初，项王击齐，征兵九江，九江王布称病不在，遣将将军数千人行。At the beginning, when Xiang Yu was attacking Qi, he requisitioned troops from Jiujiang. The King of Jiujiang, Bu, pleaded illness and did not go himself but sent several thousand troops led by his generals.
汉之破楚彭城，布又称病不佐楚。When the Han forces defeated the Chu forces at Pengcheng, Bu again pleaded illness and did not assist Chu.
楚王由此怨布，娄使使者诮让，召布。布愈恐，不敢往。Because of this, the King of Chu bore a grudge against Bu and repeatedly sent envoys to rebuke him and summon him. Bu became even more frightened and did not dare to go.
项王方北忧齐、赵，西患汉，所与者独九江王；又多布材，欲亲用之，以故未之击。Xiang Yu was then worried about Qi and Zhao in the north and the Han in the west. The only one he could rely on was the King of Jiujiang. Moreover, he highly valued Bu's abilities and wanted to use him personally. For this reason, he did not attack him.
汉王自下邑徙军砀，遂至虞，谓左右曰：“如彼等者，无足与计天下事！”Liu Bang, the King of Han, moved his troops from Xiayi to Dang and then reached Yu. He said to his attendants, "People like them are not worthy to discuss the affairs of the world with!"
谒者随何进曰：“不审陛下所谓。”The court usher Sui He stepped forward and said, "I don't understand what Your Majesty means."
汉王曰：“孰能为我使九江，令之发兵倍楚？留项王数月，我之取天下可以百全。”The King of Han said, "Who can go on an errand for me to Jiujiang and make them dispatch troops to turn against Chu? If we can detain Xiang Yu for a few months, I can be completely sure of seizing the world."
随何曰：“臣请使之！”汉王使与二十人俱。Sui He said, "I request to be sent on this mission!" The King of Han sent him off with twenty men.
五月，汉王至荥阳，诸败军皆会，萧何亦发关中老弱未傅者悉诣荥阳，汉军复大振。In May, the King of Han arrived at Xingyang. All the defeated troops gathered there. Xiao He also sent all the old and weak people in Guanzhong who had not yet been registered for military service to Xingyang. Thus, the Han army was greatly revitalized.
楚起于彭城，常乘胜逐北，与汉战荥阳南京、索间。The Chu army started from Pengcheng and often pursued the fleeing enemy in victory. They fought against the Han army between Nanjing and Suo to the south of Xingyang.
楚骑来众，汉王择军中可为骑将者，皆推故奉骑士重泉人李必、骆甲。The Chu cavalry was numerous. The King of Han looked for those in the army who could be cavalry commanders. Everyone recommended Li Bi and Luo Jia, former knights from Chongquan.
汉王欲拜之，必、甲曰：“臣故秦民，恐军不信；愿得大王左右善骑者傅之。”The King of Han wanted to appoint them, but Li Bi and Luo Jia said, "We were originally people of Qin. We are afraid that the army will not trust us. We hope that you can assign some good cavalrymen from your side to assist us."
乃拜灌婴为中大夫令，李必、骆甲为左右校尉，将骑兵击楚骑于荥阳东，大破之，楚以故不能过荥阳而西。So Liu Bang appointed Guan Ying as the Commandant of the Middle Court Physician and Li Bi and Luo Jia as Left and Right Colonels. They led the cavalry to attack the Chu cavalry to the east of Xingyang and defeated them severely. Because of this, the Chu army could not cross Xingyang and go westward.
汉王军荥阳，筑甬道属之河，以取敖仓粟。The King of Han stationed his army at Xingyang and built a covered passageway leading to the Yellow River to obtain the grain from Aocang.
周勃、灌婴等言于汉王曰：“陈平虽美如冠玉，其中未必有也。Zhou Bo, Guan Ying and others said to the King of Han, "Although Chen Ping is as handsome as a jade ornament on a cap, he may not be worthy inside.
臣闻平居家时盗其嫂；事魏不容，亡归楚；不中，又亡归汉。今日大王尊官之，令护军。We heard that when he was at home, he had an affair with his sister-in-law. He was not tolerated when serving Wei and fled back to Chu. He was not successful there either and then fled back to Han. Now Your Majesty has appointed him to a high position and made him the Protector of the Army.
臣闻平受诸将金，金多者得善处，金少者得恶处。平，反覆乱臣也，愿王察之！”We heard that Chen Ping accepts gold from the generals. Those who give more gold get better positions, and those who give less gold get worse positions. Chen Ping is a fickle and rebellious minister. We hope Your Majesty will investigate this!"
汉王疑之，召让魏无知。The King of Han became suspicious and summoned Wei Wuzhi to rebuke him.
无知曰：“臣所言者能也，陛下所问者行也。Wei Wuzhi said, "What I talked about was his ability, while what Your Majesty asked about was his conduct.
今有尾生、孝己之行，而无益胜负之数，陛下何暇用之乎！Nowadays, even if someone has the conduct of Weisheng and Xiaoji, but it is of no benefit to the outcome of the war, does Your Majesty have the time to use him?
楚、汉相距，臣进奇谋之士，顾其计诚足以利国家不耳。During the confrontation between Chu and Han, I recommended a man of ingenious strategies. All we need to consider is whether his plans are truly beneficial to the country or not.
盗嫂、受金，又何足疑乎！”As for having an affair with his sister-in-law and accepting gold, what is there to be suspicious about?"
汉王召让平曰：“先生事魏不中，事楚而去，今又从吾游，信者固多心乎！”The King of Han summoned Chen Ping to rebuke him, saying, "You were not successful when serving Wei, and you left when serving Chu. Now you are following me again. Are loyal people always so fickle?"
平曰：“臣事魏王，魏王不能用臣说，故去；Chen Ping said, "When I served the King of Wei, the King of Wei could not adopt my suggestions, so I left.
事项王，项王不能信人，其所任爱，非诸项，即妻之昆弟，虽有奇士不能用。When I served the King of Chu, the King of Chu could not trust people. Those he appointed and favored were either of the Xiang family or the brothers of his wife. Even if there were extraordinary men, he could not use them.
闻汉王能用人，故归大王。I heard that the King of Han could use people, so I returned to Your Majesty.
臣裸身来，不受金无以为资。诚臣计画有可采乎，愿大王用之；I came here with nothing. Without accepting the gold, I would have no means of support. If my plans are worthy of adoption, I hope Your Majesty will use them.
使无可用者，金具在，请封输官，得其骸骨。”If there is nothing useful, the gold is all here. Please confiscate it and let me go back to my hometown."
汉王乃谢，厚赐，拜为护军中尉，尽护诸将。诸将乃不敢复言。The King of Han then apologized to him, bestowed rich gifts on him, appointed him as the Protector of the Army, and put him in charge of protecting all the generals. Then the generals did not dare to say anything more.
