Xin Xu (新序) · Volume 6
高皇帝疑，問左右大臣，皆山東人，多勸上都雒陽，東有成皋，西有餚澠，倍河海，向伊洛，其固亦足恃，且週數百年，秦二世而亡，不如都周。留侯張子房曰："雒陽雖有此固，國中小不過數百里，田地狹，四面受敵，此非用武之國。夫關中左餚函，右隴蜀，沃野千里，南有巴蜀之饒，北有故宛之利，阻三面，守一隅，東向制諸侯，諸侯安定，河渭漕輓。天下西給京師；諸侯有變，順流而下，足以委輸，此所謂金城千里，天府之國也。婁敬說是也。"於是高皇帝即日駕，西都關中，由是國家安寧。雖彭越。陳狶。盧綰之謀，九江燕代之兵，及吳楚之難，關東之兵，雖百萬之師，猶不能以為害者，由保仁德之惠，守關中之固也。國以永安，婁敬。張子房之謀也。上曰："本言都秦地者，婁敬也。婁者乃嬌也。"賜姓嬌氏，拜為郎中，號曰奉春君，後卒為建信侯。
Emperor Gao hesitated and asked his ministers around him; they were all from east of the mountains and mostly urged the emperor to make his capital at Luoyang: to the east it had Chenggao, to the west Xiao and Mian, with the river and sea behind it and the Yi and Luo before it; its strength was enough to rely on, and moreover Zhou had lasted several hundred years while Qin had perished in two reigns, so it would be better to make the capital at Zhou's. Zhang Ziyang, Marquis of Liu, said: "Although Luoyang has this strength, the state within is no more than a few hundred li, the land is narrow, and it is attacked from four sides; this is not a place for using arms. Within the passes, on the left there are Xiao and Han, on the right Long and Shu, with fertile plains a thousand li wide; in the south are the riches of Ba and Shu, in the north the advantages of the old Wan; it is shielded on three sides and one holds only a corner, from which to control the lords to the east. When the lords are at peace, goods are shipped by the Yellow and Wei rivers and supplied westward to the capital; if the lords stir, one goes down the stream and can easily send supplies; this is what is called a golden city of a thousand li and a land of the Heavenly Storehouse. Lou Jing's view is right." So Emperor Gao drove his carriage that very day, went west and made his capital within the passes, and from then on the state was at peace. Even with the schemes of Peng Yue, Chen Xi and Lu Wan, the troops of Jiujiang, Yan and Dai, the troubles of Wu and Chu and the troops east of the passes, even a million men could still not become a harm, because the benevolence and virtue were maintained and the strength within the passes was held. The state was therefore at peace for a long time; this was the plan of Lou Jing and Zhang Ziyang. The emperor said: "It was Lou Jing who first proposed making the capital in the land of Qin. Lou is the same as Liu." He bestowed the surname Liu on him, appointed him Gentleman-in-Attendance, and called him Lord Fengchun; later he finally became Marquis of Jianxin.
留侯張子房，於漢已定，性多疾，即導引不食谷，杜門不出。歲餘，上欲廢太子，立戚氏夫人子趙王如意，大臣多爭，未能得堅決者也。呂后恐，不知所為。人或謂呂后曰："留侯善畫計策，上信用之。"呂后乃使建成侯呂澤劫留侯曰："君常為上計，今日欲易太子，君安得高河臥？"留侯曰："始上數在困急之中，幸用臣，今天下安定，以愛幼欲易太子骨肉間。雖臣等百餘人，何益？"呂澤強要曰："為我畫計。"留侯曰："此難以口舌爭也，顧上有所不能致者，天下有四人，園公。綺裡季。夏黃公。角里先生。此四人者年老矣，皆以上慢侮士，故逃匿山中，義不為漢臣，然上高此四人。公誠能無愛金玉璧帛，令太子為書，卑辭以安車迎之，因使辯士固請宜來，來以為客，時時從入朝，令上見之，上見之即必異問之，問之，上知此四人，亦一助也。"於是呂后令呂澤使人奉太子書，卑辭厚禮迎四人。四人至，舍呂澤所。至十二年，上從破黥布軍歸，疾益甚，愈欲易太子，留侯陳不聽，因疾不視事，太傅叔孫通稱說引古，以死爭太子，上佯許之，猶欲易之。及燕，置酒；太子侍，四人者從太子，皆年八十有餘，鬢眉皓白，衣冠甚偉，上怪而問之曰："何為者？"四人前對，各言其姓名，上乃驚曰："吾求公數歲，公避逃我，今公何自從吾兒遊乎？"四人皆對曰："陛下輕士善罵，臣等義不辱，故恐而亡匿，聞太子為人子孝仁。敬愛士，天下莫不延頸，願為太子死者，故來耳。"上曰："煩公幸卒調護太子。"四人為壽已畢，起去，上目送之，召戚夫人指示四人者曰："我欲易之，彼四人輔之，羽翼已成，難動矣。呂氏真而主矣。"戚夫人泣下，上曰："為我楚舞，吾為若楚歌。"歌曰："檻鵠高蜚，一舉千里，羽翮已就，橫絕四海，當可奈何？雖有矰繳，尚安能施？
Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, styled Zifang, was sickly by nature after the Han had been pacified, so he practiced breathing and stretching exercises, abstained from grain, and stayed behind closed doors. After a year or more, the Emperor wished to depose the Crown Prince and set up Prince Ruyi of Zhao, the son of Lady Qi. The ministers argued much against it but could not settle the matter firmly. Empress Lü was frightened and did not know what to do. Someone said to Empress Lü: "The Marquis of Liu is good at devising plans, and the Emperor trusts him." So Empress Lü sent Lü Ze, Marquis of Jiancheng, to press the Marquis of Liu, saying: "You have always planned for the Emperor; today he wishes to change the Crown Prince, so how can you lie back at ease?" The Marquis of Liu said: "At first the Emperor was repeatedly in dire straits, and fortunately he used me. Now the world is at peace, and if he wishes to change the Crown Prince out of love for the younger son, it is a matter between flesh and blood. Even a hundred ministers like me, what good would it do?" Lü Ze insisted: "Devise a plan for us." The Marquis of Liu said: "This is hard to contest with words. But there are four men in the world whom the Emperor has been unable to bring to him: Yuan Gong, Qili Ji, Xiahuang Gong and Master Jiaoli. These four are old, and because the Emperor treats scholars with contempt and insult, they have hidden in the mountains and, on principle, will not be Han ministers; yet the Emperor holds these four in high regard. If you will truly not begrudge gold, jade, discs and silks, have the Crown Prince write a letter in humble words and send a comfortable carriage to welcome them, and then send an eloquent man to request them firmly, they ought to come. When they come, treat them as guests, and have them accompany the prince to court from time to time so the Emperor sees them. The Emperor will surely be surprised and ask about them, and once he asks and learns who these four are, that too will be a help." So Empress Lü had Lü Ze send men with the Crown Prince's letter, in humble words and with generous gifts, to welcome the four. The four arrived and stayed at Lü Ze's residence. In the twelfth year, the Emperor returned from defeating the army of Ying Bu, his illness grew worse, and he wished all the more to change the Crown Prince. The Marquis of Liu argued but was not heeded, so he claimed illness and did not attend to affairs. The Grand Tutor Shusun Tong cited ancient precedents and risked death to argue for the Crown Prince; the Emperor pretended to agree but still wished to change him. When a banquet with wine was held, the Crown Prince attended, and the four men followed the Crown Prince, all over eighty, with white beards and eyebrows, and with very imposing dress and caps. The Emperor was surprised and asked: "Who are these?" The four stepped forward to answer, each giving his name. The Emperor was astonished and said: "I sought you for years and you avoided me; why do you now follow my son and travel with him on your own?" All four answered: "Your Majesty looks down on scholars and likes to curse them; we, on principle, will not suffer insult, so out of fear we fled and hid. We have heard that the Crown Prince is filial and humane as a son and respects and loves scholars, and that there is no one in the world who does not crane his neck and wish to die for him, so we came." The Emperor said: "I trouble you to look after the Crown Prince to the end." The four finished offering their toasts, rose and left. The Emperor watched them go, and summoned Lady Qi, pointing at the four and saying: "I wished to change him, but those four assist him, his wings are already formed, and he cannot be shaken. Empress Lü is truly your master now." Lady Qi wept and her tears fell. The Emperor said: "Dance a Chu dance for me, and I will sing a Chu song for you." He sang: "The swan flies high, one soar and a thousand li; its wings have grown full, it crosses the four seas. What can be done? Even if there are arrows with strings, what more can they do?
"歌數闋，戚夫人唏噓流涕，上起去罷酒，竟不易太子者，留侯召四人之謀也。
" He sang it several times, Lady Qi sobbed and wept, and the Emperor rose and left, ending the banquet. In the end the Crown Prince was not changed, which was the plan of the Marquis of Liu in summoning the four men.
漢十一年，九江黥布反，高皇帝疾，欲使太子往擊之，是時園公。綺裡季。夏公黃。角里先生，已侍太子，聞太子將擊黥布，四人相謂曰："凡來者將以存太子，太子將兵事，危矣。"乃說建成侯曰："太子將兵，有功，則位不益；無功，從此受禍矣。且太子所與俱諸將，皆嘗與上定天下梟將也，乃使太子將之，此無異使羊將狼也，皆不肯為用盡力，其無功必矣。臣聞母愛者子抱，今戚夫人日夜侍御，趙王常居抱前，上終不使不肖子居愛子上。明乎其代太子位必矣。君何不急謂呂后承間為上泣，言黥布天下猛將，善用兵，諸將皆陛下故等倫，乃令太子將此屬，無異使羊將狼，莫為用。且使布聞之，即鼓行而西耳。上雖疾，臥護之，諸將不敢不盡力，雖苦，強為妻子計。載輜車，臥而行。"於是呂澤立夜見呂后，呂后承間為上泣而言，如四人意。上曰："吾惟豎子，故不足遣，乃公自行耳。"於是上自將東，群臣居守，皆送至霸上。留侯疾，強起至曲郵見上曰："臣宜從，疾甚，楚人剽疾，願上無與楚人爭鋒。"因說上曰："令太子為將軍，監關中諸侯兵。"上謂子房雖疾，強起臥而傅太子，是時叔孫通已為太子太傅，留侯行少傅事。漢遂誅黥布，太子安寧，國家晏然，此四公子之謀也。
In the eleventh year of Han, Ying Bu of Jiujiang rebelled. Emperor Gaozu was ill and wished to send the Crown Prince to attack him. At this time Yuan Gong, Qili Ji, Xiahuang Gong and Master Jiaoli were already serving the Crown Prince, and hearing that the Crown Prince was to attack Ying Bu, the four said to one another: "We came in order to protect the Crown Prince, and if the Prince leads the army, the matter becomes dangerous." So they persuaded the Marquis of Jiancheng, saying: "If the Crown Prince leads the army and succeeds, his position will not be raised; if he fails, disaster will follow from it. Moreover, the generals who would go with the Crown Prince are all fierce commanders who pacified the world with the Emperor, and to have the Crown Prince lead them is no different from making a sheep lead wolves; none of them will be willing to be used or give their all, so failure is certain. I have heard that 'a son whose mother is loved is held in arms,' and now Lady Qi attends the Emperor day and night, and Prince Ru Yi of Zhao is always in the Emperor's arms; the Emperor will in the end not let an unworthy son stand above a beloved son. It is clear he will replace the Crown Prince. Why does my lord not hurry to speak to Empress Lü, and when there is a chance weep before the Emperor and say that Ying Bu is a fierce general of the world, skilled at using troops, that the generals are all Your Majesty's former peers, and that making the Crown Prince lead this lot is no different from making a sheep lead wolves, and none will work for him. Moreover, if Ying Bu hears of it, he will beat his drums and march west. Though the Emperor is ill, if he lies in a carriage to oversee the troops, the generals will not dare not to give their all. Though it is hard, he should force himself for the sake of wife and son. Let him go forward lying in a baggage carriage." So Lü Ze went to see Empress Lü that very night, and Empress Lü seized the chance to weep before the Emperor and spoke as the four men had intended. The Emperor said: "I knew that this boy was not fit to be sent; your father will go himself." So the Emperor led the army east himself, and the ministers stayed behind to guard, all seeing him off as far as Bashang. The Marquis of Liu, though ill, forced himself to rise and met the Emperor at Quyou, saying: "I ought to follow you, but I am very ill. The men of Chu are swift and fierce; I hope Your Majesty will not contend with them head-on." He then persuaded the Emperor to make the Crown Prince a general to supervise the troops of the lords within the Pass. The Emperor told Zifang that, though ill, he should force himself to rise and serve as tutor to the Crown Prince even while lying down. At this time Shusun Tong was already Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and the Marquis of Liu acted in the duties of Junior Tutor. In the end Han killed Ying Bu, the Crown Prince was secure and the state was at peace, thanks to the plan of these four gentlemen.
齊悼王者，孝惠皇帝之兄也。孝惠皇帝二年，悼惠王入朝，孝惠皇與悼惠王燕飲，乃行家人禮，同席。呂太后怒，乃進鴆酒，孝惠皇帝知，欲代飲之，乃止。悼惠王懼不得出城，上車太息，內史參乘怪問其故，悼惠王具以狀語內史，內史曰："王寧亡十城耶？將亡齊國也？"悼惠王曰："得全身而已，何敢愛城哉！"內史曰："魯元公主，太后之女，大王之弟也。大王封國七十餘城，而魯元公主湯沐邑少；大王誠獻十城為魯元公主湯沐邑，內有親親之恩，外有順太后之意，太后必大喜。是亡十城而得六十城也。"悼惠王曰："善。"至邸上，奏獻十城為魯元公主湯沐邑，太后果大悅受邑，厚賜悼惠王而歸之，國遂安，齊內史之謀也。
King Daohui of Qi was the elder brother of Emperor Xiaohui. In the second year of Emperor Xiaohui, King Daohui came to court, and Emperor Xiaohui feasted with King Daohui and observed the family ceremony, sitting on the same mat. Empress Dowager Lü was angry and so presented poisoned wine. Emperor Xiaohui knew of it and wished to drink it in his place, and so it was stopped. King Daohui was afraid and could not leave the city; he got into his carriage and sighed deeply. The Chief Secretary, riding with him, was surprised and asked the reason, and King Daohui told him the whole situation. The Chief Secretary said: "Would Your Majesty rather lose ten cities, or lose the state of Qi?" King Daohui said: "I only wish to preserve my life; how dare I love cities!" The Chief Secretary said: "Princess Luyuan is the Empress Dowager's daughter and Your Majesty's sister. Your fief has over seventy cities, while Princess Luyuan has few for her bathing-fee estate. If Your Majesty truly offers ten cities as Princess Luyuan's bathing-fee estate, then there will be the kindness of kinship within and the intention of obeying the Empress Dowager without, and the Empress Dowager will surely be greatly pleased. This is losing ten cities to gain sixty." King Daohui said: "Good." When he reached his residence in the capital, he submitted a memorial offering ten cities as Princess Luyuan's bathing-fee estate, and the Empress Dowager was indeed greatly pleased and accepted the cities, gave King Daohui generous gifts and let him return, and so the state was secured, thanks to the plan of Qi's Chief Secretary.
孝武皇帝時，大行王恢數言擊匈奴之便，可以除邊境之害，欲絕和親之約，御史大夫韓安國以為兵不可動。孝武皇帝召群臣而問曰："朕飾子女以配單于，幣帛文錦，賂之甚厚，今單于逆命加慢，侵盜無已，邊境數驚，朕甚閔之，今欲舉兵以攻匈奴，如何？"大行臣恢再拜稽首曰："善。陛下不言，臣固謁之。臣聞全代之時，北未嘗不有強胡之故，內連中國之兵也，然尚得養老長幼，樹種以時，倉廩常實，守禦之備具，匈奴不敢輕侵也。今以陛下之威，海內為一家，天子同任，遣子弟乘邊守塞，轉粟挽輸，以為之備，而匈奴侵盜不休者，無他，不痛之患也。臣以為擊之便。"御史大夫臣安國稽首再拜曰："不然。臣聞高皇帝嘗圍於平城，匈奴至而投鞍高於城者數所。平城之危，七日不食，天下嘆之。及解圍反位，無忿怨之色，雖得天下，而不報平城之怨者，非以力不能也。夫聖人以天下為度者也，不以己之私怒，傷天下之公義，故遣嬌敬結為私親，至今為五世利。孝文皇帝嘗一屯天下之精兵於常溪廣武，無尺寸之功。天下黔首，約要之民，無不憂者，孝文皇帝悟兵之不可宿也，乃為和親之約，至今為後世利。臣以為兩主之跡，足以為效，臣故曰勿擊便。"
In the time of Emperor Xiaowu, the Grand Herald Wang Hui repeatedly spoke of the advantages of attacking the Xiongnu, saying that it could remove the harm on the borders, and wished to break off the marriage-alliance treaty; the Imperial Counselor Han Anguo held that the army should not be moved. Emperor Xiaowu summoned the ministers and asked: "I adorned a princess to be matched to the Chanyu, and sent very generous gifts of silk and brocade, yet now the Chanyu defies orders and is insolent, raids and thefts do not stop, the borders are repeatedly alarmed, and I am very pained. Now I wish to raise troops to attack the Xiongnu; what do you think?" The Grand Herald, Your servant Hui, bowed twice and kowtowed, saying: "Good. If Your Majesty had not spoken, I would have reported it. I have heard that in the time of the whole of Dai, the north was never without strong Hu, whose territory connected with the troops of the Central States, yet it could still support the old and young, plant at the right seasons, keep granaries full, and keep defenses ready, and the Xiongnu did not dare invade lightly. Now, by Your Majesty's might, all within the seas are one family, the Son of Heaven has one authority, and sons and younger brothers are sent to mount the frontier and guard the passes, with grain transported and hauled in relays to prepare defenses, yet the Xiongnu's raids do not stop, for no other reason than the harm of not striking them hard. I consider attack advantageous." The Imperial Counselor, Your servant Anguo, kowtowed and bowed twice, saying: "That is wrong. I have heard that Emperor Gao was once besieged at Pingcheng, and the Xiongnu who arrived discarded saddles piled higher than the city wall in several places. The danger at Pingcheng meant seven days without food, and the world sighed. When the siege was lifted and he returned to his seat, he showed no look of anger or resentment. Even though he held the world, he did not avenge the grievance of Pingcheng, not because his strength was unable. A sage takes the world as his measure and does not use private anger to harm the public righteousness of the world, so he sent Liu Jing to make a marriage alliance, and to this day it has been of benefit for five generations. Emperor Xiaowen once stationed the elite troops of the world at Changxi and Guangwu, and achieved not an inch of merit. The common people of the world and the people bound by obligations all grieved. Emperor Xiaowen realized that the army could not be kept in the field long, so he made a marriage alliance treaty, which has been of benefit to later generations to this day. I hold that the records of these two rulers are enough as proof, and this is why I say it is not advantageous to attack."
大行曰："不然。夫明於形者，分則不過於事；察於動者，用則不失於利；審於靜者，恬則免於患。高帝被堅執銳，以除天下之害，蒙矢石，沾風雨，行幾十年，伏屍滿澤，積首若山，死者什七，存者什三，行者垂泣而倪於兵。夫以天下末力，厭事之民，而蒙匈奴飽佚，其勢不便。故結和親之約者，所以休天下之民。高皇帝明於形而以分事，通於動靜之時。蓋五帝不相同樂，三王不相襲禮者，非政相反也，各因世之宜也。教與時變，備與敵化，守一而不易，不足以子民。今匈奴縱意日久矣，侵盜無已，系虜人民，戍卒死傷，中國道路，槥車相望，此仁人之所哀也。臣故曰擊之便。"御史大夫曰："不然，臣聞之，利不什不易業，功不百不變常，是故古之人君，謀事必就聖，發政必擇語，重作事也。自三代之盛，遠方夷狄，不與正朔服色，非威不能制，非強不能服也，以為遠方絕域，不牧之民，不足以煩中國也。且匈奴者，輕疾悍前之兵也，畜牧為業，弧弓射獵，逐獸隨草，居處無常，難得而制也。至不及圖，去不可追；來若風雨，解若收電，今使邊郡久廢耕織之業，以支匈奴常事，其勢不權。臣故曰勿擊為便。"
The Grand Herald said: "That is wrong. One who understands form, in discriminating does not go beyond the matter; one who observes movement, in using it does not lose the benefit; one who scrutinizes stillness, in calm avoids trouble. Emperor Gao put on armor and took up the sharp blade to remove the harm of the world, endured arrows and stones, was drenched in wind and rain, and carried on for decades, so that the corpses filled the marshes and heaped heads were like mountains, seven out of ten died and three survived, and those who walked wept and looked down at the weapons. To rely on the exhausted and war-weary people of the world to bear the Xiongnu's full strength and ease would be disadvantageous in terms of momentum. So he made the marriage-alliance treaty to give the people of the world rest. Emperor Gao understood form and so discriminated matters, and was thoroughly versed in the timing of movement and stillness. Probably the Five Emperors did not borrow each other's music, and the Three Kings did not copy each other's rites, not because their governance was opposite but because each followed the needs of his age. Teaching changes with the times, and defenses change with the enemy; to hold on to one fixed way is not enough to care for the people. Now the Xiongnu have indulged their will for a long time, their raids do not stop, people are captured and bound, garrison soldiers die and are wounded, and on the roads of the Central States the carts carrying coffins are in sight of each other; this is what humane men grieve over. This is why I say attack is advantageous." The Imperial Counselor said: "That is wrong. I have heard that unless the profit is tenfold one does not change one's occupation, and unless the merit is a hundredfold one does not alter the regular order; therefore the rulers of antiquity, in planning, always drew close to the sages and, in issuing orders, always chose their words, valuing the doing of things. From the flourishing of the Three Dynasties, the distant barbarians did not take part in the calendar or colors of dress; not because authority could not control them or strength subdue them, but because they considered the people of distant and cut-off regions, whom one does not herd, not worth troubling the Central States for. Moreover the Xiongnu are swift and fierce troops, whose livelihood is herding, who hunt with bows, chasing beasts and following the grass, with no fixed dwelling and hard to control. When they come there is no time to plan, and when they leave they cannot be pursued; they come like wind and rain and vanish like gathered lightning. To make the border commanderies abandon farming and weaving for long to answer the Xiongnu's routine affairs is not a matter of balancing the situation. So I say that not attacking is the advantage."
大行曰："不然。夫神蛟濟於淵，而鳳鳥乘於風，聖人因於時。昔者，秦繆公都雍郊，地方三百里，知時之變，攻取西戎，闢地千里，幷國十二，隴西北地是也。其後蒙恬為秦侵胡，以河為境，累石為城，積木為寨，匈奴不敢飲馬北河，置烽燧然後敢牧馬。夫匈奴可以力服也，不可以仁畜也。今以中國之大，萬倍之資，遣百分之一以攻匈奴，譬如以千石之弩，射潰疽，必不留行矣。則北發月氏，可得而臣也。臣故曰擊之便。"御史大夫曰："不然。臣聞善戰者，以飽待飢，安行定舍，以待其勞，整治施德，以待其亂，接兵奮眾，深入伐國墮城，故常坐而役敵國，此聖人之兵也。夫沖風之衰也，不能起毛羽；強弩之末力，不能入魯縞。盛之有衰也，猶朝之必暮也，今卷甲而輕舉，深入而長驅，難以為功。夫橫行則中絕，從行則迫脅；徐則後利，疾則糧乏，不至千里，人馬絕飢，勞以遇敵，正遺人獲也。意者有他詭妙，可以擒之，則臣不知，不然未見深入之利也。臣故曰勿擊之便。"
The Grand Herald said: "That is wrong. The divine dragon crosses the abyss, and the phoenix rides the wind; sages follow the times. In the past, Duke Mu of Qin made his capital at the Yong suburb, with a territory of three hundred li on each side, and knowing the change of times, he attacked and took the Western Rong, opened a thousand li of land, and annexed twelve states, which are Longxi and Beidi. Later, Meng Tian invaded the Hu for Qin, made the river the boundary, piled stones to make walls and piled timber to make stockades, and the Xiongnu dared not water their horses at the Northern River, and only after beacons were set up did they dare to herd horses. The Xiongnu can be subdued by force, but cannot be nurtured with humaneness. Now, relying on the greatness of the Central States and a resource ten thousand times as large, if we send one percent to attack the Xiongnu, it would be like shooting a festering boil with a crossbow of a thousand dan; it would certainly not stop. Then we can call the Yuezhi to the north and gain them and have them submit. This is why I say attack is advantageous." The Imperial Counselor said: "That is wrong. I have heard that one good at war uses the full to wait for the hungry, walks steadily and halts calmly to wait for the enemy's weariness, governs and bestows virtue to wait for the enemy's disorder, and engages troops and rouses the masses, penetrates deep to attack states and bring down cities, and so often sits and commands enemy states; this is the army of a sage. A gale that has weakened cannot lift a feather, and the last strength of a strong crossbow cannot pierce Lu silk. Flourishing is followed by decline, just as a morning is followed by a dusk. Now to roll up the armor and move lightly, to penetrate deep and drive far, is hard to bring to success. If marching sideways, the middle will be cut off; if marching in a column, it will be pressured; if slow, we fall behind the advantage; if fast, the provisions run short; in less than a thousand li, men and horses will be cut off and starving, and tired out they will meet the enemy, which only leaves them to be captured. If you think there is some other clever trick by which they can be captured, I do not know it; otherwise, I do not see the advantage of going deep. This is why I say it is not advantageous to attack."
大行曰："不然。夫草木之中霜霧，不可以風過；清水明鏡，不可以形遯也；通方之人，不可以文亂。今臣言擊之者，故非發而深入也，將順因單于之慾，誘而致之邊，吾伏輕卒銳士以待之，險鞍險阻以備之。吾勢以成，或當其左，或當其右；或當其前，或當其後，單于可擒，百必全取。臣以為擊之便。"於是遂從大行之言。孝武皇帝自將師伏兵於馬邑，誘致單于。單于既入塞，道覺之，奔走而去。其後交兵接刃，結怨連禍，相攻擊十年，兵凋民勞，百姓空虛，道殣相望，槥車相屬，寇盜滿山，天下搖動。孝武皇帝后悔之。御史大夫桑弘羊請佃輪臺。詔卻曰："當今之務，務在禁苛暴，止擅賦。今乃遠西佃，非能以慰民也。朕不忍聞。"封丞相號曰富民侯，遂不復言兵事。國家以寧，繼嗣以定，從韓安國之本謀也。
The Grand Herald said: "That is wrong. Frost and mist among the grass and trees cannot be let pass in the wind; clear water and a bright mirror cannot let form hide; one who has mastered strategy cannot be confused with words. Now what I am saying about attacking is not to set out and go deep, but to follow the Chanyu's desire, lure him to the border, while we hide light troops and elite soldiers to wait, and use difficult terrain for defense. Once our position is set, we can face him on his left or on his right, in front or behind, and the Chanyu can be captured; a hundred shots will surely all hit. I consider attack advantageous." So the emperor in the end followed the Grand Herald's words. Emperor Xiaowu himself led the army and set an ambush at Mayi to lure the Chanyu. The Chanyu had already entered the pass, but noticed on the road and fled. After this, blades were crossed, resentment was formed and disasters linked, they attacked each other for ten years, the army was worn out, the people toiled, the common people were drained, those starving on the roads were in sight of one another, the carts with coffins followed one another, bandits filled the mountains, and the world shook. Emperor Xiaowu regretted it. The Imperial Counselor Sang Hongyang asked to establish military farms at Luntai. The edict, however, said: "The task of the present is to be sure to forbid harshness and cruelty and stop arbitrary levies. Now to go so far west to establish military farms is not a way to comfort the people. I cannot bear to hear it." He enfeoffed the chancellor with the title of Marquis who Enriches the People, and then never again spoke of military affairs. The state was therefore at peace and the succession was therefore settled, which came from following Han Anguo's original plan.
孝武皇帝時，中大夫主父偃為策曰："古者諸侯地不過百里，強弱之形易制也。今諸侯或連城數十，地方千里，緩則驕，易為淫亂；急則阻其強而合從，謀以逆京師，今以法割之，即逆節萌起，前日晁錯是也。今諸侯子弟或十數，而適嗣代立，餘雖骨肉，無尺地之封，則仁孝之道不宣，顧陛下令諸侯得推恩，分子弟以地侯之，彼人人喜得所願，上以德施，實封其國，而稍自消弱矣。"於是上從其計，因關馬及弩不得出，絕遊說之路，重附益諸侯之法，急詿誤其君之罪，諸侯王遂以弱，而合從之事絕矣，主父偃之謀也。
In the time of Emperor Xiaowu, the Palace Grandee Zhufu Yan presented a memorial saying: "In antiquity, the lords' lands did not exceed a hundred li, and the situation of strong and weak was easy to control. Now some lords have dozens of connected cities and lands a thousand li square; when relaxed they become arrogant and easily fall into dissipation, and when pressed they rely on their strength to form alliances and plot against the capital. If now we cut them down by law, then rebellious intentions will sprout and rise, as Chao Cuo did the other day. Now some lords have a dozen or so sons, yet only the heir takes the succession, while the rest, though flesh and blood, have not a foot of land to be enfeoffed with, so the way of humaneness and filial piety is not promoted. I hope Your Majesty will let the lords extend grace, dividing their land among their sons as marquisates; each will be glad to obtain what he wishes, and Your Majesty will bestow it as a favor, but in reality his state will be divided and will gradually weaken of itself." So the Emperor followed his plan; the passes forbade horses and crossbows from leaving, the roads of itinerant persuaders were cut off, the laws against those who ally with and add to the lords were made heavier, and the punishments for those who mislead their ruler were made stricter, and the kings and lords were thereby weakened, and the alliances were cut off, which was Zhufu Yan's plan.