Biographies of Jibu and Luan Bu, No. 40

Jibu was a man of Chu. He was inclined to act on impulse, upheld chivalry and righteousness, and was well-known in Chu. Xiang Yu sent him to lead troops, and he repeatedly put Liu Bang, the King of Han, in difficult positions. After Xiang Yu was destroyed, Emperor Gaozu of Han offered a thousand catties of gold as a reward for capturing Jibu and issued an order that anyone who harbored Jibu would have their three clans executed. Jibu hid in the home of a man surnamed Zhou in Puyang. Zhou said, "The Han court is urgently offering a reward for you, General, and the trail of pursuit will soon reach my house. If you can follow my advice, I dare to propose a plan; if not, I would rather die first." Jibu agreed. So Zhou shaved Jibu's head, put an iron collar around his neck, dressed him in coarse clothes, placed him in a freight cart along with several dozen of his slaves, and sent them to the Zhu family in Lu to be sold. Zhu Jia knew in his heart that this man was Jibu, bought him, and settled him in his estate. Zhu Jia warned his son, "In the fields, obey this slave's orders, and be sure to eat the same food as him." Then Zhu Jia rode a light carriage to Luoyang and visited the Marquis of Ruyin, Xia Houying, also known as Teng Gong. Teng Gong kept Zhu Jia for several days of drinking. Taking the opportunity, Zhu Jia said to Teng Gong, "What great crime has Jibu committed that the emperor pursues him so urgently?" Teng Gong replied, "Jibu repeatedly besieged the emperor on behalf of Xiang Yu, and the emperor resents him, so he must capture him." Zhu Jia asked, "What kind of man do you think Jibu is?" Teng Gong said, "He is a worthy man." Zhu Jia said, "As subjects, each serves his own lord. Jibu served Xiang Yu, merely fulfilling his duty. Could all of Xiang Yu's subordinates be killed? Now the emperor has just gained the empire, yet he pursues one man out of personal resentment—how can this show the world his broad-mindedness? Moreover, with Jibu's worth, and the Han court pursuing him so urgently, he will flee north to the Xiongnu or south to the Yue. Hating a brave man and thus aiding an enemy state—this is why Wu Zixu whipped the corpse of King Ping of Chu. Why don't you take an opportunity to speak these principles to the emperor?" Teng Gong knew in his heart that Zhu Jia was a great knight-errant and suspected Jibu was hidden there, so he agreed, saying, "Very well." When a free moment came, he indeed spoke to the emperor according to Zhu Jia's intent. The emperor then pardoned Jibu. At that time, many praised Jibu for being able to turn hardness into softness, and Zhu Jia also became famous in the world. Jibu was summoned by the emperor, apologized, and was appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace.

During the reign of Emperor Hui of Han, Jibu served as a General of the Palace. The Chanyu of the Xiongnu once sent a letter insulting Empress Lü, with disrespectful words. Empress Lü was furious and summoned all the generals to discuss the matter. General-in-Chief Fan Kuai said, "I am willing to lead a hundred thousand troops to charge and rampage through Xiongnu territory." All the generals flattered Empress Lü's intentions and said, "Good." Jibu said, "Fan Kuai deserves death! In the past, Emperor Gaozu led over four hundred thousand troops and was still besieged at Pingcheng. How can Fan Kuai now rampage through Xiongnu territory with a hundred thousand troops? This is blatant deception of the sovereign! Moreover, the Qin Dynasty's military campaigns against the Xiongnu triggered uprisings like Chen Sheng's. Now the wounds have not healed, yet Fan Kuai again flatters to the sovereign's face, wanting to shake the empire." At this, the court officials were terrified. The Empress Dowager withdrew from court and no longer discussed attacking the Xiongnu.

Jibu served as the Governor of Hedong Commandery. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, someone praised his ability, so Emperor Wen summoned him, intending to appoint him as Grandee Secretary. Others said he was brave but fond of drinking, quick-tempered, and difficult to approach. Jibu arrived in the capital, stayed in the official residence for a month, was summoned, and then dismissed from his post. Jibu then said, "I have no merit yet received imperial favor, serving in Hedong. Your Majesty summoned me without reason—this must be someone deceiving you with me. Now I have come to the capital, received no task, and am dismissed back—this must be someone slandering me. Your Majesty summoned me because of one person's praise and dismisses me because of one person's slander. I fear that when knowledgeable people in the empire hear this, they will use it to gauge Your Majesty's depth." The emperor remained silent, showing shame, and after a long time said, "Hedong Commandery is a region as important as my limbs, so I specially summoned you." Jibu then bid farewell and returned to his post in Hedong.

A man from Chu, Cao Qiusheng, was a glib talker who repeatedly used his influence to gain wealth. He served noblemen like Zhao Tong and was on good terms with Dou Changjun. When Jibu heard of this, he wrote a letter admonishing Dou Changjun, saying, "I hear that Cao Qiusheng is not an honest, virtuous elder; do not associate with him." When Cao Qiusheng returned to his hometown, he wanted Dou Changjun to write a letter of introduction to meet Jibu. Dou Changjun said, "General Ji does not like you; do not go." Cao Qiusheng insisted on the letter, so he set off. He first sent someone to deliver the letter, and Jibu was indeed furious, waiting for Cao Qiusheng to arrive. When Cao Qiusheng arrived, he bowed to Jibu and said, "There is a saying in Chu, 'Better to get a promise from Ji Bu than a thousand catties of gold.' How did you gain such a reputation between Liang and Chu? Moreover, I am from Chu, and you are also from Chu. I spread your fame throughout the world—is that not important? Why do you so firmly reject me?" Jibu was then very pleased, invited him in, kept him for several months, treated him as the most honored guest, and gave him generous gifts. That Jibu's fame became even greater was due to Cao Qiusheng's promotion.

Jibu's younger brother, Ji Xin, had courage that surpassed all in Guanzhong. He was respectful and courteous in his conduct, upheld chivalry, and for thousands of miles around, knights vied to serve him. He once killed someone, fled to Wu, and hid in Yuan Si's home. He served Yuan Si with the rites due to an elder brother and treated Guan Fu and Ji Fu as younger brothers. He once served as a Central Commandant's Aide, and the Commandant of the Capital, Zhi Du, dared not fail to treat him with respect. Many young men often secretly used his name to act. At that time, Ji Xin was famous for his courage, and Jibu for his trustworthiness, throughout Guanzhong.

Jibu's maternal uncle, Ding Gong, was a general under Xiang Yu. Ding Gong once pursued and besieged Emperor Gaozu of Han west of Pengcheng. In close combat, Liu Bang was in dire straits and turned back to say to Ding Gong, "Should two worthy men harm each other?" So Ding Gong withdrew his troops and left, allowing Liu Bang to escape. After Xiang Yu was destroyed, Ding Gong went to see Emperor Gaozu. Emperor Gaozu paraded Ding Gong before the army and said, "Ding Gong, as a subject of Xiang Yu, was disloyal and caused him to lose the empire—it was Ding Gong." So he executed Ding Gong, saying, "Let future generations of subjects not imitate Ding Gong!"

Luan Bu was a man of Liang. In the beginning, when Liang King Peng Yue was still a commoner, he had associated with Luan Bu. Luan Bu's family was poor, and he worked as a hired laborer for a winemaker in Qi. After several years, Peng Yue went to the Great Marsh of Ju to become a bandit, while Luan Bu was kidnapped and sold, becoming a slave in Yan. He avenged his master, and the Yan general Zang Tu recommended him as a Commandant. Later, when Zang Tu became King of Yan, he appointed Luan Bu as a general. When Zang Tu rebelled and the Han attacked Yan, they captured Luan Bu. Liang King Peng Yue heard of this and petitioned the emperor to ransom Luan Bu, appointing him as a Grandee of Liang.

Luan Bu had been sent as an envoy to the state of Qi and had not yet returned when Emperor Gaozu of Han summoned Peng Yue, accused him of plotting rebellion, and had him executed along with his entire clan. Afterward, Peng Yue’s head was hung from the gate of Luoyang as a public display, and an edict was issued: “Anyone who dares to come to collect or pay respects to it shall be arrested immediately.” When Luan Bu returned from Qi, he reported on his mission beneath Peng Yue’s head, offered sacrifices, and wept. The officials arrested Luan Bu and reported the matter to the emperor. The emperor summoned Luan Bu and berated him, saying: “Are you planning to rebel together with Peng Yue? I forbade anyone from collecting or paying respects, yet you alone sacrificed to him and wept—clearly you intend to rebel with him. Quickly boil him alive!” As the attendants were dragging him toward the cauldron, Luan Bu turned his head and said: “I beg to speak one sentence before I die.” The emperor said: “What do you have to say?” Luan Bu said: “In those days, when Your Majesty was besieged at Pengcheng and defeated between Xingyang and Chenggao, the reason King Xiang was unable to advance westward was solely that King Peng held the lands of Liang, allied with the Han army, and trapped the Chu forces. At that time, if King Peng had leaned even slightly to one side and allied with Chu, the Han army would have been defeated; if he allied with Han, the Chu army would have been defeated. Moreover, at the battle of Gaixia, without King Peng, Xiang Yu would not have perished. After the realm was pacified, King Peng accepted the tally and was enfeoffed with lands, wishing to pass this legacy down for ten thousand generations. Now, merely because Your Majesty once conscripted troops from Liang, and King Peng could not go due to illness, Your Majesty suspected him of rebellion. No evidence of rebellion was manifest, yet for such a trivial matter you exterminated him. I fear that every meritorious minister will feel that their own safety is uncertain. Now that King Peng is dead, I would rather die than live. Please let me undergo the boiling execution.” Thereupon the emperor pardoned Luan Bu’s crime and appointed him Commandant.

During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Luan Bu served as the Chancellor of the State of Yan and later became a general. Luan Bu then declared: “When a man is in dire straits, if he cannot endure humiliation and lower his aspirations, he is not a man of substance; when a man is wealthy and honored, if he cannot act freely and to his heart’s content, he is not a virtuous man.” So he richly repaid all those who had shown him kindness, and he used the law to eliminate those with whom he had grievances. When the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu rebelled, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yu for his military merits, and again became Chancellor of Yan. People in the regions of Yan and Qi erected temples for Luan Bu, calling them the Luan Bu Shrines.

In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Jing of Han (the Zhongyuan era), Luan Bu died. His son Luan Ben inherited the title and served as Grand Master of Ceremonies, but because the sacrificial animals did not conform to legal regulations, the marquisate was abolished.

The Grand Historian says: With Xiang Yu’s imposing spirit, Ji Bu was able to make his name known in Chu through his bravery. The number of times he personally trampled enemy formations and seized their banners was indeed great—truly he could be called a stalwart. Yet when he suffered punishment and became a slave, he refused to die—how base that was! He must have trusted in his own abilities, so he endured disgrace without shame, intending to put his still-unused talents to use. Thus he ultimately became a famous general of Han. A worthy man indeed regards death as a grave matter. Those maidservants, concubines, and lowly persons who, moved by a moment of indignation, take their own lives are not truly brave; it is simply that their schemes have run out and they have no other recourse. Luan Bu wept for Peng Yue and walked toward the cauldron as if going home—he truly knew where to place his death and did not regard his own life lightly. Even the stalwart men of antiquity—how could they surpass him?