1 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
蒙恬者，其先齐人也。恬大父蒙骜，自齐事秦昭王，官至上卿。秦庄襄王元年，蒙骜为秦将，伐韩，取成皋、荥阳，作置三川郡。二年，蒙骜攻赵，取三十七城。始皇三年，蒙骜攻韩，取十三城。五年，蒙骜攻魏，取二十城，作置东郡。始皇七年，蒙骜卒。骜子曰武，武子曰恬。恬尝书狱典文学。始皇二十三年，蒙武为秦裨将军，与王翦攻楚，大破之，杀项燕。二十四年，蒙武攻楚，虏楚王。蒙恬弟毅。Meng Tian was a native of Qi. Tian's great-grandfather Meng Ao served the state of Qin under King Zhaoxiangwang, and attained the position of Shangqing. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, Meng Ao was a general of Qin. He attacked the state of Han and captured Chenggao and Yingyang, establishing the Sanchuan Commandery there. In the second year, Meng Ao attacked Zhao and captured thirty-seven cities. In the third year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, Meng Ao attacked Han and captured thirteen cities. In the fifth year, Meng Ao attacked Wei, capturing twenty cities and establishing the Dong Commandery. In the seventh year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, Meng Ao died. Ao's son was named Wu, and Wu's son was Tian. Tian once served as a clerk in the judicial office and studied literature. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Meng Wu served as a deputy general of Qin and joined Wang Jian in attacking Chu. They heavily defeated the enemy forces and killed Xiang Yan. In the twenty-fourth year, Meng Wu attacked Chu and captured its king. Meng Tian's younger brother was named Yi.
2 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
始皇二十六年，蒙恬因家世得为秦将，攻齐，大破之，拜为内史。秦已并天下，乃使蒙恬将三十万众北逐戎狄，收河南。筑长城，因地形，用制险塞，起临洮，至辽东，延袤万馀里。于是渡河，据阳山，逶蛇而北。暴师于外十馀年，居上郡。是时蒙恬威振匈奴。始皇甚尊宠蒙氏，信任贤之。而亲近蒙毅，位至上卿，出则参乘，入则御前。恬任外事而毅常为内谋，名为忠信，故虽诸将相莫敢与之争焉。In the twenty-sixth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, due to his family background, Meng Tian became a general of Qin and attacked Qi. He heavily defeated them and was appointed as Neishi (Minister of the Interior). After the state of Qin had unified all under heaven, they ordered Meng Tian to lead thirty thousand troops northward to drive out the Rong and Di tribes and to reclaim the area south of the Yellow River. They built a long wall, adapting it to the terrain and using natural barriers for defense. It began atlintao and extended to Liaodong, stretching over ten thousand li in length. At that time, they crossed the Yellow River, occupied Yangshan Mountain, and proceeded northward along a winding route. For more than ten years, Meng Tian's troops were stationed outside, and he resided in Shangjun Commandery. At that time, Meng Tian's authority was feared by the Xiongnu. Emperor Qin Shi Huang held the Meng family in great esteem and trusted Meng Xian highly. He was also close to Meng Yi, who attained the position of Shangqing (Minister). When going out, Meng Yi served as a chariot companion; when entering court, he stood before the emperor. Tian was responsible for external affairs while Yi often handled internal strategies; they were known as loyal and trustworthy. Thus, even among the generals and ministers, none dared to contend with them.
3 Jump to dictionary蒙恬列传:
赵高者，诸赵疏远属也。赵高昆弟数人，皆生隐宫，其母被刑僇，世世卑贱。秦王闻高强力，通于狱法，举以为中车府令。高既私事公子胡亥，喻之决狱。高有大罪，秦王令蒙毅法治之。毅不敢阿法，当高罪死，除其宦籍。帝以高之敦于事也，赦之，复其官爵。Zhao Gao was a distant relative of the Zhao clan. Zhao Gao had several brothers, and they were all born in the palace after their mother had been subjected to corporal punishment. Their family was of low status for generations. King Qin heard that Zhao Gao was strong and capable, well-versed in legal procedures, and appointed him as the commander of Zhongchufu. Zhao Gao, having served privately under the crown prince Hu Hai, instructed him in handling judicial cases. When Zhao Gao committed a serious crime, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered Meng Yi to investigate and deal with the case according to law. Meng Yi did not dare to bend the law for Zhao Gao, sentencing him to death for his crimes and expelling him from the eunuch registry. The emperor, recognizing Zhao Gao's diligence in affairs, pardoned him and restored his official position and titles.
4 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
始皇欲游天下，道九原，直抵甘泉，乃使蒙恬通道，自九原抵甘泉，堑山堙谷，千八百里。道未就。Emperor Qin Shi Huang wished to tour the empire, traveling from Jiuyuan straight to Ganshan. He therefore ordered Meng Tian to clear a route, starting from Jiuyuan and extending to Ganshan, by cutting through mountains and filling in valleys over a distance of one thousand eight hundred li. The road was not yet completed.
5 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
始皇三十七年冬，行出游会稽，并海上，北走琅邪。道病，使蒙毅还祷山川，未反。In the winter of the thirty-seventh year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (), he embarked on a tour to Kuaiji, traveled along the coast, and went north as far as Langya. Along the way, the emperor fell ill and sent Meng Yi back to offer prayers at the mountains and rivers; he had not yet returned.
6 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
始皇至沙丘崩，秘之，群臣莫知。是时丞相李斯、公子胡亥、中车府令赵高常从。高雅得幸于胡亥，欲立之，又怨蒙毅法治之而不为己也。因有贼心，乃与丞相李斯、公子胡亥阴谋，立胡亥为太子。太子已立，遣使者以罪赐公子扶苏、蒙恬死。扶苏已死，蒙恬疑而复请之。使者以蒙恬属吏，更置。胡亥以李斯舍人为护军。使者还报，胡亥已闻扶苏死，即欲释蒙恬。赵高恐蒙氏复贵而用事，怨之。Emperor Qin Shi Huang died at Shachou, and his death was kept secret; none of the ministers knew about it. At that time, the prime minister Li Si, Crown Prince Hu Hai, and Zhongchufu commander Zhao Gao were always in attendance. Zhao Gao had long been favored by Hu Hai and wanted to install him as emperor, but he also resented Meng Yi for having dealt with his case according to the law rather than favoring Zhao. Because of this, he harbored treacherous intentions and conspired secretly with the prime minister Li Si and Crown Prince Hu Hai to install Hu Hai as crown prince. After Hu Hai was installed as emperor, he sent envoys with orders to execute Crown Prince Fu Su and Meng Tian on fabricated charges of guilt. Fu Su had already died, but Meng Tian was suspicious and requested a review of the matter. The envoys placed Meng Tian under arrest by handing him over to local officials for detention and replaced his position with another. Hu Hai appointed a retainer of Li Si as the commander responsible for guarding Meng Tian's forces. After the envoys returned with their report, Hu Hai had already learned of Fu Su's death and immediately wanted to release Meng Tian. Zhao Gao feared that the Meng family would regain power and influence, so he resented them.
7 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
毅还至，赵高因为胡亥忠计，欲以灭蒙氏，乃言曰：“臣闻先帝欲举贤立太子久矣，而毅谏曰‘不可’。若知贤而俞弗立，则是不忠而惑主也。以臣愚意，不若诛之。”胡亥听而系蒙毅于代。前已囚蒙恬于阳周。丧至咸阳，已葬，太子立为二世皇帝，而赵高亲近，日夜毁恶蒙氏，求其罪过，举劾之。When Meng Yi returned, Zhao Gao took advantage of his position and devised a plan for Hu Hai to eliminate the Meng family. He said: "I have heard that the late emperor had long wished to appoint a virtuous crown prince, but Yi advised against it, saying 'It is not advisable.'" "If he knew of the virtue and yet refused to support the appointment, then this shows disloyalty and confusion in advising the emperor." "In my humble opinion, it would be better to execute him." Hu Hai listened and had Meng Yi imprisoned in Dai. Previously, Meng Tian had already been detained in Yangzhou. When the emperor's funeral arrived at Xianyang, he had already been buried. The crown prince was enthroned as Emperor Er Shi, and Zhao Gao, now in close favor, day and night slandered the Meng family, seeking out their faults to report against them.
8 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
子婴进谏曰：“臣闻故赵王迁杀其良臣李牧而用颜聚，燕王喜阴用荆轲之谋而倍秦之约，齐王建杀其故世忠臣而用后胜之议。此三君者，皆各以变古者失其国而殃及其身。今蒙氏，秦之大臣谋士也，而主欲一旦弃去之，臣窃以为不可。臣闻轻虑者不可以治国，独智者不可以存君。诛杀忠臣而立无节行之人，是内使群臣不相信而外使鬬士之意离也，臣窃以为不可。”Ziying advised, "I have heard that former King Zhao of Zhao killed his capable minister Li Mu and instead used Yan Ju; King Xi of Yan secretly adopted Jing Ke's plan and betrayed the agreement with Qin; and King Jian of Qi executed his long-standing loyal ministers and followed Hou Sheng's advice. These three kings all lost their states due to abandoning the old ways, and calamity befell themselves as a result." "Now the Meng family are Qin's senior ministers and strategists, yet Your Majesty wishes to discard them in a single day. I secretly believe this is not advisable." "I have heard that one who acts with careless consideration cannot govern the state, and one who relies solely on his own wisdom cannot preserve the ruler's position. "To execute loyal ministers and instead place men of no virtue or conduct in positions of power is to cause distrust among the officials within and alienate the hearts of brave soldiers without. I secretly believe this cannot be allowed."
9 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
胡亥不听。而遣御史曲宫乘传之代，令蒙毅曰：“先主欲立太子而卿难之。今丞相以卿为不忠，罪及其宗。朕不忍，乃赐卿死，亦甚幸矣。卿其图之！”毅对曰：“以臣不能得先主之意，则臣少宦，顺幸没世。可谓知意矣。以臣不知太子之能，则太子独从，周旋天下，去诸公子绝远，臣无所疑矣。夫先主之举用太子，数年之积也，臣乃何言之敢谏，何虑之敢谋！非敢饰辞以避死也，为羞累先主之名，愿大夫为虑焉，使臣得死情实。且夫顺成全者，道之所贵也；刑杀者，道之所卒也。昔者秦穆公杀三良而死，罪百里奚而非其罪也，故立号曰‘缪’。昭襄王杀武安君白起。楚平王杀伍奢。吴王夫差杀伍子胥。此四君者，皆为大失，而天下非之，以其君为不明，以是籍于诸侯。故曰‘用道治者不杀无罪，而罚不加于无辜’。唯大夫留心！”使者知胡亥之意，不听蒙毅之言，遂杀之。Hu Hai did not listen. He then sent the imperial censor Qu Gong by special envoy to Dai and ordered Meng Yi: "The late emperor wished to appoint you as crown prince, but you opposed it. Now the prime minister considers you disloyal, and your crime has extended to your family." "I cannot bear it, so I am granting you death; this is actually a great favor for you. "Please consider this!" Yi replied, "If I failed to understand the late emperor's intentions, it is because as a lowly official for many years, I was fortunate enough to serve and die in peace. That could be called understanding his will." "If it is because I did not recognize the crown prince's abilities, then he has traveled alone across the empire and distanced himself far from all other princes; there was nothing for me to doubt. "The late emperor's decision to appoint the crown prince had been a matter of years of deliberation; how could I, as an official, dare to advise against it or plot anything?" "I do not dare to fabricate words merely to avoid death; I am ashamed to tarnish the late emperor's reputation. I hope you, sir, will consider this and allow me to die with a clear conscience." "Moreover, following what is right and complete is what the Way values; punishment and killing are what the Way ultimately rejects. In ancient times, King Mu of Qin killed three virtuous men before his death and wrongfully blamed Bailing Xi for crimes he did not commit; thus, the posthumous title given to him was "Mou." King Zhaoxiang of Qin executed General Wu'an Jun Bai Qi. King Ping of Chu killed Wu She. King Fuchai of Wu executed Wu Zixu. These four rulers all committed great mistakes, and the world criticized them for being unwise, thus leaving their names disgraced among the feudal lords. Therefore it is said: 'He who governs by the Way does not kill the innocent, nor does punishment fall upon those without guilt.' "I beg you, sir, to take this to heart!" The envoy knew the intent of Hu Hai and did not heed Meng Yi's words, so he executed him.
10 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
二世又遣使者之阳周，令蒙恬曰：“君之过多矣，而卿弟毅有大罪，法及内史。”恬曰：“自吾先人，及至子孙，积功信于秦三世矣。今臣将兵三十馀万，身虽囚系，其势足以倍畔，然自知必死而守义者，不敢辱先人之教，以不忘先主也。昔周成王初立，未离襁緥周公旦负王以朝，卒定天下。及成王有病甚殆，公旦自揃其爪以沈于河，曰：‘王未有识，是旦执事。有罪殃，旦受其不祥。’乃书而藏之记府，可谓信矣。及王能治国，有贼臣言：‘周公旦欲为乱久矣，王若不备，必有大事。’王乃大怒，周公旦走而奔于楚。成王观于记府，得周公旦沈书，乃流涕曰：‘孰谓周公旦欲为乱乎！’杀言之者而反周公旦。故《周书》曰‘必参而伍之’。今恬之宗，世无二心，而事卒如此，是必孽臣逆乱，内陵之道也。夫成王失而复振则卒昌；桀杀关龙逢，纣杀王子比干而不悔，身死则国亡。臣故曰过可振而谏可觉也。察于参伍，上圣之法也。凡臣之言，非以求免于咎也，将以谏而死，愿陛下为万民思从道也。”使者曰：“臣受诏行法于将军，不敢以将军言闻于上也。”蒙恬喟然太息曰：“我何罪于天，无过而死乎？”良久，徐曰：“恬罪固当死矣。起临洮属之辽东，城堑万馀里，此其中不能无绝地脉哉？此乃恬之罪也。”乃吞药自杀。Emperor Er Shi then sent another envoy to Yangzhou and ordered Meng Tian: "You have committed many faults, and your younger brother Yi has a grave crime; the law must also apply to you as an official." Tian said, "From my ancestors down to my descendants, we have accumulated merit and trust in the service of Qin for three generations. "Now I command more than 300,000 troops. Though my body is bound in chains, the power I hold could be enough to rebel. Yet I know that death is certain and still choose to uphold righteousness because I dare not disgrace the teachings of my ancestors or forget the late emperor's grace." "In ancient times, when King Cheng of Zhou first ascended the throne and was still an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, Duke Gong Dan carried the king to court and ultimately stabilized all under heaven. "When King Cheng fell seriously ill, Gong Dan cut off his own nails and immersed them in the river, saying: 'The king is still too young to understand affairs; it is I who must manage state matters." "If there are any misfortunes or calamities, let me bear the ill omen.'" He then recorded this and stored it in the archives; this can truly be called faithfulness. "When the king was able to govern, a treacherous minister claimed: 'Duke Gong Dan has long desired to rebel; if Your Majesty does not prepare, there will surely be great trouble.'" The king became furious and Duke Gong Dan fled to the state of Chu. The king then inspected the archives and found Duke Gong Dan's sealed document. He wept and said, "Who could say that Duke Gong Dan wished to rebel?" And so he welcomed Duke Gong Dan back. He executed the one who had made the false accusation and restored Duke Gong Dan to his position. Therefore, the "Zhou Shu" says: 'Matters must be verified through cross-checking.' "Now, my family has for generations remained loyal without a second thought, yet the matter ends like this. This must be due to treacherous ministers stirring rebellion and internal disorder." "When King Cheng lost trust but was later restored, his reign ultimately flourished; "Jie executed Guan Longfeng and Zhou killed Prince Bi Gan without regret, yet both perished and their states fell." "Therefore I say that mistakes can be corrected, and advice can awaken the ruler. "To examine matters through cross-verification is the method of a wise sovereign." "All I say is not to escape blame, but rather to offer advice and face death. I hope Your Majesty will consider the welfare of all the people by following the right path." The envoy said, "I have received orders to carry out the law upon you, General. I dare not report your words to the emperor." Meng Tian sighed deeply and said, "What crime have I committed against heaven? Why must I die without having done anything wrong?" After a long pause, he slowly said, "Indeed, my punishment is deserved. "Starting from Lintao and extending to Liaodong, we built walls and trenches for more than ten thousand li. Could there not have been places where the earth's veins were cut? "This is my crime." He then swallowed poison and committed suicide.
11 Jump to dictionaryShow parallel passages蒙恬列传:
太史公曰：吾适北边，自直道归，行观蒙恬所为秦筑长城亭障，堑山堙谷，通直道，固轻百姓力矣。夫秦之初灭诸侯，天下之心未定，痍伤者未瘳，而恬为名将，不以此时强谏，振百姓之急，养老存孤，务修众庶之和，而阿意兴功，此其兄弟遇诛，不亦宜乎！何乃罪地脉哉？Grand Historian said: When I traveled to the northern frontier and returned via the straight road, I took the opportunity to observe what Meng Tian had done for Qin—building the Great Wall and beacon towers, cutting through mountains and filling valleys to construct the straight road. Indeed, this was a great burden on the people's strength. "When Qin first eliminated the feudal lords, the hearts of the people were unsettled and their wounds had not yet healed. Yet Meng Tian, as a famous general, did not use this time to strongly advise against such policies or relieve the urgent suffering of the common people by caring for the elderly and orphans and working to restore harmony among the populace. Instead, he flattered the emperor's desires and pursued grand projects. Is it not fitting that his brothers met their deaths?" "How could they be blamed for cutting through the earth's veins?"