Historical Records? Biography of Zhang Liang. The full text is translated as follows:
The ancestors of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, were Koreans. My grandfather opened the land and served as prime minister of Han Zhaohou, King Xuanhui and King Xiangai. My father was Ping, and he served as the Prime Minister of King Li and King Huihui. In the twenty-third year of King Hui's reign (250 BC), his father died. Twenty years after Zhang Liang's father died, the Qin State destroyed South Korea. Zhang Liang was young at the time and had not been an official in Korea. After the fall of Korea, Zhang Liang's family had 300 servants. When his younger brother died, he was not buried well. He used all his property to find warriors to assassinate the King of Qin and avenge Korea. This was because his grandfather and father had served as kings of Korea for five generations.
Zhang Liang once studied etiquette in Huaiyang and went to the East to meet Lord Canghai. He found a strong man and made a hammer weighing 120 kilograms. Qin Shihuang went on a tour to the East. Zhang Liang and Hercules attacked Qin Shihuang at Bolangsha, and accidentally hit the auxiliary car. Qin Shihuang was furious and launched a massive search across the country. It was very urgent to find the assassin, for Zhang Liang's sake. Zhang Liang then changed his name and surname, fled to Xiapi and hid.
Zhang Liang was wandering on the Xiapi Bridge in his spare time. An old man, wearing coarse clothes, walked up to Zhang Liang, deliberately threw his shoes under the bridge, looked at Zhang Liang and said to him: "Boy, go down and pick up the shoes!" Zhang Liang was a little surprised and wanted to hit him, but seeing that he was old, he reluctantly endured it and went down and picked up the shoes. The old man said, "Put the shoes on for me!" Since Zhang Liang had picked up the shoes for him, he knelt down and put them on for him. The old man stretched out his feet and put on his shoes, smiled and left. Zhang Liang was very surprised and followed the old man's figure and stared at him. The old man left for about a mile, then came back and said, "You, my boy, can teach you. Meet me here at dawn five days later." Zhang Liang thought this was strange, so he knelt down and said : "Yeah." At dawn five days later, Zhang Liang went there. The old man was already there first and said angrily: "I went on a date with an old man, but I arrived late. Why?" The old man left and said: "Come and meet early in five days." Five days later, when the rooster crows, Zhang Liang goes . The old man was there first, and said angrily: "You're late again, why?" The old man left and said: "Come back earlier in five days." Five days later, Zhang Liang left before midnight. After a while, the old man came and said happily: "It should be like this." The old man took out a book and said: "After reading this book, you can become the teacher of the emperor. In ten years, you will become rich. . Thirteen years later, young man, you come to Jibei to meet me. I will be the Yellow Stone at the foot of Gucheng Mountain." After saying that, he left without leaving any words, and he never saw the old man again. At dawn, I looked at the book given by the old man and found it was "Tai Gong's Art of War". Zhang Liang felt that this book was extraordinary and often studied and recited it.
When Zhang Liang lived in Xiapi, he was a chivalrous and righteous man. Xiang Bo once killed someone and hid with Zhang Liang.
Ten years later, Chen She and others rebelled against Qin, and Zhang Liang also gathered more than a hundred young people. Jing Ju established himself as the acting King of Chu and stationed in Liu County. Zhang Liang planned to follow him, but met Pei Gong on the way. Peigong led thousands of men to seize the area west of Xiapi, and Zhang Liang joined him. Pei Gong appointed Zhang Liang as the stable general. Zhang Liang offered suggestions to Pei Gong based on "Tai Gong's Art of War" many times. Pei Gong appreciated him and often adopted his strategies. Zhang Liang told others this, but others could not understand it. Zhang Liang said: "Pei Gong was probably given to the world by heaven." So Zhang Liang followed Pei Gong and did not leave him to meet Jing Ju.
When Pei Gong arrived at Xuedi, he met with Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang supported King Huai of Chu. Zhang Liang then persuaded Xiang Liang: "You have already supported the descendants of the King of Chu. Among the Korean princes, Han Cheng, Lord of Hengyang, can be made king and increase the strength of his allies." Xiang Liang sent Zhang Liang to look for him. Go to Hancheng and make him the king of Han. Appointed Zhang Liang as the Situ of South Korea, and followed the King of Han to lead more than a thousand people to the west to attack South Korea's original territory and capture several cities. The Qin army then took them back, and the Han army only conducted guerrilla operations in the Yingchuan area.
When Pei Gong passed through Yuyuan Mountain from Luoyang southward, Zhang Liang led his troops to follow Pei Gong, captured more than ten cities in Han, and defeated Yang Xiong's army. Peigong then asked Han Wangcheng to stay in Yangzhai, and he and Zhang Liang went south to attack Wan County and westward into Wuguan.
The emperor was shocked and said: "I have been visiting you for several years, but you have all avoided me. Why do you voluntarily follow my son to socialize now?" All four people said: "Your Majesty is contemptuous of scholars and likes to scold people. We are righteous and don't We are willing to be humiliated, so we are running away in fear. We have heard privately that the prince is kind, filial, courteous, and loves scholars. There is no one in the world who would not stretch his neck to fight for the prince, so we came." The emperor said: "I'd like to trouble you all to take good care of and protect the prince."
The four of them had finished toasting and blessing, and walked away quickly. The emperor watched them off, summoned Mrs. Qi, pointed to the four people, and said, "I want to replace the prince. The four of them will assist him. The prince's wings have been formed and it is difficult to change. Empress Lu is really your master. " Qi Fu started to cry, and the emperor said: "You dance Chu dance for me, and I sing Chu songs for you." The emperor sang: "The swan is flying high, its wings are ready, and it can soar across the sea. What's wrong! Although there is a short arrow, how can I use it!" The emperor sang several times, Mrs. Qi sobbed, and the emperor got up and left, and the banquet was over. The emperor did not replace the prince in the end. It was originally Liuhou who caused the influence of these four people.
Liuhou followed the emperor to attack Dai State, made a clever plan under the city of Mayi, and persuaded the emperor to appoint Xiao He as the prime minister. He and the emperor usually talked casually about many things in the world, but since it was not a major matter about the survival of the country, Therefore it is not recorded. Liu Hou declared: "My family has been the prime minister of Korea for generations. When Korea was destroyed, we spared no expense to avenge the powerful Qin Dynasty on behalf of Korea. The world was shocked by this. Now, with a three-inch tongue, we are the commander-in-chief of the emperor, and have granted tens of thousands of households in the city. Marquis Julie, this is supreme for a commoner, and I, Zhang Liang, am very satisfied. I am willing to abandon the affairs of the world and plan to travel with Chi Songzi." Zhang Liang then learned the science of bigu and practiced the way of lightening one's body. . When Emperor Gao passed away, Empress Lu was grateful to Liu Hou and tried her best to let him eat, saying: "In this life, time flies as fast as a fleeting moment, so why should you be so ascetic?" Liu Hou had no choice but to eat as ordered.
Eight years later, Liuhou died, and his posthumous title was Wenchenghou. His son Zhang Busuo was granted the title of Marquis.
Zhang Zifang originally met the father-in-law who gave him "Tai Gong's Art of War" on the Xiapi Bridge. Thirteen years after their departure, he passed through Jibei with Emperor Gao and saw the yellow stone at the foot of Gucheng Mountain, so he took it. Go back and worship it as a treasure. Liuhou died and Huangshi was buried together. From then on, whenever Zhang Liang was worshiped during tomb sweeping and winter and summer festivals, Huangshi was also worshiped at the same time.
The remaining marquis Zhang Buyi committed the crime of disrespect in the fifth year of Emperor Xiaowen (175 BC), and the feudal state was abolished.
Tai Shigong said: Most scholars say that there are no ghosts and gods, but they also say that there are spirits. As for things like when Liu Hou met his father-in-law and gave him a book, it was magical enough. Emperor Gaozu encountered difficulties many times, and Liu Hou often performed effective in such critical moments. Can it be said that it is not God's will? The emperor said: "The strategy is made in the camp, and the victory or defeat is decided thousands of miles away. I can't compare with Zifang." I thought this man might be tall and mighty, but when I saw his portrait, he looked like a beautiful woman. . Confucius once said: "Judging people by their appearance will make a mistake in treating Ziyu." The same can be said about Liuhou.
Introduction to "Historical Records? Biography of Zhang Liang"
This is a biography about Zhang Liang. The article focuses on Zhang Liang's life experience, describing his extraordinary talents in complex political struggles and sharp military struggles, as well as his unconventional thoughts and behaviors that did not fight for power and gain after becoming famous, and vividly depicts Zhang Liang's character and character. His character traits make this historical figure come alive to us.
In his youth, Zhang Liang was a hot-blooded and heroic figure. He spared no expense to avenge Han Dynasty and assassinate Qin Shihuang. But Sima Qian also portrayed Zhang Liang's forbearance through the plot of Zhang Liang's meeting with the old man in the village, which was another aspect of Zhang Liang's character in his early years. After Zhang Liang followed Liu Bang, he demonstrated his political foresight and superb strategies in every aspect, such as designing to defeat the Qin army, advising Liu Bang to withdraw from the Qin Palace, winning over Ying Bu and Peng Yue, winning over Han Xin, and then destroying Chu. After Liu Bang became emperor, he proposed to reward Yong Chi, who had a feud with Liu Bang, thus calming people's hearts and strengthening internal unity.
He was the core figure in Liu Bang's think tank and gave many ideas to Liu Bang, and Liu Bang obeyed his words. Liu Bang's evaluation of Zhang Liang's "strategizing in the tent and decisive victory thousands of miles away" has become the ultimate praise for the brilliant military advisors of ancient and modern times.
Being wise and protective is an important part of Zhang Liang’s character in the rest of his life. Zhang Liang is well aware of the principle that "when a cunning rabbit dies, a good dog will be cooked; when a tall bird is gone, a good bow will be hidden; when the enemy's country is destroyed, his advisers will perish". When the ministers are competing for merit, he "dare not be a member of thirty thousand households"; Liu Bang's attitude towards him He was extremely satisfied with the reward; he claimed that he was ill and could not leave the house, and practiced the techniques of "Tao Yin" and "Big Valley"; he threatened that "I would give up the worldly affairs and want to swim through the red pine nuts", and he always retreated bravely. Therefore, among the "Three Heroes" in the early Han Dynasty, Han Xin was killed, Xiao He was imprisoned, but Zhang Liang was never injured. Through the above-mentioned plot, Sima Qian portrayed Zhang Liang as a typical example of a man with deep foresight and prudent self-preservation. If we compare Zhang Liang with Han Xin in "The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin" who was more dedicated to planning the world than himself, we can see what a huge contrast there is between the two great heroes of Liu Bang in Sima Qian's works.
In addition, Sima Qian mixed some legendary descriptions into the realism of this article, such as Zhang Liang's "East Meets Cang Haijun" and "Heroes", and met the old man in the village to teach him books. Thirteen years Later, he took the yellow stone at the foot of Gucheng Mountain to offer sacrifices. Zhang Liang "learned to live without grains, and the Tao led him to lighten his body", and "wanted to swim from the red pine seeds", etc., which are complicated and confusing, both true and illusory, giving this article a layer of mystery.
About the author
Sima Qian (145 BC or 135 BC - 87 BC?), courtesy name Zichang, was a native of Xiayang (now Hancheng, Shaanxi, or Hejin, Shanxi) in the Western Han Dynasty, ancient China The great historian, writer, and thinker is respected as the "Historical Saint" by future generations. His greatest contribution was the creation of China's first biographical general history, "Shi Ji" (originally known as "Tai Shi Gong Shu"). "Historical Records" records a history of more than 3,000 years from the Huangdi period in ancient legends to the first year of Yuanshou, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Sima Qian's historical masterpiece "Historical Records" was completed with his historical knowledge of "studying the relationship between heaven and man, understanding the changes of ancient and modern times, and becoming a family". It is the first of the "Twenty-Five Histories" and was praised by Lu Xun as "the swan song of the historian." "Li Sao". Understanding the characteristics of Sima Qian's works mainly lies in the word "Qian".