The Wusun Kingdom, a powerful but unruly state in Central Asia, presented a fascinating challenge to the Han Dynasty. The king resides in Chigu City, a whopping 8,900 miles away from Chang'an! The population is significant, with 120,000 households and a total of 630,000 people. What's impressive is that they also have 188,800 soldiers! The king has many officials under his command: one prime minister, a left and right general, three marquises, a general and a colonel, two inspectors-general, a chief official, two palace officials, and a cavalry commander. From the east of the Wusun Kingdom to the Han Dynasty's Protectorate, one must travel 1,721 miles; to the west, to the Kangju territory, it's 5,000 miles! The land is flat as a pancake, with lots of rain and cold weather. The mountains are covered with pine and fir trees. They do not cultivate the land but instead herd animals, following the water and grass, with a lifestyle similar to the Xiongnu. The Wusun Kingdom is known for its abundant horses, with wealthy families even owning four to five thousand horses! However, the Wusun people are fierce, greedy, and untrustworthy, with many bandits. Therefore, despite being a strong country, they have always been brought under the Han Dynasty's control. Later, when their national strength grew, although they were unwilling to come to the imperial court, they remained a subordinate state. The Wusun Kingdom borders the Xiongnu to the east, Kangju to the northwest, Dayuan to the west, and is adjacent to some walled states to the south. In fact, the Wusun Kingdom was originally a border area of the Han Dynasty. Later, the Great Yuezhi moved westward and defeated the Saka King. The Saka King then moved south to another area, and the Great Yuezhi occupied the territory of the Wusun. Eventually, the Wusun's Kunmo (king) defeated the Great Yuezhi, who then moved westward and submitted to the Great Xia. This allowed the Wusun Kunmo to occupy this area, resulting in a mix of Han borderlanders and descendants of the Great Yuezhi among the Wusun people.
Back in the day, Zhang Qian said that the Wusun Kingdom and the Yuezhi were originally near Dunhuang. Although the Wusun are now powerful, we can use a whole lotta gold to win them over, let them return to their original place, and then marry the princess to their king, becoming brothers-in-arms, which can restrain the Xiongnu. These words are all written in "The Biography of Zhang Qian." After Emperor Han Wu ascended the throne, he sent Zhang Qian with gold and silver treasures to the Wusun. When the King of Wusun saw Zhang Qian, he actually received him with the etiquette of the Chanyu (Xiongnu king). Zhang Qian was embarrassed at the time and said, "The emperor has sent gifts. If you don't thank me, I'll take them back!" The King of Wusun quickly got up to thank him, and other ceremonies were conducted according to the original rules.
At first, Kunmo had more than ten sons, and the middle son, Dalu, was particularly powerful, good at leading troops, and stationed with ten thousand cavalry alone. Dalu's brother was the prince, and the prince had a son named Cenzou. The prince died early, and before he died, he said to Kunmo, "You must appoint Cenzou as the crown prince." Kunmo was very sad but agreed. Dalu flipped out, grabbed his brothers, started a rebellion, and went after Cenzou. Kunmo took Cenzou and ten thousand cavalry to live elsewhere, and Kunmo himself also kept ten thousand cavalry on guard. So, the country was split three ways, with Kunmo still calling most of the shots.
Later, Han envoy Qian arrived in Wusun and said to Kunmo, "If Wusun moves back, the Han Dynasty will send a princess to marry you. We'll be brothers, and together we'll take on the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu aren't unbeatable." Wusun was right next to the Xiongnu and had been their puppets for ages. The ministers of Wusun did not want to move. Kunmo was old, his kingdom was fractured, and he couldn't call the shots, so he sent Qian off with thanks and a few dozen horses. The Wusun envoy saw how many, how rich, and how powerful the Han were. Back in Wusun, they took the Han much more seriously.
When the Xiongnu heard about Wusun and the Han getting cozy, they hit the roof and wanted to attack Wusun. The Han Dynasty sent envoys to Wusun, traveling southward, reaching neighboring countries Dawan and Yuezhi. Scared stiff, Wusun sent envoys with horses, begging for a Han princess and a brotherly alliance. The Han Emperor asked his ministers, and after discussion, they agreed, saying, "Wusun's gotta ask properly first, then we'll send the princess." Wusun sent a thousand horses as a betrothal gift. So, during the Yuanfeng period, Princess Xijun – daughter of Jiangdu's King Liu Jian – was sent off. The Han Dynasty also sent many carriages, horses, clothes, daily necessities, as well as hundreds of officials and attendants, a seriously lavish dowry. Kunmo made Xijun his main wife, but the Xiongnu also sent a wife, who became his second.
After Princess Xi Jun arrived in Wusun, she built her own palace to live in. She met with Kunmo now and again for a meal and a drink, and also rewarded Kunmo's attendants with money and silk. As Kunmo got older and the language barrier grew, the princess felt sad and composed a song: "My hometown married me off to the ends of the earth, marrying me to the king of Wusun. My home's a yurt, felt walls all around, eating meat and drinking milk wine. Day and night I miss my hometown, feeling uncomfortable in my heart, truly wanting to become a wild goose flying back to my homeland!" Upon hearing this, the Han Emperor felt sympathetic and sent gifts of curtains and brocade the next year.
As Kunmo grew older, he wanted his grandson Cenzhou to marry a princess from the Han Dynasty. The princess disagreed and wrote to the Emperor to explain the situation. The Emperor replied, "Then follow the customs of your Wusun people; let's together eliminate the Xiongnu!" So Cenzhou married the princess. After Kunmo died, Cenzhou ascended the throne as king. Cenzhou's real name was Jun Xumi, while Kunmo was his royal title. Later, historical records often shortened both names to "Kunmi." Cenzhou married Princess Jiangdu and had a daughter named Shaofu. After the princess died, the Han Dynasty married Princess Jieyou, the granddaughter of King Wu of Chu, to Cenzhou. With his Hu wife, Nimi, still young, Cenzhou put his uncle Dalu's son, Wenguimi, in charge before he died, saying, "Nimi is still young; let him take over the country."
After Wenguimi ascended the throne, they called him the Fat King. He married Princess Jieyou of Chu and had three sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Yuanguimi, was born first; his second son, Wannian, later became king of Shache; and his third son, Dayue, became a high-ranking general in the Han army. His eldest daughter married the king of Kucha, Jiangbin, and his youngest daughter married the Marquis of Ruohuxi.
During the reign of Emperor Zhao, Princess Jieyou wrote a letter saying, "The Xiongnu have attacked the Cheshi, and the Cheshi and Xiongnu have joined forces to invade the Wusun. We hope that Your Majesty can save us!" The Han Dynasty began preparing its army, ready to go to war with the Xiongnu. However, Emperor Zhao passed away, and Emperor Xuan had just become emperor when the princess and Kunmi sent envoys again, saying, "The Xiongnu have sent a large army to invade the Wusun, taking Cheyan and Eshi, and capturing their people, and even sending envoys to demand the princess, to split Wusun from the Han. Kunmi is willing to give half his best troops, leading fifty thousand cavalry himself, to fully strike the Xiongnu. We only hope that Your Majesty can send troops to save the princess and the Wusun." So the Han sent 150,000 cavalry, with five generals attacking on separate routes. You can read about this in the *Xiongnu Chronicle*. The Han also sent Commander Chang Hui to protect the Wusun army, while Kunmi himself led fifty thousand cavalry from the west, reaching the camp of the Yugu Li King, capturing the Chanyu's father, sister-in-law, and forty thousand others, along with more than 700,000 head of livestock. The Wusun shared the loot. After the war, Chang Hui was ennobled as the Marquis of Changluo. This was in the third year of the Ben Shi era. The Han also sent Chang Hui with lots of gold and silver as rewards to the noble Wusun individuals who had achieved merit. In 153 AD, Kunmi, the king of Wusun, wrote a letter to the Han Emperor, saying, "I want my grandson, Yuangui Mi, to be the next king and to once again marry a princess of the Han Dynasty, to strengthen our ties with you and cut the Xiongnu off for good. As a wedding gift, I am willing to offer one thousand horses and mules each." The emperor put it to his ministers. Grand Herald Xiaowang Zhi thought, "Wusun's a long way off, and things change fast there. This matter cannot be agreed to."
But the emperor felt that the Wusun had just achieved great success and wanted to maintain friendly relations with the Han, so he sent envoys to the Wusun to receive the betrothal gifts first. The Kunmi, crown prince, top brass, and commanders of the Wusun all sent envoys, totaling more than three hundred people, to welcome the little princess from the Han. The emperor picked Xiangfu, a student of Princess Jieyou, to be the princess's husband, and provided her with over one hundred guards and officials, allowing her to live in Shanglin Park to learn the Wusun language. The emperor personally went to Pingle Pavilion, entertained the Xiongnu envoys and other foreign envoys, arranged a little entertainment, like some acrobatic acts, and then sent them off. The emperor sent Changluo Hou as the envoy and Hui as the deputy envoy, with a total of four people carrying the emperor's seal, escorting the little princess to Guohuang (now Wuwei City, Gansu Province).
Before they even crossed the border, they heard that the Wusun Kunmi Wengmisi had died. The Wusun nobles broke their promise, installing Cen Zou's son, Nimi, as the new Kunmi—the "Mad King," as he styled himself. Hui wrote to the emperor, saying, "I suggest leaving the princess in Guohuang. I'll go to Wusun immediately to demand an explanation for not making Yuangumi Kunmi, then bring the princess back." This matter was discussed again by the ministers, and Xiao Wangzhi once again expressed opposition: "The Wusun are always flip-flopping, making a solid relationship impossible. The last princess lived in Wusun for over forty years, yet relations remained strained, and the border stayed restless—proof enough. Bringing the princess back because Yuangumi didn't get the job will calm the border and benefit us. Keeping her there will just burden the country—that's where all this trouble comes from." The emperor accepted his advice and summoned the little princess back to Chang'an.
So, this arrogant king of the Wusun Kingdom wanted the Princess of Chu to alleviate his anxieties. However, they ended up having a son named Chimi, a hothead who made many enemies. Later, the Han Dynasty sent envoys Wei and Yi and deputy envoy Hou to the Wusun Kingdom. The princess told them the king was so unpopular with his people that they could easily get rid of him. So they cooked up a plan: a banquet, followed by a swift assassination. However, the blow missed its mark, and the king, though slightly wounded, managed to escape on horseback.
His son Chimi, who was thin and weak, surrounded Wei, Yi, Hou, and the princess in Chigu City with soldiers. After a months-long standoff, General Zheng of the Han Dynasty arrived with reinforcements, lifting the siege. The Han Dynasty then sent Commander Zhang with medicinal herbs to treat the king's wounds, rewarding him with twenty taels of gold and some silk. At the same time, Wei, Yi, and Hou were arrested and taken back to Chang'an in prison wagons, where they were executed. Zhang, the Chief Scribe, stayed behind to investigate the case of the princess and envoys plotting to murder the king. The princess knelt and begged for mercy, but Zhang seized her by the hair and berated her. Despite her appeals, Zhang was punished and eventually sentenced to death.
Deputy envoy Ji took a doctor to care for the king, who also sent a dozen cavalry to escort them. Back in the Han capital, Ji was thrown in jail for failing to report the king's impending doom in time.
At first, Fei Wangweng married a Xiongnu woman named Wujiutu, and they had a son named Kuang Wang. Injured and scared, Kuang Wang fled north into the mountains with other Wusun nobles, claiming his mother's Xiongnu relatives were invading. This convinced everyone to follow him. Later, he took the opportunity to kill Kuang Wang and became the King of Künmi (King of the Wusun). The Han Dynasty dispatched General Xing Wuxian with 15,000 troops to Guohuang. Envoys were sent to assess the situation. The Han also began clearing the road west of Beidi Houjing, planning to establish supply lines and warehouses in preparation for an attack.
Initially, Feng Liao was a lady-in-waiting to the Chu king, and she was particularly formidable. She understood historical texts and had strong administrative skills. Once, she used the *Han Shu* as credentials while delivering imperial gifts to various vassal states, earning the respect and trust of all, who called her Madam Feng. Later, she married the chief general of the Wusun kingdom. This chief general had a good relationship with Wujiutu, and the Han Dynasty's protector Zheng Ji asked Madam Feng to persuade Wujiutu, saying that the Han army was about to arrive and the Wusun were doomed, so they might as well surrender. Scared stiff, Wujiutu said, "I'll be your man!"
Emperor Xuan of Han summoned Lady Feng back and personally inquired about the situation. He then sent Zhu Cihou and Gan Yanshou, officials of the imperial court, as assistants to escort her back. Lady Feng was sent back in style, riding in a lavishly decorated carriage, holding the emperor's seal, and instructed Wujiutu to proceed to Changluo Hou Chigu City. The emperor appointed Yuanguimi as the Great Kunmi and Wujiutu as the Little Kunmi, bestowing upon them seals of office and sashes of rank. At that time, the campaign against the Qiang was aborted before reaching the border. Later, Wujiutu did not bring all the Xihou (a title of nobility among the Wusun) and people under the rule of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty sent Changluo Hou Hui with three battalions to set the boundaries of Wusun territory and population. The Great Kunmi ruled over more than 60,000 households, while the Little Kunmi ruled over more than 40,000 households, but the Little Kunmi held more sway.
Yuanguimi and Chimi both died of illness. The princess petitioned the emperor, expressing her longing for home and her advanced age, hoping to have her body transported back to the Han Dynasty for burial. The emperor was very sympathetic and sent people to bring the princess back. She arrived in the capital with her three Wusun grandchildren. That year was the third year of Ganlu. The princess was almost seventy years old at that time. The emperor granted her a princess's estate, including servants, treated her very generously, and she was accorded the full honors due a princess. Two years later, the princess passed away, and her three grandchildren stayed behind to guard the tomb.
Xingmi, the son of Yuanguimi, succeeded as the Great Kunmi, but he proved incompetent. Lady Feng wrote another letter, hoping that the Han Dynasty would send people to assist Xingmi. The Han Dynasty dispatched personnel, along with a hundred-strong escort. The Protector Han Xuan reported that high-ranking Wusun officials and supervisors could be granted golden seals and purple sashes as a mark of honor and to support the Great Kunmi, which the Han Dynasty agreed to. Later, Protector Han Xuan reported again that Xingmi was too weak and his removal was recommended, suggesting his uncle, the powerful General Yue, take over as Kunmi, but the Han Dynasty did not agree. Under Duan Huizong's leadership, order was restored to Wusun as he brought back the deserters and rebels.
While the stars remained, the king of Xiaokunmi, Cili Mi, died. His son, King Wu of Xiaokunmi, was also assassinated. Then his son Fu Li succeeded to the throne, but was murdered by his brother Rier. The Han sent envoys to support Fu Li's son An Ri as Xiaokunmi. Rier fled and hid in Kangju. The Han moved the troops stationed in Gumo there, ready to take out Rier when the moment presented itself. An Ri sent his ministers Gumo Ni and others to feign a defection to Rier, then assassinated him. The Chief Guard Lian Bao rewarded Gumo Ni and others with twenty catties of gold and 300 bolts of silk.
Later, An Ri was also killed by his own people, and the Han appointed his brother Mo Zhenjiang as Xiaokunmi. At this time, Cili Mi was very powerful, and all the Xihou (princes of the Western Regions) were very afraid of him, obeying his orders and allowing the people to let their livestock graze freely. The country was peaceful, which was exactly when Cili Mi was in power. Xiaokunmi Mo Zhenjiang, fearing annexation by Cili Mi, sent his minister Wu Ri to pretend to surrender and then assassinated Cili Mi. The Han considered attacking Mo Zhenjiang, but before they could, they sent the middle guard Duan Huizong with gold, silver, and battle plans to find the Chief Guard, and appointed the grandson of Cili Mi's uncle, Yi Zhi Mi, as the Great Kunmi. The Han seized Xiaokunmi's court attendants in the capital.
Long ago, Da Kun Mi's Xi Hou Nan Qi killed Mo Zhen Jiang, and Mo Zhen Jiang's nephew, An Li Mi, succeeded him as Xiao Kun Mi. The Han regretted not having killed Mo Zhen Jiang themselves and sent Duan Hui Zong to kill Mo Zhen Jiang's son, Fan Qiu. After Duan Hui Zong returned, he was appointed as the Marquis of the Inner Passes. This year was the second year of Yuan Yan. Duan Hui Zong, for having killed Mo Zhen Jiang, acting on behalf of Xi Hou Nan Qi, was considered to have merited a contribution in suppressing rebels, and was promoted by the court to the position of Commander of the Garrison. The court also rebuked Da Lu, Da Li, and Da Jian for not reporting in time the killing of Ci Li Mi, so their gold seals and purple ribbons were revoked and replaced with copper seals. Mo Zhen Jiang's brother, Bei Yuan Zhi, had originally conspired with Mo Zhen Jiang to kill Da Kun Mi, and he escaped to Kangju with an army of over 80,000, hoping to use Kangju's military strength to annex the two Kun Mis of Wusun. Fearing him, the two Kun Mis relied even more heavily on Han protection. In the second year of Emperor Ai's Yuanshou, Da Kun Mi Yi Zhi Mi and the Xiongnu Chanyu went to the Han Dynasty to pay homage, which the Han Dynasty considered a great honor. During the Yuan Shi period, Bei Yuan Zhi killed Wu Ri Ling to claim credit, and the Han Dynasty enfeoffed him as the Lord of Guiyi. Both Kun Mis were relatively weak, so Bei Yuan Zhi often harassed them. The Protectorate General, Sun Jian, then attacked and killed Bei Yuan Zhi. Ever since Wusun split into two Kun Mis, the Han Dynasty had been constantly worried, never enjoying a single year of peace.
Gu Mo Kingdom, the king resides in the southern city, 8,150 li (a Chinese unit of distance) from Chang'an. There are 2,200 households, 24,500 people, and 4,500 trained troops. In terms of official positions, there is the Gu Mo Marquis, the Fu Guo Marquis, a Commandant, Left and Right Generals, Left and Right Cavalry Commanders, and two translators. The regional capital is 2,021 li to the east, it's 15 days on horseback to Yutian to the south, and it borders Wusun to the north. Known for producing copper, iron, and realgar, it is 670 li to Kucha in the east. During the reign of Wang Mang, the Gu Mo king's minister killed the king of Wensu and annexed the Wensu Kingdom.
Wensu Kingdom, the king resides in Wensu City, 8,350 li from Chang'an, with 2,200 households, 8,400 people, and 1,500 trained troops. In terms of official positions, there is the Fu Guo Marquis, Left and Right Generals, Left and Right Commandants, Left and Right Cavalry Commanders, and two translators. The regional capital is 2,380 li to the east, it's 300 li to Weitou in the west, and 610 li to the Chigu of Wusun to the north. The land and resources are similar to Shanshan and other countries, and it is 270 li to Gu Mo in the east.
Kucha Kingdom, the king resides in Yancheng, 7,480 li from Chang'an, with 6,970 households, 81,317 people, and 21,076 trained troops. In terms of official positions, there is a Grand Commandant, the Fu Guo Marquis, the An Guo Marquis, the Ji Hu Marquis, a Commandant of Que Hu, a Commandant of Jiche Shi, Left and Right Generals, Left and Right Commandants, Left and Right Cavalry Commanders, Left and Right Auxiliary Commanders, two commanders in each of the four directions, three Que Hu Commanders, and four translators. It borders Jiao Jue to the south, Qiemo to the southeast, Yimi to the southwest, Wusun to the north, and Gu Mo to the west. Kucha was known for its metalworking and is abundant in lead. The regional capital of Wulei City is 350 li to the east.
According to historical records, the following details pertain to the settlements of Wulei and Quli:
Wulei has 110 households, a population of 1,200, and 300 trained troops. In terms of officials, there is one city commandant and one translator. It's jointly administered with the Protectorate General. Wulei is located 330 li (approximately 165 km) south of Quli.
Quli has 130 households, a population of 1,480, and 150 trained troops. It borders Yuli to the northeast, Qiemo to the southeast, and Jingjue to the south. West of Quli, a river flows westwards to Kucha, 580 li (approximately 290 km) away.
Emperor Wu of Han began their campaign in the West, establishing military officers and setting up a base in Quli. At that time, the army kept going on expeditions for a full thirty-two years, and the whole country was on its knees. During the Zhēnghé years, General Li Guangli surrendered to the Xiongnu with his whole army. The emperor regretted not having gone on the expedition in the first place. At this time, the Director of Granaries, Sang Hongyang, and the Imperial Censor jointly memorialized, "The former territories of Luntai to the east and Quli were our previous territories, with fertile land, perfect for farming, and capable of producing harvests as good as those in the heartland. The locals were short on iron tools but really valued gold and silk. We can trade food for gold and silk with them, ensuring an ample supply. We should send troops to the east of Luntai to establish three military officers to map the area, build irrigation canals, plant crops, and use scouts from Zhangye and Jiuquan to keep an eye on things. After one year of farming, with a surplus of food, let's recruit strong, experienced settlers willing to relocate to the fields, using the surplus food as a basis to develop agriculture, continue to cultivate and irrigate the fields, build outposts and roads west to keep the Western Regions in check, support the Wusun, and make things easier to manage. I've sent Minister Chang to inspect the borders, strictly ordered the governors and military officers to be prepared for beacon alarms, select elite soldiers and good horses, strengthen scouts, and stockpile forage. I hope Your Majesty will send envoys to the various countries in the Western Regions to pacify their people. I'm risking my neck here, Your Majesty." The emperor issued a decree expressing deep regret for past mistakes, saying:
Some people have suggested a 30% increase in the people's taxes to support the border, which would seriously oppress the most vulnerable members of society. Now there are proposals to send troops to cultivate fields in Luntai. Luntai is over a thousand miles west of the Kingdom of Cheshi. When the Marquis of Kailing attacked Cheshi in the past, the sons of the six states of Wuhu, Yuli, and Loulan were all in the capital city. They returned to prepare provisions and muster their own troops to welcome the Han army, totaling tens of thousands of men, each leading their own forces, surrounding Cheshi together, and forcing the King of Cheshi to surrender. The allied armies withdrew. They lacked the resources to continue supplying the Han army. After the Han army broke through the city, there was plenty of food, but the soldiers did not have enough provisions to finish the battle. The strong soldiers consumed all the livestock; thousands of weaker men perished on the march. I dispatched supplies from Jiuquan, carried by donkey and camel, to meet the army at Yumen Pass. Though the march from Zhangye wasn't long, many soldiers still fell behind.
In the past, I made a wrong judgment because Commandant Hong wrote a letter saying, "The Xiongnu tie the front and back legs of horses together, and ride past the city walls shouting 'Qin people, I am giving you horses.'" The envoys of the Han Dynasty were detained and did not return for a long time, so I sent the Second General to march out, wanting to demonstrate the dignity of the envoys. The *I Ching* says that in ancient times, when ministers discussed major issues, they had to consult the yarrow stalks and turtle shells for divination, and if it was not auspicious, they would not take action. This time, regarding the letter about the Xiongnu tying up horses, I had the Prime Minister, Imperial Censor, senior officials, various ministers, clerks, and even the commandants of the counties and vassal states like Cheng Zhong and Zhao Pono all read it, and everyone said, "The Xiongnu tying up their horses is a very bad omen!" or "The Xiongnu want to show their strength, but those who are lacking always envy others' wealth." The *I Ching* reading was the Da Guo hexagram, with the ninth and fifth lines indicating that the Xiongnu will fail. The military officials in charge, Court astrologers' readings of the stars, and the Court Diviner using tortoise shells and yarrow stalks for divination all considered it auspicious and believed that the Xiongnu would definitely be defeated; the time seemed auspicious! They also said, "The northern expedition army will surely achieve victory when advancing to Mount Wu." The generals' divinations showed that the hexagram of the Second General was the best. Therefore, I personally sent the Second General to attack Mount Wu and ordered him not to go too far into enemy territory. Now it seems that the previous strategy and divination were completely wrong.
Commandant Hou captured a Xiongnu scout, who said, "It is said that when the Han army is coming, the Xiongnu let the shamans bury sheep and cattle along the roads and waterways where troops are dispatched to curse the Han army. The Xiongnu leader also sent a horsehide robe to the Son of Heaven and often had the shamans perform sacrifices and prayers. Tying up horses is cursing military actions." Another divination said, "There is an unlucky general in the Han army." The Xiongnu often say, "The Han Dynasty is vast and abundant, but it cannot withstand hunger and thirst. Lose one wolf, and a thousand sheep will run away." (This is a saying meaning that even a small problem in a large empire can cause widespread chaos.)
Oh, General Li Guangli's army was defeated some time ago, with countless soldiers killed and injured. There are stragglers and deserters everywhere, and this has been weighing heavily on my mind. Now someone is proposing to reclaim wasteland in Luntai and build fortifications and infrastructure. How much manpower and resources will this take? It'll grind the people into the dust. I feel pained just thinking about it. Some are even suggesting recruiting prisoners to be sent as envoys to the Xiongnu, promising the reward of titles and riches for revenge. This is something even the Five Hegemons wouldn't do! Besides, when the Xiongnu capture surrendering Han people, they always force them to gather information. Our border defenses are a mess; people come and go as they please. The border guards are more interested in hunting and selling pelts than guarding the border, leading to unmanned beacon towers unable to transmit information. We only find out when the reinforcements arrive—it's like we're catching the prisoners ourselves. The most important thing now is to stop the extortion and arbitrary taxes, strive to develop agriculture, improve our horses, our army, and our defenses. Every county governor needs to report on their horses and border defenses, and we'll figure out a plan together.
Therefore, there were no more military expeditions later on. I made Che Qianqiu the Marquis of Fumin to show we need to rest and rebuild, and get the people back on their feet.
During the Han Dynasty, General Li Guangli, commander of the Second Expeditionary Force, attacked Dawan and, on his way back, passed through Yutian. Yutian sent Prince Laidan to Kuche as a hostage. Li Guangli questioned the King of Kuche, saying, "All neighboring countries were Han tributaries; why did Kuche accept the hostage from Yutian?" He then took Laidan back to Chang'an. Emperor Zhao adopted the previous suggestion of Sang Hongyang and appointed Prince Laidan as a military officer, sending him to cultivate fields in Luntai (adjacent to Quli). The Kuche nobleman Gu Yi said to the King, "Laidan was originally a subject of our country, but now he comes with the seal of the Han Dynasty, forcing our country to cultivate land, which would inevitably lead to conflict!" Upon hearing this, the King killed Laidan and then wrote a letter of apology to the Han Dynasty, which was unable to retaliate.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, Lord Chang Hui returned from his mission to Wusun. He proposed a coalition of fifty thousand troops from various states to attack Kuche, because Kuche had previously killed the Han Dynasty's military officer Laidan. The King of Kuche defended himself, saying, "My predecessor was misled by Gu Yi; I bear no responsibility." Gu Yi was then arrested and handed over to Chang Hui, who had him killed.
At that time, the Princess of Wusun sent her daughter to Chang'an to learn to play the zither. The Han Dynasty sent a court official, Le Feng, to escort the Wusun princess's daughter. They passed through Kucha. Before that, Kucha had sent someone to Wusun to propose marriage to the princess's daughter, but they had not returned. The princess's daughter's arrival in Kucha proved opportune for the king, who promptly detained her. He also sent envoys to Wusun to explain the situation to the princess, who agreed. Later, the Princess of Wusun petitioned the Han Emperor, hoping that her daughter could enter the palace to meet the emperor with members of the Han Dynasty royal family. The King of Kucha, Jiaobin, also wrote with his wife, thrilled at the prospect of marrying the Han Emperor's granddaughter and hoping to enter the capital with the princess's daughter. They arrived in Chang'an to pay homage in the first year of Yuankang. The emperor bestowed upon the King and Queen of Kucha official seals. The King of Kucha's wife was named a princess and was given chariots, horses, flags, drums, dozens of singers and musicians, as well as silk, treasures, and more worth millions. They stayed in Chang'an for nearly a year, and the Han Dynasty emperor also gave them many gifts. They made several more visits to pay homage, and the King of Kucha greatly admired the clothing and etiquette of the Han Dynasty. Upon returning to Kucha, he built palaces, imitated the Han Dynasty's system, and had a ceremonial procession with drumming and trumpeting just like the Han Dynasty. Other folks from the West snickered, “That King of Kucha – a real odd duck!” After Jiaobin's death, his son Chengde claimed to be a grandson of the Han Dynasty. He made frequent trips to Chang'an during the reigns of Emperors Cheng and Ai, and the Han Dynasty emperor was very close to him. Yuli lies 650 miles to the east.
Yuli, ruled by its king from Yuli City, is located 6,750 li from Chang'an. It has 1,200 households, a population of 9,600, and 2,000 elite soldiers. Yuli has a Hu-fighting Marquis, a Marquis of Anshi, two generals, two captains, and two translators. The country is 300 li from the Western Regions Protectorate and borders the countries of Shanshan and Qiemo to the south.
Weixu, where the king resides in Weixu City, is 7,290 li from Chang'an. It has 700 households, 4,900 people, and 2,000 elite soldiers. Weixu has a Hu-fighting Marquis, a captain of Hu-fighting troops, two generals, two captains, two cavalry leaders, and a translator. Weixu is 500 li from the Western Regions Protectorate and 100 li from Yanqi.
As for Yanqi, where the king resides in Yuanqu City, it is 7,300 li from Chang'an. This country has 4,000 households, a population of 32,100, and 6,000 soldiers. In terms of officials, there is a Hu-fighting Marquis, a Marquis of Repelling the Hu, a Marquis of Assisting the Country, two generals, two captains, commanders of Hu-fighting troops and charioteers, two captains of Hu-fighting troops, and three translators. Yanqi is located 400 li southwest of the Western Regions Protectorate, 100 li north of Yuli, and borders Wusun to the north. The waters teem with fish.
Wutanziligu, where the king resides in Lougu, is 13,300 li from Chang'an. This country has only 41 households, a population of 231, and 57 soldiers. In terms of officials, there is a Marquis of Assisting the Country and two captains. Wutanziligu is bordered by Shanhuang to the east, Qiemi to the south, and Wusun to the west.
The following is a record of several kingdoms in the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty, detailing their size, population, military strength, and administrative structure.
Beilu Kingdom, located east of the Tianshan Mountains, was 8,680 li (approximately 4,340 km) from Chang'an. It comprised 227 households, 1,387 people, and 422 soldiers. Its officials included one Marquess, two Generals, two Commandants, and two Interpreters. The distance from Beilu Kingdom to the southwest location of the Protector-General of the Western Regions is 1,287 li.
Beilu Hou Kingdom, with the king residing in Fanquleigu, is 8,710 li (approximately 4,355 km) from Chang'an. It has 462 households, 1,137 people, and 350 soldiers. The kingdom's administration consisted of one Marquess, one Commandant, one Interpreter, and two Generals. Yulishi Kingdom bordered Beilu Hou Kingdom to the east, Xiongnu to the north, Jie Kingdom to the west, and Cheshi to the south.
Yulishi Kingdom, where the king resides in Neiduogu, is 8,830 li (approximately 4,415 km) from Chang'an. It has 190 households, 1,445 people, and 331 soldiers. Its officials included one Marquess, two Commandants, and one Interpreter. To the east of Yulishi Kingdom is Cheshi Houcheng, to the west is Beilu Kingdom, and to the north is Xiongnu.
Danhuan Kingdom, with the king in Danhuan City, is 8,870 li (approximately 4,435 km) from Chang'an. It has only 27 households, 194 people, and 45 soldiers. The kingdom's administration consisted of one Marquess, one General, one Commandant, and one Interpreter.
Pulei Kingdom, where the king resides in Shuyugu to the west of the Tianshan Mountains, is 8,360 li (approximately 4,180 km) from Chang'an. It comprises 325 households, 2,320 people, and 799 soldiers. Its officials included one Marquess, two Generals, and two Commandants. The distance from Pulei Kingdom to the southwest location of the Protector-General of the Western Regions is 1,387 li.
Pu Lei Hou: The king lives 8,630 li from Chang'an. It has 100 households, 1,700 people, and 334 elite soldiers. The country has a marquis assisting the king, as well as a general, left and right commanders, and a translator.
Xi Qie Mi: The king lives in the great valley of the Tianshan Mountains, 8,670 li from Chang'an. It has 332 households, 1,926 people, and 738 elite soldiers. The country has one marquis, as well as left and right generals and left and right cavalry commanders. The distance from Xi Qie Mi to the Duhu Mansion (a regional administrative office) in the southwest is 1,487 li.
Dong Qie Mi: The king lives in the Dui Xu Valley of the Tianshan Mountains, 8,250 li from Chang'an. It has 191 households, 1,948 people, and 572 elite soldiers. The country has one marquis and left and right commanders. The distance from Dong Qie Mi to the Duhu Mansion in the southwest is 1,587 li.
Jie: The king lives in the Dan Qu Valley of the Tianshan Mountains, 8,570 li from Chang'an. It has 99 households, 500 people, and 115 elite soldiers. The country has a marquis assisting the king, as well as a captain and a translator. The distance from Jie to the Duhu Mansion in the southwest is 1,487 li.
Hu Hu: The king lives in the Cheshi Willow Valley, 8,200 li from Chang'an. It has 55 households, 264 people, and 45 elite soldiers. The country has a marquis assisting the king, as well as left and right commanders. The distance from Hu Hu to the Duhu Mansion in the west is 1,147 li; to Yanqi, the distance is 770 li.
The Mountain Kingdom, where the king lives 7,170 li away from Chang'an, has 450 households, a population of 5,000 people, and 1,000 trained troops. In the country, there is a Marquis who assists the state, as well as Generals and Commanders, and an Interpreter. From the Mountain Kingdom, it is 240 li to the west to Yuli; 160 li to the northwest to Yanqi; 260 li to the west to Weixu; and to the southeast, it borders Shanshan and Qiemo. Iron is produced in the mountains, and the common people raise livestock for a living, relying on buying grain from Yanqi and Weixu.
In the Kingdom of Cheshi Before, the king lives in Jiaohe City. Jiaohe, meaning "intersecting rivers," is so named because the city is surrounded by flowing rivers. It is 8,150 li away from Chang'an. There are 700 households, a population of 6,050 people, and 1,865 trained troops. In the country, there is a Marquis who assists the state, a Marquis of Anguo, as well as Generals and Commanders, Guohan Commanders, Cheshi Jun, Tongshan Jun, Xiangshan Jun, and two Interpreters. From Cheshi to the southwest to the Han Protectorate General's office, the distance is 1,807 li; to Yanqi, it is 835 li.
In the Kingdom of Cheshi After, the king lives in Wutugu, which is quite far from Chang'an, a full 8,950 li! Its population was relatively small, numbering 4,774 people in 595 households, with 1,890 soldiers. There are also some officials in this area, such as the Jihu Marquis, Generals, Commanders, Daomin Jun, and the Chief Interpreter, each position held by one person. From Cheshi to the southwest to the Han Protectorate General's office, the distance is 1,237 li.
Cheshi Commandery is much smaller, with only 40 households, 333 people, and 84 soldiers. In contrast to the larger Cheshi states, Cheshi Houchengguo is also similar, with 154 households, 960 people, and 260 soldiers.
In the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's reign, a Xiongnu defector surrendered to the Han Dynasty and was appointed Marquis of Kailing. He led the army of Loulan and began to attack Cheshi. The Xiongnu sent King Youxian with several tens of thousands of cavalry to rescue Cheshi, and the Han forces were routed and retreated. In the fourth year of Emperor Zhao's reign, the Han Dynasty sent Marquis Chonghe Ma Tong with forty thousand cavalry to attack the Xiongnu, passing through the northern part of Cheshi. At the same time, the Han Dynasty also sent Marquis of Kailing with the armies of three countries: Loulan, Yuli, and Weixu, to attack Cheshi from another direction to prevent Cheshi from blocking Ma Tong's army. As a result, several allied armies besieged Cheshi, and the King of Cheshi had no choice but to surrender and become a Han protectorate.
Later, during Emperor Zhao's reign, the Xiongnu sent four thousand cavalry to harass Cheshi. When Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne, he sent five generals with troops to attack the Xiongnu, and the Xiongnu farmers in Cheshi fled in terror, re-establishing contact with the Han. The Xiongnu were very angry and took the Cheshi crown prince hostage. The crown prince was the grandson of the King of Yanqi and did not want to be a hostage of the Xiongnu, so he fled to Yanqi. The King of Cheshi had no choice but to appoint his other son, Wugui, as the crown prince. When Wugui became king, he formed a marriage alliance with the Xiongnu and cut off Han-Wusun trade routes for the Xiongnu.
In 107 BC, the Han Dynasty sent Zheng Ji and Sima Xi with a group of criminals pardoned for their service— the Tianquli—to farm and stockpile food in preparation for an attack on Cheshi. By autumn, when the harvest was complete, Zheng Ji and Sima Xi mobilized the armies of surrounding countries, a force of over ten thousand troops, along with the 1,500 Tianquli they brought, to attack Cheshi, targeting the city of Jiaohe. They successfully captured Jiaohe, but the Cheshi king hightailed it to a northern stone fortress and was not captured. Then they ran out of grub and had to pull back to the Tianquli farmland.
After harvesting the autumn grain, they went after the Cheshi king hiding in the stone fortress. Upon hearing that the Han army was coming again, the Cheshi king scurried to the Xiongnu for help, but the Xiongnu ignored his plea. The Cheshi king slunk back and talked it over with his minister Su You about surrendering to the Han Dynasty, but they were afraid the Han would not believe them. Su You suggested that the Cheshi king attack a small country on the Xiongnu border—Xiaopulei, kill a few people, take some hostages, and then present these spoils to Zheng Ji to prove he meant business. At the same time, a small country next to Cheshi called Jinfu jumped on the chance to attack Cheshi. As a result, the Cheshi king defeated Jinfu.
The Xiongnu heard that the Che-shi had surrendered to the Han Dynasty, and they immediately led troops to attack the Che-shi. Generals Ji and Xi led troops north to meet the enemy, so frightened the Xiongnu off. Afterwards, Ji and Xi left a junior officer and twenty soldiers to guard the Che-shi king, while they themselves led troops back to Quli. The Che-shi king, fearing that the Xiongnu soldiers would come back to kill him, hightailed it to the Wusun country. General Ji immediately sent people to bring the Che-shi king's wife and children to Quli to keep them safe. Then, General Ji headed east to Chang'an to report. At Jiuquan, the court ordered him to return to Quli to continue farming in Che-shi, increase food reserves to secure the West, and teach the Xiongnu a lesson. After returning to Quli, General Ji sent people to bring the Che-shi king's wife and children to Chang'an. The court showered them with gifts, making a big show of them whenever foreign envoys visited to impress everyone with Han power. So General Ji sent 300 men to Che-shi to start farming.
Surrendered Xiongnu prisoners reported that the Chanyu and his ministers believed, "The land of Cheshi is fertile and close to the Xiongnu. If we let the Han Dynasty have this place, they will be able to grow a lot of food and accumulate a lot of military supplies. This would be a major threat to us Xiongnu; we couldn't allow the Han to succeed!" Sure enough, the Xiongnu sent cavalry to attack the Han Dynasty's farming troops. General Ji, together with the captain, took all the farming soldiers of Quli, totaling 1,500 men, to fight the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu sent more cavalry, and the Han troops were outnumbered and had to retreat to Cheshi City. The Xiongnu commander taunted General Ji from below the city walls, "The Chanyu will reclaim this land! You'll never farm here!" They besieged Cheshi City for several days before withdrawing their troops. Later, the Xiongnu often sent thousands of cavalry to patrol back and forth, keeping an eye on Cheshi. In a dispatch to the court, General Ji explained that Cheshi was over a thousand li from Quli, separated by rivers and mountains, and dangerously close to Xiongnu territory. The Quli garrison couldn't possibly reinforce Cheshi, so he requested reinforcements. After discussion, the ministers in the court thought the distance and expense were prohibitive, so they recommended abandoning the Cheshi farming project for now. Therefore, the court sent General Zhangluo Hou to lead the cavalry of Zhangye and Jiuquan to the north of Cheshi for over a thousand li to make a show of force and scare the Xiongnu off. Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the Xiongnu cavalry withdrew, allowing General Ji to escape back to Quli. Three separate attempts were made to establish a farming colony in Cheshi.
The king of Che-shih fled to Wusun, but Wusun did not send him away. Instead, they sent envoys to the Han court, saying they wanted to keep the king of Che-shih so they could attack the Xiongnu from the west in case of emergency. The Han went along with it. So the Han made the former Che-shih prince (then stationed in Yanqi) the new king. All the people of Che-shih were relocated to Quli, and the original territory of Che-shih was given to the Xiongnu. Closer to the Han, cut off from the Xiongnu, the Che-shih king lived peacefully and happily. Later, the Han sent Yin Guangde, a Han official, to demand the return of the king of Che-shih, Wugu, from Wusun, intending to bring him to the capital for a royal audience and granting him a house for his family. This year was the fourth year of Yuankang. After that, the Han established Wujixiaowei in the former land of Che-shih, setting up a garrison to cultivate the land. During the Yuanshi period, the later Che-shih king discovered a new road that came out from the north of Wuchuan, leading to Yumen Pass, making travel a breeze. Commander Xu Pu wanted to use this new road to reduce the distance by half and avoid the difficult and dangerous road of Bailongdui. The later king of Che-shih, Guju, felt that this road would affect his territory and was not happy about it. Moreover, this area was adjacent to the territory of the Southern General of the Xiongnu. He wanted to sort out the border first, then tell the emperor. But when the court called him in to settle the border dispute, he refused and got arrested. Guju tried several times to bribe his way out, offering cattle and sheep, but no luck. One day, the spearhead in Guju's house caught fire on its own. His wife, Gu Zizou, said to him, “That spearhead’s on fire! It’s a sign of war! Remember what happened to the last Che-shih king? You’ll be dead in here before long. Give yourself up to the Xiongnu!” So Guju rode straight out of Gaochang and defected to the Xiongnu.
King Tangdou of Hulai, it is said, had a country larger than the powerful Chishui Qiang. They often fought, but Tangdou couldn't win, so he asked for help from Protector-General Qin. But Protector-General Qin didn't arrive in time, and desperate, Tangdou blamed Qin and tried to take refuge at the Yumen Pass. But the Yumen Pass wouldn't let him through, so he surrendered to the Xiongnu with his wife, children, and more than a thousand subjects. The Xiongnu accepted them and sent envoys to the Han Dynasty to explain the situation. At that time, the Marquis of Xin Du, Wang Mang, was in power and sent officials such as Wang Chang to the Xiongnu to inform the Chanyu that the Western Regions had already submitted to the Han Dynasty and they should not accept them. The Chanyu apologized and surrendered both kings to the Han envoys. Wang Mang stationed officials at the border of the Western Regions to receive them. The Chanyu also sent envoys requesting their punishment. The envoy reported the situation to Wang Mang, who did not agree and ordered the kings of the Western Regions to gather and execute Gouju and Tangdou to make an example of them.
In the second year of Wang Mang's reign, after his usurpation, he appointed Protector-General Zhen Feng as the Protector-General of the Western Regions and prepared to send him on a mission to the Western Regions. When the Cheshi King heard this, he discussed with his generals Gu Di and Shi Nizhi, saying, "We heard that Protector-General Zhen is going to be the Grand Count of the Western Regions and is going on a mission. Custom dictates that we provide the envoy with cattle, sheep, food, fodder, and interpreters. When the five generals went on missions before, preparations were insufficient. And now, with the country even poorer, preparations are likely to be inadequate." They planned to flee to the Xiongnu with their subjects.
After Dao Hu, the Wujixiaowei, heard about this matter, he summoned Xuzhili for questioning. Xuzhili admitted his guilt, so Dao Hu had him escorted to the Du Hu Danqin, where he was imprisoned in Leilou City. The people of Cheshi, knowing Xuzhili was lost to them, wept as they said goodbye. In Leilou City, Dan Qin had Xuzhili executed. Hulan Zhi, Marquis of Fuguo, led more than two thousand of Xuzhili's followers, taking their livestock and property with them, and surrendered to the Xiongnu.
As Wang Mang replaced the Chanyu's seal, the new Chanyu, enraged, readily accepted Hulan Zhi's surrender. He sent troops with Hulan Zhi to attack Cheshi, killing the governor of Cheshi and injuring the Sima of the Du. Afterwards, Hulan Zhi's army returned to the Xiongnu. Dao Hu then fell ill and sent Shi Chenliang to guard Huanqie Valley to prevent Xiongnu invasion. Shi Chenliang led people to transport food, while Sima Cheng Han Xuan led various troops, and Right Quhou Ren Shang led various battalions. They discussed together, "With the Western Regions in revolt and a full-scale Xiongnu invasion imminent, we face certain death. Therefore, we should kill the Xiaowei and surrender to the Xiongnu."
So they brought thousands of cavalry to the commandery headquarters, coerced each station commander to burn the accumulated firewood, and then separately told the soldiers in each camp, "A Xiongnu horde of a hundred thousand is upon us! Grab your weapons! Kill any stragglers!" They gathered some three or four hundred men, stopped a few miles away from the commandery headquarters, and ignited their torches at daybreak. The prefect opened the city gate and sounded the alarm to rally the troops. Chen Liang and his men stormed the gates, resulting in the deaths of the prefect Dao Hu and his four sons, as well as other relatives, leaving only women and children. They occupied the city of Wujun, then sent someone to contact the Xiongnu Southern General, who came with two thousand cavalry to meet Chen Liang and his men. Chen Liang and his men coerced the officials and people of Wujun, over two thousand men and women in total, to surrender to the Xiongnu. The Chanyu appointed Chen Liang and Shi Zhong as Wuben captains.
After three years, the Xiongnu Chanyu died, and his brother Wulei Chanyu succeeded him, concluding a peace agreement with Wang Mang's regime. Wang Mang sent envoys with a mountain of gold and silver to bribe the Chanyu, wanting to secure the lives of Chen Liang and the others. The Chanyu arrested these four people, along with Zhiyin, who killed Dao Hu and his wife and children, totaling twenty-seven individuals, and had them transported in prisoner carts to Wang Mang's envoys. Upon reaching Chang'an, Wang Mang had them all burned alive. Later, Wang Mang deceived the Chanyu again, and he broke the peace. The Xiongnu then launched a major attack on the north, and the Western Regions began to crumble. The Yarkant Kingdom, close to the Xiongnu, was the first to rebel, killing the governor Danchin (or Danchin), but Wang Mang could do nothing about them.
In the third year of Tianfeng, Wang Mang sent five elite commanders, Wang Jun and Li Chong, the Governor-General of the Western Regions, with the forces to the Western Regions. The various Western Regions states came out of their cities to welcome them and sent food and soldiers. The country of Yanqi pretended to surrender but secretly gathered troops to prepare for battle. Wang Jun and his forces, along with over 7,000 soldiers from the countries of Shache and Kucha, entered Yanqi's territory in several groups. Yanqi's ambush attempted to trap Wang Jun, but the legions of Gumo, Weili, and Wuxu turned traitor and attacked Wang Jun and his forces, killing them all. Only the troops led by Colonel Guo Qin arrived in Yanqi relatively late, and since the Yanqi soldiers had not returned yet, Guo Qin attacked the vulnerable in Yanqi before retreating with his forces. Wang Mang appointed Guo Qin as "Zhihuzi" [title/position]. Li Chong gathered the remaining soldiers and retreated to Kucha. Several years later, Wang Mang died, and Li Chong also fell in battle, resulting in the Western Regions losing contact with the Han Dynasty.
There are more than fifty countries in the Western Regions in total. Officials ranging from translators, city officials, lords, supervisors, officials, major officials, artisans, captains, commandants, and kings wore the seals and official robes of the Han Dynasty, totaling three hundred and seventy-six individuals. As for the countries of Kangju, Dayuezhi, Anxi, Jibin, and Wuyi, they were not included in the count due to their distance. However, if they came to offer tribute, we would reciprocate without the need for unified management and registration.
It is praised: Emperor Xiaowu's genius plan to conquer the Xiongnu while securing the Western Regions and allying with the Southern Qiang was a masterstroke. Establishing the four Hexi counties, opening Yumen Pass, and securing the trade routes of the Western Regions effectively crippled the Xiongnu by cutting off their right arm and isolating their allies. The Xiongnu Chanyu, deprived of support, was forced into a hasty retreat, leaving the southern lands free of their tyranny.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, thanks to the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, the country was incredibly powerful, wealthy, and its military strong. Therefore, as soon as they heard of rhinoceros hide or tortoiseshell, they immediately sent troops to conquer the seven counties of Zhuyai; when they heard of special sauces or bamboo staffs, they expanded into Mangke and Yuezhi; when they heard of celestial horses or grapes, they established trade routes with Dayuan and Anxi.
Since then, the imperial harem overflowed with precious pearls, exquisite armor, rare rhino horn, and dazzling kingfisher feathers. The palace itself housed sweat-blood horses from the West, along with other magnificent steeds, while the imperial gardens teemed with elephants, lions, ferocious dogs, and exotic birds – a menagerie of wonders from every corner of the known world.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty carried out large-scale construction projects, expanded the Shanglin Park, dug the Kunming Pool, built grand palaces, erected towering altars, and constructed numerous tents decorated with precious pearls and jade. The emperor himself wore embroidered clothes, covered with green blankets, sat on jade tables, and enjoyed great prosperity.
He also set up a legendary banquet with rivers of wine and mountains of meat in the palace to entertain guests from various countries and presented lavish performances like the 'Bayu' dance, spectacular sea-themed shows like 'Dangji', amazing acrobats mimicking fish and dragons, and thrilling horn-dueling contests – the entertainment was endless. The emperor showered rewards across the land, and the military budget was astronomical.
However, after living the high life for too long, the national treasury gradually became empty. Han Wu Di had no choice but to start slapping taxes on everything from alcohol and salt to iron, minted platinum coins, and even issued leather money. The people were groaning under the weight of it all, and although the national treasury was temporarily full, it was quickly emptied. Coupled with several years of poor harvests, thieves were rampant, roads were blocked, and Han Wu Di had to send troops to suppress the rebellion. Those silk-suited generals went on a rampage, hacking and slashing their way through the countryside, barely quelling the unrest.
In the end, Han Wu Di had to give up the territory of Luntai and issued a decree expressing deep regret. See? Even a wise guy like him can screw up, right? Besides, getting to the Western Regions was a nightmare – from nearby Longdui to distant Congling, it was nothing but wind, rain, sickness, and every hardship imaginable. Prince Huainan, Du Qin, and Yang Xiong all believed that this was a boundary set by the heavens to separate the inside from the outside. The Book of Documents says the Western Rong were first in line, and even the Great Yu went there – not to conquer, but to get tribute peacefully!
Out in the Western Regions, each country has its own king, with tiny armies, each fighting its own battles, too scattered to unite. Although they are nominally Xiongnu tributaries, they weren't really all that close. The Xiongnu got some horses and wool from them, but they couldn't command them at all, and it was impossible for them to act together. These Western countries were a long way from the Han, and pretty isolated, so gaining them wouldn't help, and losing them wouldn't hurt. The Han were powerful; we didn't need them. Therefore, since the Jianwu era, all the Western countries were hoping for a bit of Han glory and were ready to submit. Only the smaller states, like Shanshan and Cheshi, close to the Xiongnu, remained under their thumb. The bigger players, like Shache and Yutian, repeatedly sent envoys with gifts, begging the Han to set up a Protectorate.
The Emperor, a smart guy who knew history, used a policy of "loose control"—neither pushing them too hard nor writing them off, just putting off their requests for now. It was just like how Yu handled the Western Rong, Zhou Gong returned the white pheasant, and Taizong turned down those fancy horses. Same deal, right? What's to debate? Yu, Zhou Gong, and Taizong—same principle!
