东越列传

The King of Minyue, Wuzhu, and the King of the Eastern Sea, Yao—these two men traced their lineage to King Goujian of Yue, bearing the surname Zou. When Qin had unified all under heaven, both were stripped of their royal titles and reduced to local chieftains, while their territories were organized into the Commandery of Minzhong. When the feudal lords rose against Qin, Wuzhu and Yao led the Yue people in submission to Wu Rui, the magistrate of Poyang—known as the Lord of Poyang—and joined the campaign to overthrow Qin. At that time, Xiang YuXiang YuHere's the translation of "The Warrior Who Almost Ruled the World" into English: **The Warrior Who Almost Ruled the World**The most feared warrior in Chinese history — brilliant in battle, catastrophic in politics — whose stubborn nobility cost him an empire.View profile → controlled the appointment of kings, and he refused to grant them royal status, which was why they did not ally with Chu. When Han attacked Xiang YuXiang YuHere's the translation of "The Warrior Who Almost Ruled the World" into English: **The Warrior Who Almost Ruled the World**The most feared warrior in Chinese history — brilliant in battle, catastrophic in politics — whose stubborn nobility cost him an empire.View profile →, Wuzhu and Yao led the Yue forces to assist the Han cause. In the fifth year of Han, Wuzhu was restored as King of Minyue, ruling over the former Minyue lands, with his capital at Dongye.

In the third year of Emperor Hui's reign, the achievements of the Yue people during Emperor Gaozu's time were recognized. It was noted that Yao of Minyue had performed distinguished service and that his people had readily submitted to Han rule. Accordingly, Yao was established as King of the Eastern Sea, with his capital at Dong'ou—so he came to be known as the King of Dong'ou. Several generations later, in the third year of Emperor Jing's reign, when King Liu Bi of Wu rebelled, he sought to recruit the Minyue. The Minyue refused to go, but Dong'ou joined Wu. When Wu was defeated, Dong'ou accepted Han's bounty and killed the Wu king at Dantu. As a result, none of them were punished, and they returned to their kingdom.

The son of the Wu king's son, Liu Jū, escaped to Minyue, where he harbored resentment against Dong'ou for killing his father. He repeatedly urged Minyue to attack Dong'ou. In the third year of the Jianyuan era, Minyue launched an attack and laid siege to Dong'ou. Dong'ou's provisions ran out, and hard-pressed, they prepared to surrender. They sent an urgent plea to the Son of Heaven.

At this, Middle Secretary Zhuang Zhu questioned Tian Fen: "The only concern should be whether we lack the strength to rescue them or the virtue to protect them. If we possess both, why should we abandon them? And since Qin cast aside Xianyang, why should it matter that this is Yue? Now a small state, driven to desperation, has come begging for help from the Son of Heaven. If Your Majesty does not respond, where can they turn? And what then becomes of the ten thousand states?"

In the fifth year of Yuanding (112 BC), Nanyue rebelled. The King of Eastern Yue, Yushan, submitted a memorial requesting to lead eight thousand troops in following the Tower Ship General to attack Lu Jia and others. When his army reached Jieyang, he made the sea wind and waves an excuse and did not advance; he wavered, secretly sending envoys to Nanyue. By the time Han forces breached Panyu, Yushan's troops had not arrived. At this point, the Tower Ship General Yang Pu dispatched a messenger to submit a memorial, requesting permission to then lead the army to strike Eastern Yue. The emperor said the soldiers were exhausted and weary, and did not approve; he ordered the troops withdrawn, and instructed the various commanders to garrison at Meiling in Yuzhang and await orders.

Before they arrived, the Minyue forces withdrew. Dong'ou requested permission to relocate their entire kingdom to the Central Kingdom, and the whole population moved, settling between the Yangtze and Huai rivers. In the sixth year of Jianyuan, Minyue attacked Southern Yue. Southern Yue, honoring its covenant with the Son of Heaven, did not act independently but instead reported the situation. The Emperor dispatched the Grand Marshal Wang Hui from Nanyang and the Minister of Agriculture Han Anyu from Kuaiji, both as generals. Before their forces crossed the Nanling mountains, the King of Minyue, Ying, mobilized troops to hold the strategic passes.

His brother Yushan then plotted with the ministers and clan elders: "The King acted without permission in attacking Southern Yue, which is why the Son of Heaven has sent troops to punish us. Now Han's forces are numerous and powerful. If we are fortunate enough to defeat them this time, more will follow until they destroy our kingdom entirely. Let us kill the King to appease the Son of Heaven. If the Emperor accepts, the war ends and our kingdom remains intact. If he does not accept, we will fight with all our strength. If we lose, we flee by sea." All agreed this was wise.

They then bludgeoned King Ying to death and sent his head to the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal said: "The purpose of this mission was to punish the King. Now that his head has arrived with professions of guilt, we can end hostilities without fighting. Nothing could be more advantageous." He therefore, at his own discretion, ordered the troops to stand down and reported to the Minister of Agriculture, then sent an envoy to present the King's head to the Emperor.

Thus the Son of Heaven declared: "The land of Eastern Yue is narrow and full of obstacles, and the people of Minyue are fierce and have rebelled repeatedly." He ordered the military officials to relocate all the inhabitants to the region between the Yangtze River and the Huai River. Thereupon the territory of Eastern Yue became empty. The Grand Historian remarks: Though Yue was a land of barbarians, could it be that their ancestors possessed great merit and virtue among the people? How else could they have endured so long! Through many generations they were often rulers, but only Goujian once attained hegemony.

In the fifth year of Yuanding, when Southern Yue rebelled, Yushan, the King of Eastern Yue, sent a memorial requesting eight thousand troops to accompany the General of the Towered Ships in attacking Lü Jia and his followers. When the army reached Jieyang, he used sea storms as an excuse and did not advance, instead maintaining ties with both sides by secretly sending envoys to Southern Yue. When Han subsequently captured Panyu, Yushan's forces had not arrived.