Wei Qing, from Pingyang. His father, Zheng Ji, was a minor official in the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion and was involved with a concubine named Wei Mei, who gave birth to Wei Qing. Wei Qing also had a full brother, Wei Zhangjun, and a sister who later became the imperial consort of Emperor Wu of Han, and their whole family changed their surname to Wei. Wei Qing (courtesy name Zhongqing) was the son of Wei Mei. Wei Mei's eldest daughter was named Ru, the second daughter was Shao'er, and the third daughter was Zifu. Later, Zifu's younger brothers Bu and Guang also changed their surname to Wei.
When Wei Qing was a child, he worked in the Marquis's mansion but later returned to his hometown to shepherd sheep with his father. He and his siblings were treated like servants, not family. Once, when Wei Qing accompanied his father to Ganquan Palace, a slave guarding the palace gate told him, "You will prosper in the future and become a great general who will be made a marquis!" Wei Qing laughed and said, "Coming from a slave background, if I can avoid being whipped and scolded, that would be good enough. Yeah, right!"
Wei Qing grew up and served as a cavalryman in Princess Pingyang's residence. In the spring of the second year of Jianyuan, Wei Qing's sister Wei Zifu caught the Emperor Wu of Han's eye. At that time, the Empress was the daughter of the Princess Dowager Tangyi, who had no children of her own and was green with envy. When the Princess Dowager heard that Wei Zifu was favored and pregnant, her jealousy intensified, and she sent people to arrest Wei Qing. At that time, Wei Qing was on duty at the Jianzhang Palace and was not well-known. The Princess Dowager wanted to kill Wei Qing, but luckily his friend, the cavalryman Gongsun Ao, led a posse to rescue him, saving his life. When Emperor Wu of Han heard about this, he summoned Wei Qing to the Jianzhang Palace to serve as a supervisor and made him an attendant. Because Wei Qing's siblings also benefited from his favor, Emperor Wu of Han rewarded them with thousands of gold worth of gifts in just a few days. Wei Qing's sister Wei Ru married the Grand Minister Gongsun He, while Wei Shao was having an affair with Chen Zhang, who was later promoted by Emperor Wu of Han. Gongsun Ao became more prominent for saving Wei Qing, Wei Zifu became the wife of Emperor Wu of Han, and Wei Qing was promoted to a high-ranking court official.
In the fifth year of Yuanguang, Wei Qing was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, leading an army to attack the Xiongnu in Shanggu; Grand Minister Gongsun He was appointed as the General of Light Chariots, heading to Yunzhong; Gongsun Ao, the high-ranking court official, was appointed as the General of Cavalry, heading to Daijun; and Li Guang, the Commandant of Wei, was appointed as the General of Valiant Cavalry, heading to Yanmen. Each army had ten thousand cavalry. Wei Qing slaughtered hundreds of Xiongnu prisoners at Longcheng. General Gongsun Ao lost seven thousand cavalry, while Li Guang was captured by the Xiongnu but managed to escape and return. They should have been executed, but were spared and demoted to commoners. Gongsun He did not achieve much in the war.
In the spring of 128 BC, Empress Wei gave birth to a son who later became the Emperor. In the autumn of that year, Huo Qubing was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, leading thirty thousand cavalry to campaign in Yanmen, where he decisively defeated the Xiongnu, killing thousands of enemy soldiers. The meteoric rise of Wei Qing and his family was a testament to the unpredictable nature of imperial favor and military success.
In the second year, the Xiongnu invaded, killing the Liaoxi prefect and capturing more than two thousand people in Yuyang, as well as defeating General Han's army. Emperor Wu of Han ordered General Li Xi to lead troops from Dai territory and also ordered Cavalry General Huo Qubing to set out from Yunzhong and march westward to Gaoque. Huo Qubing conquered Henan, all the way to Longxi, capturing thousands of enemy soldiers, seizing hundreds of thousands of livestock, and routing the White Sheep King and the Loufan King. Therefore, Emperor Wu of Han established Shuofang County in Henan, granting Huo Qubing a fief of 3,800 households and the title of Changping Marquis. Huo Qubing's military officer Su Jian also made great contributions and was granted the title of Pingling Marquis, with a reward of 1,100 households. At the same time, Emperor Wu of Han ordered the construction of Shuofang City. Huo Qubing's other military officer Zhang Cigong was also granted the title of Antou Marquis for his achievements.
Emperor Wu of Han said, "The Xiongnu have violated the natural order, disrupted human relationships, cruelly oppressed the people, lived by robbery, deceived various barbarian nations, plotted to use force, and repeatedly invaded our borders. That's why I have raised troops and dispatched generals to punish their crimes. As the *Classic of Poetry* states, 'Lightly attack the Xiongnu, up to Taiyuan,' 'Departing in numerous chariots, the city of Shuofang.' Now, Cavalry General Huo Qubing has crossed the Western River, reached Gaoque, and killed 2,300 enemy soldiers. The captured vehicles, supplies, and livestock have become spoils of war, and he has already been ennobled. He pacified Henan, repaired the old Yuxi pass, cut off Ziling and Liangbei River, attacked Punai, broke through Fuli, killed the elite Xiongnu troops, captured 3,711 enemy soldiers, interrogated the captives, obtained a large amount of intelligence, and seized over one million horses, cattle, and sheep. The entire army returned victorious. I will therefore grant him a further 3,000 households of land."
In the spring of the fifth year of Yuanshuo (the second year of the campaign), the Xiongnu invaded, killing the Daijun prefect and capturing over a thousand from Yanmen. A year later, the Xiongnu launched a major invasion of Daijun, Dingxiangjun, and Shangjun, killing several thousand Han people.
General Wei Qing led thirty thousand cavalry from Gaoque, supported by Su Jian (Guerrilla General), Li Ju (Strong Crossbow General), Gongsun He (Cavalry General), and Li Cai (Light Chariot General), all marching from Shuofang. Li Xi and Zhang Cigong also led additional troops from Youbeiping to attack the Xiongnu together.
The Xiongnu Right Shanyu was overconfident, thinking the Han army could not reach there, and ended up getting dead drunk. As a result, the Han army launched a night attack, surrounding the Right Shanyu, who was terrified and fled at night with only his favorite wife and a few hundred elite cavalry, breaking through the encirclement and fleeing north. The Han cavalry captain Guo Cheng and others pursued for hundreds of miles, ultimately unable to catch up, but captured over ten sub-kings of the Right Shanyu, along with over fifteen thousand men and women, and millions of head of livestock, before returning victorious.
After the army returned to the border, the emperor sent a messenger to bring the seal of the Grand General and appointed Wei Qing as the Grand General right there in the army camp. All the generals were under the command of the Grand General. Wei Qing accepted the appointment and returned to the court. The emperor said, "General Wei Qing led the troops himself and achieved a major victory, capturing over a dozen Xiongnu kings. I'm giving you another six thousand households!" The emperor also appointed Wei Qing's son Wei Kang as Marquis Yichun, Wei Bu as Marquis Yin'an, and Wei Deng as Marquis Fagan. Wei Qing firmly declined and said, "I was just lucky to perform my duties faithfully on the battlefield. It was all thanks to the blessing of the emperor's divine spirit that the army could achieve a great victory. It was the brave efforts of all the captains! The emperor has already shown me great favor by granting me a higher title. My sons are still just babies and have not achieved anything. The emperor wants to appoint them as marquises, and that's not what I meant when I encouraged the soldiers to fight hard! The three of us can't take this!" The emperor said, "Don't you worry, I'll take care of the officers."
The emperor announced, "Captain Gongsun Ao, who thrice accompanied the general on expeditions and helped capture the Xiongnu king, was made Marquis of Heqi, granted 1,500 households as a fief. Captain Han, who followed the general on the expedition, fought bravely in the army, captured the Xiongnu king, and was made Marquis of Long'e, granted 1,300 households as a fief. General Gongsun He, who accompanied the general and captured the Xiongnu king, was made Marquis of Nanji, granted 1,300 households as a fief. General Li Cai, who followed the general twice and captured the Xiongnu king, was made Marquis of Le'an, granted 1,600 households as a fief. Captains Li Shuo, Zhao Buyu, and Gongsun Rongnu, who followed the general on three expeditions and captured the Xiongnu king, were respectively made Marquis of Shezhi, Marquis of Suicheng, and Marquis of Congping, each granted 1,300 households as a fief. Generals Li Ju, Li Xi, and Captain Dou Ruyi also contributed and were granted the title of Marquis of Guannei, each with a fief of 300 households." However, that autumn, the Xiongnu (a nomadic group) invaded Daijun and killed Captain Zhu Ying. In the spring of the following year, General Wei Qing set out from Dingxiang, with Captain Gongsun Ao as the deputy general, Tai Fu He (a high-ranking official) as the left general, Marquis Xi Zhao Xin as the front general, Wei Wei Su Jian as the right general, Langzhong Li Guang as the rear general, and Right Neishi Li Ju as the strong crossbow general. All generals were under the general's command. They returned victorious after slaughtering thousands of Xiongnu.
One month later, they set out from Dingxiang to attack the Xiongnu again, this time killing ten thousand Xiongnu. Right General Su Jian and former General Zhao Xin led over three thousand cavalry, but they encountered the Chanyu's army alone. They fought the Xiongnu for more than a day, and almost the entire Han army was wiped out. Former General Zhao Xin, who had surrendered from the Xiongnu, was appointed Marquis Xi. In a critical situation, the Xiongnu tried to persuade him to surrender, and Zhao Xin surrendered with the remaining eight hundred cavalry to the Chanyu. Right General Su Jian's army was completely wiped out, and he himself almost lost his life. He barely escaped and reported the situation to the Grand General.
Grand General Wei Qing asked his chief clerk Zheng Hong, An, and Zhou Ba, his Yilang, "How should we handle this matter concerning Su Jian?" Zhou Ba said, "Since you, Grand General, have not executed a single subordinate general since you went to war, now that Su Jian has lost his army, he should be killed to assert your authority!" Zheng Hong and An, however, said, "No. The Art of War says 'small enemy forces will not come out of their defenses, only large enemy forces can eliminate them.' Su Jian led a few thousand soldiers to confront the tens of thousands of the Chanyu, fought to the death for over a day, and all his soldiers died in battle. He was loyal and returned to surrender. If we kill him after he surrendered, who would ever come back again? He should not be killed!"
Grand General Wei Qing said, "I, Wei Qing, have the Emperor's trust, treated my soldiers with sincerity, and am not worried about lacking authority. Zhou Ba, you want me to kill Su Jian to show power; you do not understand my intentions! Furthermore, although my position allows me to execute generals, with my current prestigious status, I dare not personally execute a general beyond the border. This needs to go to the Emperor for a decision. This will demonstrate that as a subject, I do not dare to abuse power; isn't that better?" All the officers agreed, "Yes!" So, the Grand General imprisoned Su Jian and escorted him to where the Emperor was. Afterwards, the army retreated within the borders, and the campaign ended.
So, in that year, the Grand General's nephew, Huo Qubing, who was only eighteen, was lucky enough to become one of the emperor's men. This young guy was a crack shot with a bow and arrow and a superb horseman. He fought alongside the Grand General, and the emperor specially appointed him as the Piao Yao General. Leading eight hundred light cavalry, he outpaced the main army by hundreds of miles, went off to battle on his own, and his achievements in bagging enemies far exceeded the quota.
The emperor was chuffed and said, "Huo Qubing, my Piao Yao General, wiped out over two thousand enemy soldiers, killed the enemy's prime minister and high-ranking officials, took out the grandfather of the Xiongnu leader, and captured the Xiongnu leader's uncle! He's scored some brilliant military exploits! I'll make him the Champion Marquis, rewarding him with sixteen hundred households!" Similarly, the Prefect of Shanggu, Hao Xian, also fought with the Grand General, taking down over two thousand enemies, and the emperor made him the Marquis of Zhongli, rewarding him with eleven hundred households. However, that year, two military forces suffered defeats, the Marquis of Xi died, and things didn't go so well overall, so the Grand General didn't receive any further titles. General Jian also faced defeat, but the emperor didn't execute him; he pardoned his crimes and sent him packing.
When the Grand General returned in glory, the emperor rewarded him with one thousand gold. At that time, Lady Wang was the emperor's current favorite, so Ning Cheng advised the Grand General, saying, "General, you did brilliantly, but the rewards weren't exactly massive, were they? You've got a massive estate and three sons who are all marquises, thanks to the Empress Dowager. Now that Lady Wang is in the emperor's good books, her family hasn't become wealthy yet. Why not use some of that gold to get Lady Wang a birthday present?" When the Grand General heard this, he thought it made sense, so he took out five hundred gold to wish Lady Wang a happy birthday. When the emperor heard about this, he specifically asked the Grand General, who truthfully reported it. The emperor was very pleased and appointed Ning Cheng as the Commandant of Donghai.
Zhang Qian also fought alongside the general, as he had previously been on a mission to Daxia and had spent a long time with the Xiongnu. He was very familiar with the local terrain and water resources, which ensured that the army did not lack water or food. The emperor remembered his previous merits from the mission and appointed him as the Marquis of Bowang.
Huo Qubing served as the Champion Marquis for three years. In the spring of the second year of Yuanshou, the emperor appointed him as Huo Qubing, the General of the Cavalry, leading ten thousand cavalry troops to march to Longxi, where he achieved great success. The emperor praised him, saying: "Huo Qubing led the army across the Wulian Mountains, attacking the Xiongnu and the Hunu. He passed through five kingdoms without plundering the people's property, determined to capture the son of the Chanyu. After six days of continuous fighting, he covered over a thousand miles beyond the Yanzhi Mountains. Engaging in close combat with the enemy, he killed the Zhelan and Luhu kings, annihilated the elite enemy forces, and captured the son of the Hun Xie prince, along with the enemy's prime minister and captain. He killed more than eight thousand enemy soldiers and seized sacred golden statues used by the Xiu Tu people to worship the heavenly gods! Huo Qubing was rewarded with a land grant of two thousand households!"
In the summer of that year, Huo Qubing and the Marquis of Heqi, Ao, set out from Beidi, but took different routes. Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, and the Prefect Li Guang also departed from Right Beiping, but on separate paths; they were all heading to fight the Xiongnu. Li Guang led four thousand cavalry troops and arrived first, while Zhang Qian followed with ten thousand cavalry. As a result, the Xiongnu King of the Left surrounded Li Guang with tens of thousands of cavalry troops. Li Guang fought for two days, suffering over half casualties, but inflicting heavy losses on the Xiongnu. Later, when Zhang Qian arrived, the Xiongnu soldiers retreated. However, Zhang Qian was supposed to be executed for delaying military matters, but he later paid a fine to get out of trouble and became a commoner.
At the same time, the Cavalry General set out from the northern region, deep into enemy territory. He and the Marquis of Heqin lost contact. The Cavalry General crossed over the Juyan River and reached the Qilian Mountains, capturing many prisoners. The Emperor said, "The Cavalry General crossed over the Juyan River, even reaching the Xiaoyuezhi, attacking the Qilian Mountains, capturing the Qiútú King, and having two thousand five hundred surrender. He killed thirty-two thousand two hundred enemy soldiers, captured five kings, five kings' mothers, the Xiongnu's chief consort, fifty-nine princes, as well as sixty-three ministers, generals, dukes, and commanders. Even though a third of his army was lost, the Cavalry General's fief was increased by five thousand households. The lieutenants who followed the Cavalry General to the Xiaoyuezhi were all appointed as Left Commanders. The Eagle-Striking Marshal Pono fought twice with the Cavalry General, killing the King of Suipu, capturing the King of Jiju, and taking a king, a king's mother, and forty-one princes as prisoners, totaling three thousand three hundred and thirty people; the vanguard also captured fourteen hundred people. Pono was therefore appointed as the Viscount of Piao, with a fief of one thousand five hundred households. The lieutenant Jiwang Gao, recognized for his merits, followed the Cavalry General and captured the King of Huyutu and seventeen princes as prisoners, totaling one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight people, and was appointed as the Viscount of Yiguan, with a fief of one thousand one hundred households. The lieutenant Puduo also made great contributions and was appointed as the Marquis of Huiqu." Marquis Ao, for his failure to join the Cavalry General, faced the death penalty but bought his way out of it, becoming a commoner.
Other veteran generals don’t have as many troops as the Flying General, nor are they as skilled in battle. The Flying General leads elite soldiers and isn’t afraid to charge deep into enemy territory. He always takes the lead with his elite cavalry and has been lucky, never finding himself in a hopeless situation. However, those veteran generals often face punishment for neglecting their duties. As a result, the Flying General's status has been rising, almost catching up to the Grand General.
In the autumn, the Xiongnu Chanyu was beside himself with rage because his subordinate, King Hunxie, kept getting beaten by the Han army in the west, losing tens of thousands of soldiers—all at the hands of the Flying General’s forces. The Chanyu was furious and wanted Hunxie’s head.
King Hunxie discussed surrendering to the Han Dynasty with King Xiutu and others, so he sent messengers to the border to gather information. At that time, Grand General Li Xi was stationed by the river and received the messengers sent by King Hunxie. He immediately sent a fast messenger to the Emperor. Upon hearing this, the Emperor harbored serious doubts, fearing that Hunxie’s surrender might be a ruse to attack the border. So, he ordered the Flying General to lead troops to meet them.
After crossing the river, the Flying General spotted Hunxie’s troops from afar. Many of Hunxie’s leaders didn’t want to surrender upon seeing the Han army and secretly fled. The Flying General quickly rushed over to meet Hunxie, killing over eight thousand of those who tried to escape. Then, he had Hunxie ride a fast horse to meet the Emperor first while bringing the remaining soldiers across the river—tens of thousands surrendered, claiming to number about one hundred thousand! Upon arriving in Chang'an, the Emperor showered them with riches beyond imagining—tens of millions at least! He made Hunxie the Marquis of Luoyin and elevated his top generals, bestowing titles like Marquis Xiaomo on Huduni, Marquis Huiqu on Yingbi, and others.
The emperor praised the achievements of General Huo Qubing, saying, "General Huo Qubing led the troops to attack the Xiongnu king Hunxie in the Western Regions. King Hunxie and his entire army surrendered. We supplied them, and they, in turn, brought thousands of archers. We also killed many enemies, captured over eight thousand people, subdued 32 foreign kings, and our soldiers were hardly injured. We gained the allegiance of one hundred thousand troops. We feasted and rewarded our troops all the way to the Yellow River. Peace has been secured! Therefore, I bestow upon General Huo Qubing a fiefdom of 1,700 households!" The emperor also ordered a halving of the garrisons in Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun, easing the burden on the populace.
After some time, the emperor relocated the surrendered Xiongnu people to the borders of five counties outside the pass, all south of the Yellow River, allowing them to maintain their original way of life and establishing them as vassal states. The following year, the Xiongnu launched an invasion of Youbeiping and Dingxiang, slaughtering over a thousand Han soldiers.
Another year passed, and the emperor discussed with the generals, saying, "Marquis Zhao Xin had always advised the Chanyu that the Han army couldn't conquer the desert and would soon retreat. Now that we have deployed so many soldiers, we will surely achieve our goal." This was the fourth year of the Yuanshou era.
In the spring of 123 BC, the emperor ordered General Wei Qing and General Huo Qubing to each lead fifty thousand cavalry, followed by several hundred thousand infantry, and embarked on a massive campaign. Huo Qubing commanded the elite troops who dared to charge into the enemy's territory. He initially set out from Dingxiang with the goal of targeting the Xiongnu Chanyu (the Xiongnu emperor). However, scouts reported that the Chanyu had fled to the east, prompting the emperor to change the orders, instructing Huo Qubing to depart from Daijun and Wei Qing from Dingxiang. The emperor also appointed the Langzhongling, a high-ranking court official, as the front general, the Taifu as the left general, the Zhujue Zhao Shiqi as the right general, and the Pingyang Marquis Cao Xiang as the rear general, all under the command of Wei Qing. The army crossed the border with a total of fifty thousand cavalry, joining forces with Huo Qubing's troops to attack the Xiongnu Chanyu. Zhao Xin, a Xiongnu strategist, advised the Chanyu, "The Han army has crossed the border, their supplies are stretched thin and their men are weary; let us wait for them to fall into our trap!" As a result, he moved the Xiongnu's supplies to the north and set up an ambush north of the border with elite soldiers.
As a result, Wei Qing's army marched deep into enemy territory, over a thousand miles, and ran right into the Xiongnu army led by the Chanyu, who were waiting for them in formation. Wei Qing immediately ordered his soldiers to form a defensive circle with their Wugang chariots, and then sent five thousand cavalry to engage the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu also sent out over ten thousand cavalry. As darkness fell, a sandstorm whipped up, blinding both armies. The Han army took advantage of the situation to deploy its left and right wings to surround the Chanyu. Outnumbered, outmatched, and with night falling, the Chanyu saw no point in fighting on. He quickly led a few hundred of his best riders to break through the Han army's encirclement and escape to the northwest. It was already dark, and the Han and Xiongnu armies were still in a fierce battle, the sounds of which raged like a deafening cacophony of screams and clashing steel. A scout reported that the Chanyu had escaped before it got dark, and the Han army immediately sent out light cavalry to pursue, followed by Wei Qing's main army. The Xiongnu army scattered in all directions. They pursued for over two hundred miles after daybreak, failing to catch the Chanyu but still killing and capturing over ten thousand. Finally, the Han army arrived at Zhaoxin City in Yan Mountain, where they found a huge stash of Xiongnu supplies. After resting in the city for a day, the army returned, burning down the city and the remaining food supplies.
During Wei Qing's battle with the Chanyu, Li Guang and Zhao Shiqi, leading their armies from the east, got hopelessly lost but later caught up to join the battle with the Chanyu. Wei Qing's army finally found Li Guang and Zhao Shiqi after they retreated south. Wei Qing wanted to send someone back to report the victory, so he had Li Guang chewed out by his chief of staff. Humiliated, Li Guang killed himself. Zhao Shiqi was jailed upon his return but bought his freedom and became a commoner. Wei Qing's main army returned to the border, killing and capturing over nineteen thousand in total.
The Xiongnu were leaderless for over ten days after the Chanyu disappeared. The Right Gu Li King seized the opportunity to declare himself Chanyu, but gave up the title once the Chanyu returned with his troops.
Wei Qing also led fifty thousand cavalry, his army was about the same size as the Grand General's, but he did not have a deputy. He appointed Li Gan and others as lieutenants, then set out from Daijun and Right Beiping, traveling over a thousand miles, directly attacking the enemy's left wing. His kill count surpassed the Grand General's. After the army returned triumphantly, the Emperor declared, "Wei Qing led the army, personally bringing captured Xiongnu warriors, traveling light, without setting up a large camp, penetrating deep into enemy territory, capturing Zhang Qu, killing Bi Cheqi, then attacking the enemy's left wing general, seizing their flags and drums. They crossed the Gonglu River and captured the kings of Tuntou and Han, along with 83 other generals, ministers, and officers. They made offerings to heaven at Langjuxu Mountain, offerings to the earth at Guyanshan Mountain, and reached the vast sea. A total of 74,443 enemy heads were taken, with less than one-tenth of the army suffering casualties. Living off the enemy's supplies, the army traveled far without running out of provisions, thus five thousand eight hundred households of land were added to Wei Qing." The Prefect of Right Beiping, Lubode, assisted Wei Qing and arrived at the agreed location on time. Together, they reached Taoyu Mountain, where they killed and captured 2,700 enemy soldiers, earning him the title Fulihou, with a fief of 1,600 households. The Commandant of Beidi, Xingshan, followed Wei Qing and captured the enemy leader, thus being appointed Yiyanghou, with a fief of 1,200 households. The surrendered kings Yiqu, Chun, Fulu, and Loufan King Yijiduo all followed Wei Qing and made contributions; Fulu was appointed Zhuanghou with 1,300 households, and Yijiduo was appointed Zhonglihou with 1,800 households. The warriors Pono and Anji who fought alongside Wei Qing also distinguished themselves, each receiving an additional 300 households of land. Colonel Li Gan captured the enemy's flags and drums and was appointed Guanneihou, with a fief of 200 households. Other lieutenants were promoted, and both officers and soldiers received many rewards. The Grand General, however, received no additional land, nor were any of his officers or men ennobled.
When the two armies marched, there were 140,000 horses at the beginning, but only about 30,000 came back. Therefore, the court established the position of Supreme Commander, with both the Grand General and the Cavalry Commander under his command. The court also stipulated that the Cavalry Commander got the same pay and perks as the Grand General. Since then, the position of Grand General Huo Qubing gradually declined, while the position of Cavalry Commander Wei Qing rose. Lots of the Grand General's guys jumped ship to serve the Cavalry Commander, except for Ren An, who didn't.
Wei Qing, the Cavalry Commander, was tight-lipped, trustworthy, brave, and took responsibility. The Emperor tried to teach him Sun Tzu's *Art of War*, but Wei Qing replied, "I'm more interested in strategy and tactics than ancient military theory." The Emperor wanted to build a mansion for him, but Wei Qing said, "The Xiongnu aren't beaten yet. I've got bigger fish to fry than building a house!" Therefore, the Emperor valued him even more. However, back when he was a young attendant, he had a prominent position but did not take good care of the soldiers. When he went on expeditions, the Emperor sent loads of food from the palace kitchens, but when they returned, the carts were overflowing with scraps, while some soldiers were starving. Out on the frontier, some soldiers were starving while Wei Qing played cuju. There were many similar incidents. Huo Qubing, the Grand General, was a nice guy who always tried to please the Emperor, but nobody thought much of him.
General Wei Qing, after fighting for four years, died three years later in the sixth year of Yuanshu. The Emperor was heartbroken and sent the Xuanjia Army of the vassal states from Chang'an to Maoling to build a tomb as grand as the Qilian Mountains for him. He was given the posthumous title of Marquis Jinghuan and was granted Wudu and Guanghan Commanderies. His son Wei Shan inherited the marquisate. Wei Shan, young and with the style name Zihou, was loved by the Emperor because he was so brave, and he was eventually given command of the army. Six years later, in the first year of Yuanfeng, Wei Shan passed away and was posthumously named the Marquis Ai. As Wei Shan had no sons, the title was extinguished, and the fief was revoked.
After the death of General Wei Qing, the eldest son of Grand General Huo Qubing, Marquis Yichun, lost his title due to committing a crime. Five years later, his two younger brothers, Marquis Yin'an Huo Buyi and Marquis Fagan Huo Deng, were also stripped of their titles because of that whole Zhujin thing. Two years after losing their titles, the Huo Guang family lost their lands. Four years later, Grand General Huo Qubing passed away and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Lie. His son Huo Xiang inherited the title of Marquis of Changping.
After Huo Qubing's victory over the Xiongnu Chanyu, he passed away fourteen years later. Following this, the Han Dynasty no longer launched large-scale attacks on the Xiongnu, as they were short of horses and were engaged in fighting the Yue in the south, Korea in the east, the Qiang, and the tribes in the southwest, so they didn't attack the Xiongnu for ages.
Grand General Huo Qubing married Princess Pingyang, so his son Huo Xiang inherited the title of Marquis of Changping. Six years later, Huo Xiang was stripped of his title due to committing a crime.
So, here's a list of those two top generals and some of the others:
The greatest general was Qing, who led a total of seven campaigns against the Xiongnu, killing and capturing over 50,000 enemy soldiers. In a direct confrontation with the Xiongnu Chanyu, he retook Henan, established Shuofang County, and was later granted 11,800 households. He also enfeoffed his three sons as marquises, each with 1,300 households. Altogether, his family had 15,700 households. Nine of his officers were also ennobled as marquises. Another fourteen later rose to the rank of general. One of the commanders was named Li Guang, who has a separate biography recorded; other commanders without records include Gongsun He. Gongsun He was of Yiqu descent, his ancestors being Xiongnu. His father was named Gongsun Hunxie, who was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingqu during the reign of Emperor Jing, but later had his title revoked for committing a crime. Gongsun He served the Crown Prince, the future Emperor Wu. Eight years after Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Gongsun He was appointed as the Master of the Horse, then became a chariot general stationed in Mayi. Four years later, he went on an expedition to Yunzhong as the chariot general. Five years later, he followed the great general as the cavalry general and achieved merit, being enfeoffed as the Marquis of Nanxiao. A year later, he followed the great general on a second expedition to Dingxiang as the Left General, but did not achieve any merit this time. Four years later, his marquisate was revoked due to the Zhujin case (a case involving underweight gold offerings). Eight years later, he was appointed as the Master of the Horse again, and later became the Prime Minister, being enfeoffed as the Marquis of Geyi. Gongsun He led seven campaigns against the Xiongnu without much merit, yet was enfeoffed as a marquis twice and became the Prime Minister. In the end, due to his son Gongsun Jingsheng's affair with Princess Yangshi, involving witchcraft, his whole family was wiped out.
General Li Xi (李息将军), a man from Yuzhi, began his service during the reign of Emperor Jing. Eight years after Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he became a general and was stationed in Mayi. Six years later, he led troops to Daijun as a general. Three years later, he followed the Grand General on a campaign to Shuofang, but these campaigns yielded no significant results. He served four terms as a general and later held positions such as Daxingling (大行令, a high-ranking official).
Gongsun Ao (公孙敖), a man from Yiqu, started as a minor official under Emperor Wu of Han. When Emperor Wu was twelve, Gongsun Ao was appointed Cavalry General and led troops to fight in Dai, resulting in the loss of seven thousand soldiers. He was sentenced to death but bought his way out, becoming a commoner. Five years later, he became a Colonel and earned merit in battle, being titled Heqi Hou (合骑侯, a marquis). A year later, he was promoted to Major General and went to Dingxiang with the Grand General, but achieved no notable feats. Two years later, he led troops to the North, but due to a defeat, he was sentenced to death again, which he redeemed with money, falling back to civilian life. Two years later, he became a Colonel again, following the Grand General without accomplishments. Fourteen years later, he was appointed Yindou General (因杅将军) to build Suijiang City (受降城). Seven years later, he was appointed Yindou General again and went on a campaign against the Xiongnu, suffering losses and facing execution. He feigned death and went into hiding for five to six years. He was eventually discovered, captured, and executed along with his family. He served four terms as a general, led campaigns against the Xiongnu, and held the title of marquis.
Li Ju (李沮), a man from Yunzhong, served under Emperor Jing of Han. Seventeen years after Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he was appointed Left Interior Minister (左内史) and later became the Strong Crossbow General (强弩将军). A year later, he was again appointed as the Strong Crossbow General.
Li Cai (李蔡), a man from Chengji, served as an official during the reigns of Emperors Xiaowen, Jing, and Wu of Han. He earned merit in battle as the Light Chariot General (轻车将军) and was titled Yue'an Hou (乐安侯, a marquis). Later, he became the Prime Minister but was executed for committing a crime.
The following are brief accounts of several prominent figures from the Han Dynasty, highlighting their careers and ultimate fates.
Zhang Cigong, a native of He County, was a military officer when he fought and achieved merit under General Wei Qing, and was granted the title of Marquis of Antou. Later, after the Empress Dowager died, he was promoted to general, leading the Northern Army. A year later, he took up the post of general again and went on an expedition with the Grand General, but was eventually dismissed for committing an offense, losing his title. His father, Zhang Long, was skilled in chariot warfare and archery, and was greatly favored by Emperor Jing of Han due to his exceptional archery skills.
Su Jian, from Duling, was a military officer when he fought and achieved merit under General Wei Qing, and was granted the title of Marquis of Pingling. He also served as a general, responsible for building Shuofang City. Four years later, he became a skirmish general and joined the Grand General on an expedition to Shuofang. A year later, he was appointed as the Right General and once again joined the Grand General on an expedition to Dingxiang, resulting in the loss of a Marquis, heavy casualties, and a sentence of execution according to the law. He eventually redeemed himself with money and became a commoner. Later, he served as the Prefect of Daijun and died there, with his tomb in Dayou Township of Daijun.
Zhao Xin, originally a prime minister of the Xiongnu, surrendered to the Han Dynasty and was granted the title of Marquis. Seventeen years after Emperor Wu of Han ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Front General to fight against the Xiongnu, but was defeated and surrendered to them.
General Zhang Qian, who successfully opened the route to Da Xia during his mission to the Western Regions, was appointed as a military officer upon returning to the court. Later, he fought and achieved merit under the Grand General, earning the title of Marquis of Bowang. Three years later, he was appointed as a general and went on an expedition to the Right North Plain, but failed to complete the mission on time and was sentenced to death according to the law. He eventually redeemed himself with money and became a commoner. He was later ordered to go on a mission to the Wusun and died while serving as the Grand Administrator, with his tomb located in Hanzhong.
Next is General Zhao Shiqi, a native of Zhuolu. In the twenty-second year of Emperor Wu of Han's reign, Zhao Shiqi was appointed as the Chief Jue Capital Officer, later promoted to the Right General, and joined the Grand General on an expedition to Dingxiang. However, he lost his way, was sentenced to death according to the law, and eventually redeemed himself with money, becoming a commoner as well.
General Cao Xiang, appointed as the Rearward General based on his identity as the Marquis of Pingyang, followed the Grand General on the expedition to Dingxiang. He was the grandson of Cao Can.
General Han Shuo, a descendant of the Marquis of Gonggao, achieved merit as a Colonel following the Grand General and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Longhe. Later, due to the Chujin Incident, he was stripped of his title. In the sixth year of Yuanding, he was appointed as an Imperial Attendant, and later served as the General of the Henghai Commandery, achieving merit in the campaign against Dongyue and being enfeoffed as the Marquis of Andao. In the third year of Taichu, he was appointed as the Flying General, stationed on the outskirts of Wuyuan County. Later, he served as the Director of the Palace Attendants, and due to the incident involving witchcraft, Crown Prince Wei was killed.
General Guo Chang, from Yunzhong, followed the Grand General as a Colonel. In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, he was appointed as the Grand Palace Attendant, and later promoted to the General of Pacifying the Hu, stationed in Shuofang. Later, he led troops to attack Kunming but did not achieve any merit and was stripped of his military power.
General Xun Zhi, from Taiyuan Guangwu, was appreciated for serving the Emperor in the palace and successively held positions as the Palace Attendant and Colonel, following the Grand General on multiple expeditions. In the third year of Yuanfeng, he was appointed as the Left General to suppress Korea, but did not achieve any merit. Later, he was executed due to the case of capturing the General of Lou Chuan.
The most formidable was Cavalry General Huo Qubing, who went on six expeditions against the Xiongnu, four of which he led as a general, killing and capturing more than 110,000 Xiongnu. King Huhanye also surrendered with tens of thousands of troops, opening up the Hexi Corridor in the Jiuquan area and greatly reducing Western Xiongnu invasions. As a result, Huo Qubing was enfeoffed multiple times, with a total of 15,100 households. Six of his clerks were ennobled for their service, and he later promoted two more to the rank of general.
General Lubode was from Pingzhou. He served as the Right Commandant of Northern Ping and distinguished himself in battle under the command of General Biaoqi, leading to his appointment as the Marquis of Fuli. After General Biaoqi's death, Lubode became the Imperial Guard Commander, and later was appointed as General of Fubo. He subdued Nanyue and was rewarded with additional territories. However, he was later stripped of his title due to breaking the law. He eventually became the Commander of the Strong Crossbow Corps stationed in Juyan, where he passed away.
General Zhaoponu was originally from Jiuyuan. He fled to the Xiongnu but later returned to the Han Dynasty and became the deputy of General Biaoqi. He distinguished himself in battle in Beidi and was appointed as the Marquis of Congbiao. However, he lost his title due to the Choujin case (a scandal involving underweight gold offerings). A year later, he was appointed as the General of Xionghe to attack the Xiongnu, but achieved little success. Two years later, he fought against the King of Loulan and was reappointed as the Marquis of Zhuoye. Six years later, he became the General of Junji and led twenty thousand cavalry to fight against the Xiongnu King Zuo Xian. Unfortunately, Zuo Xian surrounded Zhaoponu with eighty thousand cavalry, leading to his capture and the destruction of his entire army. He spent ten years in the Xiongnu before escaping back to the Han Dynasty with the Xiongnu Crown Prince Anguo. However, he was later exterminated due to the witchcraft accusations.
When General Wei Qing first started his career, he was just appointed as a marquis. Later, all his relatives and friends became marquises. But then, bam! At the age of twenty-four, all five marquis titles were gone. Poof! No more Wei family marquises.
Sima Qian said: Su Jian once told me, "I advised the General that, although you are so powerful, you don't use many good officials. I hope you can hire more talent and put in the effort!" The General replied, "Ever since the Marquis of Wei and Wu'an, Emperors have always hated ministers who recruited a lot of people. They networked with the elite, hired the best, and got rid of the dead weight—that's an emperor's job. We're just officials; we follow the rules and do our jobs. We don't get to pick and choose who we work with!" The General of the Cavalry was just like Wei Qing.
