萧相国世家

When the Founder rose as the Duke of Pei, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → consistently served as his chief clerk overseeing administrative affairs. Upon reaching Xianyang, all the generals scrambled to seize gold, silk, and other valuables from the treasury, but Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → alone hastened to secure the laws, decrees, maps, and archives kept in the offices of the prime minister and the censorate. When the Duke became King of Han, he appointed Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → as Prime Minister. After 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 → and his vassals sacked and burned Xianyang and departed, the King of Han was able to learn the strategic strongholds, population counts, regional strengths and weaknesses, and the hardships of the people precisely because Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → had obtained all the Qin records.

In the third year of Han, when the King of Han and 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 → faced each other between Jing and Suo, the King repeatedly sent envoys to inquire after the Prime Minister's well-being. Bao Sheng said to the Prime Minister: "The King exposes himself to wind and rain, traveling in the open, and repeatedly sends envoys to inquire after your health—this shows he suspects your motives. For your sake, I urge you to send your sons, brothers, and capable relatives who can handle military service to the army camps. The King will trust you all the more." Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → followed this counsel, and the King of Han was greatly pleased.

In the fifth year of Han, after 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 → had been slain and the realm was unified, the time came to evaluate merits and confer ranks and emoluments. The ministers vied with one another over credit, and more than a year passed without a resolution. The Founder declared Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s merits supreme and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Zan, granting him a generous stipend. The other meritorious officials protested: "We have worn armor and wielded weapons, some fighting over a hundred battles, others dozens of engagements. We have captured cities and seized territory—each according to our respective contributions. Now Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → has never performed any service on horseback, merely wielding his pen and offering opinions, yet he ranks above us. Why?" The Emperor replied: "Do you gentlemen understand the chase?" They answered that they did. "Do you understand hunting dogs?" Again they answered yes. The Emperor said: "In the chase, the dogs pursue and bring down the game, but it is the hunter who tracks the quarry and directs the dogs toward the prey. Now all of you only managed to capture running animals—you are hounds of merit. As for Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →, he tracked the quarry and directed the pursuit—he is the handler of merit. Moreover, only one or two or three of you followed me personally, whereas Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → sent his entire clan, several dozen people, to join my cause. Such service cannot be forgotten." None of the ministers dared reply.

When all the marquisates had received their enfeoffments and the matter of precedence came before the court, everyone declared: "Cao Shen, the Marquis of Pingyang, sustained seventy wounds in battle and captured cities and seized territory—his merit is greatest. He deserves first place." The Emperor had already favored Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → with generous grants, and no one dared challenge the decision on precedence, though in his heart the Emperor wished to place Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → first. E Jun, the Marquis of Guannei, stepped forward and said: "The assembly's judgment is wrong. Although Cao Shen performed distinguished service in the field and captured territory, that was merely a matter of a single campaign. The Emperor fought Chu for five years, repeatedly losing armies, fleeing, and narrowly escaping death on several occasions. Yet Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → repeatedly dispatched forces from Guanzhong to reinforce our depleted ranks—not in response to any imperial edict, but whenever tens of thousands of our troops faced critical shortages. When Han and Chu confronted each other for years at Xingyang with no visible provisions, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → transported grain from Guanzhong, and our soldiers never went hungry. Although the Emperor repeatedly lost control of the eastern provinces, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → always preserved Guanzhong intact, waiting for the Emperor's return—this is a merit that spans ten thousand generations. Even if we lacked a hundred men like Cao Shen, would Han be incomplete? Han could obtain replacements for Cao Shen without difficulty. How could we elevate the merit of a single day above the merit of ten thousand generations? Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → should be first, Cao Shen second." The Founder said: "Excellent." Thereupon the Emperor ordered Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → to wear a sword and enter court without the customary hurrying gait. The Emperor said: "I have heard that one who recommends worthy men receives the highest reward. Although Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s merit is great, it became evident only through Lord E's clear exposition." Accordingly, the Emperor converted Lord E's marquisate in Guannei into the marquisate of Anping. That day, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → enfeoffed more than ten of his sons, brothers, and nephews, each receiving a stipend. He was further granted two thousand households, in recompense for the fact that when the Emperor had been conscripted to Xianyang, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → had been the only one to give him an extra two qian.

In the eleventh year of Han, Chen Xi rebelled, and the Emperor personally led the campaign to Handan. Before this campaign concluded, the Marquis of Huaiyin plotted rebellion in Guanzhong, and Empress Lü used Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s stratagem to execute the Marquis of Huaiyin. This is recorded in the biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin. When the Emperor learned of the execution, he sent an envoy to appoint the Prime Minister Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → as Chancellor, granting him an additional five thousand households and assigning a captain with five hundred soldiers as the Chancellor's guard. All the officials came to offer congratulations, but only Zhao Ping came to mourn. Zhao Ping had been a marquis of the Eastern March of the Qin dynasty; when Qin collapsed, he became a commoner, poor, and planted melons east of the capital. The melons were excellent, which is why people called them "Dongling melons" after him, using his former title as his name. Zhao Ping said to the Chancellor: "Misfortune begins here. The Emperor campaigns abroad in the open while you, my lord, guard the interior. That you receive additional enfeoffment and a personal guard—not because you faced arrows and stones, but because the recently executed Marquis of Huaiyin has just rebelled in the capital—shows that the Emperor suspects your heart. These guards are not posted to honor you. I urge you to decline the enfeoffment, refuse the guard, and instead donate all your private wealth to the army. Then the Emperor will be pleased." The Chancellor followed this counsel, and the Emperor was greatly delighted.

After all the marquises had received their enfeoffments, when it came to submitting their rankings in order of merit, all said: 'Cao Shen, Marquis of Pingyang, bore seventy wounds, stormed cities and seized territory; his achievements are the greatest, and he should be ranked first.' The emperor had already overridden the other meritorious officials by granting Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → many fiefs, so when it came to ranking their position, none dared to challenge him again; yet in his heart he wanted Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → to be first. E Qianqiu, Marquis of Guannei, came forward and said: 'The ministers' discussion is entirely wrong. Though Cao Shen has achievements in field battles and territorial conquest, these were merely feats of a single moment. His Majesty contended with Chu for five years, often losing armies and scattering his troops, fleeing and hiding on several occasions.'

However, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → constantly sent troops from Guanzhong to fill the gaps at Xingyang. Though not summoned by imperial decree, tens of thousands of troops gathered on several occasions just when supplies were exhausted. Han and Chu faced each other at Xingyang for years, and the army had no grain in sight, yet Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → transported provisions from Guanzhong and never failed to supply food. Even though Your Majesty repeatedly lost the lands east of the mountains, Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → always kept Guanzhong intact, awaiting Your Majesty. This is a merit for ten thousand generations. If we were to lose a hundred men like Cao Shen today, what loss would it be to Han? Even if Han had them, it would not necessarily depend on them to preserve itself. How could you let a single day's merit overshadow a merit for ten thousand generations?

Several days later, the Palace Guard Commander Wang attended the Emperor and asked: "What great crime did the Chancellor commit that Your Majesty imprisoned him so harshly?" The Emperor replied: "I have heard that Li SiLi SiQin's Great ChancellorThe man who designed the imperial system that lasted two thousand years — and was executed by being cut in half with his family.View profile →, when serving as Chancellor to the First Emperor of Qin, attributed all good deeds to his lord and took all blame upon himself. Now the Chancellor accepts money from merchants and pleads for their park, currying favor with the commoners, which is why I have had him imprisoned and punished." The Palace Guard Commander said: "If a minister's duties bring genuine benefit to the people and he petitions for them, that is the very essence of a prime minister's work. Why does Your Majesty suspect the Chancellor of accepting merchants' money? Moreover, during the years Your Majesty fought Chu—through the rebellions of Chen Xi and Qing Bu—whenever Your Majesty personally led campaigns, at that time if the Chancellor had so much as tilted his foot, the region west of the passes would no longer have belonged to Your Majesty. If the Chancellor did not seek personal gain during those critical moments, would he now be coveting the merchants' gold? And as for Qin losing the realm because its ruler refused to hear criticism, and Li SiLi SiQin's Great ChancellorThe man who designed the imperial system that lasted two thousand years — and was executed by being cut in half with his family.View profile →'s practice of appropriating praise and deflecting blame—why should we take such conduct as a model? How shallow Your Majesty's distrust of his minister appears!" The Emperor was not pleased, but that very day he sent an envoy bearing imperial tokens to release the Chancellor. The Chancellor, elderly and always respectful, entered court barefoot and prostrated himself in apology. The Emperor said: "No need, Chancellor. You pleaded for the imperial park, and I refused—I am not some King Jie or Zhou, and you are an worthy minister. I imprisoned you so that the common people might hear of my error."

Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → had never been on good terms with Cao Shen. When Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → fell ill, Emperor Xiaohui personally visited him and asked: "After you pass away, who among your subordinates could take your place?" Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → replied: "No one knows his servants better than their master." The Emperor asked: "How about Cao Shen?" Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → bowed low and said: "Your Majesty has found the right man. I will die without regret!" Whenever Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → acquired fields or residences, he always chose the most remote locations. He never enclosed his property with walls, saying: "If later generations are worthy, they will follow my example of frugality. If they are unworthy, they will not be prey for powerful families seeking to seize their property."

Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → had never been on good terms with Cao Shen. When Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → fell ill, Emperor Xiaohui personally visited him and asked: "After you pass away, who among your subordinates could take your place?" Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → replied: "No one knows his servants better than their master." The Emperor asked: "How about Cao Shen?" Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → bowed low and said: "Your Majesty has found the right man. I will die without regret!" Whenever Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → acquired fields or residences, he always chose the most remote locations. He never enclosed his property with walls, saying: "If later generations are worthy, they will follow my example of frugality. If they are unworthy, they will not be prey for powerful families seeking to seize their property."

In the second year of Emperor Xiaohui's reign, the Chancellor Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → died. His posthumous title was Wen Zhong Hou (Marquis Wen Zhong, Consummate and Illustrious). Four of his descendants lost their marquisate through crimes, and the line was broken four times, but the Son of Heaven repeatedly sought Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s heirs and restored the marquisate of Zan—none of the other meritorious officials could compare.

"Why not buy up fields and land on a large scale, and obtain loans at low interest to disgrace yourself? Then the Emperor's heart will be at ease." So the Chancellor followed this plan, and the Emperor was greatly pleased. When the Emperor returned after defeating Qing Bu's army, commoners blocked his path on the road and submitted petitions, saying that the Chancellor had forcibly bought their land and houses at cheap prices, worth tens of millions. The Emperor arrived at court, and the Chancellor came to pay his respects. The Emperor laughed and said, "So the Chancellor has been profiting from the people!" He handed all the people's petitions to the Chancellor, saying, "You go and apologize to the people yourself." The Chancellor then took the opportunity to plead on behalf of the people: "Chang'an is cramped for land, and the Imperial Park has many vacant plots lying unused. I wish that the common people be allowed to enter and cultivate them, and not have the grain collected as feed for birds and beasts." The Emperor flew into a rage, saying, "The Chancellor has taken large amounts of wealth from merchants, and now he intercedes for my park!" He had the Chancellor handed over to the Commandant of Justice, clapped in fetters and imprisoned.

Several days later, Wang Weiwei was in attendance. He stepped forward and asked, "What great crime has the Chancellor committed, that Your Majesty has imprisoned him so harshly?" The Emperor said, "I have heard that when Li SiLi SiQin's Great ChancellorThe man who designed the imperial system that lasted two thousand years — and was executed by being cut in half with his family.View profile → served as Chancellor to the First Emperor of Qin, he attributed good deeds to his sovereign and took the blame for bad ones himself. Now the Chancellor has taken much gold from merchants and on behalf of the people begged for my park, currying favor with the populace. That is why I have confined him for punishment." Wang Weiwei said, "If a matter of office is truly beneficial to the people and he pleads for it, that is indeed the proper business of a chancellor. Why then does Your Majesty suspect the Chancellor of taking money from merchants?"

Moreover, Your Majesty has been contending with Chu for years. When Chen Xi and Qing Bu rebelled, Your Majesty personally led the army to suppress them. At that time, the Chancellor guarded the Guanzhong region. If he had made the slightest move, the land west of the pass would not belong to Your Majesty. The Chancellor did not exploit that moment for his own gain; would he now covet the merchants' gold? Furthermore, Qin lost the empire because it did not hear its own faults. Li SiLi SiQin's Great ChancellorThe man who designed the imperial system that lasted two thousand years — and was executed by being cut in half with his family.View profile →'s sharing of blame is hardly a model worth following. Why does Your Majesty suspect that the Chancellor's vision is shallow? Emperor Gaozu was displeased.

That day, the Emperor dispatched an envoy bearing a tally to pardon and release the Chancellor. The Chancellor, advanced in years and ever respectful and cautious, entered barefoot to beg forgiveness. Emperor Gaodi said: 'Chancellor, arise! You pleaded with me to open the imperial park to the people, and I refused. I am merely a tyrant like Jie and Zhou, while you are a worthy chancellor. I deliberately imprisoned you so that the people would know my faults.' Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → had never been on good terms with Cao Can. When Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → fell gravely ill, Emperor Xiaohui personally visited to see him and took the opportunity to ask: 'After Your Lordship passes on, who can take your place as Chancellor?' Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → replied: 'No one knows the ministers better than the ruler.' Emperor Xiaohui said: 'What about Cao Can?' Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → bowed his head to the ground and said: 'Your Majesty has found the right man! I can die without regret!' When Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → bought land and houses, he always chose poor and remote places, and he did not build walls or compound houses. He said: 'If my descendants are worthy, they will emulate my frugality; if they are not, these properties will not be seized by powerful families.'

In the second year of Emperor Xiaohui, Chancellor Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → passed away and was posthumously honored as Marquis Wenzhong. In later generations, four of his heirs lost their marquisates through crimes and the line was severed, yet the Son of Heaven always sought out a descendant of Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → to restore the title of Marquis of Zan. No other meritorious minister could compare with him in this. The Grand Historian remarks: Chancellor Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → was a petty clerk handling documents in Qin times, undistinguished and unremarkable. When the Han arose, he relied on the lingering radiance of the sovereigns, dutifully guarded the keys to the heartland, and, taking advantage of the people's hatred of Qin's harsh laws, went with the current and started afresh with them. Han XinHan XinHere's the translation of "The General Who Won Three Empires" into English: **The General Who Conquered Three Empires** Alternatively, if you want a more literal translation: **The General Who Won Three Empires** Both are correct, but "conquered" might sound more natural in English depending on the context.From begging for meals at strangers' tables and enduring humiliation in the marketplace, to commanding a million troops—the greatest military genius of the early Han Dynasty, ultimately undone by his own emperor.View profile → the Marquis of Huaiyin, Qing Bu, and others were all executed for rebellion, while Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s accomplishments shone brilliantly. His position was the highest among all officials, his fame was transmitted to later ages, and he rivaled the glories of ancient worthies like Hong Yao and San Yisheng. Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → as an official was plain in appearance yet effective. When he assisted the rising king, his whole clan followed from Pei. Once he secured Guanzhong, the army's supplies and logistics depended entirely on him. Whenever the Han forces were exhausted, the Qin army was sure to be crushed.

Simplified laws can endure long; gathering maps and records can make the state great.

Directing the hounds to track the prey—his merit was truly the greatest.

The policies and decrees were said to be uniform and consistent, yet governance in ordinary times was not tranquil or peaceful.

He continued the favour that had been broken off, and honoured the achievements of the diligent.