The Western Regions only started trading with us back in Emperor Wu of Han's time. It started off with thirty-six countries, but that number slowly grew to over fifty as they split up. These countries were all west of the Xiongnu and south of the Wusun. There were big mountains to the north and south, with a river running through the middle. It stretched over six thousand li east to west, and over a thousand li north to south. To the east, it bordered our Han Dynasty, with the Yumen and Yang passes marking the border, and to the west it reached Congling. The southern mountains stretched east all the way to Jincheng, linking up with the mountains south of the Han Dynasty. The river had two sources: one from Congling, the other from Yutian. Yutian was at the foot of the southern mountains; the river flowed north from there, joined the river coming down from Congling, and then flowed east into Lake Puchang. Lake Puchang, or the Salt Marsh, was over three hundred li from the Yumen and Yang passes and covered about three or four hundred li. The river's level stayed pretty much the same all year round; people figured it flowed underground, surfacing south of Jishi Mountain to become what we know as the Yellow River.
There were two routes out of the Yumen and Yang passes to the Western Regions: one went from Shanshan, north of the southern mountains, following the Bo River west to Shache – that was the southern route. Following the southern route west across the Congling mountains brought you to the bigger countries of Yuezhi and Anxi. The other route started at the Cheshi royal court, went along the northern mountains, followed the Bo River west to Shule – the northern route. Heading west across the Congling mountains on the northern route took you to Dawan, Kangju, and Yanchai.
Most of the Western Regions were made up of native peoples with their own cities, farms, and livestock. Their customs were different from the Xiongnu and Wusun, so the Xiongnu kept them under their thumb. West of the Xiongnu was King Rizhu, who put a Protector of the Western Regions in charge of things in Yutian, Weixu, and Yuli. This guy taxed the heck out of those Western Region countries, basically stealing their wealth.
From the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the Rong and Di peoples mingled north of the Jingwei River. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, he drove out the Rong and Di peoples, built the Great Wall, and defined the boundaries of China, but its westernmost extent reached only Lintao. From the Han Dynasty's founding to the reign of Emperor Wu, they began to subdue the four barbarian groups, expanding the prestige of the Han Dynasty. Zhang Qian was the first to open up the road to the Western Regions. Later, the General of the Chariots and Cavalry defeated the army of the Xiongnu's right flank, and the Hunxie King and the Xiutu King surrendered to the Han Dynasty, leaving the Xiongnu's right flank undefended. So the Han Dynasty began to build cities west of Lingju, established Jiuquan County, and gradually relocated people there to bolster its strength. They also set up Wuwei County, Zhangye County, and Dunhuang County, a total of four counties, controlling the Yumen Pass and Yangguan. After the defeat of Dawan by the Second General, the countries of the Western Regions became fearful and sent envoys to pay tribute. The Han Dynasty also sent more and more envoys to the Western Regions. Therefore, from Dunhuang west to the Salt Marsh, post stations were established along the route, with garrisons of several hundred soldiers stationed at Luntai and Quli, overseen by an envoy-commanding officer to ensure the safe passage of envoys.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, the court sent a military official from the Wei commandery to protect Shanshan and several countries to its west. After defeating Gushi, although not completely eliminated, Gushi was divided into the Cheshi kingdom, now split into a Former and Latter kingdom and six smaller states to the north. At that time, the Han Dynasty only controlled the roads in the south and could not fully control the roads in the north. However, the Xiongnu were growing restless. Later, the King of Rizhu betrayed the Chanyu and, with his men, came to surrender. Zheng Ji, who was protecting the envoys to the west of Shanshan, went to meet him. After the King of Rizhu arrived in the Han Dynasty, he was titled the Marquis of Guide, and Zheng Ji was also titled the Marquis of Anyuan. This year was the second year of Shengjue. Therefore, the court sent Zheng Ji to manage the roads in the north, hence the establishment of the office of Duhu starting from Zheng Ji. From then on, the position of Commandant of the Attendants was abolished, the Xiongnu became weaker and could no longer approach the Western Regions. So the Han started farming in the Western Regions, opening up land in the Beixu Jian and Shache areas, and the Tuntian Xiaowei also came under the jurisdiction of the Duhu. The Duhu was responsible for supervising foreign countries such as Wusun and Kangju, reporting any movements to the court. The Duhu would appease or attack as the situation demanded. The Duhu's headquarters were established in Wulei City, 2738 li from Yangguan, near Quli's fertile central plains, a strategically advantageous location in the Western Regions.
During the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han, the Han court established Wuji Xiaowei to farm in the former Cheshi king's territory. At this time, Zilizhi, king of the Xiongnu's Eastern Pulei tribe, surrendered to the Duhu with more than 1,700 people, and the Duhu allocated a piece of land on the western side of the territory of the latter king of Cheshi - Wutanzili - to settle them.
After Emperor Xuan of Han and Emperor Yuan of Han, the Chanyu claimed to be a vassal of the Han Dynasty, and the various countries of the Western Regions also submitted to the Han Dynasty. Detailed records were kept of the Western Regions' geography, population, and road networks.
After leaving Yangguan, starting from the nearest place, we come to Ruoqiang. The king of Ruoqiang is known as "the King who comes and goes." Ruoqiang is 1,800 miles from Yangguan and 6,300 miles from Chang'an, located in the southwest, out in the sticks. Ruoqiang has 450 households and a population of 1,750, with 500 soldiers capable of fighting. It borders Qiemo to the west. They're nomadic, following their herds and depending on Shanshan and Qiemo for food. Iron ore is produced in the mountains, and they make their own weapons—bows, spears, swords, and the like. Heading northwest is Shanshan, which is the major transportation route.
Shanshan, originally called Loulan, has its king residing in Hani City, 1,600 miles from Yangguan and 6,100 miles from Chang'an. The population is 14,100, with 1,570 households, and an army of 2,912. In the country, there are officials such as the Marquis who protects the country, the Marquis of Quehu, the Shanshan Captain, the chariot commander, the Left and Right Qu Qu, and the Chariot Master, along with two translators. Going northwest from Shanshan, you will reach the Duhu Mansion in 1,785 miles, then go northwest for 1,365 miles to reach Moshi, and continue northwest for 1,890 miles to reach Cheshi. It's all sand and salt flats, hardly any good farmland, so they depend on their neighbors for food and places to farm. Shanshan produces jade and has many reeds, tamarisk, poplar trees, and white grass. People move with their herds, always searching for good grazing land. They are pretty good fighters and get along well with Ruoqiang.
So, Emperor Wu of Han listened to Zhang Qian's advice and was particularly keen on trading with Da Yuan and other countries. Loads of envoys were sent, with a dozen or more missions a year. However, the countries of Loulan and Gushi happened to be on the way, and they constantly gave the Han envoys grief. They even attacked and robbed Han envoys like Wang Hui, and often acted as spies for the Xiongnu, sending troops to intercept the Han envoys. The Han envoys all said that Loulan was a small, weak city, easy pickings. Therefore, Emperor Wu of Han sent Zhao Pono, with cavalry from various vassal states and county armies, totaling a massive army, to attack Gushi. Because Wang Hui had been oppressed by Loulan many times, the Emperor had him assist Zhao Pono in leading the troops. Zhao Pono, leading seven hundred light cavalry, arrived first, captured the Loulan king, and took Gushi. He took this opportunity to show off Han military might, scaring the Wusun, Da Yuan, and others. After Zhao Pono returned victorious, he was made Marquis of Zhuoye, and Wang Hui was made Marquis of Hao. From that point on, the Han set up outposts and forts all the way to the Jade Gate Pass.
Loulan gave up and sent gifts. The Xiongnu heard, and bam! They attacked Loulan. So Loulan sent one son to the Xiongnu as a hostage, and another to the Han. Later, this Han general went to attack Dawan, and the Xiongnu wanted to stop him. But the Han army was way too strong, so the Xiongnu chickened out. Instead, they sent their cavalry to Loulan to cut off the Han messengers. Meanwhile, General Ren Wen was stationed at Yumen Pass, backing up the main force. They grabbed some prisoners, found out what was going on, and told the Emperor. The Emperor ordered Ren Wen to grab the Loulan king. They hauled the Loulan king in and grilled him. The King of Loulan said, "We're a tiny country squeezed between two giants. We gotta play both sides to survive! I want to move to Han territory." The Emperor figured he had a point, so he sent him back and told him to spy on the Xiongnu while he was at it. After that, the Xiongnu didn't trust Loulan anymore.
In the first year of Zhenghe, the King of Loulan died, and the people of Loulan came to request the return of the prince who was held as a hostage in the Han Dynasty, hoping to crown him as king. However, this prince had violated the laws of the Han Dynasty and was imprisoned in an imperial prison, subjected to castration, so the Han Dynasty did not send him back. The Han Dynasty replied, "The Emperor's really fond of this prince, can't let him go. Please choose another suitable candidate." Loulan then installed a new king, and the Han Dynasty requested Loulan to send another prince as a hostage, while Loulan also sent a son to the Xiongnu as a hostage. Later, this new king also died. The Xiongnu got wind of it first and sent Loulan's hostage back to the country to become king. The Han Dynasty sent envoys to summon the new king to court, and the emperor had a big reward lined up for him. However, the stepmother of the Loulan king advised him, "The king's two sons who were sent as hostages to the Han never came back. Why do you still want to go and meet the emperor?" The king believed his stepmother's words and declined the Han Dynasty envoys' invitation, saying, "I've only just taken the throne, and the country's still finding its feet. I want to wait until next year to meet the emperor." In fact, Loulan was located on the eastern edge of the Han Dynasty, near the White Dragon Mound, where there was a lack of water and grass. The people of Loulan often had to carry water and food to welcome or bid farewell to Han Dynasty envoys themselves, and they were often plundered by Han Dynasty officials and soldiers, making things difficult between Loulan and the Han. Later, Loulan started working with the Xiongnu, repeatedly ambushing and murdering Han envoys. The younger brother of the King of Loulan, Weituqi, surrendered to the Han Dynasty and reported all these situations in detail. In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, the Grand General Huo Guang secretly sent Fu Jiezhi, with his crack troops and chests full of gold and silver, claiming he was delivering gifts to the Loulan king.
After arriving in Loulan, Fu Jiezi feigned a generous gift of treasures for Loulan's king. The king was very happy and drank with Fu Jiezi, getting drunk. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fu Jiezi had two warriors stab the king from behind, sending the king's guards scattering in terror. Fu Jiezi then announced, "Loulan's king has betrayed the Han. The Emperor sent me to kill him. Now, his brother, Weituqi, will be made king. Weituqi is currently in the Han as a hostage. The Han's army is about to arrive. Don't even think about it, or your country's done for!" Fu Jiezi hot-footed it back to Chang'an and put the head on display beneath the North Gate. The Emperor appointed Fu Jiezi as the Marquis of Yiyang.
Afterwards, the Han made Weituqi king and renamed Loulan as Shanshan. They granted him a seal and fixed him up with some palace ladies. They prepared vehicles, cavalry, and supplies for him. The Prime Minister and top brass gave him a send-off at the Hengmen Gate outside Chang'an. Weituqi himself requested to the Emperor, "I've been a hostage in the Han for ages, and now I'm going back with next to no power. The old king's sons are still around, and I'm scared they'll off me. Our country has a city named Yixun, with fertile land. So I'm hoping the Han will send a general to farm that land and keep me safe under their protection." The Han then sent a Sima and forty officials to cultivate the land in Yixun to appease Shanshan. Later, a Commandant was also established there. That's how the Yixun office got started.
Shanshan is located on the main road from the Han to the Western Regions, seven hundred and twenty miles from the west to Qiemo. West of Qiemo is a place where crops are grown. The land, crops, livestock, and army are pretty much the same as in the Han. I'll note any differences.
Qiemo Kingdom, the king resides in Qiemo City, 6,820 li away from Chang'an. There are 230 households, 1,610 people, and 320 troops. Qiemo Kingdom has a Marquis, left and right generals, and a translator. Qiemo City is 2,258 li from the Western Regions Protectorate, shares a border with Yuli to the north, and is a three-day journey to Xiao Wan City in the south. Qiemo, known for its abundant grapes and other fruits, is 2,000 li from Jingjue to the west.
Xiao Wan Kingdom, the king resides in Yuling City, 7,210 li away from Chang'an. There are 150 households, 1,050 people, and 200 troops. Xiao Wan Kingdom has a Marquis and left and right captains. Xiao Wan City is 2,558 li from the Western Regions Protectorate, shares a border with Ruoqiang to the east, and is remote, not situated on a major trade route.
Jingjue Kingdom, the king resides in Jingjue City, 8,820 li away from Chang'an. There are 480 households, 3,360 people, and 500 troops. Jingjue Kingdom has a captain, left and right generals, and a translator. To the north, it is 2,723 li to the Protectorate, and a four-day journey to Ronglu Kingdom in the south. The land is constricted, and 460 li to the west is Yumi Kingdom. In short, Jingjue is far from Chang'an, sparsely populated, militarily weak, and geographically isolated, with limited access to other regions.
Ronglu Kingdom, the king resides in Beipin City, 8,300 li away from Chang'an. There are 240 households, 1,610 people, and 300 troops. To the northeast, it is 2,858 li to the Protectorate, shares a border with Xiao Wan Kingdom to the east, Ruoqiang Kingdom to the south, and Qu Le Kingdom to the west, with no major roads leading to other countries in the south. Ronglu, tucked away in a remote corner, is also quite isolated, with even fewer people, a weaker army, and a location that seems surrounded by other countries, making travel difficult.
The kingdom of Yumi, where the king resides in the city of Yumi, is 9,280 li (approximately 3,700 kilometers) from Chang'an. It has a population of 20,040 people, with 3,340 households and 3,540 soldiers. Yumi has a marquis, generals, commanders, cavalry leaders, and two interpreters. Northeast of Yumi lies the location of the Protectorate, 3,553 li away, with Qu Le to the south, Kucha to the northeast, Gumo to the northwest, and Yutian 390 li to the west. Yumi's now known as Ningmi.
Yumi is a powerful kingdom with a large population, a strong military, a well-organized government, and an important geographical position at the crossroads of several nations.
In Qu Le, the king resides in the city of Jiandu, which is 9,950 li from Chang'an. It has a population of 2,170 people, with 310 households and 300 soldiers. Northeast of Qu Le is the location of the Protectorate, 3,852 li away, with Ronglu to the east, Chuoqiang to the west, and Yumi to the north.
Qu Le is a small kingdom with a limited population and a weak military, surrounded by larger powers.
In Yutian, the king resides in the western city, which is 9,670 li from Chang'an. It has a population of 19,300 people, with 3,300 households and 2,400 soldiers. Yutian has a marquis, generals, cavalry leaders, city chiefs, and an interpreter. Northeast of Yutian is the location of the Protectorate, 3,947 li away, with Chuoqiang to the south and Gumo to the north. Interestingly, its rivers flow west into the Western Sea and east into the Salt Marsh, originating from a single source. Yutian is rich in jade, and Pishan lies 380 li to the west.
Yutian is not small in scale, boasting a large population, a relatively strong military, an important geographical location, and abundant jade resources.
Pishan, a small kingdom, has its king residing in Pishan City, which is 15,000 miles from Chang'an. The population is modest, with only five hundred households and three thousand five hundred people, including five hundred soldiers. The main officials in the country are just a few: the generals and commanders on the left and right, Cavalry Commander, and Chief Interpreter, each position held by one person. From Pishan Kingdom, 4,292 miles northeast lies the Protectorate, and 1,340 miles southwest is Wuchi Kingdom. To the south, it borders Tiandu Kingdom, and to the north, it is 1,450 miles from Gumo Kingdom. In the southwest direction, there is a road leading to Jiben and Wuyi Mountain, while the northwest direction leads to Shache Kingdom, a distance of 380 miles.
Wuchi, a remote kingdom, has its king living in Wuchi City, which is 9,950 miles from Chang'an, a considerable distance. There are four hundred and ninety households, two thousand seven hundred and thirty-three people, and seven hundred and forty soldiers. From Wuchi Kingdom, 4,892 miles northeast lies the Protectorate. To the north, it is adjacent to Zihe Kingdom and Puli Kingdom, and to the west, it borders Nandou Kingdom. This area is mountainous, with rocky terrain that is not suitable for growing crops. However, there is a type of white grass that grows here. Their stone houses and practice of sharing drinking water are quite unique. They have small horses and donkeys, but no cows. To the west of Wuchi Kingdom, there is a place called Xiandu, which is 5,888 miles from Yangguan and 5,020 miles from the Protectorate. Xiandu is a treacherous mountain range; its valleys are impassable without ropes.
Xiye Kingdom, ruled by King Zihe, is located in Huqiang Valley, 12,500 miles from Chang'an. This kingdom has 350 households, 4,000 people, and 1,000 soldiers who are pretty good fighters. It's 5,046 miles northeast to the protectorate from Xiye, with Pishan Kingdom to the east, Wuchi Country to the southwest, Shache Country to the north, and Puli Kingdom to the west. Puli, Yina, and Wulei countries are similar to Xiye Kingdom. The Xiye people weren't Han Chinese; they were more like the Qiang and Di, nomadic herders who followed their animals and the water. However, Zihe's territory is rich in jade.
Puli, ruled by its king, is located in Puli Valley, 9,550 miles from Chang'an. It has 650 households, 5,000 people, and a decent-sized fighting force of 2,000 soldiers. The protectorate is 5,396 miles northeast of Puli, while Shache Country is 540 miles to the east, and Shule Country is 550 miles to the north. It shares its southern border with Zihe of Xiye, and is 540 miles from Wulei Country to the west. Puli also has the positions of Marquis and Commandant, one each. They lease land for cultivation in Shache Country, with customs similar to those of Xiye Kingdom.
As for Yina Kingdom, the king's residence is 11,150 miles from Chang'an. This kingdom has 125 households, 670 people, and 350 soldiers. It's 2,730 miles northeast to the protectorate from Yina, 540 miles to Shache Country, and 540 miles to Wulei Country. Heading north to Shule Country is 650 miles, with customs similar to those of Xiye Kingdom. They didn't grow much food, so they relied on Shule and Shache to help them out.
In the country of Wulei, the king lives in the city of Wulei, which is a whopping 9,950 miles from Chang'an! There are 1,000 households, a population of 7,000, and 3,000 soldiers fit for battle. Northeast of Wulei, it's 2,465 miles to the Duhu Mansion; to the south, it's 540 miles to Puli Country; to the south, it borders Wuzhi Country, to the north with Juandu Country, and to the west with Dayuezhi. Their clothes are kinda like the Wusun's, and their customs are similar to the Zihé.
In the country of Nandou, the king's residence is also 11,150 miles away from Chang'an. This country has 5,000 households, 31,000 people, and 8,000 badass soldiers! Northeast of Nandou, it's 2,850 miles to the Duhu Mansion; to the south, it's 340 miles to Wulei Country; to the southwest, it's 330 miles to Jibin Country; to the south, it borders Ruoqiang Country, to the north with Xiuxun Country, and to the west with Dayuezhi. They grow grain, grapes, and all sorts of fruit. They have gold, silver, copper, and iron, and their weapons tech is about the same as other countries', but they are subordinate to Jibin Country.
In Jibin Country, the king lives in Xunxian City, which is 12,200 miles away from Chang'an. This country ain't under the Duhu Mansion's thumb. It's got a huge population and army—a real powerhouse! Northeast of Jibin Country, it's 6,840 miles to the Duhu Mansion; to the east, it's 2,250 miles to Wuzhi Country; to the northeast, it takes nine days to get to Nandou. It borders Dayuezhi to the northwest and Wuyishanli to the southwest.
In the past, the Xiongnu defeated the Dayuezhi, who then went west to Daxia, while the Dayuezhi's king, Sei, went south to Jibin. The Saka scattered, becoming several different countries. Northwest of Shule, places like Xiuxun and Juandu are descended from the old Saka.
The place of Jibin is flat, with a mild and pleasant climate, growing various plants such as pondweed, weeds, rare trees, sandalwood, locust trees, catalpa trees, bamboo, lacquer trees, and more. They cultivate grains, grapes, and other fruits, taking good care to fertilize and manage the fields. The high water table made rice cultivation possible, and they enjoyed fresh winter vegetables. The people of Jibin were bright and resourceful, skilled in carving, building palaces and houses, and weaving a kind of woolen fabric called Jizi, as well as embroidering various patterns. They were renowned for their love of good food and drink. They had gold, silver, copper, tin, and other metals to make various utensils. Their markets overflowed with goods of every description. They used gold and silver to cast coins, with coins depicting horsemen and faces. Jibin is rich in cattle, water buffalo, elephants, hunting dogs, macaques, peacocks, pearls, corals, various gemstones, and beautiful jades, among others. Otherwise, their livestock were fairly typical of the region.
Starting from Emperor Wu of Han, there was contact with the Kingdom of Jibin. Due to the long distance, the Han army couldn't get there. King Wutou Lao of Jibin regularly ambushed and murdered Han envoys. After Wutou Lao died, his son succeeded him and sent envoys to pay tribute to the Han dynasty. The Han dynasty sent the border guard commander Wen Zhong to escort them back. But the Jibin king planned to kill Wen Zhong. Sensing the danger, Wen Zhong secretly conspired with the son of the Jibin king, Yinmofu, and together they attacked Jibin, killed the king, and made Yinmofu king of Jibin, giving him the official seal and title of the Han dynasty. Later, the Han dynasty's military envoy Zhao De was sent to Jibin and clashed with Yinmofu. Yinmofu captured Zhao De and killed more than seventy men under him, then sent envoys to apologize to the Han. Emperor Yuan of Han considered Jibin to be in a remote region and decided to let it slide, leaving their envoys in a local county and cutting off all contact with Jibin.
During the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, Jibin sent an envoy to offer apologies. We wanted to send envoys back to them, but Du Qin said to General Wang Feng, "Jibin's King Yinmo was originally enfeoffed by our Han Dynasty, but later rebelled. A nation's greatest strength lies in good governance; its greatest failing, in harming envoys. Jibin does not feel grateful or fear punishment because they consider themselves far from us, believing our army cannot reach them. They're all smiles when they want something, but turn haughty and dismissive when they don't. Appeasement of barbarians only strengthens them and breeds enemies. Jibin's in a tight spot they can't easily get out of. Their allegiance wouldn't stabilize the West, and their defiance poses no real threat. They betrayed us in the past and committed evil in the Western Regions, which is why we cut ties with them. Now they regret it, come to apologize, but they sent mere merchants, low-born folk. They're using trade as a smokescreen for their apology, so they trouble us to send them back to Jibin. I smell a rat. We’d need over a hundred soldiers, rotating shifts of five, constantly on guard against bandits and ready for a fight. From Pishan to the south, they must pass through several countries not belonging to the Han Dynasty, probably four or five. Some were too poor to help, others too stubborn. Our envoys, flashing their Han credentials, went begging in the valleys, but got nowhere. Ten days, two weeks—men and beasts would be done for, stranded in the wilds. They must traverse treacherous mountains and narrow passes, where a single misstep could be fatal. After over two thousand li, they can reach Jibin. Halfway through, the pack animals may die in the valleys, and if people fall, there is no way to help each other. The journey is treacherous and dangerous, beyond words. A wise ruler focuses on internal strength, not pointless expansion. Sending an envoy to escort a few barbarian traders back is a waste of resources and manpower, a pointless risk. The envoys have received their orders, so they should return after reaching Pishan." Wang Feng accepted Du Qin's advice. Indeed, Jibin's apologies were just a ploy for trade, their envoys few and far between.
Wuyi Shanli Kingdom is far from Chang'an, the Han capital, a full 12,000 miles away! It wasn't under the jurisdiction of our Han Dynasty's Protectorate General. Its population far outnumbered its soldiers; it was a sizable kingdom. A sixty-day journey northeastward would reach the Protectorate's capital. It borders Jibin to the east, Putiao to the north, and Lijian and Tiaozhi to the west.
From Wuyi Shanli Kingdom, it takes well over 100 days to reach Tiaozhi. Tiaozhi is close to the Western Sea, with a hot and humid climate, mainly growing rice. There are giant birds there, with eggs as big as water jars! Its large population was often governed by numerous petty chieftains, all vassals of Anxi. The people of Tiaozhi were renowned for their sleight of hand. The elders of the Kingdom of Anxi have heard of the weak water and the Queen Mother of the West in Tiaozhi, but they have never seen them with their own eyes. A westward voyage from Tiaozhi, lasting more than a hundred days, would bring one to the land where the sun sets.
Ugo boasted a hot climate and flat terrain, abundant in pastureland, livestock, crops, fruits, and vegetables. Its palaces, houses, markets, and shops mirrored those of Jibin, though lions, rhinoceroses, and peach trees were unique to the region. Hunting and killing animals was commonplace, regardless of need. Their coins were distinctive, featuring a human head on one side and a horseman on the other; gold and silver-inlaid canes were fashionable. Ugo's remoteness meant few Han envoys ever reached its shores. Following the southern route from Yumen and Yangguan, past Shanshan, one would reach Wuyi Shanli, marking the route's southernmost point. From there, a northward and eastward journey would lead to Anxi.
The king of Anxi resides in Fandou City, which is 11,600 miles from Chang'an and not under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate General. To the north of Anxi is Kangju, to the east is Mount Wuyi, and to the west is Tiaozhi. Anxi's geography, climate, produce, and customs are much like those of Mount Wuyi and Jibin. They also use silver as currency, with the king's portrait on the front and the queen's portrait on the back. When the king dies, they recast the currency. Anxi also produces a breed of very large horse. Anxi, with its hundreds of cities and vast territory, was a major power. Bustling with merchants and river traffic, Anxi thrived. Their script was a cursive style written horizontally.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, we first sent envoys to Anxi. The king of Anxi sent twenty thousand cavalry to the eastern border to welcome them. The eastern border was still thousands of miles from the capital. When the Han envoys arrived, they passed through dozens of cities along the way, all densely populated. Anxi also sent envoys along to see the Han lands and presented giant bird eggs and some ingenious new plows, which pleased Emperor Wu of Han greatly. To the east of Anxi is the country of Dayuezhi.
The country of Dayuezhi, with its capital called Jianshi City, is 11,600 miles from Chang'an and not under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate General. It had 100,000 households, 400,000 people, and a 100,000-strong army. From the eastern border of Dayuezhi to the capital of the Protectorate General, there are 4,740 miles. West of Dayuezhi lay Anxi, a 49-day journey away. Dayuezhi bordered Jibin to the south. The geographical environment, climate, products, customs, and currency of Dayuezhi are similar to those of Anxi. Dayuezhi also produces a type of camel called Bactrian camels.
The Great Yuezhi were a powerful nation, living a nomadic lifestyle similar to the Xiongnu people. They had over 100,000 archers, making them very strong, even more powerful than the Xiongnu. They initially lived in the Dunhuang and Qilian Mountains area, but later, Chanyu Changtun attacked the Great Yuezhi and even made a drinking cup out of the Great Yuezhi king's head! Unable to take that kind of humiliation, the Great Yuezhi packed up and headed west, eventually reaching Dayuan. There, they beat the Daxia and conquered them, finally setting up their royal court north of the Gui River in the Great Yuezhi territory. Some smaller tribes stayed behind for various reasons in the Nanshan Qiang area, known as the Lesser Yuezhi.
The Daxia weren't united under one ruler; each city had its own boss. The people were weak and scared of fighting, so they surrendered right away when the Great Yuezhi showed up. In the Daxia region, there were five Marquises: Xiumi Marquis, ruling from Meicheng, about 2,800 li from the Protectorate and about 7,800 li from Yangguan; Shuangmi Marquis, ruling from Shuangmi City, about 3,700 li from the Protectorate and about 7,800 li from Yangguan; Guishuang Marquis, ruling from Huzao City, about 5,900 li from the Protectorate and about 8,000 li from Yangguan; Xidun Marquis, ruling from Baomao City, about 5,900 li from the Protectorate and about 8,200 li from Yangguan; Lifu Marquis, ruling from Gaofu City, about 6,000 li from the Protectorate and about 9,300 li from Yangguan. All five Marquises swore allegiance to the Great Yuezhi.
Kangju, whose king resides in Le Yueni during the winter and in Beitian City during the summer, is located 12,300 miles from Chang'an and is not under the jurisdiction of the Han Dynasty's protectorate. It was a seven-day horseback ride from Le Yueni to the king's summer palace in Fan Nei, which is 9,104 miles away. The Kangju has 120,000 households, a population of 600,000, and 120,000 soldiers capable of going to battle. They are situated 5,550 miles from the Han Dynasty's protectorate. Their customs were similar to those of the Great Yueh-chih, but they had to pay tribute to the Xiongnu.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, the Xiongnu were in utter chaos, with rival Chanyus vying for power. The Han Dynasty supported Huhanxie Chanyu to ascend to power, but Zhizhi Chanyu was dissatisfied and killed the Han envoy, fleeing to Kangju to hide. Later, the Han Dynasty's Protector Gan Yanshou and Deputy Colonel Chen Tang, along with troops from various Western nations, pursued Zhizhi Chanyu all the way to Kangju and brought him down. You can read all about it in the "Biographies of Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang." This year was the third year of Jianzhao of Emperor Yuan of Han.
During the reign of Emperor Cheng, Kangju sent a prince to the Han Dynasty as a hostage and also brought some gifts. However, they felt that they were too far from the Han Dynasty and were awfully stuck-up, refusing to treat the Han Dynasty with the same respect they showed other nations.
At that time, Governor Guo Shun repeatedly sent reports to the court, saying: "When the Xiongnu were powerful in the past, it was not because they conquered Wusun and Kangju; when they became vassals of the Han, it was not because they lost these two countries. Although the Han Dynasty took their princes as hostages, the three countries secretly exchanged gifts and communicated constantly. They also spied on each other, always looking for a chance to undermine one another. In short, they neither trusted nor controlled each other. Now it seems that allying with the Wusun brought no benefits, only trouble for the Central Plains. However, since an alliance has already been formed with the Wusun and they have also submitted to the Xiongnu, we cannot refuse. The Kangju were arrogant and treacherous, showing no respect to Han envoys. When Han officials arrived in their country, they were made to sit below the Wusun envoys, forced to watch the Kangju king and his ministers feast before they were even allowed to eat – a blatant display of disrespect. In this case, why did they send princes as hostages? Their 'friendship' was just a cover for trade. The Xiongnu and the southern barbarian powers were now all Han vassals. They know that if Kangju does not show respect to Han envoys, it may make the Xiongnu Chanyu feel that the Han Dynasty's status is declining. Therefore, we should send the Kangju prince back and refuse any further contact, to show that the Han Dynasty doesn't tolerate disrespect. Supplying horses, donkeys, camels, and food for the envoys was a huge burden on Dunhuang, Jiuquan, and the other smaller counties, not to mention the eight southern states. It's a waste of resources to deal with such a distant and arrogant country – it's not sustainable!" Because the Kangju had just established contact with the Han Dynasty, the Han attached great importance to this distant country, ultimately adopting a policy of loose control, without completely breaking off relations.
To the northwest of the Kangju Kingdom, about two thousand li (a Chinese unit of distance) away, there is a country called Yancai, with over 100,000 able-bodied archers, sharing the same customs as the Kangju Kingdom. They are close to a very large lake, which has no boundaries, likely the North Sea.
In the Kangju region, there are five small kings:
| King | City | Distance from Capital (li) | Distance from Yangguan (li) |
|-------------|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| King Su | Su City | 5776 | 8025 |
| King Fumo | Fumo City | 5767 | 8025 |
| King Yunie | Yunie City| 5266 | 7525 |
| King Ji | Ji City | 6296 | 8555 |
| King Aojian | Aojian City| 6906 | 8355 |
These five kings were vassals of Kangju.
Now, the Dawan Kingdom has its king residing in Guishan City, 12,550 li away from Chang'an. There are sixty thousand households, a population of three hundred thousand, and sixty thousand trained troops. He also has a vice-king and a royal advisor. To the east of the Dawan Kingdom lies the capital, 4031 li away; to the north is Beitian City in Kangju, 1510 li away; and to the southwest is Dayuezhi, 690 li away. The Dawan Kingdom borders Kangju to the north and Dayuezhi to the south, sharing similar geographical features, climate, flora and fauna, and customs with both Dayuezhi and Anxi.
The people of Dawan make wine from grapes, with wealthy families able to store wine cellars holding tens of thousands of gallons of wine for several decades without spoiling. The people there love to drink. Their horses also enjoy a grass called "Mushu," known for its nutritional value.
Apart from the capital, the Dawan Kingdom has over seventy towns, renowned for raising fine horses. These horses were believed to be naturally superior.
Zhang Qian initially discussed this matter with Emperor Wu of Han. The emperor sent envoys with a ton of gold and a golden steed to the Kingdom of Wuan to purchase good horses. The King of Wuan felt that the Han Dynasty was too far away and their army could not reach them, so he was unwilling to part with the good horses and refused to give them. The envoy from the Han Dynasty got on the wrong side of the Wuan king, which led to them killing the Han envoy and looting them. This made the emperor furious, so he sent General Li Guangli with over a hundred thousand troops to fight a four-year war against Wuan before finally conquering them. The people of Wuan killed their king, Mu Gua, and offered three thousand horses as tribute to the Han army. Only then did the Han army withdraw, as recorded in "The Biography of Zhang Qian." After Li Guangli killed the King of Wuan, he appointed a noble named Meicai as the new king, who was friendly to the Han.
About a year later, the nobles of Wuan felt that Meicai was too eager to please the Han, almost leading to the destruction of their country. They killed Meicai and appointed Mu Gua's brother, Chanfeng, as the new king, sending the king's son to the Han as a hostage. The Han Dynasty sent envoys with gifts to appease them and dispatched over a dozen diplomatic missions to neighboring countries west of Wuan in search of treasures, while also flaunting their victory over Wuan. King Chanfeng of Wuan signed an agreement with the Han Dynasty to pay tribute with two Heavenly Horses annually. The Han envoys also brought back grape and alfalfa seeds. Due to the increase in Heavenly Horses (legendary horses prized for their speed and beauty) and foreign envoys, the emperor planted a large number of grapes and alfalfa near the imperial palace, creating a truly impressive sight when viewed from afar.
From Wan to Anxi, although the languages are a bit different, they are generally similar and can understand each other. The people there all have deep eye sockets and thick beards. They are good at doing business and drive a hard bargain. They value women highly; the women really call the shots in decisions. They do not produce silk or lacquerware and do not know how to forge iron. Later, Han deserters surrendered to them and taught them how to make weapons. They used the gold and silver from the Han Dynasty to make objects, rather than using it as currency.
From Wusun to Anxi, they are close to the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu used to bully the Yuezhi, so when Xiongnu envoys bring a letter from the Chanyu, the people there quickly offer food and drink, not daring to neglect them. But when Han envoys go, they cannot eat without gifts and cannot ride horses without buying livestock. This is because the Han Dynasty is far away but has a lot of wealth, so they must spend money to get what they want. Later, the Chanyu of the Xiongnu paid a visit to the Han Dynasty, and after that, all the countries in the Western Regions began to respect the Han Dynasty.
Taohuai is 11,800 li (a Chinese unit of distance) from Chang'an. It has 700 households, a population of 5,000, and 1,000 crack troops.
Xiuxun, where the king lives in the Bird-Flying Valley, is 12,110 li from Chang'an. It has 358 households, a population of 1,030, and 480 best fighters. The seat of the Duhu Mansion is 3,121 li to the east. Yan Dun Valley in Yandu country is 260 li away. To the northwest, Wan is 920 li distant, and to the west, Yuezhi is 1,610 li away. The local clothing and attire are similar to those of the Wusun. They're nomads, living off the land, following the water and grass with their herds.
Juandu Kingdom, the king lives in Yandun Valley, 9860 miles from Chang'an. There are 380 households, 1100 people, and 500 elite soldiers. 2861 miles east lies the capital of the Protectorate, from which one can reach the country of Shule. To the south, it is connected to the Congling Mountains, which are uninhabited. Going west up the Congling Mountains is the country of Xiuxun; going northwest to Dawan is 1030 miles; and to the north, it borders Wusun. The local people's clothing and attire are similar to those of the Wusun; they follow the water and pasture to graze their livestock and live by the Congling Mountains, having originally been nomadic peoples from beyond the passes.
The country of Shache, the king lives in the city of Shache, 9950 miles from Chang'an. There are 2339 households, 16,373 people, and 3049 elite soldiers. There is also a Marquis of the Protectorate State, left and right Generals, left and right Cavalry Commanders, and two Prefects, as well as four translators. To the northeast is the capital of the Protectorate, 4746 miles away; to the west is Shule at 560 miles; and to the southwest is Puli at 740 miles. Shache has an iron mountain that produces green jade.
During the time of Emperor Xuan of Han, a son of the Wusun princess, Wannian, was greatly loved by the king of Shache. When the king of Shache died without a son, Wannian was still in the Han Dynasty. The people of Shache sought support from both the Han and the Wusun, so they petitioned to have Wannian made king of Shache. The Han Dynasty agreed and sent the envoy Xi Chongguo to bring Wannian to Shache. Wannian's reign began with tyranny and cruelty, quickly alienating his people. The king's brother, Hutuzheng, killed Wannian, as well as the envoy from the Han Dynasty, declared himself king, and allied with other countries to betray the Han Dynasty. Just then, the guard Feng Fengshi, who was tasked with escorting guests to Dawan, took advantage of this opportunity to gather troops from various countries, killed Hutuzheng, and installed another son of Wannian's brother as the king of Shache. After Feng Fengshi returned to the court, he was appointed as a Grand Commandant. This year was the first year of Yuankang.
Shule, ruled by its king from Shule city, is a full 9,350 miles away from Chang'an! It had a sizable population, with a total of 1,510 households, approximately 18,647 people, and 2,000 soldiers. The government had a pretty complete set of offices, including the Marquis of Shule, the Marquis of Jihu, the Marquis of Fuguo, Military Commanders, and Cavalry Captains, each held by only one person. It was 2,210 miles east to the Protectorate's headquarters, and 560 miles south to Shache. A well-placed market served as a bustling hub, conveniently located on the main route to Dayuezhi, Dawan, and Kangju.
Now, Yutian, on the other hand, where the king resides in the Yutian Valley, is 8,650 miles from Chang'an. It was way smaller than Shule, with only 300 households, 2,300 people, and 800 soldiers. Its government was simpler, with only the Military Commanders and Cavalry Captains, each held by one person. To the east, it was 1,411 miles to the Protectorate's headquarters; to the south, the mountains made travel impossible; to the west, it was 1,314 miles to Juandu, which can be reached in two days on horseback. They followed the water and pastureland with their farming and herding, and wore clothes similar to the Wusun.
