Chinese Text Project

14 Jump to dictionary Show commentary Show additional information	滕文公下:	公都子曰：「外人皆稱夫子好辯，敢問何也？」
	Teng Wen Gong II:	The disciple Gong Du said to Mencius, 'Master, the people beyond our school all speak of you as being fond of disputing. I venture to ask whether it be so.'
Jump to dictionary Show parallel passages Show additional information		孟子曰：「予豈好辯哉？予不得已也。天下之生久矣，一治一亂。當堯之時，水逆行，氾濫於中國。蛇龍居之，民無所定。下者為巢，上者為營窟。《書》曰：『洚水警余。』洚水者，洪水也。使禹治之，禹掘地而注之海，驅蛇龍而放之菹。水由地中行，江、淮、河、漢是也。險阻既遠，鳥獸之害人者消，然後人得平土而居之。
		Mencius replied, 'Indeed, I am not fond of disputing, but I am compelled to do it. A long time has elapsed since this world of men received its being, and there has been along its history now a period of good order, and now a period of confusion. In the time of Yao, the waters, flowing out of their channels, inundated the Middle Kingdom. Snakes and dragons occupied it, and the people had no place where they could settle themselves. In the low grounds they made nests for themselves on the trees or raised platforms, and in the high grounds they made caves. It is said in the Book of History, "The waters in their wild course warned me." Those "waters in their wild course" were the waters of the great inundation. Shun employed Yu to reduce the waters to order. Yu dug open their obstructed channels, and conducted them to the sea. He drove away the snakes and dragons, and forced them into the grassy marshes. On this, the waters pursued their course through the country, even the waters of the Jiang, the Huai, the He, and the Han, and the dangers and obstructions which they had occasioned were removed. The birds and beasts which had injured the people also disappeared, and after this men found the plains available for them, and occupied them.
Jump to dictionary Show parallel passages Show additional information		「堯、舜既沒，聖人之道衰。暴君代作，壞宮室以為汙池，民無所安息；棄田以為園囿，使民不得衣食。邪說暴行又作，園囿、汙池、沛澤多而禽獸至。及紂之身，天下又大亂。周公相武王，誅紂伐奄，三年討其君，驅飛廉於海隅而戮之。滅國者五十，驅虎、豹、犀、象而遠之。天下大悅。《書》曰：『丕顯哉，文王謨！丕承哉，武王烈！佑啟我後人，咸以正無缺。』
		'After the death of Yao and Shun, the principles that mark sages fell into decay. Oppressive sovereigns arose one after another, who pulled down houses to make ponds and lakes, so that the people knew not where they could rest in quiet; they threw fields out of cultivation to form gardens and parks, so that the people could not get clothes and food. Afterwards, corrupt speakings and oppressive deeds became more rife; gardens and parks, ponds and lakes, thickets and marshes became more numerous, and birds and beasts swarmed. By the time of the tyrant Zhou, the kingdom was again in a state of great confusion. Zhou Gong assisted king Wu, and destroyed Zhou. He smote Yan, and after three years put its sovereign to death. He drove Fei Lian to a corner by the sea, and slew him. The States which he extinguished amounted to fifty. He drove far away also the tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, and elephants - and all the people was greatly delighted. It is said in the Book of History, "Great and splendid were the plans of king Wen! Greatly were they carried out by the energy of king Wu! They are for the assistance and instruction of us who are of an after day. They are all in principle correct, and deficient in nothing."
Jump to dictionary Show parallel passages Show additional information		「世衰道微，邪說暴行有作，臣弒其君者有之，子弒其父者有之。孔子懼，作《春秋》。《春秋》，天子之事也。是故孔子曰：『知我者其惟春秋乎！罪我者其惟春秋乎！』
		'Again the world fell into decay, and principles faded away. Perverse speakings and oppressive deeds waxed rife again. There were instances of ministers who murdered their sovereigns, and of sons who murdered their fathers. Confucius was afraid, and made the "Spring and Autumn." What the "Spring and Autumn" contains are matters proper to the sovereign. On this account Confucius said, "Yes! It is the Spring and Autumn which will make men know me, and it is the Spring and Autumn which will make men condemn me."
Jump to dictionary Show parallel passages Show additional information		「聖王不作，諸侯放恣，處士橫議，楊朱、墨翟之言盈天下。天下之言，不歸楊，則歸墨。楊氏為我，是無君也；墨氏兼愛，是無父也。無父無君，是禽獸也。公明儀曰：『庖有肥肉，廄有肥馬，民有飢色，野有餓莩，此率獸而食人也。』楊墨之道不息，孔子之道不著，是邪說誣民，充塞仁義也。仁義充塞，則率獸食人，人將相食。吾為此懼，閑先聖之道，距楊墨，放淫辭，邪說者不得作。作於其心，害於其事；作於其事，害於其政。聖人復起，不易吾言矣。
		'Once more, sage sovereigns cease to arise, and the princes of the States give the reins to their lusts. Unemployed scholars indulge in unreasonable discussions. The words of Yang Zhu and Mo Di fill the country. If you listen to people's discourses throughout it, you will find that they have adopted the views either of Yang or of Mo. Now, Yang's principle is "each one for himself," which does not acknowledge the claims of the sovereign. Mo's principle is "to love all equally," which does not acknowledge the peculiar affection due to a father. But to acknowledge neither king nor father is to be in the state of a beast. Gong Meng Yi said, "In their kitchens, there is fat meat. In their stables, there are fat horses. But their people have the look of hunger, and on the wilds there are those who have died of famine. This is leading on beasts to devour men." If the principles of Yang and Mo be not stopped, and the principles of Confucius not set forth, then those perverse speakings will delude the people, and stop up the path of benevolence and righteousness. When benevolence and righteousness are stopped up, beasts will be led on to devour men, and men will devour one another. I am alarmed by these things, and address myself to the defence of the doctrines of the former sages, and to oppose Yang and Mo. I drive away their licentious expressions, so that such perverse speakers may not be able to show themselves. Their delusions spring up in men's minds, and do injury to their practice of affairs. Shown in their practice of affairs, they are pernicious to their government. When sages shall rise up again, they will not change my words.
Jump to dictionary Show parallel passages Show additional information		「昔者禹抑洪水而天下平，周公兼夷狄驅猛獸而百姓寧，孔子成《春秋》而亂臣賊子懼。《詩》云：『戎狄是膺，荊舒是懲，則莫我敢承。』無父無君，是周公所膺也。我亦欲正人心，息邪說，距詖行，放淫辭，以承三聖者；豈好辯哉？予不得已也。能言距楊墨者，聖人之徒也。」
		'In former times, Yu repressed the vast waters of the inundation, and the country was reduced to order. Zhou Gong's achievements extended even to the barbarous tribes of the east and north, and he drove away all ferocious animals, and the people enjoyed repose. Confucius completed the "Spring and Autumn," and rebellious ministers and villainous sons were struck with terror. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "He smote the barbarians of the west and the north; He punished Jing and Shu; And no one dared to resist us." These father-deniers and king-deniers would have been smitten by Zhou Gong. I also wish to rectify men's hearts, and to put an end to those perverse doctrines, to oppose their one-sided actions and banish away their licentious expressions - and thus to carry on the work of the three sages. Do I do so because I am fond of disputing? I am compelled to do it. Whoever is able to oppose Yang and Mo is a disciple of the sages.'

《東觀漢記 - Dong Guan Han Ji》

[Eastern Han] 60-160

Books referencing 《東觀漢記》 Library Resources

《世祖光武皇帝》

世祖光武... :

皇考初為濟陽令，濟陽有武帝行過宮，常封閉。上將生，皇考以令舍下濕，開宮後殿居之。建平元年十二月甲子夜上生時，有赤光，室中盡明。皇考異之，使卜者王長卜之。長曰：「此善事不可言。」是歲嘉禾生，一莖九穗，大於凡禾，縣界大豐熟，因名上曰秀。是歲鳳皇來集濟陽，故宮皆畫鳳凰。聖瑞萌兆，始形於此。上為人隆準，日角，大口，美鬚眉，長七尺三寸。在舂陵時，望氣者蘇伯阿望舂陵城曰：「美哉！王氣鬱鬱蔥蔥。」仁智明遠，多權略，樂施愛人。在家重慎畏事，勤於稼穡。兄伯升好俠，非笑上事田作，比之高祖兄。年九歲而南頓君卒，隨其叔父在蕭，入小學，後之長安，受尚書於中大夫廬江許子威。資用乏，與同舍生韓子合錢買驢，令從者僦，以給諸公費。大義略舉，因學世事。朝政每下，必先聞知，具為同舍解說。高才好學，然亦喜遊俠，鬥雞走馬，具知閭里姦邪，吏治得失。時會朝請，舍長安尚冠里，南陽大人往來長安，為之邸，闇稽疑議。為季父故舂陵侯詣大司馬府，訟地皇元年十二月壬寅前租二萬六千斛、芻稿錢若干萬。時宛人朱福亦為舅訟租于尤。尤止車獨與上語，不視福。上歸，戲福曰：「嚴公寧視卿邪？」王莽時，雒陽以東米石二千，莽遣三公將運關東諸倉賑貸窮乏，又分遣大夫謁者教民煮木為酪，酪不可食，重為煩擾，流民入關者數十萬人。置養贍官以廩之，盜發其廩，民餓死者十七八，人民相食。末年，天下大旱，蝗蟲蔽天，盜賊群起，四方潰畔。荊州下江平林兵起，王匡、王鳳為之渠率。時南陽旱餓，而上田獨收。宛大姓李伯玉從弟軼數遣客求上，上欲避之。先是時伯玉同母兄公孫臣為醫，伯升請呼難，伯升殺之。上恐其怨，故避之。使來者言李氏欲相見款誠無他意，上乃見之，懷刀自備，入見。固始侯兄弟為上言：「天下擾亂饑餓，下江兵盛，南陽豪右雲擾。」因具言讖文事。「劉氏當復起，李氏為輔。」上殊不意，獨內念李氏富厚，父為宗卿師，語言譎詭，殊非次第，嘗疾毒諸家子數犯法令，李氏家富厚，何為如是，不然諾其言。諸李遂與南陽府掾史張順等連謀。上深念良久，天變已成，遂市兵弩，絳衣赤幘。時伯升在舂陵亦已聚會客矣。上歸舊廬，望見廬南若火光，以為人持火，呼之，光遂盛，赫然屬天，有頃不見，異之。遂從南郭歸宅，乃與伯升相見。初，伯升之起也，諸家子弟皆逃自匿，曰：「伯升殺我。」及聞上至，絳衣大冠，將軍服，乃驚曰：「以為獨伯升如此也，中謹厚亦如之。」皆合會，共勞饗新市、平林兵王鳳、王匡等，因率舂陵子弟隨之，兵合七八千人。上騎牛與俱，殺新野尉後乃得馬。光武起義兵，暮聞塚上有哭聲，後有人著大冠絳單衣。使劉終詐稱江夏吏，誘殺湖陽尉。五威將軍嚴尤擊下江兵，上奉糗一斛，脯三十朐詣幕府營。進圍宛城。王莽遣大司徒王尋、大司空王邑將兵來征，更始立，以上為太常偏將軍。時無印，得定武侯家丞印，佩之入朝。二公兵到潁川，嚴尤、陳茂與合。尤問城中出者，言上不敢取財物，但合會諸兵為之計策。尤笑言曰：「是美眉目者耶？欲何為乃如此？」初，莽遣二公，欲盛威武，以振山東，甲衝輣，干戈旌旗，戰攻之具甚盛。至驅虎豹犀象，奇偉猛獸，以長人巨無霸為壘尉，自秦、漢以來師出未曾有也。上邀之於陽關。二公兵盛，漢兵反走，上馳入昆陽，諸將惶恐，各欲散歸。與諸將議：「城中兵穀少，宛城未拔，力不能相救。今昆陽即破，一日之間，諸將亦滅。不同力救之，反欲歸守其妻子財物耶？」諸將怒曰：「劉將軍何以敢如此！」上乃笑，且去，唯王常是上計。會候騎還，言大兵已來，長數百里，望不見其後尾，前已至城北矣。諸將遽請上，上到，為陳相救之勢。諸將素輕上，及迫急，上為畫成敗，皆從所言。時漢兵八九千人，留王鳳令守城，夜出城南門。二公兵已五六萬到，遂環昆陽城作營，圍之數重，雲車十餘丈，瞰臨城中，旗幟蔽野，塵熛連雲，金鼓之聲數十里。或為地突，或為衝車撞城，積弩射城中，矢下如雨，城中負戶而汲。二公自以為功成漏刻。有流星墜尋營中，正晝有雲氣如壞山，直營而霣，不及地尺而散，吏士皆壓伏。時漢兵在定陵郾者，聞二公兵盛，皆怖。上歷說其意，為陳大命，請為前行諸部堅陣。上將步騎千餘，前去大軍四五里。二公遣步騎數千乘合戰，上奔之，斬首數十級。諸部將喜曰：「劉將軍平生見小敵怯，今見大敵勇，甚奇怪也。」上復進，二公兵卻，諸部乘之，斬首數百千級，連勝。遂令輕足將書與城中諸將，言宛下兵復到，而陽墜其書。讀之，恐。上遂選精兵三千人，從城西水上奔陣。二公兵於是大奔北，殺司徒王尋，而昆陽城中兵亦出，中外並擊。會天大雷風，暴雨下如注，水潦成川，滍水盛溢。二公大眾遂潰亂，奔赴水溺死者以數萬，滍水為之不流。王邑、嚴尤、陳茂輕騎乘死人渡滍水逃去。漢軍盡獲其珍寶輜重車甲，連月不盡。五月，齊武王拔宛城。六月，上破二公於昆陽。破宛後數日，收伯升部將劉稷，而伯升強爭之。更始遂用譖訴，復收伯升，即日皆物故。上降潁陽，雖得入，意不安。門下有擊馬著鼓者，馬驚硠磕。鄧晨起走出視之，乃馬也。上在父城，徵詣宛，拜上為破虜大將軍，封武信侯。更始害齊武王，光武飲食語笑如平常，獨居輒不御酒肉，枕席有涕泣處。更始欲北之雒陽，以上為司隸校尉，先到雒陽整頓官府，文書移與屬縣，三輔官府吏東迎雒陽者見更始諸將過者已數十輩，皆冠幘，衣婦人衣，諸于繡擁缧，大為長安所笑。知者或畏其衣，奔走入邊郡。見司隸官屬，皆相指視之，極望老吏或垂涕曰：「粲然復見漢官威儀。」賢者蟻附。更始欲以近親巡行河北，大司徒賜言上第一可用。更始以上為大司馬，遣之河北。十月，上持節度孟津，鎮撫河北，安集百姓。上至邯鄲，趙王庶兄胡子進狗●馬醢。故趙繆王子臨說上灌赤眉。趙王庶兄胡子立邯鄲卜者王郎為天子，移檄購求公十萬戶。光武為王郎所追，至饒陽，稱邯鄲使者，入傳舍。廚吏方進食，官屬從者饑，遮奪之。吏卒驚起聚語，乃椎鼓數十通，詐言邯鄲將軍至，官屬皆懼失色。上臨升車還坐，曰：「請邯鄲將軍入。」久乃升，後有傳呼，寺門開之，是雒陽吏耳。上出，蒙犯霜雪。光武大會真定，自擊筑。上率鄧禹等擊王郎橫野將軍劉奉，大破之，還過鄧禹營，禹進食炙魚，上大餐啗。時百姓以上新破大敵，欣喜聚觀，見上餐啗，勞勉吏士，威嚴甚厲，於是皆竊言曰：「劉公真天人也。」世祖引兵攻邯鄲，連戰，郎兵挫折。郎遣諫議大夫杜長威持節詣軍門，上遣棨戟迎，延請入軍，見公據地曰：「實成帝遺體子輿也。」公曰：「正使成帝復生，天下不可復得也。況詐子輿乎！」長威請降得萬戶侯。公曰：「一戶不可得。」長威曰：「邯戰雖鄙，君臣并力城守，尚可支一歲，終不君臣相率而降但得全身也。」辭去。而郎少傅李立反郎，開城門。漢兵破邯鄲，誅郎。入王宮收文書，得吏民謗毀公言可擊者數千章，公會諸將燒之，曰：「令反側者自安也。」上圍邯鄲未下，彭寵遺米糒魚鹽以給軍糧，由是破邯鄲。更始遣使者即立公為蕭王。諸將議上尊號，上不許。又擊破銅馬，受降適畢，封降賊渠率，諸將未能信，賊亦兩心。上敕降賊各歸營勒兵待，上輕騎入，按行賊營。賊將曰：「蕭王推赤心置人腹中，安得不投死。」由是皆自安。詔馮異軍鴈門，卒萬餘人降之。光武北擊尤來、大搶、五幡於元氏，追至北平，連破之。後反為所敗，軍中不見光武，或云已歿。上已乘王豐小馬先到矣，營門不覺。上破賊，入漁陽，諸將上尊號，上不許。議曹掾張祉言：「俗以為燕人愚，方定大事，反與愚人相守，非計也。」上大笑。光武發薊還，士眾喜樂，師行鼓舞，鼓聲歌詠，八荒震動。過范陽，命諸將收葬吏士。至中山，諸將復請上尊號，曰：「帝王不可久曠。大王社稷為計，萬姓為心。」耿純說上曰：「天時人事，已可知矣。」初，王莽時，上與伯升及姊婿鄧晨、穰人蔡少公燕語，少公道讖言劉秀當為天子，或曰是國師劉子駿也。上戲言：「何知非僕耶？」坐者皆大笑。時傳聞不見赤伏符文軍中所，上未信，到鄗，上所與在長安同舍諸生彊華自長安奉赤伏符詣鄗，與上會。群臣復固請，上奏世祖曰：「符瑞之應，昭然著聞矣。」乃命有司設壇於鄗南千秋亭五成陌。六月己未，即皇帝位。燔燎告天，禋於六宗。改元為建武，改鄗為高邑。十月，帝入雒陽，幸南宮，遂定都焉。光武破聖公，與朱伯然書曰：「交鋒之日，神星晝見，太白清明。」二年正月，益吳漢、鄧禹等封。上封功臣皆為列侯，大國四縣，餘各有差。博士丁恭等議：「古帝王封諸侯不過百里，故利以建侯，取法於雷。」上曰：「古之亡國，皆以無道，未嘗聞封功臣地多而滅者也。」乃遣謁者，即授印綬。自漢草創德運，正朔服色未有所定，高祖因秦，以十月為正，以漢水德，立北畤而祠黑帝。至孝文，賈誼、公孫臣以為秦水德，漢當為土德。至孝武，倪寬、司馬遷猶從土德。自上即位，案圖讖，推五運，漢為火德。周蒼漢赤，水生火，赤代蒼，故上都雒陽。制郊兆於城南七里，北郊四里，為圓壇，天地位其上，皆南面西上。行夏之時，時以平旦，服色、犧牲尚黑，明火德之運，徽熾尚赤，四時隨色，季夏黃色。議者曰：「昔周公郊祀后稷以配天，宗祀文王以配上帝。圖讖著伊堯赤帝之子，俱與后稷並受命而為王。漢劉祖堯，宜令郊祀帝堯以配天，宗祀高祖以配上帝。」有司奏議曰：「追跡先代，無郊其五運之祖者。故禹不郊白帝，周不郊帝嚳。漢雖唐之苗，堯以歷數命舜，高祖自感赤龍火德，承運而起，當以高祖配堯之後，還復於漢，宜脩奉濟陽成陽縣堯冢，雲臺致敬祭祀禮亦宜之。」上遣游擊將軍鄧隆與幽州牧朱浮擊彭寵，隆軍潞，浮軍雍奴，相去百餘里。遣吏上奏言：「寵破在旦暮。」上讀檄未竟，怒曰：「

《後漢書 - Hou Han Shu》

[Northern and Southern] 420-445

Books referencing 《後漢書》 Library Resources

《紀》

《光武帝紀上》

光武帝紀... :

初，王莽徵天下能為兵法者六十三家數百人，並以為軍吏；選練武衛，招募猛士，旌旗輜重，千里不絕。時有長人巨無霸，長一丈，大十圍，以為壘尉；又驅諸猛獸虎豹犀象之屬，以助威武。自秦、漢出師之盛，未嘗有也。光武將數千兵，徼之於陽關。諸將見尋、邑兵盛，反走，馳入昆陽，皆惶怖，憂念妻孥，欲散歸諸城。光武議曰：「今兵穀既少，而外寇彊大，并力禦之，功庶可立；如欲分散，埶無俱全。且宛城未拔，不能相救，昆陽即破，一日之閒，諸部亦滅矣。今不同心膽共舉功名，反欲守妻子財物邪？」諸將怒曰：「劉將軍何敢如是！」光武笑而起。會候騎還，言大兵且至城北，軍陳數百里，不見其後。諸將遽相謂曰：「更請劉將軍計之。」光武復為圖畫成敗。諸將憂迫，皆曰「諾」。時城中唯有八九千人，光武乃使成國上公王鳳、廷尉大將軍王常留守，夜自與驃騎大將軍宗佻、五威將軍李軼等十三騎，出城南門，於外收兵。時莽軍到城下者且十萬，光武幾不得出。既至郾、定陵，悉發諸營兵，而諸將貪惜財貨，欲分留守之。光武曰：「今若破敵，珍寶萬倍，大功可成；如為所敗，首領無餘，何財物之有！」眾乃從。

《漢代之後 - Post-Han》
Related discussion

《魏晉南北朝 - Wei, Jin, and North-South》

《水經注》

《卷二十一》

《汝水》

汝水:

《東觀漢記》曰：光武擊王莽二公，還到汝水上，于涯以手飲水，澡頰塵垢，謂傅俊曰：今日疲倦，諸君寧憊也。即是水也。水右則滍水左入焉，左則百尺溝出矣。溝水夾岸層崇，亦謂之為百尺隄也。自定陵城北通潁水于襄城縣，潁盛則南播，汝泆則北注。溝之東有澄潭，號曰龍淵，在汝北四里許，南北百步，東西二百步，水至清深，常不耗竭，佳饒魚筍。湖溢則東注漷水矣。汝水又東南，昆水注之，水出魯陽縣唐山，東南流逕昆陽縣故城西。更始元年，王莽徵天下能為兵法者，選練武衛，招募猛士，旌旗輜重，千里不絶。又驅諸獷獸虎、豹、犀、象之屬，以助威武，自秦、漢出師之盛，未嘗有也。世祖以數千兵徼之陽關，諸將見尋、邑兵盛，反走入昆陽。世祖乃使成國上公王鳳、廷尉大將軍王常留守，夜與十三騎出城南門，收兵于郾。尋、邑圍城數十重，雲車十餘丈，瞰臨城中，積弩亂發，矢下如雨。城中人負戶而汲，王鳳請降，不許。世祖帥營部俱進，頻破之，乘勝以敢死三千人，徑衝尋、邑兵，敗其中堅于是水之上，遂殺王尋。城中亦鼓噪而出，中外合勢，震呼動天地。會大雷風，屋瓦皆飛，莽兵大潰。昆水又屈逕其城南，世祖建武中，封侍中傅俊為侯國，故《後漢·郡國志》有昆陽縣，蓋藉水以氏縣也。昆水又東逕定陵城南，又東注汝水。汝水又東南逕奇頟城西北，今南潁川郡治也。濆水出焉，世亦謂之大㶏水。

《隋唐 - Sui-Tang》

《藝文類聚》

[Tang] 624

《卷九十五》

《獸部下》

《象》

象:

《孟子》曰：周公驅犀象而遠之，天下大悅。

《宋明 - Song-Ming》

《太平御覽》

[Northern Song] 977-984

《皇王部十五》

《後漢世祖光武皇帝》

後漢世祖... :

《東觀漢記》曰：皇考初為濟陽，有武帝行過宮，常封閉。上將生，皇考以令舍下濕，開宮后殿居之。建平元年十二月甲子夜上生時，有赤光，室中盡明。皇考異之，使卜者王長卜之，長曰：「此善事，不可言，」是歲嘉禾生，一莖九穗，長大于凡禾，縣界大豐熟，因名上曰「秀」。是歲鳳凰來集濟陽，故宮皆畫鳳皇。聖瑞萌兆，始形于此。上為人隆準，日角，大口，美須眉，長七尺三寸。仁智明遠，多權略，樂施愛人。在家重慎畏事，勤於稼穡。兄伯升好俠，非笑上事田作，比之高祖兄仲。年九歲而南頓君卒，隨其叔公在蕭，入小學，后之長安，受《尚書》經，師事盧江許子威。大義略舉，因學世事。朝政每下，必先聞知，具為同舍解說。南陽大人往來長安，為之邸，暗稽疑議。嘗訟逋租于大司馬嚴尤，尤見而奇之。宛大姓李伯玉從弟軼數遣客求上，上欲避之。先是時伯玉同母兄公孫臣為醫，伯升請呼難，伯升殺之。上恐其怨，故避之。使來者言李氏欲相見款誠無他意，上乃見之，懷刀自備，入見。固始侯兄弟為上言：「天下擾亂饑餓，下江兵盛，南陽豪右云擾。」因具言讖文事，上殊不意，獨內念李氏富厚，父為宗卿師，語言譎詭，殊非次第，嘗疾毒諸家子數犯法令，李氏家富厚，何為如是，不然諾其言。諸李遂與南陽府掾史張順等連謀。上深念良久，天變已成，遂市兵弩，絳衣赤幘。時伯升在舂陵亦已聚會客矣。上歸舊廬，望見廬南若火光，以為人持火，呼之，光遂盛，赫然屬天，有頃不見，異之。遂從南郭歸宅，乃與伯升相見。初，伯升之起也，諸家子弟皆逃自匿，曰：「伯升殺我。」及聞上至，絳衣大冠，將軍服，乃驚曰：「以為獨伯升如此也，中謹厚亦如之。」皆合會，共勞饗新市、平林兵王鳳、王匡等，因率舂陵子弟隨之，兵合七八千人。上騎牛與俱，殺新野尉後乃得馬。進圍宛城。王莽遣大司徒王尋、大司空王邑將兵來征。更始立，以上為太常偏將軍。時無印，得定武侯家丞印佩之。二公兵到潁川，嚴尤、陳茂與合。尤問城中出者，言上不敢取財物，但合會諸兵為之計策。尤笑言曰：「是美須眉目者耶？欲何為乃如此？」初，莽遣二公，欲盛威武，以振山東。至驅虎豹犀象，奇偉猛獸，以長人巨無霸為壘尉，自秦漢以來師出未嘗有也。上邀之於陽關。二公兵盛，漢兵反走，上馳入昆陽，諸將惶恐，各欲散歸。與諸將議：「城中兵穀少，宛城未拔，力不能相救。今昆陽即破，一日之間，諸將亦滅。不同力救之，反欲歸守其妻子財物耶？」諸將怒曰：「劉將軍何以敢如此！」上乃笑，且去，惟王常是上計。會侯騎還，言大兵已來，長數百里，望不見其後尾，前已至城北矣。諸將遽請上，上到，為陳相救之勢。諸將素輕上，及迫急，上為畫成敗，皆從所言。二公兵已五六萬到，遂環昆陽城作營，圍之數重，雲車十餘丈，瞰臨城中，旗幟蔽野，塵熛連雲，金鼓之聲數十里，或為地突，或為沖車撞城，積弩射城中，矢下如雨，城中負戶而泣。二公自以為功成漏刻。有流星墜營中，正晝有雲氣如壞山，當營而隕，不及地尺而散，吏士皆厭伏。時漢兵在定陵郾者，聞二公兵盛，皆怖。上歷說其意，為陳天命，請為前行諸部堅陳。上將步騎千餘，前去大軍四五里。二公遣步騎數千乘合戰，上奔之，斬首數十級。諸部將喜曰：「劉將軍平生見小敵怯，今見大敵勇，甚奇怪也！」上復進，二公兵卻，諸部乘之，斬首數百千級，連勝。遂令輕足將書與城中諸將，言宛下兵復到，而陽墜其書。二公得書讀之，恐。上遂選精兵三千人，從城西水上奔陣。二公兵於是大奔北，殺司徒王尋，而昆陽城中兵亦出，中外并擊。會天大雷風，暴雨下如注，水潦成川，滍水盛溢。二公大眾遂潰亂，奔赴水溺死者以數萬，滍水為之不流。王邑、嚴尤、陳茂輕騎乘死人渡滍水逃去。漢軍盡獲其寶輜重車甲，連月不盡。五月，齊武公拔宛城。六月，上破二公於昆陽。破宛后數日，收伯升部將劉稷，而伯升強爭之。更始遂用譖愬，復收伯升，即日皆物故。上在父城，征詣宛，拜上為破虜大將軍，封武信侯。更始欲北之雒陽，以上為司隸校尉，先到雒陽整頓宮府，三輔官府吏東迎雒陽者見始諸將過者已數十輩，皆冠幘，衣婦人衣，諸于繡擁䘿諸于，大掖衣也，如婦人之旌衣。䘿音屈。揚雄《方言》曰：襜褕其短者，自關之西謂之䘿。據此是諸于上加繡䘿，如今半臂也。大為長安所笑。知者或畏其衣，奔亡入邊郡。見司隸官屬，皆相指視之，極望老吏或垂涕曰：「粲然復見漢官威儀。」賢者蟻附。更始以上為大司馬，遣之河北。十月，上持節度孟津，鎮撫河北，安集百姓。趙王庶兄胡子立邯鄲卜者王郎為天子，移檄購求公十萬戶。世祖引兵攻邯鄲，連戰，郎兵挫折。郎遣諫議大夫杜長威持節詣軍門見公，據地曰：「實成帝遺體子輿也。」公曰：「正使成帝復生，天下不可復得也。況詐子輿乎！」長威請降得萬戶侯。公曰：「一戶不可得。」長威曰：「邯鄲雖鄙，君臣并力城守，尚可支一歲，終不君臣相率而降，但得全身也。」辭去。而郎少傅李立反郎，開城門。漢兵破邯鄲，誅郎。入王宮收文書，得吏民謗毀公言可擊者數千章，公會諸將燒之，曰：「令反側者自安也。更始遣使者即立公為蕭王。諸將議上尊號，上不許。上發薊，至中山，諸將復請上尊號。初，王莽時，上與伯升及姊婿鄧晨、穰人蔡少公燕語，少公道讖言劉秀當為天子，或曰是國師劉子駿也。上戲言曰：」何知非仆耶？「坐者皆大笑。時傳聞不見《赤伏符》文軍中所，上未信，到鄗，上所與在長安同舍諸生強華自長安奉《赤伏符》詣鄗與上會，群臣復固請，乃命有司設壇于鄗南千秋亭。六月己未，即皇帝位。改元為建武。十月，帝入雒陽，華南宮，二年正月，益吳漢、鄧禹等封。自漢草創德運，正朔服色未有所定，高祖因秦，以十月為正，以漢水德，立北畤而祠黑帝。至孝文，賈誼、公孫臣以為秦水德，漢當為土德。至孝武，倪寬、司馬遷猶從土德。自上即位，案圖讖，推五運，漢為火德。周蒼漢赤，水勝火，赤代蒼，故上都雒陽，制郊祀於城南。行夏之時，犧牲尚黑，明火德之運，徽熾尚赤，四時隨色。郊祀帝堯以配天，宗祀高祖以配上帝。上遣游擊將鄧隆與幽州牧朱浮擊彭寵，隆軍潞，浮軍雍奴，相去百餘里。遣吏上奏言：」寵破在旦暮。「上讀檄未竟，怒曰：」兵必敗，比汝歸可知。「吏還，未至隆軍，果為寵兵掩擊破。浮軍遠，至不能救，以兵走幽州。咸曰上神。三年十月，上幸舂陵，祠園廟，大置酒，與舂陵父老故人為樂。四年五月，上幸盧奴，為征彭寵故也。

《兵部三十七》

《出師》