1. 河南上富人助贫民者，上识式姓名，曰：“是固前欲输其家半财助边。”乃赐式外繇四百人，式又尽复与官。是时，富豪皆争匿财，唯式尤欲助费。上于是以式终长者，乃召拜式为中郎，赐爵左庶长，田十顷，布告天下，尊显以风百姓。

1. In Henan, there was a rich man who helped the poor. The emperor knew him by his style name and said, "He had previously intended to donate half of his family's wealth to assist in the border defense." The emperor then granted him an additional 400 men, and the man, in turn, gave them all back to the government. At that time, all the wealthy people were competing to hide their wealth, but it was only this man who was especially eager to help. The emperor, recognizing that this man was an old and wise person, summoned him and appointed him as the Middle Marquis, granting him the title of Left Prime Minister, and awarding him ten hectares of land. He then announced this throughout the empire, honoring and promoting him to set an example for the people.

2. 按时起居，坏的立即除去，不让其害群。”皇上惊奇其言，想让他试一试治民。任卜式为缑氏令，缑氏大治；迁成皋令，管领漕运，考核最优。皇上以卜式朴实忠厚，拜为齐王太傅，又转任为相。

2. "Maintain a regular lifestyle, immediately eliminate the bad, and do not let it harm the group." The Emperor was surprised by his words and wanted to see him try governing the people. He appointed Bu Shi as the magistrate of Gou Shi, and Gou Shi was greatly improved; he was then transferred to be the magistrate of Cheng Gao, in charge of water transportation, and was found to be the best in his assessment. The Emperor, considering Bu Shi's simplicity and loyalty, appointed him as the Grand Tutor of the King of Qi, and later transferred him to the position of Prime Minister.

3. 使者报告朝廷。皇上又告诉了丞相公孙弘。公孙弘说道：“这不是入之常情的表现。不轨之臣，不可能作为效法的榜样，愿陛下不要答应。”皇上没有接受卜式的请求，过了几年便退回卜式。卜式回乡后，又重操他的牧羊业。

3. The messenger reported to the imperial court. The Emperor then told Prime Minister Gongsun Hong. Gongsun Hong said, "This is not a manifestation of ordinary human behavior. An unorthodox minister cannot serve as a model for imitation, Your Majesty should not agree to it." The Emperor did not accept Bu Shi's request, and a few years later, he sent Bu Shi back. After Bu Shi returned to his hometown, he resumed his sheep farming business.

4. 班固（公元32年～公元92年），东汉历史学家班彪之子，班超之兄，字孟坚，扶风安陵人（今陕西咸阳）。

4. Ban Gu (32 AD – 92 AD), the son of Ban Biao, a historian during the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the brother of Ban Chao, was known by the courtesy name Mengjian. He was from Anling, Fufeng (now Xianyang, Shaanxi Province).

5. 上奇其言，欲试使治民。拜式缑氏令，缑氏便之；迁成皋令，将漕最。上以式朴忠，拜为齐王太傅，转为相。

5. The emperor admired his words and wanted to test his ability to govern the people. He appointed Shi Gou as the magistrate of Gou County, and Gou County became prosperous under his governance; he was then transferred to be the magistrate of Chenggao, where he was responsible for the transportation of grain. The emperor, recognizing Shi Gou's simplicity and loyalty, appointed him as the Grand Tutor to the King of Qi, and later promoted him to be the Prime Minister.

6. 于是赐卜式差役四百人，卜式又全部还给官府。当时，富豪皆争相隐匿财产，只有卜式特别想帮助国家费用。皇上于是把卜式尊为长者，召拜卜式为中郎，赐爵左庶长，田十顷，布告天下，以示尊崇，鼓励百姓效法。

6. Consequently, the emperor granted Bu Shi with the responsibility of managing 400 officials. However, Bu Shi returned all of them to the government. At that time, the wealthy were all competing to conceal their wealth, but only Bu Shi particularly wanted to help cover the state expenses. The emperor then honored Bu Shi as an elder, appointing him as a Middle Commandant and granting him the title of Left Great Officer, a ten-huandian of land, and publicly announcing this to show respect and encourage the people to follow suit.

7. 卜式，河南人。以耕种畜牧为业。有小弟，弟长大后，卜式从家中分出居住，只取羊百余只，田宅财物尽给弟弟。卜式入山牧羊十余年，羊多到千余头，于是便买下田宅。而其弟则倾家荡产，卜式立即又分给弟弟财产，如此有多次。

7. Bu Shi, a native of Henan. He made a living by farming and animal husbandry. He had a younger brother. After the brother grew up, Bu Shi moved out of the family house to live separately, keeping only a hundred sheep, and giving all the fields, houses, and property to his brother. Bu Shi pastured sheep in the mountains for more than ten years, and the sheep grew to over a thousand heads, so he bought back the fields and houses. However, his brother was impoverished, and Bu Shi immediately divided the property again among his brother, and this happened multiple times.

8. 岁余，会浑邪等降，县官费众，仓府空，贫民大徙，皆卬给县官，无以尽赡。式复持钱二十万与河南太守，以给徙民。

8. After a year, the rebellious leaders such as Hun Xie surrendered. The county officials spent a great deal of money, resulting in the granaries and treasuries being empty. The impoverished people were greatly displaced, and all were provided for by the county officials, but there was not enough to fully support them. Shi again held twenty thousand in money and gave it to the Prefect of Henan to provide for the displaced people.

9. 在叙事上，《汉书》的特点是注重史事的系统、完备，凡事力求有始有终，记述明白。这为我们了解、研究西汉历史，提供了很大的方便。至今，凡是研究西汉历史，无不以《汉书》作为基本史料。

9. In terms of narrative, the characteristic of the "Han Shu" (Book of Han) is its emphasis on the systematic and comprehensive nature of historical events, striving for a clear beginning and end in its accounts. This has greatly facilitated our understanding and research of the history of the Western Han Dynasty. To this day, whenever studying the history of the Western Han Dynasty, the "Han Shu" is universally regarded as the basic historical source.

10. 初，式不愿为郎，上曰：“吾有羊在上林中，欲令子牧之。”式既为郎，布衣草蹻而牧羊。岁余，羊肥息。上过其羊所，善之。式曰：“非独羊也，治民亦犹是矣。以时起居，恶者辄去，毋令败群。”

10. Initially, Shi was reluctant to become a government official, and the emperor said, "I have some sheep in the Shanglin Park, and I want you to tend to them." After Shi became an official, he dressed in simple cloth and sandals to tend the sheep. After more than a year, the sheep grew fat and thrived. The emperor passed by the sheep and was pleased with them. Shi said, "It's not just about the sheep; governing the people is also like this. Rise and rest at the right times, remove the bad ones promptly, and don't let them bring down the whole group."

11. 在体裁方面。《汉书》与《史记》同为纪传体史书。不同的是，《史记》起于传说“三皇五帝”，止于汉武帝时代，是一部通史；而《汉书》却是专一记述西汉一朝史事的断代史。这种纪传体的断代史体裁，是班固的创造。以后历代的“正史”都采用了这种体裁。这是班固对于我国史学的重大贡献。

11. In terms of genre, both "The Han History" and "The Records of the Grand Historian" are annalistic historical books. The difference is that "The Records of the Grand Historian" starts from the legendary "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors" and ends with the era of Emperor Wu of Han, making it a comprehensive history; whereas "The Han History" is a segmented history dedicated solely to the history of the Western Han Dynasty. This genre of segmented annalistic history is a creation of Ban Gu. Subsequent dynasties' "official histories" have all adopted this genre. This is a significant contribution of Ban Gu to the history of China.

12. 班固的父亲班彪（公元3年～公元54年）对这些续篇感到很不满意，遂“采其旧事，旁贯异闻”为《史记》“作《后传》六十五篇”。

12. Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao (3 AD – 54 AD), was very dissatisfied with these continuation volumes, so he "collected their old events and interwove with other unusual tales" to write the "Sixty-Five Volumes of the Later Continuation" for the "Records of the Grand Historian" (Shiji).

13. 班彪死后，年仅22岁的班固，动手整理父亲的遗稿，决心继承父业，完成这部接续巨作。

13. After Ban Biao's death, at the young age of 22, Ban Gu took up the task of organizing his father's unfinished manuscripts, determined to carry on his father's legacy and complete this monumental sequel.

14. 一年后，遇上浑邪王等降汉，国家费用过大，仓府空虚，贫民多迁徙，都靠国家补给，也无法完全供给。卜式又拿钱二十万给河南太守，以救流民。河南上报富人助贫名单，皇上认出了卜式，说：“是那一位坚持要给一半家产助边的人。”

14. One year later, when the Xunxia King and others submitted to the Han, the national expenses were too great, the granaries were empty, and many poor people had to migrate. They relied on the national supplies, which were also unable to fully meet the needs. Bu Shi then took out two hundred thousand in money to give to the Governor of Henan to help the displaced people. The Henan province reported a list of wealthy individuals who helped the poor, and the Emperor recognized Bu Shi and said, "That is the one who insisted on giving half of his property to assist the frontier."

15. 卜式，河南人也。以田畜为事。有少弟，弟壮，式脱身出，独取畜羊百余，田宅财物尽与弟。式入山牧，十余年，羊致千余头，买田宅。而弟尽破其产，式辄复分与弟者数矣。

15. Bu Shi was from Henan. He made a living by farming and raising livestock. He had a younger brother, who was older and stronger. Bu Shi left to escape, taking only a hundred sheep, and gave away all the farmland, houses, and wealth to his brother. Bu Shi went into the mountains to tend sheep, and over ten years, the sheep grew to over a thousand. He used the profits to buy more farmland and houses. However, his brother squandered his inheritance, and Bu Shi had to divide his own assets with his brother several times.

16. 当时汉正在抵抗匈奴入侵，卜式上书，愿捐家财的一半助边事。皇上派人间卜式：“想当官吗？”卜式说：“从小牧羊，不熟悉怎样当官，不愿意作官。”使者说：“家裹难道没有冤家仇人，想讲出来吗？”

16. At that time, Han was resisting the invasion of the Xiongnu. Bu Shi wrote a letter to the emperor, willing to donate half of his family's wealth to aid the border affairs. The emperor sent a messenger to ask Bu Shi, "Do you wish to become an official?" Bu Shi replied, "Ever since I was young, I have been shepherding sheep, and I am not familiar with how to be an official. I do not wish to serve as an official." The messenger then said, "Do you not have any enemies or grievances at home that you wish to vent?"

17. 卜式说：“臣生来与人无争，邑人贫者借钱给他，不善的人教他干好事，在住处与人友好相处，卜式有何冤事呀！”使者说：“你这样，想干什么？”卜式说：“天子抗击匈奴，我以为贤者理应为大节而死，有钱的应出钱，这样匈奴可灭。”

17. Bu Shi said, "I have never sought disputes with others since birth. When the people of my town borrow money from the poor, they teach the bad people to do good, and get along well with others in their place of residence. What冤 does Bu Shi have?" The messenger said, "If you are like this, what do you want to do?" Bu Shi replied, "The Son of Heaven is fighting against the Xiongnu. I believe that the virtuous should die for the great cause, and the wealthy should contribute money so that the Xiongnu can be defeated."

18. 使者曰：“苟，子何欲？”式曰：“天子诛匈奴，愚以为贤者宜死节，有财者宜输之，如此而匈奴可灭也。”使者以闻。上以语丞相弘。弘曰：“此非人情。不轨之臣不可以为化而乱法，愿陛下勿许。”上不报，数岁乃置式。式归，复田牧。

18. The messenger said, "If so, what do you wish?" Shi Shi replied, "The emperor is fighting against the Xiongnu, and I think that the virtuous should die for their principles, and the wealthy should contribute their wealth; in this way, the Xiongnu can be exterminated." The messenger reported this to the emperor. The emperor discussed it with Prime Minister Han. Han said, "This is not in line with human nature. Unruly ministers cannot be used to enlighten others while disrupting the laws, and I hope Your Majesty will not agree to it." The emperor did not respond, and it was several years before Shi Shi was appointed. After returning, Shi Shi resumed farming and herding.

19. 生于东汉光武帝建武八年，卒于东汉和帝永元四年，年六十一岁。班固自幼聪敏，“九岁能属文，诵诗赋”，成年后博览群书，“九流百家之言，无不穷究”。著有《白虎通德论》六卷，《汉书》一百二十卷，《集》十七卷。

19. Born in the eighth year of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and died in the fourth year of Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty, at the age of sixty-one. Ban Gu was intelligent from a young age, "at the age of nine he could compose writings and recite poems and fu." After adulthood, he read widely, "he thoroughly explored the words of the nine streams and a hundred schools." He wrote "Baihu Tongde Lun" (The Treatise on the Doctrine of the White Tiger) in six volumes, "Han Shu" (The History of the Han Dynasty) in one hundred and twenty volumes, and "Ji" (Collections) in seventeen volumes.

20. 开始时卜式不愿为郎，皇上说：“我有羊在上林苑中，想让先生去放牧。”卜式当了郎官后，依然穿着布衣草鞋去牧羊。一年多，羊肥壮又繁殖得很多。皇上经过牧羊场地，很称赞。卜式说：“不只是牧羊，治民也是一样。

20. At first, Bu Shi was unwilling to become a court official. The Emperor said, "I have sheep in the Shanglin Garden, and I would like to have you go and tend to them." After Bu Shi became a court official, he still wore simple cloth clothes and straw sandals to tend the sheep. After more than a year, the sheep grew fat and strong, and multiplied greatly. When the Emperor passed by the sheep grazing area, he praised it highly. Bu Shi said, "It's not just about tending sheep; governing the people is the same."

21. 由于《史记》只写到汉武帝的太初年间，因此，当时有不少人为其编写续篇。据《史通·正义》记载，写过《史记》续篇的人就有刘向、刘歆、冯商、扬雄等十多人，书名仍称《史记》。

21. Since the "Records of the Grand Historian" only reached the period of Emperor Wu of Han's Tai Chu, many people at that time wrote continuations for it. According to the "Commentary on the Records of the Historian," there were more than ten people who wrote continuations, including Liu Xiang, Liu Xing, Feng Shang, Yang Xiong, and others, and the titles of the books were still called "The Records of the Historian."

22. 时汉方事匈奴，式上书，愿输家财半助边。上使使问式：“欲为官乎？”式曰：“自小牧羊，不习仕宦，不愿也。”使者曰：“家岂有冤，欲言事乎？”式曰：“臣生与人亡所争，邑人贫者贷之，不善者教之，所居，人皆从式，式何故见冤！”

22. During the Han Dynasty's dealings with the Xiongnu, Shi Shang submitted a memorial to the emperor, expressing his willingness to contribute half of his own wealth to assist the frontier defenses. The emperor sent an envoy to inquire of Shi Shang, "Do you wish to hold office?" Shi Shang replied, "Since I was a child, I have been tending sheep and am not accustomed to official duties; I do not desire to serve." The envoy said, "Is there any injustice in your family that you wish to speak about?" Shi Shang answered, "I have never had any disputes with others, and I lend money to the poor among my fellow villagers and teach those who are not good. Wherever I live, people follow me; why should I be seen as being unjustly treated!"