler, “You should move quickly to secure Jiangling. Although you now have a great multitude with you, few of them wear armor. If Lord Cao’s troops arrive, how will you resist them?” The First Ruler said, “To accomplish great things one must take people as the foundation. Now that people have come to me, how can I bear to abandon them?”

琮左右及荊州人多歸先主。 ¹比到當陽，眾十餘萬，輜重數千兩，日行十餘里，別遣關羽乘船數百艘，使會江陵。或謂先主曰：「宜速行保江陵，今雖擁大眾，被甲者少，若曹公兵至，何以拒之？」先主曰：「夫濟大事必以人為本，今人歸吾，吾何忍棄去！」²

Because Jiangling held military stores, Lord Cao feared that the First Ruler would seize it, so he left his baggage behind and went to Xiangyang with a light force. Hearing that the First Ruler had already passed, Lord Cao led five thousand elite cavalry in hot pursuit, covering more than three hundred li in one day and one night, and caught up with him at Changban in Dangyang. The First Ruler abandoned his wife and children and fled with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and a few dozen other horsemen, and Lord Cao captured great numbers of his people and baggage.

曹公以江陵有軍實，恐先主據之，乃釋輜重，輕軍到襄陽。聞先主已過，曹公將精騎五千急追之，一日一夜行三百餘里，及於當陽之長坂。先主棄妻子，與諸葛亮、張飛、趙雲等數十騎走，曹公大獲其人眾輜重。

The First Ruler cut across toward Hanjin, happened to meet Guan Yu’s boats, and was able to cross the Mian River. He met the more than ten thousand followers of Liu Biao’s eldest son Liu Qi, Prefect of Jiangxia, and went with them to Xiakou. The First Ruler sent Zhuge Liang to form an alliance with Sun Quan on his behalf, and Sun Quan sent Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and others with a naval force of several tens of thousands to join forces with the First Ruler. They fought Lord Cao at the Red Cliffs, routed him, and burned his ships. The First Ruler and the Wu army advanced together by water and land and pursued him as far as Nan Commandery. At that time there was also an epidemic, many of the northern troops died, and Lord Cao withdrew.

先主斜趨漢津，適與羽船會，得濟沔，遇表長子江夏太守琦眾萬餘人，與俱到夏口。先主遣諸葛亮自結於孫權，¹權遣周瑜、程普等水軍數萬，與先主并力，²與曹公戰於赤壁，大破之，焚其舟船。先主與吳軍水陸並進，追到南郡，時又疾疫，北軍多死，曹公引歸。 ³

The First Ruler recommended Liu Qi as Imperial Protector of Jing Province and also campaigned south against the four commanderies. Jin Xuan, Prefect of Wuling; Han Xuan, Prefect of Changsha; Zhao Fan, Prefect of Guiyang; and Liu Du, Prefect of Lingling, all surrendered. Lei Xu of Lujiang brought his retainers, several tens of thousands of people, and bowed his head to the ground in submission. When Liu Qi died of illness, the officials all put the First Ruler forward as Governor of Jing Province, and he made Gong'an his seat. Sun Quan gradually came to fear him and gave him his younger sister in marriage to strengthen their friendship. The First Ruler went to Jing to see Sun Quan, and they formed close bonds of goodwill.

先主表琦為荊州刺史，又南征四郡。武陵太守金旋、長沙太守韓玄、桂陽太守趙範、零陵太守劉度皆降。 ¹廬江雷緒率部曲數萬口稽顙。琦病死，羣下推先主為荊州牧，治公安。權稍畏之，進妹固好。先主至京見權，綢繆恩紀。

Sun Quan sent an envoy saying he wished to take Shu together with him. Some thought that he should reply with his consent, since Wu could never cross Jing Province to hold Shu, and so the land of Shu could become his own. Yin Guan, Registrar of Jing Province, came forward and said, “If we act as Wu’s vanguard and cannot conquer Shu when we advance, and Wu takes advantage of us when we fall back, then all is lost. For now we should merely approve their attack on Shu while explaining that our newly acquired commanderies cannot yet be stirred into action. Wu will surely not dare to pass by us and take Shu alone.

¹權遣使云欲共取蜀，或以為宜報聽許，吳終不能越荊有蜀，蜀地可為己有。荊州主簿殷觀進曰：「若為吳先驅，進未能克蜀，退為吳所乘，即事去矣。今但可然贊其伐蜀，而自說新據諸郡，未可興動，吳必不敢越我而獨取蜀。

With a plan like this, which provides for either advance or retreat, we can reap the benefits of both Wu and Shu.” The First Ruler followed this advice, and Sun Quan did indeed abandon his plan. Yin Guan was promoted to Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage.

如此進退之計，可以收吳、蜀之利。」先主從之，權果輟計。遷觀為別駕從事。 ¹

In the sixteenth year Liu Zhang, Governor of Yi Province, heard from afar that Lord Cao was about to send Zhong Yao and others toward Hanzhong to punish Zhang Lu, and he was inwardly afraid. Zhang Song of Shu Commandery, his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage, advised him, “Lord Cao’s troops are strong and unmatched in the realm. If he uses Zhang Lu’s resources to take the land of Shu, who could resist him?” Liu Zhang said, “I have long been worried about this, but I have no plan.” Zhang Song said, “Liu of Yu Province is a member of Your Excellency’s clan and a bitter enemy of Lord Cao, and he is skilled in war. If you have him punish Zhang Lu, Zhang Lu will certainly be defeated.

十六年，益州牧劉璋遙聞曹公將遣鍾繇等向漢中討張魯，內懷恐懼。別駕從事蜀郡張松說璋曰：「曹公兵強無敵於天下，若因張魯之資以取蜀土，誰能御之者乎？」璋曰：「吾固憂之而未有計。」松曰：「劉豫州，使君之宗室而曹公之深讎也，善用兵，若使之討魯，魯必破。

Once Zhang Lu is defeated, Yi Province will be strong, and even if Lord Cao comes he will be able to do nothing.” Liu Zhang agreed and sent Fa Zheng with four thousand men to welcome the First Ruler, and the gifts he sent over time amounted to hundreds of millions. Fa Zheng took the opportunity to lay out a plan by which Yi Province could be taken. The First Ruler left Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, and others to hold Jing Province and led several tens of thousands of foot soldiers into Yi Province. When he reached Fu, Liu Zhang came out in person to welcome him, and they met with great joy. Zhang Song had Fa Zheng tell the First Ruler, and the strategist Pang Tong also urged him, that he could attack Liu Zhang then and there at the meeting place.

魯破，則益州強，曹公雖來，無能為也。」璋然之，遣法正將四千人迎先主，前後賂遺以巨億計。正因陳益州可取之策。 ¹先主留諸葛亮、關羽等據荊州，將步卒數萬人入益州。至涪，璋自出迎，相見甚歡。張松令法正白先主，及謀臣龐統進說，便可於會所襲璋。

The First Ruler said, “This is a great matter; it must not be done in haste.” Liu Zhang put the First Ruler forward as acting Grand Marshal and Colonel-Director of Retainers; the First Ruler in turn put Liu Zhang forward as acting Grand General Who Guards the West and Governor of Yi Province. Liu Zhang increased the First Ruler’s troops and sent him to attack Zhang Lu, and also placed him in command of the Baishui army. The First Ruler combined his forces into more than thirty thousand men, with abundant carriages, armor, weapons, and supplies. That year Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu. The First Ruler went north to Jiameng, but instead of attacking Zhang Lu at once, he bestowed generous favors to win the people’s hearts.

先主曰：「此大事也，不可倉卒。」璋推先主行大司馬，領司隸校尉；先主亦推璋行鎮西大將軍，領益州牧。璋增先主兵，使擊張魯，又令督白水軍。先主並軍三萬餘人，車甲器械資貨甚盛。是歲，璋還成都。先主北到葭萌，未即討魯，厚樹恩德，以收眾心。

The following year Lord Cao campaigned against Sun Quan, and Sun Quan called on the First Ruler to come to his rescue. The First Ruler sent an envoy to tell Liu Zhang, “Lord Cao is campaigning against Wu, and Wu fears the crisis. The Sun family and I are as close as lips and teeth. Moreover, Yue Jin is at Qingni facing Guan Yu. If I do not go now to rescue Guan Yu, Yue Jin will certainly win a great victory and then turn to invade the borders of this province, which would be a greater worry than Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu is a bandit who only guards his own territory; he is not worth worrying about.” He then asked Liu Zhang for ten thousand troops and supplies, intending to go east with them.

明年，曹公征孫權，權呼先主自救。先主遣使告璋曰：「曹公征吳，吳憂危急。孫氏與孤本為脣齒，又樂進在青泥與關羽相拒，今不往救羽，進必大克，轉侵州界，其憂有甚於魯。魯自守之賊，不足慮也。」乃從璋求萬兵及資，欲以東行。

Liu Zhang granted only four thousand troops and gave only half of everything else. Zhang Song wrote to the First Ruler and Fa Zheng, “Now the great enterprise is on the verge of success; how can you let it go and leave?” Zhang Song’s elder brother Zhang Su, Prefect of Guanghan, fearing that disaster would reach him too, reported to Liu Zhang and exposed the plot. Liu Zhang then arrested Zhang Song and beheaded him, and from this their enmity began. Liu Zhang ordered the generals guarding the passes to forward no more documents to the First Ruler. The First Ruler was furious; he summoned Liu Zhang’s commander of the Baishui army, Yang Huai, rebuked him for his discourtesy, and beheaded him.

璋但許兵四千，其餘皆給半。 ¹張松書與先主及法正曰：「今大事垂可立，如何釋此去乎！」松兄廣漢太守肅，懼禍逮己，白璋發其謀。於是璋收斬松，嫌隙始構矣。 ²璋敕關戍諸將文書勿復關通先主。先主大怒，召璋白水軍督楊懷，責以無禮，斬之。

He then had Huang Zhong and Zhuo Ying marshal troops and march against Liu Zhang. The First Ruler went straight inside the pass, took the wives and children of the generals and soldiers there as hostages, and advanced with his troops, together with Huang Zhong, Zhuo Ying, and others, to Fu, where he occupied the city. Liu Zhang sent Liu Gui, Leng Bao, Zhang Ren, Deng Xian, and others to resist the First Ruler at Fu, but they were all defeated and fell back to hold Mianzhu. Liu Zhang then sent Li Yan to command the armies at Mianzhu, but Li Yan led his troops to surrender to the First Ruler. The First Ruler’s army grew ever stronger, and he sent his generals out separately to pacify the subordinate counties. Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and others led troops upstream and secured Baidi, Jiangzhou, and Jiangyang, while only Guan Yu stayed behind to guard Jing Province. The First Ruler advanced and besieged Luo. At that time Liu Zhang’s son Liu Xun was defending the city, and it was under attack for nearly a year.

乃使黃忠、卓膺勒兵向璋。先主徑至關中，質諸將並士卒妻子，引兵與忠、膺等進到涪，據其城。璋遣劉璝、冷苞、張任、鄧賢等拒先主於涪，¹皆破敗，退保綿竹。璋復遣李嚴督綿竹諸軍，嚴率眾降先主。先主軍益強，分遣諸將平下屬縣，諸葛亮、張飛、趙雲等將兵溯流定白帝、江州、江陽，惟關羽留鎮荊州。先主進軍圍雒；時璋子循守城，被攻且一年。

In summer of the nineteenth year the city of Luo fell, and he advanced to besiege Chengdu for several dozen days, after which Liu Zhang came out and surrendered. Shu was rich, prosperous, and contented. The First Ruler held a great feast for his soldiers and took the gold and silver from the city of Shu to distribute among his officers and men, but he returned the grain and cloth. The First Ruler again took the post of Governor of Yi Province. Zhuge Liang was his right-hand man, Fa Zheng his chief strategist, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Ma Chao his claws and fangs, and Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong his honored guests and friends.

十九年夏，雒城破，¹進圍成都數十日，璋出降。 ²蜀中殷盛豐樂，先主置酒大饗士卒，取蜀城中金銀分賜將士，還其穀帛。先主復領益州牧，諸葛亮為股肱，法正為謀主，關羽、張飛、馬超為爪牙，許靖、麋竺、簡雍為賓友。

Moreover, Dong He, Huang Quan, Li Yan, and others had originally been appointed by Liu Zhang; Wu Yi, Fei Guan, and others were Liu Zhang’s relatives by marriage; Peng Yang had been rejected and shunned by Liu Zhang; and Liu Ba was someone long resented. Yet he placed them all in prominent posts and let them use their talents to the full. Among men of ambition there was none who did not strive eagerly.

及董和、黃權、李嚴等本璋之所授用也，吳壹、費觀等又璋之婚親也，彭羕又璋之所排擯也，劉巴者宿昔之所忌恨也，皆處之顯任，盡其器能。有志之士，無不競勸。

In the twentieth year, since the First Ruler had already obtained Yi Province, Sun Quan sent an envoy to tell him that he wished to have Jing Province. The First Ruler said, “When I have taken Liang Province, I will give you Jing Province.” Sun Quan was angered and sent Lü Meng to seize the three commanderies of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang by surprise attack. The First Ruler led fifty thousand troops down to Gong'an and ordered Guan Yu to enter Yiyang. That year Lord Cao pacified Hanzhong, and Zhang Lu fled to Baxi. When the First Ruler heard this, he made peace with Sun Quan and divided Jing Province: Jiangxia, Changsha, and Guiyang were to belong to the east, and Nan Commandery, Lingling, and Wuling to the west. He then led his army back to Jiangzhou.

二十年，孫權以先主已得益州，使使報欲得荊州。先主言：「須得涼州，當以荊州相與。」權忿之，乃遣呂蒙襲奪長沙、零陵、桂陽三郡。先主引兵五萬下公安，令關羽入益陽。是歲，曹公定漢中，張魯遁走巴西。先主聞之，與權連和，分荊州、江夏、長沙、桂陽東屬，南郡、零陵、武陵西屬，引軍還江州。

He sent Huang Quan with troops to welcome Zhang Lu, but Zhang Lu had already surrendered to Lord Cao. Lord Cao had Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He garrison Hanzhong, and they repeatedly raided across the borders of Ba. The First Ruler ordered Zhang Fei to advance with troops to Dangqu. He fought Zhang He and the others at Wakou and defeated them, and Zhang He gathered his troops and returned to Nanzheng. The First Ruler also returned to Chengdu.

遣黃權將兵迎張魯，張魯已降曹公。曹公使夏侯淵、張郃屯漢中，數數犯暴巴界。先主令張飛進兵宕渠，與郃等戰於瓦口，破郃等，收兵還南鄭。先主亦還成都。

In the twenty-third year the First Ruler led his generals to advance on Hanzhong. He sent the generals Wu Lan, Lei Tong, and others separately into Wudu, but they were all wiped out by Lord Cao’s army. The First Ruler encamped at Yangping Pass and faced Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He, and the others.

二十三年，先主率諸將進兵漢中。分遣將軍吳蘭、雷銅等入武都，皆為曹公軍所沒。先主次於陽平關，與淵、郃等相拒。

In spring of the twenty-fourth year he crossed the Mian River south from Yangping and advanced gradually along the mountains, making camp on the slopes of Mount Dingjun. Xiahou Yuan brought troops to contest the position. The First Ruler ordered Huang Zhong to attack from the heights with drums beating and battle cries, and he routed Xiahou Yuan’s army, beheading Xiahou Yuan and Zhao Yong, whom Lord Cao had appointed Imperial Protector of Yi Province, among others. Lord Cao set out in person from Chang'an with his whole army and marched south. The First Ruler judged the situation from afar and said, “Even if Lord Cao comes, he can do nothing. I will certainly hold the Han valley.”

二十四年春，自陽平南渡沔水，緣山稍前，於定軍山勢作營。淵將兵來爭其地。先主命黃忠乘高鼓譟攻之，大破淵軍，斬淵及曹公所署益州刺史趙顒等。曹公自長安舉眾南征。先主遙策之曰：「曹公雖來，無能為也，我必有漢川矣。」

When Lord Cao arrived, the First Ruler gathered his forces and held the passes against him, never meeting him in open battle. Month after month Lord Cao could not take the positions, and deserters grew more numerous every day. In summer, as expected, Lord Cao led his army back, and the First Ruler at last held Hanzhong. He sent Liu Feng, Meng Da, Li Ping and others to attack Shen Dan at Shangyong.

及曹公至，先主斂眾拒險，終不交鋒，積月不拔，亡者日多。夏，曹公果引軍還，先主遂有漢中。遣劉封、孟達、李平等攻申耽於上庸。

In autumn, the officials below him put forward the First Ruler as King of Hanzhong and sent a memorial to the Han Emperor, saying: “Your servants Ma Chao, General Who Pacifies the West and Marquis of Du Village; Xu Jing, Chief Clerk to the General of the Left and General Who Guards the Army; Pang Xi, Camp Major; She Yuan, Attendant Gentleman of the Consultation Bureau and General of the Household for Military Counsel; Zhuge Liang, Military Adviser General; Guan Yu, General Who Sweeps Away Bandits and Marquis of Hanshou Village; Zhang Fei, General Who Conquers Caitiffs and Marquis of Xin Village; Huang Zhong, General Who Conquers the West; Lai Gong, General Who Guards Distant Regions; Fa Zheng, General Who Displays Might; Li Yan, General Who Promotes the Enterprise; and others, one hundred and twenty men in all, submit this statement. Of old, Yao of Tang was the most perfect of sages, yet the Four Evil Ones stood at his court; King Cheng of Zhou was benevolent and worthy, yet four states rose in revolt; when Empress Gao ruled in the Emperor’s stead, the Lü clan usurped authority; and when Emperor Zhao was a child, Shangguan plotted treason. All of these relied on generations of favor and seized the power of the state, carrying their wickedness and disorder to the utmost, so that the altars of the state were nearly imperiled.

秋，群下上先主為漢中王，表於漢帝曰：平西將軍都亭侯臣馬超、左將軍長史鎮軍將軍臣許靖、營司馬臣龐羲、議曹從事中郎軍議中郎將臣射援、¹軍師將軍臣諸葛亮、蕩寇將軍漢壽亭侯臣關羽、征虜將軍新亭侯臣張飛、征西將軍臣黃忠、鎮遠將軍臣賴恭、揚武將軍臣法正、興業將軍臣李嚴等一百二十人上言曰：昔唐堯至聖而四凶在朝，周成仁賢而四國作難，高后稱制而諸呂竊命，孝昭幼沖而上官逆謀，皆馮世寵，藉履國權，窮凶極亂，社稷幾危。

Had it not been for the great Shun, the Duke of Zhou, the Marquis of Zhuxu and the Marquis of Bolu, these men could not have been banished, captured and punished, and danger could not have been made safe nor the toppling set upright. We humbly reflect that Your Majesty, born with a sage’s nature and virtue, rules over the myriad states, yet has met with ill fortune and the hardship of calamity. Dong Zhuo first raised disorder and laid waste the capital region; Cao Cao climbed upon that calamity and stole the balance of Heaven. The Empress and the Heir Apparent were poisoned and murdered; he has torn the realm apart and ruined the people and all things. For long he has made Your Majesty endure dust and hardship, confined in an empty city.

非大舜、周公、朱虛、博陸，則不能流放禽討，安危定傾。伏惟陛下誕姿聖德，統理萬邦，而遭厄運不造之艱。董卓首難，盪覆京畿，曹操階禍，竊執天衡；皇后太子，鴆殺見害，剝亂天下，殘毀民物。久令陛下蒙塵憂厄，幽處虛邑。

Men and spirits are without a master; he blocks and cuts off the royal commands, obscures and darkens the imperial throne, and seeks to steal the sacred vessel of rule. Liu Bei, General of the Left, acting Colonel-Director of Retainers, Imperial Protector of the three provinces of Yu, Jing and Yi, and Marquis of Yicheng Village, received rank and emolument from the court and has ever been minded to give his strength and die for the nation’s peril. Seeing the signs of the times, he rose in blazing indignation and plotted with the General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng to execute Cao Cao, meaning to bring peace to the state and restore order in the old capital. But Dong Cheng failed to keep the plot secret, so that Cao Cao, his wandering soul spared, was able to grow in wickedness and ravage all within the seas.

人神無主，遏絕王命，厭昧皇極，欲盜神器。左將軍領司隸校尉豫、荊、益三州牧宜城亭侯備，受朝爵秩，念在輸力，以殉國難。睹其機兆，赫然憤發，與車騎將軍董承同謀誅操，將安國家，克寧舊都。會承機事不密，令操遊魂得遂長惡，殘泯海內。

Your servants constantly fear that the royal house may suffer the great calamity of Yan Le or the lesser upheaval of Ding'an, and day and night we tremble and hold our breath. In the Book of Yu of old, the nine degrees of kin were ordered with generous care; Zhou, looking back on the two preceding dynasties, enfeoffed those of its own surname; the Odes set forth the principle, and it endured for many generations. At the rise of the Han, territory was divided and the sons and brothers of the ruling house were honored, and thus the troubles of the Lü clan were at last broken and the foundation of Emperor Taizong was laid. Your servants hold that Liu Bei, a close kinsman and branch of the imperial house and a bulwark of the clan, keeps the state in his heart and is minded to put an end to disorder.

臣等每懼王室大有閻樂之禍，小有定安之變，¹夙夜惴惴，戰栗累息。昔在虞書，敦序九族，周監二代，封建同姓，詩著其義，歷載長久。漢興之初，割裂疆土，尊王子弟，是以卒折諸呂之難，而成太宗之基。臣等以備肺腑枝葉，宗子籓翰，心存國家，念在弭亂。

Since Cao Cao was defeated at Hanzhong, the heroes of the realm have flocked to his cause like ants at the first word of him, yet his rank and title are not yet made plain and the Nine Distinctions have not been conferred on him; this is no way to guard and protect the altars of the state or to shed glory upon ten thousand generations. He serves at his commission far away, and all ceremonial appointment has been cut off. Of old, when the Han was restored, Liang Tong and the other Prefects of Hexi, cut off by mountains and rivers and equal in rank and power, could not lead one another; together they put forward Dou Rong as their commander-in-chief, and in the end they achieved merit and crushed Wei Xiao.

自操破於漢中，海內英雄望風蟻附，而爵號不顯，九錫未加，非所以鎮衛社稷，光昭萬世也。奉辭在外，禮命斷絕。昔河西太守梁統等值漢中興，限於山河，位同權均，不能相率，咸推竇融以為元帥，卒立效績，摧破隗囂。

Today the peril to the altars of the state is more pressing than it was in the days of Long and Shu. Cao Cao swallows the realm abroad and destroys the officials at home; the court faces danger within its own walls, yet no one has been set up to ward off the insult — it is enough to chill the heart. Your servants have therefore, following the old statutes, enfeoffed Liu Bei as King of Hanzhong and appointed him Grand Marshal, to direct and order the Six Armies, to unite the allied forces, and to sweep away and destroy the wicked rebels. Hanzhong, Ba, Shu, Guanghan and Qianwei shall form his kingdom, and the establishment and appointment of officials shall follow the old statutes for the kings of the early Han.

今社稷之難，急於隴、蜀。操外吞天下，內殘群寮，朝廷有蕭牆之危，而御侮未建，可為寒心。臣等輒依舊典，封備漢中王，拜大司馬，董齊六軍，糾合同盟，掃滅凶逆。以漢中、巴、蜀、廣漢、犍為為國，所署置依漢初諸侯王故典。

A measure of expediency, if it truly benefits the altars of the state, may be taken on one’s own authority. Then, once the merit is achieved and the matter established, your servants will withdraw and prostrate ourselves to answer for the crime of acting without warrant; even if we die for it, we shall have no regret.”

夫權宜之制，苟利社稷，專之可也。然後功成事立，臣等退伏矯罪，雖死無恨。

Then an altar ground was set up at Mianyang, with troops drawn up and the multitude arrayed; the officials took their places in attendance, and when the memorial had been read, the royal cap was placed upon the First Ruler.

遂於沔陽設壇場，陳兵列眾，群臣陪位，讀奏訖，御王冠於先主。

The First Ruler submitted a statement to the Han Emperor: “With the talents of a servant who merely fills a place, I have borne the charge of a high general, overseeing the Three Armies and serving at my commission abroad. Yet I have not been able to sweep away the bandits and troubles and set the royal house in peace and order, and for long I have let Your Majesty’s sacred teaching decline, so that all within the six directions is blocked and not at peace. I can only toss and turn in anxiety, as sick at heart as one with an aching head. In former days Dong Zhuo laid the first steps to disorder, and ever since then the wicked have run rampant and ravaged all within the seas.

先主上言漢帝曰：臣以具臣之才，荷上將之任，董督三軍，奉辭於外，不得掃除寇難，靖匡王室，久使陛下聖教陵遲，六合之內，否而未泰，惟憂反側，疢如疾首。曩者董卓造為亂階，自是之後，群凶縱橫，殘剝海內。

Relying on Your Majesty’s sacred virtue and awesome spirit, men and gods responded together: some rose in loyalty and righteousness to strike, while on others Heaven sent down punishment, and the violent rebels fell one after another and melted away like ice. Only Cao Cao has long escaped beheading and destruction; he encroaches on and usurps the power of the state and gives free rein to utmost disorder. I once plotted with the General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng to punish Cao Cao, but the plot was not kept secret; Dong Cheng was destroyed, and I was driven from place to place and lost my footing, and my loyal purpose came to nothing. Thus Cao Cao was able to carry his wickedness and treason to the utmost: the Empress was put to death and the imperial princes were poisoned.

賴陛下聖德威靈，人神同應，或忠義奮討，或上天降罰，暴逆並殪，以漸冰消。惟獨曹操，久未梟除，侵擅國權，恣心極亂。臣昔與車騎將軍董承圖謀討操，機事不密，承見陷害，臣播越失據，忠義不果。遂得使操窮凶極逆，主后戮殺，皇子鴆害。

Though I have united allies and been minded to exert my strength, I am weak and unwarlike, and for years I have achieved nothing. I constantly fear that I shall perish and fail the favor of the state, so that waking and sleeping I sigh long, and until evening I am as wary as if in danger. Now my officials hold that in the Book of Yu of old the nine degrees of kin were ordered with generous care and all the enlightened exerted themselves as wings of support; the Five Emperors added and took away, but this way was never abandoned. Zhou, looking back on the two preceding dynasties, set up the many lords of the Ji surname side by side and truly relied on the blessing of Jin and Zheng supporting it on either side. When Emperor Gaozu rose like a dragon, he honored the sons and brothers of the royal house and opened nine kingdoms on a grand scale, so that in the end the Lü clan were cut down and the main line was secured.

雖糾合同盟，念在奮力，懦弱不武，歷年未效。常恐殞沒，孤負國恩，寤寐永嘆，夕惕若厲。今臣群寮以為在昔虞書敦敘九族，庶明勵翼，¹五帝損益，此道不廢。周監二代，並建諸姬，實賴晉、鄭夾輔之福。高祖龍興，尊王子弟，大啟九國，卒斬諸呂，以安大宗。

Now Cao Cao hates the upright and loathes the correct, and his followers are truly many; he harbors a heart of calamity, and his intent to usurp is already plain. Since the imperial clan is weak and the members of the imperial family hold no position, they weighed the ancient precedents and relied on expediency to raise me up as Grand Marshal and King of Hanzhong. I have humbly examined myself three times: I have received the state’s generous favor and borne a charge over one region, yet have exerted my strength without result; what I have gained already exceeds my due, and I ought not further disgrace a high rank and add to the weight of guilt and censure. But the officials pressed me and drove me with the claims of duty.

今操惡直醜正，寔繁有徒，包藏禍心，篡盜已顯。既宗室微弱，帝族無位，斟酌古式，依假權宜，上臣大司馬漢中王。臣伏自三省，受國厚恩，荷任一方，陳力未效，所獲已過，不宜復忝高位以重罪謗。羣寮見逼，迫臣以義。

When I withdraw and reflect that the bandits have not been beheaded, the nation’s troubles have not ceased, the ancestral temples are tottering and the altars of the state are about to fall, this is the burden of anxiety and responsibility for which I should dash my head to pieces. If by answering to expediency and adapting to change I can bring peace to the sacred court, then even if I must go through water and fire I cannot refuse; how should I dare to weigh only ordinary propriety to guard against later regret? I have therefore followed the general counsel, bowed and received the seal, to exalt the majesty of the state. Looking up at the rank and title, I see that the position is high and the favor great; looking down to consider how to repay it, I find the anxiety deep and the responsibility heavy, and I hold my breath in alarm and dread, as though standing at the edge of a gorge.

臣退惟寇賊不梟，國難未已，宗廟傾危，社稷將墜，成臣憂責碎首之負。若應權通變，以寧靖聖朝，雖赴水火，所不得辭，敢慮常宜，以防後悔。輒順眾議，拜受印璽，以崇國威。仰惟爵號，位高寵厚，俯思報效，憂深責重，驚怖累息，如臨於谷。

I shall exhaust my strength and give my loyalty, encourage the Six Hosts, lead and marshal all the righteous, respond to Heaven and accord with the times, and strike down the wicked rebels to bring peace to the altars of the state, and so repay one ten-thousandth part of my debt. I respectfully bow and submit this memorial, and by the post relay I return the seal and ribbon of General of the Left and Marquis of Yicheng Village that were lent to me.”

盡力輸誠，獎厲六師，率齊群義，應天順時，撲討凶逆，以寧社稷，以報萬分，謹拜章因驛上還所假左將軍、宜城亭侯印綬。

He then returned to govern from Chengdu. He promoted Wei Yan to Area Commander and had him guard Hanzhong. At this time Guan Yu attacked Lord Cao’s general Cao Ren and captured Yu Jin at Fan. Shortly afterward Sun Quan made a surprise attack on Guan Yu, killed him, and took Jing Province.

於是還治成都。拔魏延為都督，鎮漢中。 ¹時關羽攻曹公將曹仁，禽于禁於樊。俄而孫權襲殺羽，取荊州。

In the twenty-fifth year, Emperor Wen of Wei assumed the imperial title and changed the era name to Huangchu. A rumor came that the Han Emperor had been murdered, and the First Ruler therefore proclaimed mourning, put on mourning garments, and bestowed on him the posthumous title Emperor Xiaomin. After this, auspicious omens of every kind were reported from all quarters, one after another, day upon day and month upon month. So the Court Consultant and Marquis of Yangquan Liu Bao, the Marquis of Qingyi Xiang Ju, the Lieutenant Generals Zhang Yi and Huang Quan, the Clerk of the Grand Marshal Yin Chun, the Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage of Yi Province Zhao Zuo, the Attendant Officer of the Headquarters Yang Hong, the Libationer Attendant Officer He Zong, the Attendant Officer of the Consultation Bureau Du Qiong, and the Attendant Officers for the Encouragement of Learning Zhang Shuang, Yin Mo and Qiao Zhou, together submitted a statement: “We have heard that the River Chart and the Luo Writing, and the prophetic and apocryphal texts of the Five Classics, were sifted by Confucius, and that their proofs and correspondences reach back to distant times.

二十五年，魏文帝稱尊號，改年曰黃初。或傳聞漢帝見害，先主乃發喪制服，追諡曰孝愍皇帝。是後在所並言眾瑞，日月相屬，故議郎陽泉侯劉豹、青衣侯向舉、偏將軍張裔、黃權、大司馬屬殷純、益州別駕從事趙莋、治中從事楊洪、從事祭酒何宗、議曹從事杜瓊、勸學從事張爽、尹默、譙周等上言：臣聞河圖、洛書，五經讖、緯，孔子所甄，驗應自遠。

We have respectfully examined the Luo Writing: Zhenyaodu, which says, ‘The Red, on its third day, its virtue flourishes; in the ninth generation it meets Bei, and joined they become the bound of the emperors.’ The Luo Writing: Baohaoming says, ‘Heaven’s measure and the emperor’s way are complete (bei), and he is called sovereign; holding the tally he rules, a hundred times achieving and never failing.’ The Luo Writing: Luyunqi says, ‘Nine marquises and seven heroes contend for the mandate; the people cook with bones, and on the roads men trample human heads in confusion. Who shall be made master? Xuan is about to come.’ The Xiaojing Gouming Juelu says, ‘The emperor three times established; in the ninth he meets Bei.’

謹案洛書甄曜度曰：『赤三日德昌，九世會備，合為帝際。』洛書寶號命曰：『天度帝道備稱皇，以統握契，百成不敗。』洛書錄運期曰：『九侯七傑爭命民炊骸，道路籍籍履人頭，誰使主者玄且來。』孝經鉤命決錄曰：『帝三建九會備。』

When my father Qun was still alive, he said that in the southwest a yellow vapor had often appeared, rising straight up several zhang, and had been seen for years; from time to time auspicious clouds and propitious winds came down from the Xuanji stars in response to it, and this was an extraordinary omen. Again, during the twenty-second year a vapor like a banner several times crossed from the west to the far east, passing through the middle of the sky, and the Chart and Writing say, ‘A Son of Heaven will surely come forth from that quarter.’ Moreover, in this year the Grand White (Venus), the Sparkling Deluder (Mars) and the Quelling Star (Saturn) constantly followed the Year Star (Jupiter).

臣父群未亡時，言西南數有黃氣，直立數丈，見來積年，時時有景雲祥風，從璿璣下來應之，此為異瑞。又二十二年中，數有氣如旗，從西竟東，中天而行，圖、書曰『必有天子出其方』。加是年太白、熒惑、填星，常從歲星相追。

In more recent times, when the Han first arose, the five planets followed the Year Star into conjunction. The Year Star governs righteousness, and the Han’s position is in the west, the quarter above righteousness; therefore the Han laws always used the Year Star to observe the ruler of men. A sage ruler ought to arise in this province and bring about a restoration. At that time the Emperor at Xu was still living, so none of us dared let the words slip. Lately the Sparkling Deluder has again followed the Year Star and is now seen in the lunar lodges Stomach, Pleiades and Net; the Pleiades and the Net are the net-cord of Heaven, and the classic says, ‘When the Emperor’s star dwells there, all evils vanish.’

近漢初興，五星從歲星謀；歲星主義，漢位在西，義之上方，故漢法常以歲星候人主。當有聖主起於此州，以致中興。時許帝尚存，故羣下不敢漏言。頃者熒惑復追歲星，見在胃昴畢；昴畢為天綱，經曰『帝星處之，眾邪消亡』。

The sacred personal name has been foreseen, and when the dates and proofs are reckoned, the signs have tallied and come again and again — not once, but many times. We have heard that when a sage king acts ahead of Heaven, Heaven does not oppose him, and when he acts after Heaven, he honors Heaven’s timing; thus he is born in answer to the moment and is joined in covenant with the spirits. We pray that Your Highness will respond to Heaven and accord with the people, and swiftly assume the great enterprise, to bring peace to all within the seas.”

聖諱豫睹，推揆期驗，符合數至，若此非一。臣聞聖王先天而天不違，後天而奉天時，故應際而生，與神合契。願大王應天順民，速即洪業，以寧海內。

The Grand Tutor Xu Jing, the General Who Pacifies the Han Mi Zhu, the Military Adviser General Zhuge Liang, the Minister of Ceremonies Lai Gong, the Minister of the Household Huang Zhu, the Privy Treasurer Wang Mou and others submitted a statement: “Cao Pi has usurped the throne and murdered his sovereign, destroyed the house of Han, stolen and occupied the sacred vessel of rule, and coerced the loyal and good; he is cruel and without principle. Men and ghosts are enraged and embittered, and all long for the house of Liu. Now there is no Son of Heaven above, and all within the seas are in dread, with no one to look up to as their model. More than eight hundred of your officials have submitted letters one after another, all recounting auspicious signs and declaring that the Charts and prophecies give clear proof.

太傅許靖、安漢將軍糜竺、軍師將軍諸葛亮、太常賴恭、光祿勳黃柱、少府王謀等上言：曹丕篡弒，湮滅漢室，竊據神器，劫迫忠良，酷烈無道。人鬼忿毒，咸思劉氏。今上無天子，海內惶惶，靡所式仰。群下前後上書者八百餘人，咸稱述符瑞，圖、讖明徵。

Recently a yellow dragon appeared in the Chishui at Wuyang and left after nine days. The Xiaojing Yuanshenqi says, ‘When virtue reaches the deep springs, the yellow dragon appears’; and the dragon is the image of the ruler. The fifth line of the Qian hexagram in the Book of Changes says, ‘The flying dragon is in the heavens’; Your Highness shall rise like the dragon and ascend the imperial throne. Moreover, when Guan Yu earlier besieged Fan and Xiangyang, two men of Xiangyang, Zhang Jia and Wang Xiu, presented a jade seal. The seal had lain submerged in the Han River, hidden in the deep springs, yet its radiance shone brightly and its spiritual light pierced the heavens.

間黃龍見武陽赤水，九日乃去。孝經援神契曰『德至淵泉則黃龍見』，龍者，君之像也。易乾九五『飛龍在天』，大王當龍昇，登帝位也。又前關羽圍樊、襄陽，襄陽男子張嘉、王休獻玉璽，璽潛漢水，伏於淵泉，暉景燭燿，靈光徹天。

Han was the dynastic name under which Gaozu first rose and settled the realm, and Your Highness, following in the footsteps of the former emperor, has likewise risen from Hanzhong. Now the Son of Heaven’s jade seal has first shown its divine light, and the seal came forth at Xiangyang, at the lower reaches of the Han River, making it plain that Your Highness inherits its downstream course and that it bestows upon Your Highness the throne of the Son of Heaven. Such auspicious mandates and tallying signs are not brought about by human strength. Of old, when Zhou received the auspicious signs of the crow and the fish, all said, ‘How splendid!’

夫漢者，高祖本所起定天下之國號也，大王襲先帝軌跡，亦興於漢中也。今天子玉璽神光先見，璽出襄陽，漢水之末，明大王承其下流，授與大王以天子之位，瑞命符應，非人力所致。昔周有烏魚之瑞，咸曰休哉。

When the two founding ancestors received the Mandate, the Chart and the Writing had first appeared as proof. Now Heaven above announces good fortune, and the many Confucian scholars and men of talent have together brought forward the River and Luo texts and the prophecies and records of Confucius, all of them complete. We humbly reflect that Your Highness descends from Emperor Xiaojing and King Jing of Zhongshan; the main stem and its branches have continued for a hundred generations; the spirits of Heaven and Earth have sent down blessings; your sacred form is great and flourishing, divine martial power resides in your person, your benevolence covers all and your virtue is accumulated, and you love men and delight in scholars — therefore all four quarters give you their hearts.

二祖受命，圖、書先著，以為徵驗。今上天告祥，群儒英俊，並進河、洛，孔子讖、記，咸悉具至。伏惟大王出自孝景皇帝中山靖王之胄，本支百世，乾祇降祚，聖姿碩茂，神武在躬，仁覆積德，愛人好士，是以四方歸心焉。

When we examine the spirit charts and open the prophetic and apocryphal texts, the personal name stands out clearly in the signs revealed by the spirits. You should ascend the imperial throne to carry on the work of the two ancestors and continue the line of the ancestral temples; the realm would count itself most fortunate. We have respectfully worked with the Erudite Xu Ci and the Court Consultant Meng Guang to establish the rites and choose an auspicious day on which to present the imperial title.”

考省靈圖，啟發讖、緯，神明之表，名諱昭著。宜即帝位，以纂二祖，紹嗣昭穆，天下幸甚。臣等謹與博士許慈、議郎孟光，建立禮儀，擇令辰，上尊號。

He ascended the imperial throne south of Wudan at Chengdu. The prayer he composed read: “On the bingwu day of the fourth month of the twenty-sixth year of Jian'an, I, Bei, the Emperor, venture to offer a black bull and make this solemn announcement to the Sovereign Heaven, the Supreme Emperor, and to the Sovereign Earth and all the spirits: The Han has held the realm, and its allotted succession has no bounds. In former days, when Wang Mang usurped and stole the throne, Emperor Guangwu rose in thunderous wrath and put him to death, and the altars of the state were preserved once more. Now Cao Cao, relying on his troops and hardened in cruelty, slaughtered the Empress; his crimes swelled to Heaven and destroyed the Xia, heedless of Heaven’s manifest way.

即皇帝位於成都武擔之南。 ¹為文曰：惟建安二十六年四月丙午，皇帝備敢用玄牡，昭告皇天上帝后土神祇：漢有天下，歷數無疆。曩者王莽篡盜，光武皇帝震怒致誅，社稷復存。今曹操阻兵安忍，戮殺主后，滔天泯夏，罔顧天顯。

Cao Cao’s son Pi has carried on his wickedness and treason and stolen and occupied the sacred vessel of rule. My ministers, generals and soldiers held that since the altars of the state had fallen into ruin, Bei ought to restore them, succeed to the martial legacy of the two ancestors, and reverently carry out Heaven’s punishment. Bei, lacking in virtue, feared to disgrace the imperial throne. He inquired of the common people, and beyond them of the chieftains of the Man and Yi, and all said, ‘The Mandate of Heaven must be answered, the ancestral enterprise must not long lie abandoned, and the four seas must not be without a master.’ The hopes of all the land rest on Bei alone.

操子丕，載其凶逆，竊居神器。群臣將士以為社稷隳廢，備宜脩之，嗣武二祖，龔行天罰。備惟否德，懼忝帝位。詢於庶民，外及蠻夷君長，僉曰『天命不可以不答，祖業不可以久替，四海不可以無主』 。率土式望，在備一人。

Bei, in awe of Heaven’s bright command and fearing that the Han throne would be buried in the earth, has respectfully chosen a propitious day to ascend the altar with the hundred officials and receive the imperial seal and ribbon. He has performed the burnt and buried offerings and announced this by the lei sacrifice to the spirits of Heaven. May the spirits grant their blessing to the house of Han and forever bring peace to the four seas!”

備畏天明命，又懼漢阼將湮於地，謹擇元日，與百寮登壇，受皇帝璽綬。脩燔瘞，告類於天神，惟神饗祚於漢家，永綏四海！¹

In summer, the fourth month of the first year of Zhangwu, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name changed. Zhuge Liang was made Chancellor and Xu Jing Minister over the Masses. The hundred offices were established, the ancestral temple was set up, and a joint sacrifice was offered to Emperor Gao and his successors. In the fifth month Lady Wu was made Empress, and his son Liu Shan was made Heir Apparent. In the sixth month his son Liu Yong was made King of Lu and Liu Li King of Liang. The General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Fei was killed by his own attendants. Earlier, the First Ruler, enraged at Sun Quan’s surprise attack on Guan Yu, had intended to campaign in the east; in autumn, the seventh month, he at last led his armies to attack Wu.

章武元年夏四月，大赦，改年。以諸葛亮為丞相，許靖為司徒。置百官，立宗廟，祫祭高皇帝以下。 ¹五月，立皇后吳氏，子禪為皇太子。六月，以子永為魯王，理為梁王。車騎將軍張飛為其左右所害。初，先主忿孫權之襲關羽，將東征，秋七月，遂帥諸軍伐吳。

Sun Quan sent a letter asking for peace, but the First Ruler, in a towering rage, refused. The Wu generals Lu Yi, Li Yi, Liu A and others were stationed at Wu County and Zigui. The generals Wu Ban and Feng Xi attacked from Wu County and routed Li Yi and the others, and the army halted at Zigui; the Man and Yi of Wuxi in Wuling sent envoys asking for troops.

孫權遣書請和，先主盛怒不許，吳將陸議、李異、劉阿等屯巫、秭歸；將軍吳班、馮習自巫攻破異等，軍次秭歸，武陵五谿蠻夷遣使請兵。

In spring, the first month of the second year, the First Ruler’s army returned to Zigui. The naval forces of the generals Wu Ban and Chen Shi were stationed at Yiling, holding both the east and west banks of the river. In the second month the First Ruler advanced from Zigui at the head of his generals, following the mountains and cutting across the ridges, and pitched camp at Xiaoting in Yidao. From Henshan he opened a route to Wuling and sent the Palace Attendant Ma Liang to reassure the Man and Yi of Wuxi, who all responded together. The General Who Guards the North Huang Quan commanded the armies north of the river and held off the Wu army on the Yiling road.

二年春正月，先主軍還秭歸，將軍吳班、陳式水軍屯夷陵，夾江東西岸。二月，先主自秭歸率諸將進軍，緣山截嶺，於夷道猇亭¹駐營，自佷山²通武陵，遣侍中馬良安慰五谿蠻夷，咸相率響應。鎮北將軍黃權督江北諸軍，與吳軍相拒於夷陵道。

In summer, the sixth month, a yellow vapor appeared over a stretch of more than ten li from Zigui, several tens of zhang wide. More than ten days later Lu Yi crushed the First Ruler’s army at Xiaoting, and the generals Feng Xi, Zhang Nan and others all perished. The First Ruler returned from Xiaoting to Zigui, gathered his scattered troops, then abandoned his boats and went back overland to Yufu, and renamed Yufu County Yongan. Wu sent its generals Li Yi, Liu A and others to follow on the heels of the First Ruler’s army, and they encamped at Nanshan.

夏六月，黃氣見自秭歸十餘里中，廣數十丈。後十餘日，陸議大破先主軍於猇亭，將軍馮習、張南等皆沒。先主自猇亭還秭歸，收合離散兵，遂棄船舫，由步道還魚復，改魚復縣曰永安。吳遣將軍李異、劉阿等踵躡先主軍，屯駐南山。

In autumn, the eighth month, the troops were gathered in and withdrawn to Wu County. The Minister over the Masses Xu Jing died. In winter, the tenth month, an edict ordered the Chancellor Zhuge Liang to lay out the southern and northern suburban altars at Chengdu. When Sun Quan heard that the First Ruler was staying at Baidi, he was greatly alarmed and sent an envoy to ask for peace. The First Ruler agreed and sent the Grand Palace Grandee Zong Wei with his reply. In winter, the twelfth month, the Prefect of Hanjia, Huang Yuan, hearing that the First Ruler was ill and unwell, raised troops and held out against him.

秋八月，收兵還巫。司徒許靖卒。冬十月，詔丞相亮營南北郊於成都。孫權聞先主住白帝，甚懼，遣使請和。先主許之，遣太中大夫宗瑋報命。冬十二月，漢嘉太守黃元聞先主疾不豫，舉兵拒守。

In spring, the second month of the third year, the Chancellor Zhuge Liang came from Chengdu to Yongan. In the third month Huang Yuan advanced his troops and attacked Linqiong County. The general Chen Hu was sent to punish Huang Yuan; Huang Yuan’s army was defeated, and as he went down the river with the current he was bound by his own personal guards and delivered alive to Chengdu, where he was beheaded. When the First Ruler’s illness became grave, he entrusted his orphaned son to the Chancellor Zhuge Liang, with the Director of the Secretariat Li Yan as his deputy. In summer, on the guisi day of the fourth month, the First Ruler passed away in the Yongan Palace, at the age of sixty-three.

三年春二月，丞相亮自成都到永安。三月，黃元進兵攻臨邛縣。遣將軍陳曶¹討元，元軍敗，順流下江，為其親兵所縛，生致成都，斬之。先主病篤，託孤於丞相亮，尚書令李嚴為副。夏四月癸巳，先主殂於永安宮，時年六十三。 ²

Zhuge Liang submitted a statement to the Latter Ruler: “We humbly reflect that the late Emperor practiced benevolence and established virtue, sheltering and nurturing without limit; but vast Heaven showed no pity, he lay ill and lingered, and on the twenty-fourth day of this month he suddenly ascended on high. His ministers and palace women wail as though they had lost father and mother. Looking to his testamentary edict, it says that affairs are to be conducted solely for the main line, with additions and reductions as circumstances require; that the hundred officials shall lament and put off mourning after a full three days, then resume it according to the rites when the time for burial comes; and that the Prefects, Chancellors and Commandants of the commanderies and kingdoms, and the Magistrates and Chiefs of the counties, shall put off mourning after three days.

亮上言於後主曰：伏惟大行皇帝邁仁樹德，覆燾無疆，昊天不弔，寢疾彌留，今月二十四日奄忽升遐，臣妾號咷，若喪考妣。乃顧遺詔，事惟大宗，動容損益；百寮發哀，滿三日除服，到葬期復如禮；其郡國太守、相、都尉、縣令長，三日便除服。

I, Liang, personally received his instructions and warnings; in awe of his spirit, I dare not disobey. I request that they be proclaimed and carried out.”

臣亮親受敕戒，震畏神靈，不敢有違。臣請宣下奉行。

In the fifth month the imperial coffin was brought back from Yongan to Chengdu, and the posthumous title Emperor Zhaolie was conferred. In autumn, the eighth month, he was buried at the Hui Mausoleum.

五月，梓宮自永安還成都，諡曰昭烈皇帝。秋，八月，葬惠陵。 ¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: The First Ruler was broad-minded and resolute, magnanimous and generous; he knew men and treated scholars well. He had something of the air of Emperor Gaozu and the capacity of a hero. When he entrusted his whole state and his orphaned son to Zhuge Liang without any second thought in his heart, it was truly the highest impartiality between ruler and minister and a splendid model for all ages. In resourcefulness, expedients, ability and strategy he did not match Emperor Wu of Wei, and so the base of his dominion was narrow. Yet though he was broken he never bent, and to the end he would not stand beneath another; he surely judged that the other man’s magnanimity would never have tolerated him, so it was not merely a contest for advantage but also a way of avoiding harm.

評曰：先主之弘毅寬厚，知人待士，蓋有高祖之風，英雄之器焉。及其舉國託孤於諸葛亮，而心神無貳，誠君臣之至公，古今之盛軌也。機權幹略，不逮魏武，是以基宇亦狹。然折而不撓，終不為下者，抑揆彼之量必不容己，非唯競利，且以避害云爾。