A long time ago, during the reign of Emperor Gaoxin, the Quanrong tribe was causing trouble and constantly invaded, and they couldn't be defeated. Emperor Gaoxin then ordered that whoever could capture the head of General Wu of the Quanrong tribe would be rewarded with one thousand taels of gold, granted the title of marquis over ten thousand households, and given a princess in marriage. At that time, the emperor had a dog named Panhu, who had colorful fur. After the emperor issued the order, Panhu ran to the palace gate, carrying a head in its mouth. The ministers all found it very strange, but when they took a closer look, they realized it was General Wu's head! The emperor was overjoyed, but he was also worried because the dog couldn't marry a princess, and there was no way to give it a title. He pondered how to reward it.
The princess learned about what had happened and felt that the emperor had already given the order and could not go back on her word to the people, so she took the initiative to offer to marry Pan Hu. The emperor had no choice but to marry the princess to Pan Hu. Pan Hu took the princess and fled to a steep area in the southern mountains and lived in a cave. The place was so remote that it was impossible to find. The princess took off her clothes, braided them into ropes, and sewed herself a coarse garment to wear. The emperor was very worried about them and sent people to look for them, but each time they went, they faced storms and couldn't find them. Three years later, they had twelve children—six boys and six girls. After Pan Hu died, the children married among themselves. They wove cloth from tree bark, dyed it with grass juice, and made colorful clothes adorned with tail patterns. Later, the princess returned to the palace and told the emperor about this. The emperor sent people to bring the children back. The children wore rough clothing, spoke differently than we do, preferred the deep mountains, and shunned the plains. The emperor honored their wishes by granting them land in the renowned mountains and rivers. As their population grew, they eventually came to be known as barbarians. While they might seem simple-minded at first glance, they are quite astute, prefer to stay in their hometown, and hold onto their traditions. Because their ancestors were meritorious and their mother, being the emperor's daughter, they engage in farming and trade without having to pay taxes. They have their own leaders who carry seals, and their hats are made of otter fur. They call their leaders "Jingfu" and each other "Yan'tu." The descendants of these people, now known as the barbarians, are found in Wuling, Changsha.
During the time of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, they still had dealings with the Central Plains dynasty, known as "Yao Fu." By the time of the Xia and Shang dynasties, they gradually became a source of trouble on the borders. During the Zhou dynasty, their numbers increased. During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, Fang Shu was sent to the south to attack the barbarians, as mentioned in the Book of Songs, which indicates their growing numbers and their opposition to the Central Plains dynasty. When King Ping of Zhou moved to the east, the barbarians started to harass the Central Plains states. During the reign of Marquis Wen of Jin, he led his troops alongside Marquis Gong of Cai to defeat the barbarians. During the period of King Wu of Chu, the barbarians teamed up with Luo Zi to defeat the Chu army, even killing the Chu general Qu Xia. When King Zhuang just took office, the common people were starving, the army was weak, and they were oppressed by the barbarians. After the strength of the Chu army was restored, the barbarians settled down and became subjects of the Chu state. In the Battle of Yanling, the barbarians allied with King Gong of Chu to strike against the state of Jin. Later, Wu Qi became the prime minister of King Dao of Chu, defeating the barbarians and the Yue people to the south, expanding the territory of Chu to include Dongting Lake and the Cangwu region. King Zhao of Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Chu and also took control of the barbarian lands, establishing the Qianzhong Commandery. After the establishment of the Han dynasty, it was renamed Wuling Commandery. Every year, adults had to pay one piece of cloth, while children had to pay two zhang of cloth, referred to as "Zong Bu." Although the barbarians occasionally acted as bandits, they didn't pose a serious threat to the stability of the commanderies and counties.
After the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the tribal forces in the Wuling region became especially strong. In the twenty-third year of Jianwu, a tribal chief named Dancheng seized a strategic position and raided the local counties. The court dispatched General Wuwei Liu Shang with over ten thousand soldiers from the three regions of Nanjun, Changsha, and Wuling to sail up the Yuanshui River and enter Wuxi to fight them. Liu Shang underestimated the enemy and ventured deep into the rapidly flowing mountain canyons. Realizing that Liu Shang had little food and was lost in enemy territory, the barbarians concentrated their forces to guard the strategic location. As his supplies dwindled, Liu Shang had no choice but to retreat. The barbarians pursued, and Liu Shang's army suffered a devastating defeat, resulting in the complete annihilation of his forces. In the twenty-fourth year of Jianwu, Dancheng launched another attack on Linyuan. The court dispatched envoys Li Song and the Prefect of Zhongshan, Ma Cheng, to fight, but they were unable to secure a victory. In the following spring, the court sent General Fubo Ma Yuan, Colonels Liu Kuang, Ma Wu, Sun Yong, and others to Linyuan, and defeated the barbarians. Starving, Dancheng and his followers surrendered. Unfortunately, Ma Yuan fell ill and died at this time, and the envoys accepted their surrender. The court established a local administration, which ultimately pacified the tribes in the Wuling region.
In the first year of Emperor Suzong's reign, also known as the first year of Jianchu, the barbarians in Lishui, Wuling, rebelled and directly invaded the territory of the Lingyang tribes. By the winter of that year, the elite warriors of Lingyang assisted the officials in defeating the rebels, who subsequently surrendered.
Three years later, in the winter, the Lizhou barbarians led by Tan Erjian rebelled again, burning, killing, and looting, wreaking havoc across Lingyang, Zuotang, and Chanling. In the following spring, the court mobilized over 5,000 troops from seven counties in Jingzhou, as well as convicts and soldiers from Runan and Yingchuan, to defend Lingyang. At the same time, they recruited 4,000 skilled fighters from the nearby Man tribes who remained loyal to fight against the bandits of Lizhou. In the spring of the fifth year, Tan Erjian and his followers wanted to surrender, but the court did not agree. The imperial troops pursued and defeated them in a battle at Hongxia, beheading Tan Erjian, and the remaining forces fled back to Lizhou. Later, they pleaded for mercy, and the court ultimately accepted their surrender. The garrison in Wuling was then withdrawn, and the court rewarded them according to their merits.
In the winter of the fourth year of Yongyuan during the reign of Emperor Han He, the Lizhou and Wuling barbarians rebelled again, burning government buildings, killing officials and civilians, and looting. However, they were quickly defeated by the imperial troops and surrendered. In the second year of Yuanchu during the reign of Emperor Han An, the Lizhou barbarians believed the government's taxation was unjust, and they harbored great resentment. They united with over 2,000 Man tribes from Chongzhong to attack and kill officials. The counties recruited troops from the Wuli and Liuting tribes to pursue and defeat them, and they all surrendered. The court also rewarded the leaders of Wuli and Liuting with gold, silver, and other rewards, according to their merits. In the autumn of the following year, more than 4,000 barbarians from Lizhou and Wuling banded together as bandits. Additionally, over 1,000 people from the Lingling Man tribe, led by Yang Sun and Chen Tang, wearing red headscarves and declaring themselves generals, burned government offices and robbed the people. The counties recruited individuals familiar with tribal affairs to pacify them.
In the year 345 AD, during the first year of the Yonghe reign of Emperor Shundi of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Governor of Wuling submitted a memorial to the emperor, stating that the people in the barbarian regions were generally compliant and could now be taxed as much as the Han people. Everyone thought this was a good idea. However, the Minister of Personnel, Yu Xu, opposed it, saying, "Throughout history, wise rulers have never forced people of different ethnicities to submit, either because your virtue cannot influence them, or because your military power cannot intimidate them. You must understand that the hearts of the barbarians are as greedy as those of wild beasts and are difficult to restrain with rituals. Therefore, we have always adopted a policy of 'subjugation and appeasement,' both appeasing them and exerting control. If they obey, we accept their tribute, but if they rebel, we give up on pursuing them. The customs left by the previous emperor regarding tribute have historical reasons. Suddenly increasing taxes will only lead to resentment and rebellion. Just think about it; the taxes you collect won't even cover the costs of quelling a rebellion, and you will regret it in the end." Unfortunately, the emperor did not listen to him.
That winter, the barbarians in the regions of Lizhong and Louzhong indeed rebelled after the amount of tribute was increased. The following spring, twenty thousand barbarian soldiers surrounded Chongcheng, while eight thousand attacked Yidao. The court sent the Governor of Wuling, Li Jin, to suppress the rebellion. He defeated them, executed hundreds, and the rest surrendered. Li Jin later selected some good officials, gained insight into the people's sentiments, and pacified the populace. He served as the Governor of Wuling for nine years. During the reign of Dowager Liang, she issued a decree promoting his rank, increasing his salary by two thousand shi, and rewarding him with two hundred thousand coins.
In the year 151 AD, during the first autumn of the Yuanjia reign of Emperor Huan, the barbarians of Wuling, including Zhanshan and others, more than four thousand barbarians rebelled once more. They captured the county magistrate and retreated into the deep mountains. It was not until the first year of the Yongxing era that the governor, Ying Feng, used kindness and sincerity to persuade them to surrender, and they eventually surrendered and dispersed.
In the eleventh month of the third year of Yongshou, the local tribes in Changsha rebelled, camping in Yiyang. By autumn in the third year of Yanxi, they were raiding various areas in the prefecture, with their numbers growing to over ten thousand, and they killed many local officials. Then the tribes from Lingling also launched an attack on Changsha.
In the winter, more than six thousand barbarians from Wuling came to attack Jiangling, causing Liu Du, the governor of Jingzhou, retainer Ma Mu, and Li Su, the governor of Nanguo, to flee. Li Su's adviser Hu Shuang stubbornly held onto the reins while advising, "The barbarians dare to attack because they see there is no defense in the prefecture. You are a high-ranking official, overseeing a vast territory. As long as you wave the flags and beat the drums, there will be a hundred thousand troops in response. How can you abandon the duty of guarding and become a deserter?" Li Su drew his sword and pointed at Hu Shuang, saying, "You go now! The governor's situation is urgent; there is no time to argue with you here!" Hu Shuang firmly advised, but Li Su killed Hu Shuang and then fled.
Upon hearing this, the emperor sentenced Li Su to death, reduced the death penalty for Liu Du and Ma Mu, restored the family of Hu Shuang, and appointed one of his family members as an official. Later, the emperor appointed Liu Du, formerly the Right Colonel, as the governor of Jingzhou to suppress the rebel army in Changsha, ultimately quelling the rebellion. General Feng Gu went to suppress the barbarians in Wuling, and they all surrendered and dispersed.
After the army withdrew, the rebels attacked Guiyang, and the governor of Guiyang, Chou Xi, also fled. The barbarians of Wuling attacked the county again, and the governor Chen Feng led officials and people to fight back, defeating them, killing over three thousand, and capturing over two thousand. By the third year of Lingdi Zhongping, the barbarians of Wuling rebelled again, attacking the local areas of the county, and the state and county forces defeated them once more.
The Book of Rites says: "The southern region is referred to as 'Man,' and tattooed people reside in Jiaozhi." Their custom is for men and women to bathe together in the river, hence the name Jiaozhi. West of Jiaozhi lies a cannibalistic nation. When children are born, they decapitate them and consume the flesh, claiming it is a way to honor their younger siblings. If it tastes good, they present it to their monarch, who rewards the child's father if pleased. If they marry a beautiful woman, they will offer her to their brother.
In the southern region of Jiaozhi, there is said to be a country called Yuèshang. During the sixth year of Zhou Gong's regency, as the system of rites and music was being established, the world enjoyed peace. Yuèshang sent envoys bearing tribute, including three large elephants and a white wild chicken, explaining that the long journey, treacherous mountains and rivers, and language barriers necessitated sending multiple groups. King Cheng brought them to Zhou Gong. Zhou Gong remarked, "If my virtue were lacking, gentlemen would not present me with valuable gifts; if my laws were unenforceable, gentlemen would not submit to me. How could I receive such rewards!" Zhou Gong subsequently sent someone to inquire, "Our elders have long been saying in our country, 'There have been no violent storms in the sky for a long time. Could it be that a sage has appeared in the Central Plains? If so, why don't we go worship him?'" Zhou Gong told King Cheng about this, claiming it was the blessing of the spirit of the former king, and then offered the tribute in the ancestral temple. Eventually, the Zhou dynasty's power waned, leading to a gradual disconnection with Yuèshang.
When the State of Chu became dominant, the Baiyue region began to pay tribute to the State of Chu. After the unification of the Qin Dynasty, the tribes were subdued, and the border areas were developed, establishing the Nanhai Commandery, Guilin Commandery, and Xiang Commandery. During the Han Dynasty, a man named Wei Tuo declared himself the King of Nanyue and passed the title down for five generations. In the fifth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty destroyed the Nanyue Kingdom, dividing the Nanyue region into nine commanderies, which were governed by the Jiaozhi Prefect. Among them, Zhuyajun and Dan'erjun were located on islands, stretching about a thousand miles from east to west and five hundred miles from north to south. The local leaders and nobles were known for their notably large ears, and they wore their hair tied up, with only three inches visible. In the later period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Sun Xing, the Prefect of Zhuyajun from Kuaiji, received a substantial amount of cloth as tribute. The local tribes could not bear the burden and rebelled, attacking the commandery and killing Sun Xing. Sun Xing's son, Sun Bao, united with some good people to counterattack, defeating the rebels, assuming control of the commandery's affairs, and continuing to suppress the remnants. After several years, the rebellion was finally quelled. Sun Bao sent someone to return the seal to the court, submitted a memorial explaining the situation, and the court issued a decree appointing Sun Bao as the Prefect of Zhuyajun. Sun Bao implemented harsh rule, with tribute being offered every year. However, the court, driven by greed for treasures, gradually encroached upon and disrespected the local populace, so the local populace frequently revolted every few years. In the third year of the Chu Yuan Emperor, the court ultimately relinquished its control over Zhuyajun, which lasted a total of sixty-five years.
During the reign of Wang Mang, in the second year of Yuanshi, the Huangzhi Kingdom located south of Rizhao County offered tribute of rhinoceros. Generally speaking, the regions under the jurisdiction of Jiaozhi County, although counties were established, had different languages and required multiple translations for effective communication. The local people lived in a primitive manner, without regard for age or status, with unkempt hair, barefoot, and wrapped their heads in cloth. Later, the court relocated Chinese convicts to live among the locals, and the locals gradually learned Chinese and began to accept Han culture and etiquette.
During the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the country gradually became stronger. The Emperor sent Guan Lu Xun to Jiaozhi (northern Vietnam) and Ren Yan to Jiuzhen (central Vietnam) as governors. After their arrival, they began teaching the locals farming techniques, hat-making, and shoemaking, and even facilitated marriages and educated them about the institution of marriage, establishing schools to teach etiquette and rules.
In the twelfth year of Jianwu (36 AD), the leader of the local tribes on the Jiuzhen border, Zhang You, submitted to the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Guangwu granted him the title "Lord of Guihanli." The following year, the local tribes on the Nanyue border presented tribute of white pheasants and rabbits. In the sixteenth year of Jianwu (40 AD), a woman named Zheng Ce from Jiaozhi, along with her sister, led a rebellion and attacked the county government. Zheng Ce was the daughter of the magistrate of Milin County, married to a man named Zhu Renshi, and was known for her bravery. The governor of Jiaozhi, Su Ding, wanted to deal with her using the law, but Zheng Ce refused and rebelled. This led to the local tribes of Jiuzhen, Rizhao, and Hepu responding to them, capturing a total of sixty-five cities, and Zheng Ce declared herself queen. The governors of Jiaozhi and the surrounding counties could only focus on self-preservation as they faced imminent danger.
Emperor Guangwu immediately ordered the three provinces of Changsha, Hepu, and Jiaozhi to prepare vehicles and ships, repair roads and bridges, dredge obstructed rivers, and stockpile food. In the 18th year of Jianwu (AD 42), Emperor Guangwu dispatched General Fubo, Ma Yuan, and Admiral Lou Chuan, Duan Zhi, to mobilize over ten thousand troops from Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling, and Cangwu to suppress the rebellion. In April of the second year, Ma Yuan captured Jiaozhi, killed Zheng Ce and Zheng Er, and the other rebels either surrendered or scattered. He then went on to attack rebel leaders in the Jiuzhen area, defeating them and capturing over three hundred leaders, relocating them to Lingling. This completely pacified the southern border.
In the first year of Tang Suzong Yuanhe, the southern border tribal groups surprisingly had little contact with the court, with only a few local leaders presenting rhinoceroses and white pheasants.
In the twelfth year of Emperor Han He, more than two thousand tribal groups from Jinan and Xianglin entered the territory of the Han Dynasty to plunder, burn, and even set fire to government offices and temples. The local counties sent troops to fight, killed their leaders, and the rest surrendered. After that, the court established the position of Military Historian in Xianglin to prevent further unrest.
In the first year of Emperor Han An, all the tribal groups of Yelang in Jiuzhen County submitted to the court, and the newly developed territory extended approximately 1840 li (about 770 miles). In the second year of Han Yuan Chu, the tribal groups in Cangwu revolted. The following year, they conspired with thousands of tribal groups and Han people from Yulin and Hepu to attack Cangwu County. Empress Dowager Deng sent the Imperial Historian Ren Chuo to convey the imperial decree, granting amnesty to them, and the rebels surrendered and dispersed without further conflict.
In the first year of Han Yanguang, the tribal groups on the border of Jiuzhen County came to pay tribute and submit again. Three years later, the tribal groups on the border of Jinan County also submitted. In the sixth year of Emperor Shun of Han, the chieftain of Yediao from the Jinan border came to pay tribute, and the emperor bestowed upon him a golden seal and a purple robe.
In the second year of Yonghe, the barbarians at the border of Rinnan and Xianglin, led by Lian and others, attacked Xianglin County with thousands of followers, burning the city and temples, and killing county officials. Fan Yan, the governor of Jiaozhi, gathered more than ten thousand troops from Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen to rescue the situation. However, the soldiers, fearing the long journey, rebelled and attacked Fan Yan's office. Although the troops from the two counties defeated the rebels, their power continued to grow. Fortunately, Jia Chang, the imperial censor, was on a business trip in Rinnan at the time and joined forces with local officials to suppress the rebellion, but they achieved little success and were subsequently attacked by the rebels. They were besieged for more than a year, running low on supplies, which greatly concerned the emperor.
In the second year, the emperor summoned all court officials and those from the four ministries to discuss possible countermeasures. Everyone suggested sending a great general to mobilize forty thousand troops from the four provinces of Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou to suppress the rebellion. However, Li Gu, the general in charge, opposed:
"If Jingzhou and Yangzhou are stable, then mobilizing troops is no problem. But now these two provinces are full of bandits; it’s impossible to capture them all. The tribes in Wuling and Nanjun have not been fully pacified, and Changsha and Guiyang are frequently calling for troops. If we disturb the populace and call up more troops, there will surely be greater issues. This is the first reason it won't work!
Furthermore, if soldiers from Yanzhou and Yuzhou are mobilized, they have to travel thousands of miles, and when they can return is uncertain. The court's orders are urgent, so there will definitely be deserters. This is the second reason it won't work!
The southern region is hot, humid, and plagued by miasma; at least four or five out of every ten will perish. This is the third reason it won't work!
Soldiers will be exhausted from the long journey; how can they possibly fight when they reach Lingnan? This is the fourth reason it won't work!"
The army can only travel up to thirty miles a day, and Rinan County is over nine thousand miles away from here, which would take three hundred days to get there. Each soldier needs to eat five sheng of grain a day, which totals six hundred thousand shi just for the soldiers’ rations, not counting the provisions for the generals, soldiers, and pack animals. So, this fifth option is out!
Even if the army reaches the destination, there will surely be many casualties. With insufficient troops, more soldiers will have to be recruited, which is like cutting off your own flesh to patch up another wound. This sixth option won't work!
Jiuzhen County and Rinan County are separated by a thousand miles. The officials and folks over there are already struggling, let alone forcing the soldiers from the four hardworking provinces to trek such a long way. This seventh option won't work!
In the past, General Yin of the Household Department led troops to suppress the rebellion of the Qiang people in Yizhou. The Yizhou folks said, "It's fine if the Qiang people come, but if Yin comes, he will kill us!" Later, Yin returned to the capital and handed over the army to the governor Zhang Qiao. Zhang Qiao made good use of the officers Yin left behind and defeated the enemy in under a month. This shows that sending a big-name general isn't necessary; the provinces can handle things on their own. So, we should pick leaders who are brave, strategic, and compassionate and appoint them as governors and prefects, sending them to Jiaozhi. Currently, the forces in the south are scarce, and there is not enough food. They cannot defend or defeat, so it would be better to relocate the officials and people from that area to Jiaozhi until things settle down before letting them go back.
Next, let’s recruit some outsiders and have them fight among themselves, then send them gold and silver treasures as their military expenses. Anyone who can pull off a trick to take out the enemy leader will earn a marquis title and get a high position with great rewards. Zhang Liang, the inspector of Bingzhou from Changsha, is brave and decisive, while Zhang Qiao of Nanyang previously defeated the enemy in Yizhou. Both of these individuals can be reassigned. Previously, Emperor Taizong promoted Wei Shang as the magistrate of Yunzhong County, and Emperor Ai promoted Gong She as the magistrate of Mount Tai County. We should also promote Zhang Liang and the others right away and let them step into their roles immediately.
Wow, the court has decided to appoint Zhu Liang as the Prefect of Jiu Zhen and Zhang Qiao as the Governor of Jiaozhi, according to the previous plan. After Zhang Qiao arrived in Jiaozhi, he talked to them reasonably and appealed to their emotions, pacifying those rebels, and as a result, everyone surrendered without a fight.
When Zhu Liang arrived in Jiu Zhen, he bravely entered the rebels' camp all by himself. He came up with a plan and used his reputation to rally them, and as a result, tens of thousands surrendered, even voluntarily helping Zhu Liang build government offices and temples. At last, peace returned to Lingnan.
In the first year of Jiankang, the tribesmen in Jinan, more than a thousand of them, started causing chaos again, burning, killing, looting, and inciting rebellion in Jiu Zhen County. Xia Fang, the Governor of Jiaozhi, was good at handling people, using kindness to persuade the rebels to surrender, and they all surrendered. At that time, Empress Liang was in power and thought Xia Fang did well, so she promoted him and made him the Prefect of Guiyang.
In the second year of Yongshou during Emperor Huan's reign, the county chief of Jufeng County was insatiable and tyrannical, pushing the common folks to their breaking point. Zhu Da and others in the county, along with the tribesmen, rebelled, killed the county chief, gathered four to five thousand people, and attacked Jiu Zhen County. Prefect Er Shi of Jiu Zhen was killed in action. The court awarded him sixty thousand coins and appointed his two sons as officials. Then, they sent Wei Lang, the Commandant of Jiu Zhen, to suppress the rebellion, resulting in the killing of more than two thousand rebels. However, the rebel leaders were still holed up in Jinan, and their power was growing.
In the third year of Yanxi, the court appointed Xia Fang as the Governor of Jiaozhi again. Xia Fang was always known for his benevolence and righteousness, and when the old bandits in Jinan heard Xia Fang was back, more than twenty thousand of them surrendered. In the third year of Jianning during Emperor Ling's reign, the Prefect of Yulin, Gu Yong, used kindness and trust to persuade over one hundred thousand Wuhu tribes to surrender, having them all wear Han-style hats, and he even set up seven counties.
In the winter of the second year of Xi Ping, in the twelfth month, the minority groups at the Jinan border came to pay tribute once more. In the first year of Guanghe, the rebellious Wuhu tribes of Jiaozhi and Hepu rose up again, inciting Jiuzhen and Jinan to rebel together, amounting to tens of thousands of people and capturing many counties. Four years later, the governor Zhu Jun defeated them. Six years later, the border minority groups of Jinan came to pay tribute again.
In the Ba and Nan regions, various tribes lived, originally from five major clans: Ba clan, Fan clan, Shen clan, Xiang clan, and Zheng clan. They all came from Wuluo Zhongli Mountain. On that mountain, there are two caves: one red and one black. The sons of the Ba clan emerged from the red cave, while the sons of the other four clans were born from the black cave. At that time, there were no leaders, and everyone worshiped the spirits and deities together. Later, they all cast their swords into a stone cave and agreed that whoever hit the target would be elected as the ruler. As a result, Wu Xiang, the son of the Ba clan, hit the target by himself, astonishing everyone. Then, they each sailed a wooden boat and agreed that whoever could float would become the ruler. All the people of the other clans sank, and only Wu Xiang floated up. So everyone supported him as their leader, and he became the ruler.
The ruler then sailed a wooden boat along the Yi River to Yan Yang. There was a goddess in Yan Yang who addressed the ruler, "This place is vast and rich in resources, abundant in fish and salt. I hope you will stay and live here together." However, the ruler declined. As a result, the salt god came to stay overnight every night, turning into a worm the next morning and flying with other worms, plunging the world into darkness. This continued for over ten days. The ruler seized the chance and shot the salt god with an arrow, and the sky cleared. So the ruler became the monarch in Yicheng, and the other four clans pledged their loyalty to him. After the ruler's death, his spirit was said to incarnate as a white tiger for generations. The Ba clan believed the white tiger consumed human blood, so they offered human sacrifices to it.
After King Hui of Qin unified Ba and Shu, because the Ba clan were leaders of the barbarian tribes, they had taken women from the Qin as wives for generations. The social status of the common people did not change, and they could use their status to atone for their crimes. The leaders of the Ba clan were required to pay an annual tax of 2116 coins, and an additional 1800 coins every three years as a tribute. Each common household was required to provide 8.2 feet of cloth and 30 chicken feathers. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the Prefect of Nanjun, Jin Qiang, requested to continue the practices of the Qin Dynasty.
In the year 23 AD, the Tushan tribe in Nanjun, led by Lei Qian, started a rebellion, looting the local populace. The court dispatched General Liu Shang with over ten thousand troops to suppress the rebellion, and they were victorious. Over seven thousand tribal members were then relocated to Jiangxia, and their descendants are now known as the Mianzhong barbarians.
In the year 91 AD, the leader of the Wu barbarians, Xu Sheng, gathered to revolt in response to unfair taxation in their county. The following summer, the court sent envoys to rally the military forces of various counties in Jingzhou to take action against them, with over ten thousand troops in total. Xu Sheng relied on the treacherous terrain and held out for a long time. The army launched simultaneous attacks from multiple directions, some from Bajun, Yufu, and other areas, causing the barbarians to scatter and flee. The court's forces killed their leader and pursued the remaining rebels, defeating Xu Sheng and his followers. They surrendered and were relocated to Jiangxia.
In the year 169 AD, the Jiangxia tribes rebelled again but were subdued by the military forces from the prefectures and counties. In the year 180 AD, the Jiangxia barbarians rebelled once more, colluding with the bandit Huang Rang of Lujiang, totaling more than one hundred thousand individuals. They captured four counties, creating chaos for several years. The Prefect of Lujiang, Lu Kang, defeated them, and the remaining rebels either surrendered or fled.
During the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, there was a white tiger that often roamed the lands of Qin, Shu, Ba, and Han, along with a group of tigers, claiming the lives of over a thousand people. King Zhaoxiang then ordered a hefty reward for whoever could kill this tiger, offering them a land grant of ten thousand households and one hundred pounds of gold. At that time, there was a tribesman from the Langzhong area of Ba commandery who was skilled in making a powerful crossbow out of white bamboo. He climbed a tall building and shot and killed the white tiger. King Zhaoxiang was very pleased, but because he was a tribesman, he didn't want to give him an official title. Instead, he carved a stone tablet, exempting him from land taxes on his cultivated fields, permitting him to marry ten wives tax-free, and stipulating that if he injured someone, he would be punished according to the law, and if he killed someone, he could pay a fine as atonement. "If a Qin person wrongs a tribesman, they must offer a pair of yellow dragons; if a tribesman offends a Qin person, they must present a cup of clear wine." The tribesmen were all very content as a result.
It is said that when Liu Bang became King of Han, he led a tribesman army to attack the Three Qins. After the Three Qins were pacified, Liu Bang sent those tribesmen back to their homeland in Bazhong and restored the original status of the leaders of the seven surnames of Luo, Pu, Du, E, Du, Xi, and Gong, exempting them from taxes. The other commoners only had to pay a minimal tax each year, with a population of about forty households. They were later known as the Bandun people.
On the side of Langzhou, there was a Yu River, where most of the locals lived by the river. They were inherently brave and skilled warriors and were the vanguard of the Han army, successfully breaching enemy lines several times. They also particularly enjoyed singing and dancing. When Liu Bang saw this, he said, "This sounds just like the songs from King Wu's campaign against King Zhou!" He then ordered musicians to learn their dances, which later became famous as the "Bayu Dance." From then on, the local people remained loyal to Han rule for generations.
In the past, whenever the local areas were not peaceful, prefects and county officials routinely led troops into battle. During the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, the Bandun people rebelled multiple times, and the Prefect of Shu County, Zhao Wen, used a combination of kindness and force to subdue them.
During the second year of the Guanghe era under Emperor Ling of Han, the Bandun Man of Ba Commandery rebelled once more, burning, killing, and looting across the region, causing havoc in several commanderies in Sichuan and Hanzhong. Emperor Ling sent Chief Imperial Secretary Xiao Yuan with troops from Yizhou to suppress the rebellion, but they fought for years without achieving victory. Emperor Ling wanted to send a large army to suppress the rebellion, so he asked the officials in Yizhou if they had any good suggestions. An official named Cheng Bao from Hanzhong spoke up, saying: "The Bandun Man consists of seven tribes. They have previously shot and killed a white tiger and made great contributions, and were regarded as righteous individuals. They are all brave and skilled warriors, formidable in battle. During the Yongchu era, when the Qiang invaded Hanchuan, many commanderies and counties were destroyed. Thanks to the help of the Bandun Man, the Qiang were nearly annihilated in battle, so they were called 'divine soldiers.' The Qiang are afraid of them and even warn their descendants not to go south again. In the second year of Jianhe, the Qiang invaded again on a large scale, but the Bandun Man routed them completely. In the past, General Feng Gun of Chariots and Cavalry went south to conquer Wuling. Although he commanded the elite Danyang troops, he also relied on the Bandun Man to achieve victory. Recently, there has been chaos in Yizhou, and Prefect Li Yong also depended on the Bandun Man to suppress the rebellion. They are genuinely loyal and sincere, with no malicious intent. It's just that the local officials and village heads impose heavy taxes and cruel labor on them, worse off than slaves. Many people even sell their wives and children, or even commit suicide. Although they complain to the prefectures and counties, those officials simply ignore them. The court is too far away, and they have no way to appeal, so they can only cry out in despair, feeling deeply aggrieved. Unable to bear the heavy taxes and cruel punishments, they gathered in rebellion. They do not want to become emperor or have any ulterior motives; they just want to survive. If only some capable officials could be appointed to manage them, they would be able to live and work in peace without the need for conflict."
After Emperor Ling listened to Cheng Bao's words, he sent Governor Cao Qian to pardon them, and the Banzhun Man surrendered as expected. In the fifth year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turbans rose again in Ba County, and the Banzhun Man took the opportunity to rebel, burning, killing, and plundering indiscriminately. The court dispatched Sima Zhao Jin of the Western Garden Army to suppress the rebellion.
On the southwestern border, beyond Shu County, there are many ethnic minorities living there. Among them is the country of Yelang, bordered by Jiaozhi to the east, Dian to the west, and Qiongdu to the north, each with its own leader. They all have hair styled in a bun, wear their garments with the left lapel crossing over the right, live in close-knit communities, and engage in agriculture. Further out, there are tribes such as the Xiu and the Kunming, extending westward to Tongshi and northeastward to Yeyu, covering a vast territory of thousands of miles. These tribes are leaderless, their hair is braided, and they follow their livestock in constant migration without a fixed abode. To the northeast of Xiu is Zadu and Ranmao, some are native-born while others follow their livestock around. To the northeast of Ranmao is Baima, home to the Di people. Each of these three countries also has its own leader.
The origin of the Yelang Kingdom is very interesting. It is said that a long time ago, a woman was doing laundry by the Duanshui River when suddenly three large bamboo poles floated to her feet. She heard a sound coming from one of the bamboo sections, so she opened it and found a baby boy inside! The woman took the child home and raised him. When the child grew up, he was brave and talented, and declared himself the Yelang Lord, taking "Zhu" as his surname. In the sixth year of Emperor Wu's reign in the Han Dynasty, after pacifying the southern minority tribes and establishing Zangke County, the Yelang Lord surrendered and was granted a royal seal and official seal by Emperor Wu. However, Emperor Wu had him executed later. The local minority tribes believed the Bamboo King was no ordinary person, but a divine child sent from above. They respected him greatly and requested that his descendants be recognized as heirs. The governor of Zangke County, Wu Ba, brought this to the attention of the court, and Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty then appointed the Bamboo King's three sons as lords so they could be honored alongside their father after death. Today, there's still a temple dedicated to Sanlang, the Bamboo King, in Yelang County, to honor his memory.
Long ago, during the reign of King Xiang of Chu, General Zhuang Hao was dispatched from the Yuan River to attack Yelang. When the army reached Qielan, they pulled the boats ashore and then fought on foot. After defeating Yelang, they imprisoned the Yelang king in Dianchi. Since Qielan had a location suitable for pulling boats ashore, known as Zangke, it was renamed Zangke. The Zangke area had abundant rainfall, the locals believed in superstitions, there were few livestock, and no sericulture, resulting in widespread poverty in the area. However, Jucheng County was rich in tung trees, whose fruits could be processed into flour, and the locals made a living from this. During Gongsun Shu's rule, the local prominent families Long, Fu, Yin, Dong, and the county magistrate Xie Xian safeguarded the region and the people, supported the Han Dynasty, and even sent envoys from the Panyu River to offer tributes to the court. Emperor Guangwu was delighted and rewarded them handsomely. During the reign of Emperor Huan, a local named Yin Zhen felt that being born in a remote area and not understanding etiquette, so he went to Runan to visit Xu Shen and Yingfeng, to study the classics and astronomy, and after learning, he returned to his hometown to teach and educate people, thus bringing cultural education to the southern regions inhabited by non-Han peoples. Yin Zhen later served as the governor of Jingzhou.
The King of Dian was a descendant of Zhuang Jiao. In the second year of Emperor Han Wu's Yuanfeng era, the Dian Kingdom was pacified, and the area was established as Yizhou County, with several counties carved out of Zangke and Yue Xi and assigned to Yizhou County. Several years later, the territory of Kunming was subsequently incorporated into Yizhou County. There is a Dianchi, with a circumference of over 200 li; the source of water is deep and wide, but it turns shallow and narrow at the end, appearing as if the water flowed backward. The river valley was flat and spacious, teeming with parrots, peacocks, salt flats, and bountiful fishing resources, and also had rich livestock resources, including gold and silver. The locals were generous and rugged, and officials enjoyed generational wealth.
After Wang Mang usurped the throne, the country was thrown into chaos. Yi leaders in Yizhou, including Dong Can and Ruodou, rebelled and killed the county magistrate. Da Mou, the Yi leader in Yuegui, also rebelled and killed officials and civilians. Wang Mang dispatched General Ning Shi to gather officials and troops from Bashu, along with soldiers from various regions, totaling over 100,000, to suppress the rebellion. However, the soldiers faced hunger and disease, and after many years of fighting, they were forced to retreat. Later, Wen Qi assumed the role of Prefect of Guanghan. He built reservoirs, developed irrigation channels, and cultivated more than 2,000 hectares of land. He also reorganized the army, fortified the passes, brought peace to the various Yi tribes, achieved great success, and gained the support of the Yi people. Later, Gongsun Shu took control of Yizhou, yet Wen Qi refused to capitulate. Gongsun Shu captured his wife and children, promised to make him a marquis, in hopes that he would surrender, but Wen Qi never yielded. Upon the ascension of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, Wen Qi secretly sent a messenger to inform the court. Following the pacification of Shu, Liu Xiu appointed Wen Qi as General of Zhenyuan and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis Chengyi. Wen Qi passed away while en route to his fief, and the court ordered a shrine to be built in his honor, while the locals constructed a temple to honor him.
In the 18th year of Jianwu, Dong Can, the leader of the Yi people, united with other tribes such as Gufu, Yeyu, Longdong, Lianran, Dianchi, Jianling, and Kunming to rebel once more, resulting in the deaths of local officials. The Governor of Yizhou, Fan Sheng, engaged them in battle but was defeated, forcing him to retreat to Zhuti. In the 19th year of Jianwu, the court sent General Wuwei Liu Shang and others to assemble a force of 13,000 Han people from Guanghan, Jianwei, and Shu counties, along with the Yi people from Zhuti, to suppress them. Liu Shang's army crossed the Lu River and entered Yizhou. Hearing that a large army was approaching, the Yi people abandoned their camps and fled. Liu Shang captured many elderly individuals, women, and children, and seized a substantial amount of food and livestock. In the 20th year of Jianwu, Liu Shang continued to attack and fought against Dong Can for several months, ultimately defeating him. In the first month of the following year, Liu Shang pursued them to Wei, killed Dong Can, captured over 7,000 individuals, and rescued more than 5,700 civilians, seizing 3,000 horses and over 30,000 cattle and sheep, completely quelling the rebellion of the Yi people. During the Yuanhe era of Tang Suzong, the King of Shu was posthumously honored with the title of Governor, and his achievements were outstanding. At that time, four divine horses appeared in the Dianchi River, along with sweet dew and white crows. Following this, schools were established in Shu County, and local customs gradually evolved.
In the fifth year of the Xiping reign of Emperor Ling, various barbarian tribes revolted across different regions, and Governor Yong Zhi was captured by the rebels. The court sent Chief Censor Zhu Gui to quell the rebellion, but it was unsuccessful. The ministers discussed among themselves and concluded that Shu Commandery was far removed, and the barbarian populace frequently revolted, so dispatching troops on distant campaigns would squander resources and burden the populace; it would be better to simply abandon it. At this point, Li Yong, an official from the General-in-Chief’s office and a native of Ba Commandery, stepped forward to offer a suggestion, proposing that the court send troops to suppress the rebellion. The court then appointed Li Yong as the governor of Yizhou, tasking him and Inspector Pang Zhi with leading the local barbarian forces into battle, ultimately suppressing the rebellion and rescuing the captured Governor Yong Zhi. After Li Yong's death, the barbarians revolted again, and the court appointed Jing Yi, a man from Guanghan, as Governor; he finally quelled the rebellion. When Jing Yi first assumed office, a hu of rice was selling for ten thousand coins, but through his benevolent governance, the price of rice quickly dropped to just a few dozen coins per hu.
The ancestors of the Ai Lao Yi tribe had a woman named Sha Yi, who lived on Lao Mountain. One day, while fishing in the river, she encountered a piece of driftwood that felt strange. Afterwards, she became pregnant and gave birth to ten sons after a ten-month pregnancy. The driftwood transformed into a dragon and rose to the surface of the water. Sha Yi suddenly heard the voice of the dragon saying, "I have given birth to so many sons for you; where are they now?" Nine of the sons were frightened and fled at the sight of the dragon, but only the youngest son remained seated with his back to the dragon. The dragon then licked him. His mother said that he was called "Nine" when facing away from the dragon and "Long" when sitting, so she named him Jiulong. When Jiulong grew up, his brothers believed he was clever for having been licked by the dragon, so they elected him as king. Later, another couple below Mount Lao gave birth to ten daughters. Jiulong's brothers all married them, and the tribe grew in number. They all carved dragon patterns on their bodies and adorned their clothes with dragon tail decorations. After Jiulong's death, his descendants ruled for generations, appointing many minor kings who resided in the valleys. The Ai Lao region is remote and characterized by rugged mountains and rivers, and has had no contact with the Central Plains throughout history. In the 23rd year AD, King Xianli of Ai Lao dispatched troops on bamboo rafts, sailing southward along the Yangtze and Han rivers to launch an attack on the Luji tribe. The Luji people were relatively weak and were swiftly defeated and taken captive. Suddenly, thunder and lightning erupted, accompanied by torrential rain and howling winds, and the river inexplicably flowed backward, surging for over two hundred miles. All the bamboo rafts sank, leading to the drowning of several thousand Ai Lao people.
Xianli sent six princes to command an army of ten thousand against Luji. The king of Luji engaged them in battle and killed all six princes. The elders of the Ai Lao tribe buried the six princes' bodies, but at night, tigers unearthed the bodies and devoured them. The remaining soldiers, terrified, quickly retreated. Xianli, shaken with fear, said to the tribe's elders, "The Ai Lao people have been entering and leaving the border since ancient times. This time, in attacking Luji, we have incurred heavenly punishment. Is there truly a wise emperor in the Central Plains? The help from the heavens to him is too obvious!" In the year 27 AD, Xianli and his people surrendered to the governor Zheng Hong of Yuegui County in Yizhou Commandery, pleading for allegiance to the court. Emperor Guangwu appointed Xianli as a chieftain, and they came to pay tribute every year.
In the twelfth year of Yongping (69 AD), the Ai Lao king Liumao sent his son with his people to submit to the court. This time, 77 tribal leaders, 51,890 households, and 553,711 people arrived. Ai Lao was seven thousand miles away from Luoyang, far in the southwest. Emperor Ming of Han, considering the circumstances, established Ai Lao County and Bonan County in the region, drawing from six counties governed by the western commandery of Yizhou and merging them to establish Yongchang Commandery. This opened up the road to Bonan Mountain and established a ferry across the Lan Cang River. However, the journey was arduous, and the people sang songs that went, "The grace of the Han Dynasty is immense, expanding into once-rebellious lands. Crossing Bonan Mountain and passing through Lanjin. Crossing the Lan Cang River, all for the benefit of others."
The Ai Lao people all have a custom of wearing nose piercings and earrings. Their leader calls himself the king, with ears that hang three inches below his shoulders, while the ears of common people only reach their shoulders. The land there is fertile, well-suited for cultivating a variety of food crops and raising silkworms for silk production. They understand dyeing and weaving and can produce various exquisite silk, woolen fabrics, and fine cloth, which are as beautiful as brocade. There is also a type of tung tree there, whose bark is used for weaving. The fabric is five feet wide, as pure white as snow, and stays clean. They have a custom of first wrapping the deceased in this cloth before using it themselves. The bamboo in that area has joints one zhang apart, referred to as Pu bamboo. The Ai Lao region is rich in copper, iron, lead, tin, gold, silver, various gemstones, tiger bone, crystals, and glass, an insect known as kechong, pearls, peacocks, jade, rhinoceros, elephants, orangutans, and a wild animal known as mo. Yunnan County is also home to a remarkable deer said to eat poisonous plants.
Previously, the Western Commandant, Zheng Chun from Guanghan, governed the local Yi people with integrity and effectiveness. The local leaders expressed their gratitude by offering treasures and praising his accomplishments. The Emperor was pleased and promoted him to the position of Prefect of Yongchang. Zheng Chun reached an agreement with the Ailao Yi people, where each village leader would offer two headscarves and a bushel of salt as an annual tax, and the Yi people remained compliant. After serving as Commandant and Prefect, Zheng Chun passed away ten years later. In the first year of the Jianchu era, King Leilao of Ailao and local officials had a dispute, which led to the killing of officials and a rebellion against Xitang City. Prefect Wang Xun fled to Yeyu. Over three thousand people from Ailao attacked Bonan, burning the homes of the common folk. Emperor Su Zong summoned nine thousand Yi and Han soldiers from Yuexi, Yizhou, and Yongchang to quell the rebellion. In the second year of spring, the Kunming Yi of Xielong County, led by Lu Cheng, answered the call, defeating Leilao at Bonan, aided by troops from various counties, killing him and sending his severed head to Luoyang. The Emperor rewarded Lu Cheng with ten thousand bolts of silk and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Polu. In the sixth year of Yongyuan, King Moyanmu of Dunren outside the prefecture sent envoys bearing gifts of rhinoceroses and elephants. In the ninth year of Yongyuan, the border tribes and King Yongyou of Dangguo sent envoys bearing treasures, and Emperor He rewarded him with a golden seal and purple robe, while other minor leaders received seals, robes, and money as well.
In AD 2, also known as the first year of Yongchu, over 3,000 individuals from the Jiaojiao and Lulei tribes on the border surrendered to the court with their families and offered ivory, water buffalo, and sacrificial oxen. In the first year of Yongning, Yongyou, the king of the Shan Kingdom, sent envoys to pay their respects to the emperor and wish him a happy New Year, bringing a band and skilled performers who could do magic tricks. These performers were incredibly talented, capable of changing their appearance, breathing fire, and even dismembering and reassembling themselves, as well as swapping the heads of cows and horses. Even more impressively, they played a ball-throwing game with thousands of balls! They claimed to come from the western sea, known as Daqin, as the southwest direction of the Shan Kingdom leads to Daqin. On New Year's Day of the following year, Emperor Han An hosted a banquet in the palace and appointed Yongyou as the Grand Commander of the Han Dynasty, rewarding him with seals, gold, silver, and silk in varying amounts. The area known as Qiongdu was established during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. Not long after, the land sank and became a swamp, so it was renamed Qiongchi, and southerners also referred to it as Qionghe. Later, the locals revolted. In the sixth year of Yuanding, the Han army set out from Yuechui River to quell the rebellion, leading to the establishment of Yuechui Prefecture in that region. The land there is flat and dotted with rice fields. In Qingling County, Yutong Mountain is home to green chickens and golden horses, and they can occasionally be spotted. Most locals are laid-back and enjoy singing and dancing, much like the people from the Zangke region. The local leaders are quite indulgent and hard to manage.
During the reign of Wang Mang, the county magistrate Meigen appointed Changgui of the Qiongdu people as the military commander. In the second year of Gengshi, Changgui led the local people to kill Meigen, declared himself king and took the title King of Qionggu, and assumed control of the governor's responsibilities. Later, he submitted to Gongsun Shu. After Gongsun Shu's defeat, Emperor Guangwu granted Changgui the title of King of Qionggu. In the fourteenth year of Jianwu, Changgui sent someone to report three years of government affairs to the court, and the emperor gave him the seal of the Yuezhi Prefect. In the nineteenth year of Jianwu, General Liu Shang led troops to suppress the minority ethnic groups in Yizhou, passing through Yuezhi. Changgui heard about this and grew anxious, thinking that after Liu Shang pacified the south, he would definitely enforce the law strictly, and he could no longer live freely. So, he gathered his troops, built fortresses, summoned leaders from various tribes, and brewed a lot of toxic wine. He planned to first entertain the troops with wine and then take the opportunity to attack Liu Shang. Liu Shang learned about Changgui's plot, sent troops to seize Qiongdu first, then quickly attacked, killed Changgui, and moved his family to Chengdu.
In the first year of Yongping, the Gufuyi people revolted again, and the governor of Yizhou led troops to fight them, killing their leaders and sending their heads to the capital for display. Later, the prefect of Bajun, Zhang Xi, managed the area very well, governing the Yi people with great effectiveness. He served as the prefect of Bajun for seventeen years. After his death, the Yi people remembered him fondly, mourning his passing as if they had lost a parent. Over two hundred Suqisou people brought cattle and sheep to pay their respects at his funeral. When they reached Zhang Xi's hometown of Anhan County, they even held rituals at his grave. The court praised him and erected a shrine in his honor.
In the third year of the reign of Emperor An, there were eight barbarian tribes outside Ba County, including tribes such as Danyang, totaling 31,000 households and 167,620 people, who all submitted to the court. However, the tax burden on the counties was excessively heavy. After five years, the tribal leaders, Da Niu and Feng Li, rebelled again and killed the county magistrate at that time. The following year, the tribes in Yongchang, Yizhou, and Shu County also joined the rebellion, numbering over 100,000 rebels, attacking over twenty counties, killing many officials, burning down towns, looting the people, leaving corpses and bones scattered everywhere, with not a soul in sight for a thousand miles. The court commanded Zhang Qiao, the governor of Yizhou, to quell the rebellion. Zhang Qiao sent his subordinate Yang Song to lead the troops to fight against the rebels. Because the rebels were strong, Yang Song was cautious about launching a hasty attack. He first communicated the court's orders to the three counties, secretly recruited soldiers, and increased rewards. Then he went to battle against Feng Li and others, achieving a resounding victory, killing more than 30,000 people, capturing over 1,500, and seizing assets valued at over 40 million. All the rewards were distributed among the soldiers. Feng Li and his followers, fearing for their lives, executed the leaders involved in the rebellion and surrendered to Yang Song, who warmly welcomed them. The remaining thirty-six tribes also surrendered one after another. Yang Song seized the opportunity to accuse ninety corrupt officials who had exploited the tribes, mitigating their punishments. Before the province could assess his merits and report back to the court, Yang Song passed away due to illness. Zhang Qiao was deeply saddened and erected a stone monument featuring his portrait.
The emperor heard that Zhang Xi was deeply loved by the Yi people before his death, so he appointed his son Zhang Tuan as the governor of Ba County. The Yi people were very happy and welcomed him on the way, saying, "You look just like our former governor!" Later, Zhang Tuan was somewhat neglectful in his duties, and some Yi people wanted to rebel again. The elders of the Yi people advised one another, "For the sake of our former governor, we cannot rebel again!" So Ba County returned to stability. During the reigns of Emperor Shun and Emperor Huan, the achievements of Feng Hao, the governor of Guanghan, were also outstanding, with many extraordinary deeds.
It is said that Yedu was established during the reign of Emperor Wu, and later Yedu County was established there. The locals have unkempt hair, wear their clothes with the left lapel over the right, tend to speak in metaphors, and have similar living habits to the Yi people in the Wenshan area. There is a kind of divine medicine produced locally that is said to prolong life, as noted in the Xianren Mountain map. In the sixth year of Yuanding, it was designated as Shenli County. During the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Shu was merged into the western region, and two military officers were appointed: one stationed in Maoniu, responsible for overseeing the Yi people; and the other stationed in Qingyi, responsible for overseeing the Han people.
During the Yongping period, Zhu Fu, a Liangguo native and the governor of Yizhou, was a man with great aspirations, eager to make his mark. He served in Yizhou for several years, vigorously promoting the grace of the Han Dynasty and intimidating the distant tribes. From Wen Mountain to the west, areas previously untouched by the Han Dynasty are now under its rule. Over a hundred tribes such as Bailang, Panmu, and Tangzou, totaling over 1.3 million households and more than 6 million people, have all pledged allegiance to the Han Dynasty and become its subjects. Zhu Fu wrote to the emperor, saying, "I have heard that the Book of Songs states: 'In the wilds of Qi, the barbarians travel.' This suggests that, despite the remoteness of the Qi Mountain road, people are still willing to traverse it. The poet recites this line as a kind of omen. Now, King Tangzou and others are yearning for the culture of the Han Dynasty, submitting to the Han Dynasty, and even composing three chapters of poetry. The road they have traveled, passing through the Qionglai Mountains, is rough and perilous, a hundred times more difficult than the road to Qi Mountain. They carry the elderly and children on their backs, as if they were returning to their mothers' embrace. The language of these distant tribes is quite challenging to comprehend, and their plants, birds, and beasts are different from ours. Fortunately, the official Tian Gong from Jianwei commandery is very familiar with them and can understand their language reasonably well, so I have asked him to learn about their customs and translate their language. I have sent the historian Li Ling and Tian Gong to escort them to the capital and present their songs to the emperor. In the past, wise emperors appreciated the songs and dances of these tribes; what I present now is also in that spirit." The emperor was delighted and entrusted the court historian to record the matter, including their songs in the collection. The 'Song of Distant Barbarian Music and Virtue' begins:
The Great Han Dynasty is well governed, and the officials in charge of the embankments work in harmony with the will of heaven. Wei Mao's actions are excessively extreme and utterly disastrous! The officials handle matters fairly, unlike Liu Pi, who is corrupt. They ignored my pleas, and no one came to my aid. Hearing of the Great Han's benevolence, many surrendered, wearing military uniforms and following the army. I have encountered many wonders and learned about the Tangsangai plant. The court has rewarded us with many silk fabrics, along with various delicious foods and wines. I recommend Tan Puyuan, who is very capable. The meat from Changle is exquisite, and Tuojusu is equally excellent. All kinds of supplies are readily available, but then we left. The barbaric regions are very poor; they bow to the Dragon Cave for tribute but have nothing left to offer. They pray for the Emperor's longevity, prosperity akin to Yangluosenglin, and flourishing descendants like Mowuzhijiaocun.
"The Song of Admiration for Distant Barbarians" says:
The barbarians residing in their territories bow to the Emperor for tribute. Even those from distant regions have surrendered. They admire the benevolence of the Great Han, surrendering and joining the army. They return to the court to meet the Emperor. The Emperor's grace is profound, enriching the people like Shengde Dunuo and ensuring abundance like Weijunduxi. There is plenty of frost and snow in winter, and abundant rainfall in summer, with a pleasant climate for the people to live in peace and contentment. They face dangers, crossing mountains and rivers to reach the Great Han from faraway lands, traveling great distances, enduring hardships, and ultimately arriving here. They have abandoned their old customs, surrendered to the Great Han, willingly submitting to the Great Han, as if returning to a mother's warm embrace.
Beyond the remote borderlands, where customs differ from those of the Central Plains, the land is barren and the people live in hardship, only able to eat meat and wear animal skins, unable to even afford salt and grain. Officials communicate the Great Han's kindness to them, as the Great Han is stable and prosperous, and they feel grateful for the Great Han's kindness as a result. They arrive with gifts to pledge their allegiance, unafraid of difficulties, crossing mountains and valleys, and enduring trials, finally reaching Luoyang. Despite their humble backgrounds, they manage to make it here after a journey of over a hundred days. Both the father and son receive rewards from the court, holding silk fabrics to express their gratitude. They share with their fellow countrymen the benevolence of the Great Han, hoping that everyone will submit to the Great Han and forever be subjects of the Great Han.
The Song of Gratitude from Distant Barbarians goes:
When Emperor Su Zong had just taken office, I was removed from my position for a minor infraction. At that time, the county magistrate's residence was lavishly decorated, with paintings of mountain gods and strange birds and beasts on the walls, clearly meant to show off, causing the minority groups to be even more fearful and respectful towards us.
In the twelfth year of the Yongyuan period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the White Wolf of Maoniujiao and the king of the Loubo barbarians, Tang Zeng, along with 170,000 commoners, submitted to the court. The emperor was delighted and rewarded them with golden seals and purple ribbons, as well as a substantial amount of money, the amount of which varied according to their status.
In the first year of Emperor An of the Han Dynasty, the Yi people of Sanxiang in Shu County and the Wuyan people of Wuyan outside the borders rebelled, with over 3,000 people attacking Cangling City and killing local officials. The following year, the leader of the Yi people in Qingyi Road, Lingtian, along with 310,000 commoners from three minority ethnic groups outside the borders, offered gold and the pelts of white cattle, expressing their desire to submit to the court. Emperor An elevated Lingtian's rank and appointed him as the Lord of Fengtongyi.
In the spring of the second year of Yan Guang, the Miao people rebelled again, attacking Lingguan Pass and killing local officials. Governor Zhang Qiao of Yizhou and the Western Commandant led troops to defeat them. Afterwards, the court established a subordinate command in Shu County, overseeing four counties with powers similar to a governor.
In the second year of Emperor Huan of Han's Yongshou era, the ethnic minorities in Shu County rebelled once more, resulting in the deaths of many officials and civilians. In the second year of Yanxi, the Sanxiangyi people of Shu County raided Canling and killed local officials. In the fourth year, the ethnic minorities from the Jianwei subordinate state came to invade the county borders, and the Governor of Yizhou, Shan Yu, led troops to defeat them, killing over 1,400, with the remainder scattering. By the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Shu County was renamed Hanjia County.
Speaking of Ran Mao Yi's place, it was opened in the sixth year of the Han Dynasty under Emperor Wu. At that time, the Wen Mountain Prefecture was established. In the third year of Di Jie, because the taxes were too heavy, the Yi people could no longer endure it. Emperor Xuan revoked Wen Mountain Prefecture and merged it into Shu Commandery, renaming it Northern Commandery. The area is inhabited by six Yi tribes, seven Qiang tribes, and nine Di tribes, each with their own tribes. Their kings and nobles are quite cultured, and their laws are relatively strict. The women are united and help each other. After death, they are cremated. The climate there is cold; even in the height of summer, ice does not melt. Thus, in winter, the Yi people go to Shu to work as laborers to escape the cold, and in summer, they return to their hometowns to escape the heat. They live on mountains, building houses with stones, some known as Qiong Long, that are over ten zhang high. The land there is hard and salty, unable to grow grains, hemp, or beans, and is only suitable for growing wheat, making it more suited for animal husbandry. They produce a type of cattle known as Mao Niu, without horns, also known as Tong Niu, weighing up to a thousand jin, and their fur can be used to make decorations. They also produce good horses, a kind of spiritual sheep that can detoxify; a medicinal deer with a fetus in its antlers, and its feces can also be used for medicinal purposes. In addition, there are five-horned sheep, musk, light-feathered chickens, and other animals. The locals produce textiles such as Mao Tan, Ban Ji, Qing Dun, Bi Dou, Yang Shan, and gather a variety of herbs. The land there contains salt, which can be harvested for salt production. To the west, you'll find places like Sang He, Pan Yu Lu, and others, and to the north, there are Huang Shi, Beidi, and Lu Shui Hu, all situated beyond the borders. During the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han, Shu Commandery was divided again, creating the Wen Mountain Prefecture.
The region of Bai Ma Di was established by Emperor Han Wu in the sixth year of Yuanding, carved out from the western part of Guanghan to create Wudu County. The rugged terrain is home to hemp fields that yield fine horses, cattle, sheep, lacquer, and honey. The Bai Ma Di people are known for their bravery and stubbornness, as well as their greed for wealth. They reside in Hechi, also called Qiuchi, which spans about one hundred hectares, surrounded by steep mountain valleys on all sides, easy to defend but hard to attack. They often harass the border, and when the county troops attempt to suppress them, they rely on the rugged terrain to defend themselves. In the third year of Yuanfeng, the Bai Ma Di people revolted, and the court dispatched troops to quell the rebellion and resettled some of them in Jiuquan County. In the first year of Emperor Zhao Yuanfeng, the Bai Ma Di people rebelled again, and the court dispatched the imperial guards Ma Shi Jian, Long'e Marquis Han Zeng, and the Grand Herald Tian Guangming to lead the armies of Sanfu and Taichang to suppress the rebellion, eventually pacifying it.
When Wang Mang usurped the throne, the Di tribe reportedly rebelled as well. By the time Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu established the early Eastern Han Dynasty, the Di people had all surrendered to Longxi and Shu. Later, when Kui Xiao was eliminated, the leaders of the Di tribe turned against Gongsun Shu and surrendered to the Han Dynasty. Longxi Prefect Ma Yuan reinstated them as kings, marquises, and chieftains, and granted them seals and ribbons.
Later, Kui Mao, a relative of Kui Xiao, rebelled again and killed the Prefect of Wudu. The wealthy and influential Di clan leader Qi Zhongliu, celebrated for his integrity and reliability, was highly respected by various tribes. He intimidated other powerful figures and, together with the county magistrate Kong Fen, attacked Kui Mao, ultimately achieving a great victory and killing Kui Mao. However, the Di people occasionally resorted to banditry, prompting county officials to dispatch troops to defeat them.
The article comments: The Han Dynasty often had to send troops to the remote areas of the Western Frontier to conquer the Rongdi tribes, which was intricately linked to the fortunes of the Han Dynasty. Although there were times of defeat and loss of soldiers and generals, year after year of persistence eventually opened up the territory of the four frontiers, bringing various ethnic groups into the fold of the Han Dynasty. The influence of the Han Dynasty gradually extended to these areas, and the prestige of the Han Dynasty also permeated these regions. Even the locations noted in ancient texts felt its impact. Although these ethnic groups sometimes surrendered and sometimes rebelled, the Han Dynasty's influence was sometimes fleeting. However, as long as the Han Dynasty's teachings took root in the hearts of the people, those tribes, regardless of their appearance or language, would eventually surrender their arms, traverse seas and mountains to join the Han Dynasty from distant lands. Therefore, Han officials overseeing these tribes managed populations that often numbered in the millions. The rare animals found in the mountains and seas, as well as the treasures buried in the sand or living on land, were presented to the court, adorning the imperial palace. The rare furs and domesticated animals from the southwestern tribes were stored in the imperial treasury, while the music and dance from the southwestern tribes were performed outside the palace.
Could it be that the Han Dynasty's policy of soft and distant diplomacy is only reflected in these aspects? Of course not; the Han Dynasty's policy of distant relations had far-reaching effects. Although the barbarian tribes lived in deep mountains and rugged terrain, they also had their own land and dwellings. Their influence extended to the regions of Jingzhou and Jiaozhou, and even reached beyond Bajun and Yongzhou, with an immeasurable extent. However, the fierceness, cruelty, and cunning of these barbarian tribes were slightly inferior to the Qiang and Di tribes, so the damage they inflicted was relatively minor. The situation was even better in the southwestern border regions. Therefore, the Han Dynasty established fortifications in Yongchang, starting from remote areas far from the Central Plains, gradually expanding territory and resettling the people, until finally establishing Chengdu.
Now, regarding these barbarians, a group of barbarians foolishly residing in remote and secluded areas, characterized by treacherous terrain and remote mountains. The clothes they wore were dyed with leaves and grass, very simple.
There were also other barbarians living on the border of Shu, with scattered villages and winding roads.
However, the court's teachings had a profound impact on them, and they began to change their customs and contribute treasures.
In the end, in the Yongchang region, they also became part of the great Han people, sharing the era of peace and prosperity with us.
Praise: The barbarians foolishly reside far away in a remote place. Their bodies are clothed with plant-dyed garments, amidst rugged and steep terrain. There are also other barbarians who dwell on the border of Shu, with scattered villages and winding roads. Having been influenced by civilization, they changed their ways and offered treasures. Thus, establishing Yongchang, joining the ranks of countless people.
