Li Guang was from Chengji in Gansu. His ancestor was Li Xin, a great general during the Qin Dynasty, who captured the Prince of Yan. The Lis were renowned archers for generations. In the 14th year of Emperor Wen of Han, when the Xiongnu invaded Xiaoguan in large numbers, Li Guang, a young man from an ordinary family, joined the army to resist the Xiongnu. His incredible archery and high kill count led to his promotion to a rank officer and later as a cavalry guard. He was a keen hunter, even taking down dangerous animals. Emperor Wen of Han sighed and said, "Shame Li Guang didn't live under Emperor Gaozu – he'd have been a marquis ten times over!"
After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Li Guang became a cavalry officer. During the Wu-Chu rebellion, he served as the Commandant of Cavalry and fought under the command of Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu at the Battle of Changyi City, making a name for himself. Later, the Prince of Liang conferred the general's seal to Li Guang, but when Li Guang returned to the court, the rewards never materialized. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Prefect of Shanggu and fought against the Xiongnu multiple times. At court, Duke Sun Kunxie burst into tears before the Emperor, saying, "Li Guang was peerless in talent and daring, but his overconfidence led him to constantly charge the Xiongnu. I fear he will die in battle!" The Emperor, hearing this, made Li Guang Prefect of Shangjun.
When the Xiongnu invaded Shangjun, the Emperor sent a noble to train troops with Li Guang and fight the Xiongnu. This noble, with his dozens of cavalry, ran into three Xiongnu – and a fight ensued. As a result, the noble was shot and most of his cavalry died. He quickly fled back to Li Guang, who said, "That bloke's a crack shot!"
Li Guang led a hundred cavalrymen to pursue the three Xiongnu. The three Xiongnu had lost their horses and could only walk. After traveling many miles, Li Guang ordered the cavalrymen to spread out on both sides, and he personally killed two of the Xiongnu and captured one alive, who was indeed an expert marksman. After binding the captive, they climbed a hill and found themselves facing thousands of Xiongnu cavalry. When the Xiongnu saw Li Guang and his men, they thought it was a Han army ambush and were startled, quickly forming a defensive formation on the mountain. Li Guang's hundred cavalrymen were all terrified and wanted to flee.
Li Guang said, "We're miles from the main force. If we run, the Xiongnu will pick us off. But if we stay, they'll think we're a feint and leave us alone." Li Guang ordered, "Charge!" When they were two miles from the Xiongnu's position, Li Guang stopped and commanded everyone, "Off your mounts and unsaddle!" The cavalrymen replied, "With all those guys? If something goes down, we're toast!" Li Guang said, "They'll think we're running. Unsaddling shows we're not; it'll throw them." At that moment, a Xiongnu general riding a white horse charged out with his guards. Li Guang mounted his horse, led a dozen cavalrymen, and killed the white horse general, then returned to his hundred cavalrymen, unsaddled the horses, and let them rest lying down.
As dusk settled, the Xiongnu soldiers were wary and did not dare to attack. In the middle of the night, the Xiongnu soldiers thought the Han army had set up an ambush nearby and wanted to launch a surprise attack, so they retreated. After daybreak, Li Guang returned to the main Han camp. Later, Li Guang was transferred to be the prefect of Longxi, Beidi, Yanmen, and Yunzhong.
After Emperor Wu of Han became emperor, those around him praised Li Guang as a famous general, so Li Guang became the Commander of the Weiyang Palace Guard, while Cheng Buxi also became the Commander of the Changle Palace Guard. Li Guang and Cheng Buxi used to be prefects and generals in the border counties, stationed with the army. When they fought the Xiongnu, Li Guang led his troops in a casual manner, not paying attention to formations, just setting up camp in a place with abundant water and grass to rest. His soldiers had free rein, there were no nightly drum patrols, and he pretty much ignored reports, but he would send scouts to investigate, and they never suffered losses. But Cheng Buxi was a different kettle of fish. He led his troops very strictly, paid attention to formations, drummed patrols at night, and handled all kinds of reports in an orderly manner. His soldiers were kept on a tight leash. Cheng Buxi said, "Li Guang's methods are too loosey-goosey. If we get hit by a serious attack, we're toast. But his guys are happy and loyal; they'd die for him. My troops work their butts off, but at least the enemy thinks twice before messing with us." At the time, Li Guang and Cheng Buxi were both famous border generals. The Xiongnu feared Li Guang; his men loved him, but Cheng Buxi's troops found him a tough boss. Under Emperor Jing, Cheng Buxi became a Grand Master thanks to his outspokenness. He was known for his honesty and strict adherence to the rules.
Later, the Han Dynasty used a trick to deceive the Xiongnu leader into attacking the city of Mayi, with a large army ambushing near Mayi. Li Guang served as a vanguard general, under the command of a guard general. The Xiongnu leader saw through the plan, withdrew his troops, and the Han army came back with nothing. Four years later, because he was the Guard Commander, Li Guang was appointed as a general to fight the Xiongnu at Yanmen Pass. The Xiongnu, with their massive army, crushed Li Guang's forces and took him prisoner. The Xiongnu leader had heard of Li Guang's prowess and ordered, "If Li Guang is captured, he must be taken alive." After the Xiongnu cavalry captured Li Guang, who was injured at the time, they tied him between two horses and hauled him off like a sack of potatoes. After ten miles or so, Li Guang pretended to be dead. He spotted a soldier on a decent mount, jumped on it, grabbed the soldier, and whipped the horse south, covering dozens of miles in a mad dash, finally catching up with the main force. Hundreds of Xiongnu horsemen were on his tail, but Li Guang used the soldier's bow to pick them off as he fled, eventually escaping. Back in the Han Dynasty, the government wanted to punish Li Guang. The law called for his execution because he had lost many possessions and had been captured by the Xiongnu. In the end, he managed to avoid execution and became a commoner.
When I was young, I hung out with the old Yingyin Marquis in the southern mountains of Lantian, and we often went hunting together. One night, I rode out alone on horseback and drank some in the fields. When I returned to the pavilion, that blasted Baling magistrate stopped me. I was on horseback and said, "I am the former General Li." The magistrate said, "Even if you are a general, you can't go out at night now. What gives?" So I had to spend the night under the pavilion. Not long after, the Xiongnu invaded Liaoxi, killed the governor, and defeated General Han. General Han later moved to Yubeiping and eventually died. The Emperor called me up and made me governor of Yubeiping. I requested to bring the magistrate of Baling to the military camp, where I killed him, and then wrote a letter of apology to the emperor. The emperor replied, "General, you are a key figure in the country’s defense. The 'Sima Fa' says: Don't take your hat off in a carriage, and don't wear mourning clothes at a funeral. Organize the army, pacify the soldiers, and fight against the disobedient. Lead the hearts of the soldiers and gather the strength of the warriors, so that your anger is felt within a thousand miles, your prestige is shown, and all things are feared. Therefore, your reputation spreads among barbarians, and your fame intimidates neighboring countries. That's what the country needs you to do: avenge us, wipe out the bad guys. Forget the hat and bowing – that wasn't necessary! General, lead your army eastward, continue to uphold your integrity, stay tough, and govern rich Yubeiping!" During my time as governor of Yubeiping, the Xiongnu started calling me "Flying General" and didn't dare cross the border for years.
I went out hunting and saw a stone in the grass, mistaking it for a tiger. I shot an arrow, and it hit the stone, piercing through it. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just a stone. The next day, I tried shooting it again but couldn't hit it. There were tiger sightings around my county, so I was always out hunting. Later, in Youbeiping, I shot a tiger, but it jumped me and I had to shoot it dead.
After Shi Jian's death, the emperor appointed Wei Qing as a high-ranking official. In the sixth year of Yuanshuo, Wei Qing became a general and led troops to suppress rebellion in Dingxiangping. Many other generals achieved great success and captured many prisoners, earning noble titles, but Wei Qing's army had no significant achievements. Three years later, Wei Qing, as Langzhong, set out with four thousand cavalry from Youbeiping. General Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, led ten thousand cavalry to join Wei Qing, but they took different routes.
After traveling hundreds of miles, the Xiongnu Left Worthy King surrounded Wei Qing with forty thousand cavalry, frightening Wei Qing's soldiers. Wei Qing sent his son Wei Gan with a few dozen horsemen to charge directly into the Xiongnu cavalry formation and break through from both sides. When Wei Gan returned, he said to Wei Qing, "Piece of cake!" The soldiers were relieved. They huddled together in a circle, backs to the enemy, for defense. The Xiongnu launched a fierce attack, a hail of arrows coming down. Over half of the Han soldiers died, and arrows were running low. Wei Qing ordered the soldiers to draw their bows fully and not shoot easily. He himself used a large crossbow to kill several Xiongnu officers, causing the Xiongnu to start feeling uneasy.
By nightfall, the soldiers were ashen, but Wei Qing remained calm and continued to organize the army. The army admired his courage. The next day, the battle continued, and the army of the Marquis of Bowang also arrived, forcing the Xiongnu to break off the siege and retreat. The Han army wanted to pursue but couldn't catch up. In this battle, Wei Qing's army was nearly annihilated, returning in disgrace. According to Han law, Marquis Bowang Zhang Qian faced execution for delaying the army but was later pardoned and reduced to commoner status. Although Wei Qing's army tried their best, they did not receive any rewards.
Wei Qing and his cousin Li Cai initially served Emperor Wen of Han as lang officials. During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, Li Cai rose to the position of 2,000 stones (a high-ranking official) due to his military achievements. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, in the Yuan Shuo period, Li Cai served as the Commander of the Light Chariots, following the Grand General to fight against the Right King, and was rewarded and appointed as the Marquis of Le'an. In the second year of Yuanshou, Li Cai succeeded Gongsun Hong as the Prime Minister. Li Cai was relatively low-key and not as famous as Wei Qing, but Wei Qing never received a marquis title and only held a position as one of the nine ministers. Many of the officers and soldiers under Wei Qing were ennobled as marquises.
Wei Qing once chatted with Wang Shuo, who understood celestial phenomena, saying, "Since the Han Dynasty started fighting with the Xiongnu, I, Wei Qing, have never left the battlefield. But those junior officers below the rank of Colonel who have no real ability have been ennobled as marquises based on their military achievements. I'm not inferior to them, but in the end, I've achieved nothing at all. What's going on? Am I destined not to be ennobled?" Wang Shuo replied, "General, think for yourself. Is there anything you regret?" Wei Qing said, "When I was the Prefect of Longxi, the Qiang people rebelled. I once persuaded over eight hundred of them to surrender, but I used a strategy to kill them all on the same day. I still regret it to this day!" Wang Shuo said, "There's nothing worse than killing surrendering soldiers. That's why you cannot be ennobled, General!"
Li Guang served as the prefect of seven commanderies for over forty years. He distributed rewards to the soldiers and shared meals with them. He was always broke, never one for material things. He was tall, strong, and had exceptional archery skills, all of which were natural talents. His sons, grandsons, and others could not compare to him. Li Guang wasn't much of a talker. When with others, he would draw a battlefield diagram on the ground and compete in archery distance, settling it with a drink. He just saw it as a bit of fun. In a dry, hungry campaign, the men didn't drink or eat until he knew they had enough. He was kind and not strict, so his men would follow him anywhere. He wouldn't shoot unless he was sure of a hit, even if it meant letting enemies get within a few dozen paces. Because of this, he got a lot of unfair treatment in battle, and hunting trips often ended with him getting mauled by wild animals.
In the fourth year of Yuánshòu, the Grand General and the Cavalry General went to fight against the Xiongnu. Li Guang requested to go on the expedition several times. The Emperor, deeming him too old, initially refused his requests to join the expedition. Eventually, he relented and appointed Li Guang Front General. The Grand General Wei Qing led the troops to fight and discovered the location of the Chanyu. He led the elite soldiers straight to the Chanyu, while Li Guang and the Right General took the eastern route. The eastern route was longer, with scarce water and grazing, slowing their advance. Li Guang said, "Look, I'm the Front General! Now the Grand General sticks me on this backwater route? I've been fighting the Xiongnu since I was knee-high to a grasshopper! This is my chance to face the Chanyu head-on. I should be leading the charge, and I'll be the one to take him down!" The Grand General, secretly following the Emperor's orders, saw Li Guang as too formidable a threat to let loose on the Chanyu. He couldn't risk Li Guang stealing his glory. At that time, Gongsun Ao had just lost his marquis title and was appointed as the Middle General. The Grand General also wanted Gongsun Ao to join in fighting against the Chanyu, so he sent Li Guang away. Li Guang knew what was happening and firmly declined. Ignoring Li Guang's objections, the Grand General ordered his chief clerk to write to Li Guang's staff, instructing them to proceed immediately. Li Guang set off without thanking the Grand General, feeling very angry. When he arrived at the troops, he led the soldiers and the Right General to take the eastern route. They lost their way and fell hopelessly behind the main force. The Grand General fought with the Chanyu, but the Chanyu escaped. The Grand General couldn't capture him, so he returned with the army. It wasn't until Nanjuemu that they finally caught up with Li Guang and his men. Li Guang had already seen the Grand General and returned to camp. The Grand General sent his chief clerk with food and drink, inquiring about their mishap. "I'll be reporting this to the Emperor," he added. Li Guang had not yet answered. The Grand General's chief clerk quickly questioned the officials in Li Guang's staff. Li Guang declared, "It wasn't the lieutenants' fault. I lost my way. I'll take full responsibility."
I arrived at the military headquarters and said to my subordinates, "Since I was young, I have fought the Xiongnu in over seventy battles. Now, finally following the Grand General to confront the army of the Chanyu, the Grand General sends me to a remote place and I got lost. That's just my luck! Besides, I am already over sixty years old and can no longer withstand the endless torment from those bureaucrats!" After saying this, I committed suicide with a sword. Word of my suicide reached the common folk, and whether they knew me or not, young and old alike wept bitterly. The Right General was just imprisoned; he should have been sentenced to death, but in the end, he bought his way out of it.
I, Huo Qubing, had three sons, Danghu, Jiao, and Gan, all of whom served as officials. Once, the Emperor and Han Yan were joking around, and Han Yan, despite his young age, showed no respect. Danghu struck Han Yan, and he ran away; the Emperor was quite taken with Danghu's audacity. Danghu died early, so the Emperor appointed Jiao as the governor of Daijun. They both passed away before me. When I died in the military camp, Gan was following General Huo Qubing. In the second year after my death, Li Cai was caught for graft and land grabbing, and he committed suicide. When Gan was serving as a captain, he fought alongside General Huo Qubing against the Xiongnu King of the Left, bravely capturing the king's banners and killing many enemies. The Emperor granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei, with a fief of two hundred households, and appointed him as the Minister of the Palace Attendants to succeed me.
After some time, because of his resentment towards General Wei Qing for causing the death of his father, he injured General Wei, who concealed the incident. Soon after, he accompanied the Emperor to Shangyong for a hunt at Ganquan Palace. Holding a grudge against Wei Qing for the earlier incident, General Huo Qubing had him shot. At that time, Huo Qubing was in favor, so the Emperor covered it up, claiming Wei had been killed by a deer. Over a year later, Huo Qubing also died. His daughter, a maid in the Crown Prince's service, was a favorite. His son Yu was also highly trusted by the Crown Prince, but he was greedy and brave. One day, while drinking with court officials and nobles, he bullied them with impunity. Someone reported this to the Emperor, who summoned Yu and ordered him to assassinate a tiger. Before the tiger even landed, the Emperor ordered him pulled out. Yu slashed at the rope with his sword through a gap in the cage, trying to get at the tiger. The Emperor admired his courage and ordered him to stop. His posthumous son, Ling, led troops against the Xiongnu, but was defeated, captured, and surrendered. Ling, whose courtesy name was Shaoqing, was a young attendant supervisor at Jianzhang Palace. Shaoqing was a skilled horseman and archer, known for his kindness, humility, and popularity with his men. Emperor Wu, seeing in him the makings of another Wei Qing, sent him with eight hundred riders two thousand li into Xiongnu territory to scout the land. Unfortunately, they returned without encountering any Xiongnu.
After returning, the emperor appointed him as the Cavalry Commander, allowing him to lead a crack force of five thousand elite troops to hone their archery skills in the area of Jiuquan and Zhangye to be ready for a Xiongnu attack. After a few years, the Han Dynasty sent the general in charge of the second expedition to attack the Dawan Kingdom, and the emperor ordered the junior officer to lead five units to support them later.
When the troops reached the frontier, the general had just returned from the campaign. The emperor even wrote a personal letter to the junior officer. The junior officer left most of his men behind, only taking five hundred light cavalry from Dunhuang to meet the general at Yanshui and see him safely back, then he took up a post in Zhangye.
In the year 99 BC, Li Ling set out from Jiuquan with thirty thousand cavalry to attack King Youxian at the Tianshan Mountains. The court wanted Zhao Ling to be responsible for the logistics of Li Ling's army. Zhao Ling found Emperor Wu, bowed deeply, and volunteered, saying, "The soldiers I lead to guard the border are all fearless warriors from Jingchu, capable of taking down a tiger with their bare hands and never missing a shot. I hope to lead a team south of Langanshan to disperse the Xiongnu forces, preventing them from gathering all at General Li Ling's location." The emperor replied, "Sounds like some generals are getting in each other's way! I have so many troops; you don’t need to send your cavalry." Zhao Ling responded, "I don’t need cavalry; I want to use a small number of troops to attack many enemies. Just five thousand infantry can reach the heart of Xiongnu territory!" The emperor thought he was formidable and agreed. Then, the emperor ordered Commander of the Crossbow Corps Lu Bode to lead troops to meet Li Ling's army halfway. Lu Bode, a former general named Fubo, wasn't keen on following Li Ling's lead, so he reported, "It's autumn; the Xiongnu horses are fat and ready, not a good time to strike. I suggest that Li Ling wait until spring to set out. At that time, we will lead five thousand cavalry from Jiuquan and Zhangye to attack the Xiongnu in the east and west Jishan Mountains; we will surely capture them!" After the report was submitted, the emperor was furious, suspecting that Li Ling was having second thoughts and that Lu Bode was in on it. The emperor then ordered Lu Bode, "I want to give Li Ling cavalry; he said he 'wants to use a small number of troops to attack many enemies.' Now that the enemy is invading Xihe, you go to Xihe to block them and cut them off from their supply lines." The emperor also ordered Li Ling, "Set out in September. Go through the Shulu barrier and head to the Longleshuai south of the Dongjishan Mountains. Scout the area. If you don't find the enemy, follow Zhao Pono's old route to the city of Surrender and rest your troops. Then send the cavalry back with a report."
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Li Ling then set out from Juyan with five thousand infantry, heading north for thirty days until they reached Junji Mountain to set up camp. Along the way, he drew maps of the terrain and sent his cavalry and infantry back to report. The messenger returned happily and detailed the brave performance of Li Ling's officers and soldiers. The emperor was very pleased and appointed the messenger, Bu Le, as an official.
Wow, General Wei Qing arrived at Junji Mountain and locked horns with the Chanyu! The Chanyu surrounded Wei Qing's army with nearly thirty thousand cavalry. Wei Qing's army camped between two mountains, using their carts to create a defensive perimeter.
Wei Qing led his soldiers out of camp and lined them up outside, with spears and shields in front and bows and crossbows in the back. He then ordered, "Charge when you hear the drum, stop when you hear the gong!" Seeing the Han army's small numbers, the Xiongnu charged straight for the camp. Wei Qing directly confronted them, unleashing a volley of over a thousand crossbow bolts, causing the enemy to fall. The Xiongnu quickly fled to the mountains, with the Han army in hot pursuit, killing thousands.
The Chanyu panicked and quickly gathered over eighty thousand cavalry to attack Wei Qing. Wei Qing fought while retreating south for several days until they reached a valley. The battle never stopped, with soldiers wounded; three-arrow wounds meant a wheelchair, two a cart; only the single-wounded still fought! Wei Qing asked, "Our morale is a bit low, and we can't even sound the drums. Are there any women in the army?" It turned out that when the army set out, the wives and kids of those Guandong bandits had been hiding in the supply carts all along! Wei Qing had them all rounded up and executed.
The fighting raged on the next day, leaving over three thousand enemy soldiers dead. Wei Qing marched southeast along the old Longcheng Road for four or five days until they reached the reed fields of Daze. The Xiongnu started a fire downwind; Wei Qing countered with a controlled burn. Heading south to the foot of the mountain, the Chanyu, perched atop the southern mountain, sent his son and his cavalry to attack Wei Qing. Wei Qing's army fought fiercely in the woods, slaughtering several thousand enemies, and even used continuous crossbows to shoot at the Chanyu, who, frightened, quickly fled.
That day's Xiongnu prisoners revealed that the Chanyu said: "This is the elite force of the Han Dynasty. If we can't defeat them, they are approaching the border day and night to the south. Is there an ambush?" The tribal leaders replied, "Even if the Chanyu personally leads tens of thousands of cavalry to attack the thousands of Han troops, they still cannot win. How will he command the border generals in the future? The Han troops will look down on the Xiongnu even more." After a desperate fight through the valley, the Xiongnu finally broke out onto the plains, only to be defeated again and forced into retreat.
At that time, the Han army pressed their attack with renewed ferocity. The Xiongnu cavalry was numerous, and the two sides clashed fiercely dozens of times a day, with the Han army cutting down over two thousand Xiongnu. Outmatched, the Xiongnu sought to retreat. At this moment, the Han army's scout, Guan Gan, insulted by a superior officer, deserted to the Xiongnu. He detailed to them, "The Han army has no follow-up troops for support, and their arrows are running out. Only General Wei Qing and the troops of Cheng Anhou, each with eight hundred men, are at the forefront. They use yellow and white flags. As long as you send elite cavalry to shoot them, the Han army will collapse immediately."
Cheng Anhou, from Yingchuan, was the son of Han Qianqiu, who had previously been the Prefect of Jinan and fell fighting the Nanyue. Emperor Wu enfeoffed his son Han Yannian as a marquis, and Han Yannian is now following Li Ling as a commander.
After receiving Guan Gan's report, the Shan Yu was very happy and ordered the cavalry to launch a furious assault on the Han army, shouting loudly, "Li Ling, Han Yannian, surrender quickly!" They then blocked the road and charged at Li Ling. Li Ling was trapped in the valley, with the Xiongnu on the mountain shooting arrows from all directions, a deadly rain of arrows falling around him. The Han army retreated to the south, and before reaching Di Han Mountain, they were shot at with fifty thousand arrows in one day, forcing them to abandon their vehicles and flee. With only over three thousand soldiers left, they used broken-off wagon wheel spokes as weapons, while the officers wielded long knives as they fought their way through the mountainous gorge. The Shan Yu blocked their retreat, rolling stones down from above, causing many soldiers to die in battle and preventing them from advancing.
After dark, Li Ling changed into civilian clothes and walked out of the tent alone, telling those around him, "Don't follow me! A real man would take on the Shan Yu himself!" After a long time, Li Ling returned, sighing deeply and saying, "We're wiped out! We're dead men!" Some officers said, "General Li has shaken the Xiongnu; it's just that fate is not on our side. We'll find another opportunity to come back, just look at Lord Zhuoye—captured, then he escaped and the Emperor welcomed him back with open arms! And you're a far greater general than he ever was!" Li Ling said, "Enough! I will not surrender while I'm alive; I will not be a true man!" He then ordered all the banners and treasures to be buried in the ground, sighing, "If only we had a few more arrows, we could escape. Now we have no weapons to fight with; we will be captured at dawn! Everyone should escape for their lives; hopefully, someone can get away and report to the Emperor." He ordered each soldier to carry two liters of dry rations, half of which was to be kept frozen, with the agreement to meet at the border checkpoint.
In the dead of night, Li Ling ordered the drum to be beaten to gather the soldiers, but the drum refused to sound. Li Ling and Han Yannian mounted their horses together, with about a dozen tough guys following. Thousands of Xiongnu cavalry were on their tails, and Han Yannian got killed. Li Ling said, "I can't face the Emperor!" So he surrendered. The rest of the Han army scattered, and only about four hundred made it back.
Word of Li Ling's defeat, a hundred miles from the border, had already reached the border. The Emperor had originally wanted Li Ling to fight to the death on the battlefield, so he had specially summoned Li Ling's mother and wife to see if they were acting like they'd lost someone, but they showed no signs of mourning. Later, when he heard that Li Ling had surrendered, the Emperor blew his top, blamed Chen Bule, and when he questioned him, Chen Bule killed himself. The court went after Li Ling, so the Emperor asked the historian Sima Qian for his opinion. Sima Qian argued, "Li Ling was a good son, a loyal friend, and always put his neck on the line for the country. He'd earned a great reputation and was a true asset to the country. This time, things just didn't go well, and those cowards who only cared about themselves abandoned him—it's heartbreaking! Moreover, Li Ling led less than five thousand infantrymen deep into enemy territory, yet managed to withstand the attacks of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers. The enemy was too busy tending to the wounded to even think about fighting, and they gathered all the civilians who could wield bows and arrows to besiege him. They traveled thousands of miles, ran out of arrows, and lost their way, but the soldiers fought barehanded, risking their lives against the enemy's swords and arrows, resisting desperately to the north, displaying the greatest strength of the soldiers. Even the famous generals of ancient times were no match for this. Although Li Ling was ultimately defeated and captured, the losses he caused were enough to shake the world. He's still alive, and he'll probably find a way to make it up to the Han."
First off, the emperor sent General Li Guangli to lead the troops into battle and also ordered Li Ling to support them. When Li Ling was fighting against the Xiongnu Chanyu, General Li Guangli achieved very little. The emperor felt that Sima Qian was distorting the facts to belittle the achievements of General Li Guangli and speak well of Li Ling, so he punished Sima Qian with castration. Later, the emperor regretted not bailing Li Ling out and said, "Li Ling should have broken through the border at that time, and I should have ordered the commander of the strong crossbow units to meet his army. Because I gave the order in advance, it gave those old generals a chance to play dirty." So the emperor sent envoys to comfort and reward the remaining soldiers who had escaped with Li Ling. Li Ling stayed with the Xiongnu for over a year, and Emperor Wu of Han sent General Chariot and Cavalry Gongsun Ao to lead troops deep into Xiongnu to bring Li Ling back. However, Gongsun Ao came back with nothing, saying, "We only caught a few prisoners, who said that Li Ling instigated the Chanyu to prepare an army to attack the Han forces, so we got nothing." Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu of Han immediately had Li Ling's family wiped out, where his mother, brothers, and wife were all killed. The Longxi officials and gentry thought the Li family had brought enough shame on themselves. Later, the Han dynasty sent envoys to the Xiongnu, and Li Ling told the envoys, "I fought my way across Xiongnu territory with five thousand infantry, but ultimately failed due to lack of rescue. What did I do to deserve my whole family being slaughtered?" The envoy said, "The Han dynasty heard that you, Li Shaoqing,* taught the Xiongnu how to fight." Li Ling said, "That was Li Xu, not me!" Li Xu was originally a captain on the Han dynasty's border, living in Xihou City. When the Xiongnu attacked the city, Li Xu surrendered. The Chanyu treated him especially well, often letting him sit in Li Ling's seat. Li Ling felt uncomfortable because his family was implicated, all because of Li Xu! So he sent someone to kill Li Xu. The Xiongnu's chief consort wanted to kill Li Ling, so the Chanyu hid him up north to keep her from killing him, only bringing him back after she died.
*Li Shaoqing is an honorific title referring to Li Ling.
The Xiongnu Shanyu greatly admired Li Ling and married his daughter to him, also appointing him as Right Colonel King. Wei Lu was appointed as Dingling King, and both of them were highly favored and held great power. As for Wei Lu, his father was originally a man from the Cheshui region of the Xiongnu, but Wei Lu grew up in the Han Dynasty. He had a good relationship with Li Yannian, a high-ranking official, who even recommended him to be a diplomat to the Xiongnu. However, when this diplomat returned, Li Yannian's family was in trouble and their house was raided and their belongings seized. Wei Lu was afraid of being implicated and executed, so he escaped and surrendered to the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu really took to him, and he was always around the Shanyu. Li Ling usually lived outside the palace, only attending council meetings when major events occurred.
After Emperor Zhao of Han ascended the throne, the Grand General Huo Guang and the Left General Shangguan Jie assisted in the court politics. They had a good relationship with Li Ling, so they sent Li Ling's fellow villager, Ren Lizheng, and two others to the Xiongnu to bring Li Ling back. When Ren Lizheng's delegation arrived in the Xiongnu, the Shanyu hosted a banquet for the Han Dynasty envoys, with Li Ling and Wei Lu accompanying them. When Ren Lizheng and his men saw Li Ling, they did not have the opportunity to speak privately, so they used their eyes to signal Li Ling, kept fiddling with their sword hilts, and held their feet, secretly signaling Li Ling to return.
Later, Li Ling and Wei Lü plied the Han envoys with food and drink, everyone getting completely smashed. Both Li Ling and Wei Lü were dressed in Xiongnu gear, with their hair tied up. Ren Lizheng loudly said, "The Han Dynasty has already granted amnesty to the world, things are calm back home, the Emperor is in his prime, and Huo Guang and Shangguan Jie are currently in charge of the court." He was fishing for a reaction from Li Ling with these words. Li Ling did not react, only looked at them, touched his hair, and replied, "I'm all decked out in Xiongnu gear now!" After a while, Wei Lü got up to change clothes, and Ren Lizheng said, "Man, you've had it rough, haven't you? Huo Guang and Shangguan Jie both send their regards through me." Li Ling asked, "How are Huo Guang and Shangguan Jie?" Ren Lizheng said, "Come on back, Li Ling. Don't sweat the riches and fame." Li Ling said to Ren Lizheng, "Going back's easy, but I'm scared of getting humiliated again. What am I gonna do?" Before he could finish speaking, Wei Lü returned, probably having heard some of the conversation. He said, "Li Ling's a brilliant guy; he shouldn't limit himself to one country. Look at Fan Li, he went everywhere; Yu Li ditched the Rongdi for Qin. Why are you still holding onto the past?" After speaking, he left. Ren Lizheng then asked Li Ling, "Do you also have this intention?" Li Ling said, "A guy like me doesn't get walked all over twice!" Li Ling stayed with the Xiongnu for more than twenty years and died in office in the first year of Yuanping.
Su Jian was from Duling. When he served as a Colonel, he followed the Grand General Qing in attacking the Xiongnu and was titled as the Marquis of Pingling. He once served as a General and was responsible for building Shuofang City. Later, he served as the Commandant of the Guards and as a Guerrilla General following the Grand General in an expedition to Shuofang. A year later, he followed the Grand General for the second time in the expedition to Dingxiang as the Right General, losing the Marquis of Xi. The army also suffered a defeat, and according to the law, he should have been executed, but he redeemed himself and became a commoner. After that, he served as the Administrator of Daijun and eventually passed away in that position. He had three sons: his eldest son Jia served as a chariot driver, his second son Xian served as a cavalry officer, and his third son Wu was the most famous.
It is said that this Wuziqing initially relied on his father's connections to become an official. Several of his brothers also served as officials in the court, and he gradually rose to the position of Imperial Stable Supervisor. At that time, the Han Dynasty was at war with the Xiongnu, and both sides often sent envoys to probe each other. The Xiongnu detained several of our Han Dynasty envoys, including Guo Ji and Lu Chongguo, totaling more than ten batches. When Xiongnu envoys arrived, the Han Dynasty also detained some Xiongnu envoys to balance the score.
In the first year of the Tianhan era of Emperor Wu of Han, the newly appointed Chanyu of the Xiongnu, fearing an attack from the Han Dynasty, declared, "The Han Emperor is my father-in-law!" and then released the previously detained Han Dynasty envoys, including Lu Chongguo. Emperor Wu of Han thought this Chanyu was quite loyal, so he sent Wuziqing as a general officer to lead a group of soldiers and scouts to return the detained Han Dynasty envoys to the Xiongnu, along with many gifts to show gratitude for his goodwill. Wuziqing, accompanied by his deputy Zhang Sheng and an official named Chang Hui, set off with over a hundred soldiers and scouts. Upon reaching Xiongnu, they presented the gifts to the Chanyu. However, the Chanyu became increasingly arrogant, completely different from what the Han Dynasty had anticipated.
Just as the Chanyu was about to send Wuziqing and his group back, trouble arose within the Xiongnu, with Prince Gou and others conspiring to rebel. Prince Gou was the nephew of King Kunxie and had surrendered to the Han Dynasty before, but later fled to Xiongnu with Marquis Zhuoye. He and Wei Lu brought some Xiongnu defectors and secretly planned to kidnap the Chanyu's mother and take her back to the Han Dynasty. When Wuziqing and his group arrived at Xiongnu, Yuchang, who knew Deputy General Zhang Sheng from his time in the Han Dynasty, secretly told Zhang Sheng, "I heard that the Han Emperor particularly hates Wei Lu. I can take him out with a crossbow. My mother and brother are in the Han Dynasty, and we can receive rewards from them." Zhang Sheng agreed and gave Yuchang a generous sum of money and goods.
A month later, the Chanyu went out hunting, leaving only the Chanyu's wife and her children at home. Yu Chang, leading over seventy men, planned to attack, but one of them ran away in the middle of the night and exposed the matter. The Chanyu's children fought with them, and Gou Wang and his men were killed; only Yu Chang was captured alive.
The Chanyu put Wei Lu on the case. When Zhang Sheng heard about it, he was afraid that his previous words would be exposed, so he reported the situation to Su Wu. Su Wu said, "This has gone too far; I'm in it now. I'll die for my country, even if that's what it takes!" Su Wu wanted to commit suicide, but Zhang Sheng and the others stopped him. Yu Chang indeed confessed to Zhang Sheng.
The Chanyu was very angry, summoned the ministers to discuss, and wanted to kill the Han envoy. Zuo Yizhizi said, "They've already plotted against him; what else can we do? Let's bring them to heel!" The Chanyu then sent Wei Lu to summon Su Wu for questioning. Su Wu said to Hui Deng, "I've been living in disgrace. How can I ever face the Han again?" With that, he drew his dagger and stabbed himself. Wei Lu was shocked, quickly held Su Wu, and ran to call for help. They dug a pit, built a fire, and roasted him alive, even stamping on his back to make him bleed. Su Wu fainted for half a day, then came back to life. Hui Deng and others cried and carried him back to the camp. The Chanyu was so impressed by Su Wu's guts that he sent someone to check on him every day, while tossing Zhang Sheng in jail.
Su Wu's injury gradually healed, and the Xiongnu leader sent someone to persuade him to surrender. They were about to execute Yu Chang, and the leader wanted Su Wu to take this opportunity to yield. After Yu Chang was beheaded, Wei Lu said, "The Han envoy, Zhang Sheng, was accused of plotting to kill a close associate of the chieftain and was to be executed. The chieftain promised that those who surrender will be spared." Wei Lu raised his sword to kill Zhang Sheng, who requested to surrender. Wei Lu said to Su Wu, "Your deputy is guilty, so you should also take responsibility." Su Wu replied, "I didn't have any intentions, and I'm not related to him. Why should I take responsibility?" Wei Lu raised his sword towards Su Wu, who remained unfazed. Wei Lu said, "Su Jun, I betrayed the Han Dynasty and defected to the Xiongnu, lucky to have gained the favor of the chieftain. I was appointed as a king, commanding tens of thousands of troops and horses, with countless herds of animals, reaching the peak of wealth and status. If you surrender today, you can enjoy the same riches tomorrow. And if you die out here, who'll even know?" Su Wu did not respond. Wei Lu continued, "If you surrender because of me, I will become sworn brothers with you. If you don't listen to my advice now, you may never see me again!" Su Wu thundered, "As a courtier, you betrayed your king and went over to the enemy. How can I face you? Moreover, the chieftain trusts you to decide others' fates, but you're neither fair nor just. You want our two countries to attack each other and watch the chaos unfold. When Nanyue killed Han envoys, nine counties were destroyed; when the King of Wan killed Han envoys, he was beheaded in public; when Korea killed Han envoys, their country was immediately destroyed. Only the Xiongnu have not faced such consequences. You know I won't surrender. If you try to provoke a war between our countries, the Xiongnu will pay the price. It will start with me."
Speaking of Wei Qing's younger brother Wei Lu, he was a bloody stubborn hard case. The Xiongnu Chanyu tried every means to intimidate and lure him into surrendering, but it didn't work. The Chanyu, even madder now, wanted to break him, so he threw him into a big pit, without food or drink, hoping to starve him to death. During that time, it was snowing, and Wei Lu lay in the snow, munching on snow and wool, and he didn't die for several days. The Xiongnu people thought he was some sort of miracle and moved him to a Godforsaken spot by the North Sea to tend sheep, surviving on sheep's milk. Eventually, he managed to escape and return. As for his original subordinates, like Chang Hui, they were each detained in different places by the Chanyu.
When Wei Lu arrived at the North Sea, there was a shortage of food supply, so he dug wild rat holes and foraged for wild vegetables to satisfy his hunger. He kept his Han staff with him, day and night, even while tending sheep, and the decorations were worn right down. After five or six years passed like this, the Chanyu's younger brother, Yu Jun, went hunting by the sea. By then, Wei Lu had learned how to weave nets, make bows and arrows, and repair crossbows. Yu Jun saw Wei Lu's skills and appreciated him, keeping him fed and clothed. After three years or so, Prince Yu kicked the bucket, leaving Wei Lu his horses, clothes, and tent. After Yu Jun's death, his lot scarpered. That winter, a man named Ding Ling stole Wei Lu's cattle and sheep, leaving Wei Lu up the creek.
At first, Su Wu and Li Ling were both high-ranking officials in the emperor's court. In the second year of Su Wu's posting to the Xiongnu, Li Ling surrendered, but he did not dare to go see Su Wu. After a long time, the Xiongnu Chanyu sent Li Ling to the seaside to meet Su Wu, throwing a banquet in his honor, and then said to Su Wu, "The Chanyu heard that you and Li Ling had a good relationship, so he sent me to advise you. He sincerely wants to treat you well. In the end, you can't return to the Han Dynasty, suffering in a foreign land for no reason—where is the integrity in this? There was a man named Chang Jun before, who served as the Commander of the Chariots and followed the emperor to Yong County's Yuyang Palace. When he got off the chariot, he accidentally hit a pillar, smashing the chariot's axle. Accused of a grave offense against the emperor, he fell on his sword, and the court granted him two million coins for burial. There was also a man named Ru Qing, who followed the emperor to sacrifice to the Earth God in Hedong. His eunuch attendants and a Yellow Gate official got into a fight over boats, pushing the official into the river. When the eunuch ran off, Ru Qing was sent to arrest him, but failed. Terrified, he poisoned himself. When you return, your wife has unfortunately passed away, and Li Ling even escorted her burial to Yangling. Your wife is young; word is, she's remarried. You have only two daughters and a son, and now more than ten years have passed, their life and death are hard to know. Life's as fleeting as the morning dew—a blink and you're gone! Why torment yourself like this? When I first surrendered, I was in a panic as if I had gone mad, hating myself for betraying the Han Dynasty, and my old mother is still in the Chang'an Palace. What choice did you have, really? Moreover, the emperor is getting old; his whims change like the wind, and many innocent ministers have been exterminated—dozens of families. Your safety is also unpredictable; who can you rely on? So, I urge you to reconsider."
Su Wu replied, "My father and I haven't earned this; it's all thanks to the Emperor's grace that I'm a general and marquis. My brothers and I are close, and I've always wanted to give my all for the country. Now I can sacrifice my life for the country, even if it means getting chopped up or boiled alive, I'm game. I serve the Emperor like a son serves his father. What's wrong with a son dying for his dad? I hope you will not say anymore." Li Ling and Su Wu drank for several days, and Li Ling persuaded Su Wu, "Ziqing, just do as I say!" Su Wu said, "I'm ready to die! If the King wants me to surrender, let me have some fun today, then I'll die right here in front of you!" Li Ling saw Su Wu's loyalty and couldn't help but sigh and say, "Man, you're a righteous dude! Heaven will judge Wei Lu and me." With that, Li Ling shed tears and bid farewell to Su Wu and left.
Li Ling showered Li Guangli with gifts, even sending dozens of cattle and sheep through his daughter-in-law. Later, Li Ling went to Beihai and told Li Guangli, "I've got some prisoners from Yunzhong. They say everyone below the governor is wearing white, mourning the Emperor's death." Hearing this, Li Guangli wailed towards the south, crying so hard he coughed up blood, day after day for months.
After Emperor Zhao had been emperor for several years, the Xiongnu and Han Dynasty formed a peace agreement through marriage. The Han court tried to find out what had happened to Li Guangli and others, but the Xiongnu falsely claimed that Li Guangli had already died. Later, another Han envoy arrived at the Xiongnu, and Chang Hui, secretly meeting with the envoy at night with the help of the guards, told the envoy everything that had happened to him. He also instructed the envoy to tell the Chanyu that the emperor, while hunting, found a message tied to a wild goose's leg, which stated that Li Guangli and others were trapped in a desolate marsh. The envoy was delighted upon hearing this and relayed Chang Hui's words to the Chanyu. The Chanyu, visibly surprised, looked around and apologized to the Han envoy, saying, "Li Guangli and the others are indeed still alive." Li Ling then hosted a feast for Li Guangli, saying, "You're going back now, gaining fame in Xiongnu and legendary status in the Han! I'm no hero, but I hope the Han Dynasty can temporarily pardon my crimes, protect my elderly mother, and allow me to repay the great humiliation. Perhaps we can achieve reconciliation like Cao Ke's alliance, which I have always been thinking about. My family's ruined, I'm a laughingstock – what does it matter? Forget it! I just want you to know my intentions. So long, mate! We'll never see each other again!" Li Ling stood up and danced, singing, "I traveled thousands of miles across the desert, fought against the Xiongnu for you. The road was cut off, swords and spears destroyed, my men were all killed, and my reputation was tarnished. And now my mother's gone, so what's left for me to do?" Tears streamed down Li Ling's face as he bid farewell to Li Guangli. The Chanyu summoned all of Li Guangli's subordinates, from deserters to the dead, and a total of nine people returned with Li Guangli.
Li Guangli returned to the capital in the spring of the sixth year of Shiyuan. The emperor ordered Li Guangli to take a prefect to worship the tomb of Emperor Wu, then appointed him as the Director of the Attendant's Office, with an official rank equivalent to a high-ranking official, a reward of two million coins, two hectares of public land, and a residence. Chang Hui, Xu Sheng, and Zhao Zhonggen were all appointed as Zhonglang, each rewarded with two hundred rolls of silk. The other six elderly individuals returned to their hometowns, each rewarded with one hundred thousand coins and exempted from forced labor for life. Chang Hui later became a general on the right, enfeoffed as a marquis, a story for another time. Li Guangli stayed in the Xiongnu for nineteen years, initially strong when he left, but returned with white hair and beard.
In the second year after Emperor Wu's return, Shangguan Jie, Sang Hongyang, the King of Yan, and others conspired to rebel. Emperor Wu's son, Wuzi Nan, also participated in their plan and was ultimately executed.
Meanwhile, Shangguan Jie and Sang Hongyang had been in a power struggle with General Huo Guang all along. In order to bring down Huo Guang, they continuously reported various faults of his to the King of Yan and even had him petition the emperor. They also mentioned how Su Wu did not surrender to the Xiongnu for twenty years but was appointed as the Director of the Attendant's Office upon his return, while Huo Guang's senior administrator had no achievements and only served as an Officer of the Granaries, accusing Huo Guang of being overbearing. After the rebellion of the King of Yan and his allies was suppressed, the court began to investigate their accomplices. Because Emperor Wu had some relationship with Shangguan Jie and Sang Hongyang in the past and had been reported by the King of Yan multiple times, plus his son's involvement in the rebellion, the officials requested the arrest of Emperor Wu. Fortunately, Huo Guang quashed the petition, sparing Emperor Wu from disgrace.
After several years, Emperor Zhao passed away. Emperor Wu, who had previously participated in the scheme to enthrone Emperor Xuan, was appointed as the Inner Pass Marquis, with a fief of three hundred households. Over time, General Zhang Anshi of the Wei commandery recommended Emperor Wu to the emperor, citing his familiarity with court affairs, reliability in handling matters, and the late emperor's last wishes to reinstate him. Emperor Xuan immediately summoned Emperor Wu, had him serve in the imperial eunuch's office, frequently called him in, and later reinstated him as an official in charge of the Right Bureau of the Ministry of Works. Due to Emperor Wu being a highly respected elder, the emperor ordered him to visit the palace on the first and fifteenth of every month, and honored him as a sacrificial priest, treating him with great favor. He gave all his rewards to his brothers and friends, keeping nothing for himself. Even the Marquis of Ping'en (the Empress's father), the emperor's uncle the Marquis of Pingchang, the Marquis of Lechang, Cavalry General Han Zeng, Prime Minister Wei Xiang, and Grand Minister Bing Ji held Emperor Wu in high regard. As Emperor Wu grew old and his son died due to a crime, the emperor felt sympathetic and asked those around him, "Surely, after all those years with the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu must have a son?" Emperor Wu explained the situation to the emperor through the Marquis of Ping'en, saying, "When I left the Xiongnu years ago, my Xiongnu wife had just given birth to a son named Tongguo. I have heard that he has grown up now, and I would like the emperor's permission to send envoys with gold and silver to buy him back." The emperor agreed. Tongguo later arrived in Chang'an with the envoys, and the emperor appointed him as a court official. The emperor also arranged for Emperor Wu's grandson to serve as an official in the Right Bureau. Emperor Wu lived to over eighty years old and died in the second year of Shengjue.
In the third year of the Ganlu era, the Xiongnu Chanyu paid his first court visit to the Emperor. The Emperor considered these meritorious officials the very backbone of the nation, so he had their portraits painted in the Qilin Pavilion, painted lifelike, with their official positions and names inscribed. Only Huo Guang's full name was not included; he was listed as "Huo Guang, Grand Marshal and General, Marquis of Bolu," followed by Zhang Anshi, General of Wei Ping and Marquis of Wei Ping, Han Zeng, General of the Chariots and Marquis of Long E, Zhao Chongguo, General of the Rear and Marquis of Yingping, Wei Xiang, Prime Minister and Marquis of Gaoping, Bing Ji, Prime Minister and Marquis of Boyang, Du Yannian, Grand Historian and Marquis of Jianping, Liu De, Director of the Imperial Clan and Marquis of Yangcheng, Liangqiu He, Shao Fu, Xiao Wangzhi, Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and finally, Su Wu, Superintendent of the Tributary States. These men were renowned for their great contributions, so the Emperor hung their portraits to commend them, to demonstrate that these ministers of the prosperous era were the equals of such ancient worthies as Fang Shu, Zhao Hu, and Zhong Shanfu! Eleven men in all, each with their own individual biography.
Other highly accomplished officials such as Prime Minister Huang Ba, Minister of Justice Yu Dingguo, Grand Minister of Agriculture Zhu Yi, Intendant of Jingzhao Zhang Chang, and Intendant of Youfufeng Weng Gui, along with the Confucian scholar Xia Hou Sheng, all enjoyed long and distinguished careers and were celebrated during the reign of Emperor Xuan; yet, none were deemed worthy of inclusion in the Qilin Pavilion. The exclusion of such accomplished figures as Huang Ba, Yu Dingguo, Zhu Yi, Zhang Chang, and Weng Gui—all prominent and respected officials during Emperor Xuan's reign—clearly demonstrates the incredibly high standards the Emperor applied in selecting those to be immortalized in the Qilin Pavilion.
Some people commented that General Li was humble and low-key, just like an ordinary person, and not very good at speaking. However, when he died, everyone shed tears for him, whether they knew him or not, which shows he had immense prestige and trust among the intellectual class! As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Although this phrase is simple, it conveys a profound truth. However, from the Marquis of Guangwu in the Han Dynasty to the Marquis of Ling, those three generations of military generals were viewed with suspicion by Taoist thinkers, and as a result, their families all declined, which is truly regrettable! Confucius once said, "A true gentleman would rather die for what's right than live a life of compromise." When sent on a mission to the four corners of the world, he would never disgrace the king's mission. And that's exactly what Su Wu did.
