Biographies of Fu, Jin, and Kuai Cheng, No. 38

Marquis of Yangling, Fu Kuan, followed Liu Bang as a cavalry commander under the rank of Fifth Grandee of the state of Wei, serving as a household retainer, and raised troops from Hengyang. He followed in the attack on An’yang and Gangli, attacked the army of Zhao Ben at Kaifeng, and attacked Yang Xiong at Quyu and Yangwu, beheading twelve enemy soldiers, and was granted the title of Minister. He followed and arrived at Bàshang. After the Lord of Pei was established as the King of Han, the King of Han bestowed upon Fu Kuan the title of Lord Gongde. He followed into Hanzhong and was promoted to Right Cavalry Commander. He followed in pacifying the Three Qin regions and was granted the fief of Diaoyin. He followed in attacking Xiang Ji, awaited orders at Huai County, and was granted the title of Marquis of Tongde. He followed in attacking Xiang Guan, Zhou Lan, and Long Ju, and his troops beheaded a cavalry commander below Aocang, increasing his fief.

He was subordinate to the Marquis of Huaiyin, Han Xin, and defeated the army of Qi at Lixia, attacking Tian Xie. He was subordinate to Chancellor Cao Can, destroyed enemy forces at Bo, and increased his fief. Taking advantage of the situation, he pacified the land of Qi. The court granted him a tally of authority, allowed his title to be inherited without interruption, and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yangling, with a fief of 2,600 households, canceling his previous fief. He served as Right Chancellor of Qi to guard Qi. After five years, he served as Chancellor of Qi.

In the fourth month, he attacked Chen Xi, subordinate to Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, and as Chancellor, he replaced Chancellor Fan Kuai in attacking Chen Xi. After one month, he was transferred to be Chancellor of Dai, leading troops in garrison. After two years, he served as Chancellor of Dai, leading troops in garrison.

He died in the fifth year of Emperor Xiaohui’s reign, with the posthumous title of Marquis Jing. His son, Marquis Qing, Fu Jing, succeeded him, and died after twenty-four years. His son, Marquis Gong, Fu Ze, succeeded him, and died after twelve years. His son, Marquis Fu Yan, succeeded him, and after thirty-one years, was implicated in the rebellion of the King of Huainan, was executed, and his fief was abolished.

Marquis of Xinwu, Jin Xi, followed Liu Bang as a palace attendant, raising troops from Wanqu. He attacked Jiyang. He defeated the army of Li You. He attacked Qin forces south of Bo County and northeast of Kaifeng, beheading one cavalry commander of a thousand men, taking fifty-seven heads, and capturing seventy-three men. He was granted the title and designation of Lord Linping. He also fought north of Lantian, beheading two chariot marshals and one cavalry leader, taking twenty-eight heads, and capturing fifty-seven men. He arrived at Bàshang. After the Lord of Pei was established as the King of Han, he granted Jin Xi the title of Marquis of Jianwu and promoted him to Cavalry Commandant.

He followed in pacifying the Three Qin regions. Separately, he attacked the army of Zhang Ping west in Longxi, defeated them, pacified six counties of Longxi, and his troops beheaded four chariot marshals and four commandants, and twelve cavalry leaders. He followed in attacking Chu forces eastward, arriving at Pengcheng. The Han army was defeated and withdrew, holding Yongqiu, then set out to attack the rebel Wang Wu and others. He raided the Liang region, separately attacked the army of Xing Shuo south of Zi County, defeated them, personally captured two commandants and twelve marshals and commandants of Xing Shuo, and 4,180 surrendered officials and soldiers. He defeated Chu forces east of Xingyang. In the third year, he was granted a fief of 4,200 households.

Separately, he advanced into Henei, attacked the army of Zhao general Ben Hao at Zhaoge, defeated them, and his troops captured two cavalry commanders, and 250 chariots and horses. He followed in attacking the area east of Anyang up to Jipu, capturing seven counties. Separately, he broke through Zhao forces, captured two of their marshals and four commandants, and 2,400 surrendered officials and soldiers. He followed in capturing Handan. Separately, he captured Pingyang, personally beheaded the acting Chancellor, and his troops beheaded one garrison commander and one commandery governor, forcing Ye County to surrender. He followed in attacking Zhaoge and Handan, and separately defeated Zhao forces, forcing six counties of Handan Commandery to surrender. He returned to Aocang, defeated Xiang Ji’s forces south of Chenggao, attacked and cut off Chu supply routes from Xingyang to Xiangyi. He defeated the army of Xiang Guan below Lu County. He expanded territory eastward to Zeng, Tan, and Xiapi, and southward to Qi and Zhuyi. He attacked Xiang Han below Jiyang. He returned and attacked Xiang Ji below Chen County, defeating him. Separately, he pacified Jiangling, forcing the surrender of eight men from the Pillar of State and Grand Marshal down, personally captured the King of Jiangling, and sent him alive to Luoyang, taking the opportunity to pacify Nan Commandery. He followed to Chen County, captured the King of Chu, Han Xin, and the court granted him a tally of authority, allowing his title to be inherited without interruption, with a verified fief of 4,600 households, and the title of Marquis of Xinwu.

As Cavalry Commandant, he followed in attacking the state of Dai, attacked Han Xin below Pingcheng, and returned to Dongyuan. He had military achievements, was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and simultaneously led the chariot and cavalry forces of the five states of Liang, Zhao, Qi, Yan, and Chu. Separately, he attacked Chen Xi’s Chancellor Chang, defeated him, and took the opportunity to force Qu’ni to surrender. He followed in attacking Qing Bu and had merit, receiving increased rewards, with a verified fief of 5,300 households. In total, he beheaded ninety men, captured one hundred and thirty-two; separately, he defeated enemy forces fourteen times, forced fifty-nine cities to surrender, pacified one commandery, one vassal state, and twenty-three counties; captured one king and one Pillar of State, and thirty-nine officials from the rank of 2,000 bushels down to 500 bushels.

In the fifth year of Empress Gao, Jin Xi died, with the posthumous title of Marquis Su. His son, Jin Ting, inherited the marquisate. After twenty-one years, due to exceeding legal limits in employing state laborers, in the third year of Emperor Xiaowen’s later reign, he was stripped of his marquisate, and his fief was abolished.

Marquis of Kuaicheng, Zhou Xue, was a man of Pei County, surnamed Zhou. He once served as the attendant charioteer for Emperor Gaozu, followed him as a household retainer when he raised troops in Pei County. He arrived at Bàshang, went west into Shu and Han, returned to pacify the Three Qin regions, and was granted the fief of Chiyang. He went east to cut off enemy rampart roads, followed Emperor Gaozu out from Pingyin to cross the Yellow River, joined forces with the Marquis of Huaiyin, Han Xin, at Xiangguo, and in battle was sometimes successful and sometimes not, but never had the thought of leaving Gaozu. Gaozu enfeoffed Zhou Xue as Marquis of Xinwu, with a fief of 3,300 households. In the twelfth year of Gaozu, Gaozu enfeoffed Zhou Xue as Marquis of Kuaicheng, canceling his previous fief.

When Gaozu wanted to personally attack Chen Xi, the Marquis of Kuaicheng wept and said: “In the beginning, Qin conquered the world, never personally going on campaigns. Now Your Majesty often personally goes on campaigns. Is it that there is truly no one to send?” Gaozu considered him “one who cares for me,” and granted him the privilege of not having to walk quickly when entering the palace gates and exemption from the death penalty for killing.

In the fifth year of Emperor Xiaowen, Zhou Xue died of natural causes, with the posthumous title of Marquis Zhen. His son, Zhou Chang, inherited the marquisate, later committed a crime, and his fief was abolished. In the second year of Emperor Xiaojing’s middle reign, Zhou Xue’s son, Zhou Ju, was enfeoffed to inherit the marquisate. In the third year of Yuanding, Zhou Ju served as Grand Master of Ceremonies, committed a crime, and his fief was abolished.

The Grand Historian says: The Marquis of Yangling, Fu Kuan, and the Marquis of Xinwu, Jin Xi, both held high ranks, followed Gaozu in raising troops in the Shandong region, attacked Xiang Ji, executed famous generals, and their defeats of enemy forces and forced surrenders of cities numbered in the tens, without ever experiencing hardship or disgrace. This can truly be said to be an opportunity granted by Heaven! The Marquis of Kuaicheng, Zhou Xue, had a steadfast and upright will, was not suspected by his lord, and whenever Gaozu wanted to go somewhere, he never failed to weep. This showed a place of deep sorrow in his heart, and he can truly be called a loyal and sincere gentleman.