Fu Jiezi, a northerner, became an official by joining the army. Earlier, both Kuche and Loulan had killed envoys of the Han Dynasty, as recorded in the "Western Regions Annals." During the Yuanfeng period, Fu Jiezi was sent to Dayuan as an envoy due to his expertise in managing horses. He was also ordered by the emperor to show them who's boss.
When Fu Jiezi arrived in Loulan, he questioned the king about why he allowed the Xiongnu to kill the Han envoys. The Loulan king immediately backed down, claiming the Xiongnu envoys were just passing through on their way to Wusun. Fu Jiezi then went to Kuche and laid into the Kuche king just as harshly, who also fessed up. Returning from Dayuan, Fu Jiezi stopped in Kuche, where the Kuche king spilled the beans about the Xiongnu envoys returning from Wusun and being present. Fu Jiezi and his men wasted no time in offing the Xiongnu envoys. Back at court, he reported the situation, and the Emperor made him a Zhonglang, later promoting him to Pingle Jian.
Fu Jiezi told General Huo Guang, "Those Loulan and Kuche guys are always flip-flopping. We gotta lay down the hammer on 'em, or they'll never learn. Last time I was in Kuche, the king's security was so lax, it was a piece of cake. I figure I'll whack him to send a message." The General agreed, suggesting they start with Loulan since Kuche was so far away.
Fu Jiezi led soldiers, all carrying gold, claiming to be bribing the various Western Region states. When they arrived in Loulan, King An Gui was suspicious of Fu Jiezi. Fu Jiezi pretended to leave, walked to the west side of Loulan, and had the translator tell King An Gui: "We've brought gold and silk to share with everyone, but if you're not interested, we'll just move on." With that, he took out the gold to show the translator. The translator went back and told King An Gui, who, greedy for the Han gold, came to see Fu Jiezi.
Fu Jiezi drank with King An Gui and showed him the things he brought. They both got drunk, and Fu Jiezi said to King An Gui: "I have a private message from the Emperor, just between you and me." King An Gui got up and followed Fu Jiezi into the tent. They closed the door and talked in secret. Then, two strong men rushed out from behind and stabbed King An Gui in the chest, killing him on the spot. His men scattered in terror. Fu Jiezi loudly announced: "King An Gui is dead. He was a traitor to the Han. His son will be the new king. The Han army is on its way. Anyone who makes a move will be wiped out, family and all!" Then, Fu Jiezi took King An Gui's head back to Chang'an to report. The Emperor's court heaped praise on him for his brilliant coup.
The Emperor declared, "Loulan King Angui was once a spy for the Xiongnu, intercepting envoys from the Han Dynasty, sending troops to kill our officials Anle, Zhong, and Suicheng, as well as envoys from Anxi and Dawan, stealing the Han Dynasty's seals and tribute, committing heinous crimes, unforgivable! Fu Jiezi, the Imperial Inspector, was ordered to execute Loulan King Angui, and his head was put on display at the North Gate to settle the score; he did it without losing a single man. Fu Jiezi was made Marquis of Yiyang with a fief of 700 households. The soldiers who participated in the assassination of Loulan King were all promoted to junior officials."
When Fu Jiezi died, his son Fu Chang got into trouble, so the title was revoked. During the Yuan Shi period of Wang Mang's new dynasty, the court later named Fu Jiezi's great-grandson as the Marquis of Yiyang, but after Wang Mang's failure, the title was abolished again.
Chang Hui, from Taiyuan, came from a poor family. He worked hard to enlist in the army and served under Su Wu on a mission to the Xiongnu, where he was detained for more than ten years until the reign of Emperor Zhao before returning home. The Han rewarded his loyalty and hard work by making him Grand Master of Splendor.
So, the Princess of Wusun sent a desperate plea to the Emperor, saying, "The Xiongnu have sent troops to attack Cheshi. Cheshi's in cahoots with the Xiongnu, ganging up on us. Only the Emperor can save us!" The Han were gearing up to take on the Xiongnu. However, Emperor Zhao kicked the bucket, and Emperor Xuan had just ascended the throne. In the second year of his reign, the Han sent envoys to Wusun. The Princess of Wusun and Kunmi (King of Wusun) also sent envoys, together telling the Han envoys, "The Xiongnu are swarming down on us, invading Wusun. They've seized Cheyan and Eshi. They've taken our people prisoner. And they're threatening the Princess to drive a wedge between us and the Han. Kunmi's offering half his best troops – that's fifty thousand cavalry – and he'll lead the charge himself, begging the Emperor for help!" So the Han sent out 150,000 cavalry, five generals leading the charge. You can read all the gory details in the *Xiongnu Chronicles*.
The envoy sent by the Han Dynasty, Hui, was appointed as a military officer, carrying the emperor's imperial seal to protect the Wusun army. Kunmi personally led over fifty thousand cavalrymen from the west into the right valley of Gu Li Ting, defeated the Chanyu's father and brother's wife, captured the Chanyu's father, brother's wife, and thirty-nine thousand other soldiers, led by various kings and cavalry generals, and seized a large number of horses, cattle, donkeys, mules, and camels, as well as more than six hundred thousand sheep. The Wusun army also obtained a significant amount of spoils. Hui, along with a dozen soldiers, followed Kunmi back to Wusun. Before reaching Wusun territory, the Wusun people stole the imperial seal. When Hui returned to the Han Dynasty, he figured he was a dead man. At that time, the Han's five top generals hadn't accomplished much, but the emperor rewarded Hui for his significant achievements in carrying out the mission by making him the Marquis of Changluo. The Han Dynasty sent Hui back with gold and silver treasures to reward the nobles who had made contributions in Wusun. Hui took the opportunity to request, "Kucha killed the Han Dynasty's captain Lai Dan before and has not been punished. I request to attack Kucha on the way back." However, Emperor Xuan did not agree. The Grand Marshal Huo Guang allowed Hui to act on his own. Hui, along with five hundred soldiers, arrived in Wusun. On the way back, he mustered twenty thousand troops from across the Western Regions and had the deputy envoy gather another twenty thousand troops from the eastern part of Kucha, along with seven thousand troops from Wusun, surrounding Kucha from three sides. Before the war began, they first questioned the Kucha king about the killing of the Han envoy in the past. The Kucha king claimed, "My ancestor was misled by the influential Gu Yi; I am not guilty." Hui said, "If that's the case, bring Gu Yi here, and I will let you go." The Kucha king brought Gu Yi, and Hui killed Gu Yi before returning to his country.
The descendants of Su Wu served as officials overseeing the Western Regions, especially proficient in Western Region affairs, and made many contributions diligently. During the Ganlu period, General Zhao Chongguo died, and the Emperor promoted Hui to Right General, but his position as an official overseeing the Western Regions remained unchanged. After the death of Emperor Xuan, Hui continued to serve Emperor Yuan, and three years later, he died and was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhuangwu. His title was passed down to his great-grandson before being discontinued.
Zheng Ji was from Kuaiji, starting as an ordinary soldier and being promoted to a junior officer after multiple expeditions to the Western Regions. Zheng Ji was resolute and decisive, and very skilled in handling Western Region affairs. Since Zhang Qian opened the Western Region passage and Li Guang led expeditions, the court began to establish military officers in Quli and stationed troops for agricultural and military duties. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, Zheng Ji served as a minor official, responsible for farming and storing grain in Quli, later leading armies from various countries to conquer Cheshi, being promoted to military commander, and being sent to escort King Shanshan along the southwestern route.
During the Shenji period, there was a rebellion within the Xiongnu, and the Dayu King Xian Dian wanted to surrender to the Han Dynasty, establishing contact with Zheng Ji. Zheng Ji led a fifty-thousand-strong army from Quli, Guizi, and other countries to meet the Dayu King, with ten thousand two hundred of the Dayu King's followers and twelve minor kings and generals following Zheng Ji to the confluence of the rivers. Some people escaped along the way, but Zheng Ji pursued and executed them, then escorted the Dayu King to the capital. The Han emperor made the Dayu King a marquis.
Due to his conquest of Cheshi and subjugation of the Dayu King, Zheng Ji's reputation instilled awe in the Western Regions, so he also took on the duty of escorting envoys from Cheshi along the northwest route, hence the establishment of the official position of "Protector-General" (都护), starting with Zheng Ji.
The Emperor was so impressed, he issued an edict: "Zheng Ji, the Governor-General of the West and Cavalry Commandant, kept the peace on the western borders and boosted the Emperor's image. He welcomed Rizhu Wang, brother of the Xiongnu Chanyu, and his men, and captured the city of Douzi in Cheshi, making great achievements. Zheng Ji was made Marquis of Anyuan, with a thousand households under his control." He set up local governments across the West, ruled Wulei, kept the vassal states in line, dealt with rebels, and strengthened Han rule. Zhang Qian started it, but Zheng Ji finished the job of bringing the whole West under Han rule, as the *Records of the Western Regions* tells us.
After he died, he was given the posthumous title of Marquis Miao. His son Guang inherited the title, but later died without a son, thus ending the title. Later, during the Yuanshi reign, the court reinstated titles for past heroes, even if they'd been stripped for crimes. So Zheng Ji's great-grandson, Yong, became Marquis of Anyuan.
Gan Yanshou (字君况, Junkuang) was from Yuzhi in the northwest. Rich, a crack shot, and a great horseman, he joined the Emperor's Guard. He was amazing at throwing stones and tug-of-war, and the story goes he once leaped over the Guard's building in a single bound! That got him promoted. He later served as a low-level official and then a court official, and due to his strong abilities and good health, he was highly favored by the emperor. Gradually rising in rank, he became the Governor of Liaodong, but was later dismissed for some reason.
General Xu Jia got him a job as a court official, then a censor, and finally Governor-General of the West. With Vice-Colonel Chen Tang, he killed Zhizhi Chanyu and was made Marquis Yicheng. He was given the posthumous title of Marquis Zhuang. The title passed down to his great-grandson, but ended when Wang Mang took over.
Chen Tang, style name Zigong, was from Xiping in Shanyang Commandery. When he was young, he loved to read, was knowledgeable, and excelled in writing. However, his family was poor, he often borrowed money, and was rather slovenly, so the people in the village did not think highly of him. He went to Chang'an to seek an official position and first served as a lowly food-server in the imperial palace. After a few years, Marquis Zhang Bo of Fuping became friends with Chen Tang and greatly admired his talents. In the second year of Chu Yuan, Emperor Yuan of Han issued a decree for marquises to recommend talented individuals, and Zhang Bo recommended Chen Tang. Just as Chen Tang was about to be promoted, his father passed away, but he did not return for the funeral. The Imperial Inspector reported that Chen Tang did not follow the rules, and that Zhang Bo's recommendation of talent was not based on merit. As a result, Zhang Bo had his fief reduced by two hundred households and shortly after died, posthumously given the title of Marquis Miao. Chen Tang was also imprisoned and investigated. Later, he was recommended to become an official and requested multiple times to be sent on missions abroad. Much later, he was promoted to deputy commander of the Western Regions and went on a military expedition with Gan Yanshou.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, the Xiongnu were in a complete mess, with several chieftains vying for power. Among them, the Chanyu Huhanye and Zhizhi both sent their sons to the Han court as hostages, which the Han accepted. Later, Chanyu Huhanye personally visited the Han court to show submission. Zhizhi felt that Chanyu Huhanye was too weak, surrendered to the Han court, and could not return, so he went to the west to grab land.
Coincidentally, the Han court sent troops to escort Chanyu Huhanye back, and Zhizhi used this chance to crush the countries of Hujie, Jiansun, and Dingling along the way, and took over their lands. He was furious that the Han supported Huhanye but not him, and even insulted Han envoys.
In 13 BC (the 4th year of Chu Yuan), the Xiongnu Chanyu sent envoys who offered tribute and requested that his son be sent to the Han Dynasty as a hostage, wishing to submit to the Han. The Han court discussed and decided to send Gu Ji, a Wei Sima, to return the Chanyu's son. Imperial Censor Gong Yu and scholar Kuang Heng cited the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, which states, "there can be many promises to the barbarians," noting that the Chanyu had not fully submitted yet and his lands were distant. They suggested that the envoys should send his son to the border and return.
Gu Ji wrote in his memorial: "China and the barbarians need to keep each other in check. We’ve shown him great kindness over the past ten years. If we suddenly cut off relations and do not send him back, but instead let him return from the border, it will look like we've abandoned him, causing him to lose his desire to submit, losing past goodwill and creating future resentment. Opponents only remember the Jiangdu King's humiliation, knowing that the Chanyu has neither strength nor courage, which led to that shame. Their fears are unfounded! Fortunately, I carry out the Han's orders and show our great kindness. We should not be timid. If he's treated cruelly, the Chanyu's son will surely commit a grave offense and flee to a faraway place, not daring to approach the border. Failing to send envoys will harm the state; this is also my wish. I urge that his son be sent to court."
The Emperor showed Gu Ji's memorial to the ministers, and Gong Yu opposed again, arguing that Gu Ji's going would definitely cause trouble for the country and should not be agreed to. Right General Feng Fengshi believed that Gu Ji could be sent, and the Emperor agreed.
After Gu Ji arrived, Zhizhi Chanyu was furious and killed Gu Ji and his men. Zhizhi Chanyu knew he had crossed the Han Dynasty, and hearing that the Xiongnu leader was becoming stronger, he fled to Kangju. The King of Kangju exchanged daughters with Zhizhi Chanyu. Kangju greatly respected Zhizhi Chanyu, hoping to use his power to intimidate other nations.
Zhizhi Chanyu borrowed troops from Kangju multiple times to attack the Wusun, reaching Chigu City, slaughtering people and stealing their livestock. The Wusun dared not pursue, leaving a vast, deserted wasteland stretching for thousands of miles along the western border. Zhizhi Chanyu considered himself a powerful nation, renowned for his fame, proud of his victories, and didn't give a damn about the King of Kangju. In anger, he killed the King of Kangju's daughter and many nobles and commoners, butchering hundreds and tossing their remains into the Doulai River. He forced five hundred people to work every day for two years to build his city. He also sent envoys to countries like Hesu and Dawan to demand tribute, and these countries had no choice but to comply.
The Han sent three separate missions to Kangju to find Gu Ji and his men. Zhizhi Chanyu humiliated the envoys, flat-out ignoring the Han's orders. Instead, he sent a letter to the Protector General saying, "Things are tough, so I'm thinking of surrendering to the mighty Han and sending my son as a hostage." He was so arrogant and overbearing.
In 97 BC, Chen Tang and Gan Yanshou were sent to the Western Regions. Chen Tang was a bold, ambitious go-getter who loved a good conquest. Whenever they arrived at a city or mountain, he would climb up to take a look. After getting to the Western Regions, he discussed with Gan Yanshou, "The barbarians in the Western Regions are naturally afraid of our powerful Han army—that's just how they are. The Western Regions originally belonged to the Xiongnu, and now Zhizhi Chanyu is a big name. He always bullies the Wusun and Dawan and often gives advice to the Kangju, wanting to conquer the Wusun and Dawan. If we take down those two countries, then hit Yili to the north, Anxi to the west, and the Yuezhi, Shanli, and Wuyue to the south—in a few years, those little kingdoms will be toast. Moreover, Zhizhi's people are fierce fighters, always winning. They'll be a major threat in no time. Although Zhizhi Chanyu is in a remote location, those barbarians lack strong defenses and heavy weaponry. If he runs, he's trapped; if he stays, he's doomed. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a massive victory—we can do it in a day!"
Gan Yanshou also felt that Chen Tang was right and wanted to report to the court. Chen Tang said, "This matter needs to be discussed with the court and the ministers. Such a big matter can't be decided by us; they definitely won't agree." Gan Yanshou still didn’t listen. Just then, Gan Yanshou got really sick. Chen Tang just went ahead and mobilized armies from across the Western Regions, along with soldiers from the Cheshi Wuji Colonel (a military commander) and the Tuntian Shishi (the agricultural officials). When Gan Yanshou heard about this, he freaked out and tried to stop him. Chen Tang got angry, drew his sword, and pointed it at Gan Yanshou, shouting, "The army's ready! You wanna wreck everything?" Gan Yanshou had no choice but to listen to him. They beefed up their army with extra troops from Yangwei, Baihu, and Heqi, bringing their total to over forty thousand soldiers from both the Han and Hu armies. Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang wrote a letter, taking the blame, admitting that they had mobilized troops without authorization, and reported on the military situation. That day, the army marched out in six columns. Three columns went south over the Congling Mountains, straight for Da Yuan. The other three, led by the Duhu himself, took the northern route. They started in Wensu, went through Chigu and Wusun, crossed into Kangju, and finally reached Tianshui's western border. Then, Kangju's deputy king, Baotian, hit Chigu City from the east with several thousand horsemen, slaughtering over a thousand and stealing a mountain of livestock. They ambushed the Han army, looting as they went. Chen Tang sent Hu soldiers to fight them, killing four hundred and sixty and rescuing four hundred and seventy civilians who were taken captive, returning them to Da Kunmi, using the horses, cattle, and sheep they had seized to provide rations for the army. They even captured Baotian's noble, Inu Du.
We crossed into eastern Kangju and strictly ordered our troops against any looting or banditry. Then we sent someone to summon the nobleman Tu Mo from Kangju to meet General Gan Yanshou. The general sternly explained their purpose, then cemented an alliance over drinks before dismissing him. The troops continued to advance, and when they were sixty miles away from the city of the Chanyu, they camped to rest. We captured Kai Mou, son of Beisezi (Tu Mo's maternal uncle), and pressed him into service as our guide. Both Beisezi and Tu Mo were Chanyu’s enemies, providing us with invaluable intelligence.
The next day, we continued on our way, and when we were thirty miles away from the city, we camped again. The Chanyu sent someone to ask, "Why have the Han army come here?" Gan Yanshou and his men replied, "Chanyu, your earlier petition detailed your plight, your desire to submit to the mighty Han, and your intention to personally pay your respects to the Emperor. Moved by your plight in abandoning your kingdom and finding humble refuge in Kangju, the Emperor dispatched General Duhu to escort your family. Because we were afraid of causing a commotion, we did not dare to go directly to the city." Several exchanges of envoys followed. Gan Yanshou and his deputy Tang Lin then rebuked them, saying, "We’ve journeyed far on your behalf, Chanyu, yet not a single dignitary has greeted us, nor have we seen any officials assigned to receive us. This shocking lack of hospitality is unacceptable! Our men and animals are exhausted from the long march, our supplies are dwindling, and we may not even be able to return! We urge you and your ministers to find a solution immediately."
The next day, we reached the Dulai River, three miles from Zhizhi City, and made camp, preparing for battle. From afar, we could see the colorful flags on the city walls, with hundreds of armored soldiers patrolling and over a hundred cavalry circling the city. There were also infantry soldiers practicing in a fish scale formation at the city gate. The city walls echoed with taunts of "Come and get us!" Over a hundred cavalry charged towards our camp, but our soldiers aimed their bows and arrows at them, forcing them back. We also sent soldiers to shoot arrows at the cavalry and infantry on the city gate, sending them scrambling for cover. Gan Yanshou and Tang Lin ordered the soldiers to charge towards the city when they heard the drums, surrounding it from all sides, digging trenches, blocking the city gate, using shields as cover, unleashing volleys of spears and crossbow bolts. They poured crossbow bolts and spear shafts onto the tower defenders, causing them to flee. Outside the earthen city, there was a wooden palisade from which we shot arrows, killing many enemies. The enemy retaliated by torching the outer palisade. At night, a wave of cavalry charged out, but we intercepted them and shot them dead.
When news of the Han army's arrival reached the Xiongnu Chanyu, he initially planned to flee, but he was worried that the Kangju people would resent him and help the Han army, especially since the armies of Wusun and other nations were also on the march, making him feel trapped. The Zhizhi Chanyu had already fled, but then returned, saying, "We'll stand our ground!" So the Chanyu put on his armor and went up the tower, where he and scores of his wives and concubines rained arrows down on the Han army. An arrow found its mark, striking the Chanyu in the nose, while several of his wives fell. The Chanyu dismounted and commanded the battle, his command echoing amidst the carnage within the palace itself.
After midnight, the wooden city walls fell, and the people inside the city retreated to the earthen city, shouting loudly on the walls. At this time, over ten thousand Kangju cavalrymen split into more than ten teams, surrounding the city from all directions and coordinating with the Han army. During the night, the Han army made several unsuccessful attempts to attack the camp and then retreated. When the sun came up, fires were lit all around, and the Han soldiers shouted with joy as they charged forward, with the sound of drums shaking the heavens and earth. The Kangju army began to retreat. The Han army, a wall of shields, stormed the earthen city. The Chanyu and his family fled into the palace. The Han soldiers set fire to the city, and the soldiers rushed in, with the Chanyu sustaining serious injuries and dying. The military officer Du Xun cut off the Chanyu's head, found two Han dynasty envoys' seals, and silk books brought by Gu Ji and others. The other spoils of war were rewarded to the meritorious soldiers. In total, one thousand five hundred and eighteen people, including the queen, the crown prince, and various kings, were killed; one hundred and forty-five people were captured alive; over one thousand surrendered; and the cities and lands of fifteen kingdoms were rewarded to the participating countries. Yanshou and Tang wrote to the emperor, saying: "Your Majesty, the greatest truth is unity. In the past, there were prosperous times of Kang and Yu, and now there is the powerful Han empire. The Xiongnu Chanyu Hu Hanxie has already submitted to us; only the Zhizhi Chanyu is rebellious and has not been punished yet. He occupies the Western Regions of Daxia, believing that the powerful Han empire cannot touch him. The Zhizhi Chanyu is cruel to the people, with heinous crimes. We, Yanshou and Tang, lead the army of justice, executing divine justice. Thanks to Your Majesty's divine protection and good fortune, we achieved complete victory, killing the Zhizhi Chanyu and his subordinates, including the named kings. Let his head serve as a warning to those beyond our borders." And so it was done.
Prime Minister Kuang Heng and Censor-in-Chief Fan Yanshou believed: "The heads of Zhi Zhi Khan and those famous kings have been transported to several countries, and everyone in the barbarian lands knew about it. The 'Monthly Ordinances' say that in spring, it is time to 'bury the remains'; they should be buried quickly, not left hanging." General Xujia and Right General Wang Shang, on the other hand, said: "During the Spring and Autumn Period, at the meeting of Jia Gu, Yu Shi mocked the Qi ruler, and Confucius killed him. Moreover, it is now the dead of summer; heads and feet should be buried separately, as is proper. They should be left hanging for ten days before burial." The Emperor ordered the generals to discuss the matter.
At first, Minister of the Central Secretariat Shi Xian wanted to marry his sister to Yanshou, but Yanshou did not agree. Later, the Prime Minister and Censor-in-Chief also disliked Shi Xian's abuse of power, so they did not support Tang. Tang was originally greedy, and much of the wealth plundered from the Western Regions was illegal. The Imperial Inspector impeached him and sent people to investigate Tang and his subordinates. Tang also wrote a letter saying: "My subordinates and I together defeated Zhi Zhi Khan and were fortunate to be victorious. We should be welcomed with envoys on the way to reward us. Now the Imperial Inspector is investigating and arresting us; this is just handing Zhi Zhi Khan a victory!" The Emperor immediately released Tang and his subordinates and ordered the preparation of food and wine to reward the army. When the army returned, it was time to reward everyone. Shi Xian and Kuang Heng believed: "Yanshou and Tang went rogue, disobeying the court's orders. If they are promoted, it would encourage future envoys to take reckless risks in barbarian lands, inviting disaster upon the country—the consequences would be unthinkable." Emperor Yuan admired the contributions of Yanshou and Tang but was also wary of the opinions of Kuang Heng and Shi Xian. The matter was discussed for a long time without a resolution.
Zong Zhengliu's report went something like this: "Chizhi Chanyu killed many envoys and soldiers, and this news has really hurt our country's reputation. Everyone at court was heartbroken. Your Majesty had already planned to deal with him severely, and this matter has been on your mind all along. The Protector General of the Western Regions, Gan Yanshou, and the Deputy Commandant, Tang Cheng, with a bit of luck on their side, commanded a diverse army, risking their necks to strike deep into enemy territory, all the way to Kangju. They captured five cities, took the Marquis of She's flag as a trophy, beheaded Chizhi, and their victory echoed far and wide, even reaching beyond the Kunlun Mountains, wiping out the stain of Guji and establishing illustrious merit. All the other tribes were scared stiff and fell right into line, none dared to defy. When the Xiongnu heard Chizhi was dead, they were both relieved and terrified, quickly sending envoys to show submission, begging to remain loyal vassals of the Han for generations to come. This is a victory for the ages, bringing lasting peace—the greatest achievement any court official could ever hope for!"
In the past, the officials Fang Shu and Jifu of the Zhou Dynasty helped King Xuan defeat the Xiongnu, and many ethnic groups surrendered to the Zhou Dynasty. The Book of Songs says: "A resounding boom, like thunder, the illustrious Fang Shu, conquering the Xiongnu, the southern barbarians came in awe." The Book of Changes says: "A glorious victory, bringing no disgrace." It means to praise those who eliminate evil, and those who do not listen will surrender. Gan Yanshou and Tang Cheng's achievements far surpass even the 'glorious victory' described in the Book of Changes and the 'thunderous triumph' recounted in the Book of Songs! When rewarding merits, do not get stuck on minor mistakes, and when evaluating merits, do not get caught up in trivial matters. The Sima Fa states that soldiers should be rewarded within a month, meaning that soldiers should be rewarded as soon as possible to encourage them to do good deeds. This shows that military merits should be valued and those who have made contributions should be promoted. After Jifu returned to the court in triumph, King Zhou rewarded him heavily. The Book of Songs says: "Jifu feasted in celebration, richly rewarded, returning from Haojing, his achievements will be remembered forever." Coming back from Haojing still feels distant, let alone Gan Yanshou and Tang Cheng who returned from thousands of miles away; their accomplishments were HUGE! However, Gan Yanshou and Tang Cheng did not receive rewards, but got dinged for some minor screw-ups, and their merits were buried for a long time. This is a real bummer, and it'll kill the troops' morale!
In the past, Duke Huan of Qi had the merit of subduing rebellious states in the front, but also the fault of destroying the state of Lu in the back; gentlemen all use merit to cover up faults and conceal things for them. General Li Guangli led fifty thousand troops, spent a huge amount of money, and mobilized the army for four years, only to come back with a mere thirty fine horses. Although he killed King Wu Gu of Wan, this small achievement was far from enough to make up for the enormous expenses, and he had many personal faults. Emperor Wu of Han, considering his long-distance campaigns, did not investigate his faults, and even rewarded over a hundred marquises, ministers, and officials holding posts worth two thousand shi of grain annually. Now the Kangju country is stronger than the Wan country, the title of the Chanyu is more prestigious than King Wu Gu, and killing envoys is a far more serious crime than holding back horses. Gan Yanshou and Tang Cheng did not use many soldiers of the Han Dynasty or spend much food, and their achievements were far more significant than Li Guangli's. Moreover, Chang Hui's desire to attack the Wusun and Zheng Ji's reception of the surrendered Xiongnu people were also rewarded. Therefore, the achievements of Gan Yanshou and Tang Cheng surpassed those of Fang Shu and Jifu, outweighed those of Duke Huan of Qi and Li Guangli, and were far more significant than those of Anyuan and Changluo, yet their achievements have not been recognized, while their minor faults have been repeatedly mentioned. It makes my blood boil! They deserve a full pardon, a promotion, and a handsome reward to encourage future loyalty and service to the empire.
The Emperor issued a decree saying, "The Xiongnu Chanyu Zhizhi was a total jerk and even killed our envoys and soldiers. That's outrageous! How could I forget this matter! The reason I didn't immediately send troops before was to get the army ready without wearing my men out, so I endured and did not act rashly. Now Yanshou and Tang took the initiative, teamed up with neighboring countries, and attacked Zhizhi. Lucky break! We successfully killed Chanyu Zhizhi and captured his whole crew – over a thousand people! Although they acted independently and violated the law, it didn't cost us a dime or a single soldier; we relied on the enemy's food supply to achieve a great victory thousands of miles away, sending a message to everyone south and making our name known across the land. This action eliminated the border troubles and stabilized the border. However, their actions caused losses, and that pains me, but the responsibility should lie with those who executed the orders. Therefore, pardon Yanshou and Tang of their guilt; case closed. Now let the ministers discuss how to reward them."
After discussion, the ministers all agreed that by military law, they should be put to death for killing the Chanyu without orders. However, Kuang Heng and Shi Xian believed, "Zhizhi was just a nobody pretending to be king out in the sticks – not a real Chanyu." Remembering the deeds of the Marquis of Anyuan, Zheng Ji, the Emperor made Yanshou the Marquis Yi Cheng. Kuang Heng and Shi Xian once again opposed. In the end, the Emperor appointed Yanshou as Colonel Changshui and made Tang the Marquis Guannei, both with a fief of three hundred households, and an additional reward of one hundred pounds of gold. He thanked the heavens and declared a general amnesty. Afterwards, Yanshou was appointed as Colonel Changshui, and Tang was appointed as Colonel Shesheng.
Later, Yanshou was promoted to commander of the city gate guard and commander of the imperial guard, and eventually died in office. When Emperor Cheng just ascended to the throne, Prime Minister Kuang Heng submitted another memorial, saying, "As a high-ranking official (2,000 stone), Tang went on a mission but overstepped his authority with the barbarians, failed to set a good example, pocketed Kangju loot, and ordered his subordinates to bury the matter regarding events in remote regions. Although this incident occurred before the amnesty, he should not hold an official position again." So, Tang got the sack.
Now, about Chen Tang... he wrote to the emperor, claiming that the son of the Kangju king was not actually a prince. Turns out, the guy *was* a prince. So, Chen Tang got the death penalty and was thrown in jail.
At this time, the official Gu Yong presented a memorial to the emperor, defending Chen Tang. He said, "I have heard that in the State of Chu, there was a wise minister named Ziyu, whom King Wen of Chu humbly gave his seat to. In the State of Zhao, there were renowned generals like Lian Po and Ma Fu, so formidable that even the powerful State of Qin dared not spy on military affairs at Jingxing. Recently, in the Han Dynasty, there were capable ministers and military commanders like Zhi Du and Wei Shang, who made the Xiongnu leader hesitate to harass the border. From this, it is clear that generals who can win battles are the country's essential pillars of strength and must not be underestimated! As the ancients said, 'A true leader remembers his generals and ministers when the drums of war sound.'
Your subject believes that Chen Tang, the Marquis of Guannei, who previously served as the deputy protector of the Western Regions, was filled with resentment over the atrocities committed by the Xiongnu leader. He was also distressed that the court's punishment of the leader was not severe enough. Therefore, he meticulously planned and bravely launched an attack. Ultimately, he led his troops into battle, swept through the Wusun, crossed the Congling, captured the leader's capital, and killed him. He avenged the national shame of the past ten years, wiped away the disgrace of the border officials, and instilled fear in the countries of the Western Regions, with his military achievements reaching the Western Sea. Since the time of Emperor Yuan of Han, no general has achieved such outstanding merits in the Western Regions as he has!
Now, Chen Tang has been detained for a long time due to an error in his memorial and has not yet been judged. Those law enforcement officials want to execute him. In the past, Bai Qi, the great general of the State of Qin, attacked Yingdu in the south and killed Zhao Kuo in the north. Just because of a small mistake, he was executed in Du You, and the people of Qin mourned for him, shedding tears of sorrow. Now, Chen Tang has personally led a large army, fought valiantly thousands of miles away, returned triumphantly, offered his achievements to the ancestral temple, and reported to the heavens and the earth. Not a single soldier in armor failed to admire him. It is not a serious crime to be punished for a verbal mistake. The Book of Zhou says, 'Record others' merits, forget others' faults; this is what a ruler should do.' Even a loyal dog or horse serving its master will receive rewards, let alone the country's meritorious officials!
I am worried that Your Majesty has overlooked the warning of war, not understood the meaning of the Book of Zhou, and forgotten to reward the meritorious officials. If officials follow the opinions of the law enforcement officials in a situation like Chen Tang's, it will cause the people to harbor resentment similar to that of the Qin people in the past. This is not a good way to inspire soldiers to sacrifice for the country!" After Gu Yong's memorial was presented, the emperor ordered the release of Chen Tang but stripped him of his title, making him an ordinary soldier.
Wow, after a few years, the governor of the Western Regions, Duan Huizong, was surrounded by the Wusun army. He sent a rider galloping for help, hoping that the court could send the military from Dunhuang to rescue him. Prime Minister Wang Shang, Grand General Wang Feng, and a host of other officials debated for days to no avail. Wang Feng said, "Veteran General Wei Qing is experienced and familiar with the situation in the Western Regions; we can ask him." The Emperor sent for Wei Qing at the Xuanwu Palace. His past campaign against the Zhizhi Chanyu had left him ill, his arms useless. After Wei Qing entered the palace, the Emperor excused him from kneeling and then showed him Duan Huizong's memorial. Wei Qing declined, saying, "We've got plenty of smart guys, and I'm too sick to help!" The Emperor said, "The country needs you, you can't refuse!" Wei Qing replied, "I'm not worried about this." The Emperor asked, "Why's that?"
Wei Qing said, "It takes five Xiongnu soldiers to take down one Han soldier. Why is that? Their weapons and bows are lousy. I've heard they’ve picked up some techniques from the Han, but it’s still three to one. Military strategy says you only have a real enemy when they outnumber you two to one. The Wusun army besieging Duan Huizong is too small to win. Don’t you worry, Your Majesty! Also, light infantry marches fifty miles a day, while heavy infantry only thirty. Duan Huizong wants to mobilize the Dunhuang army, but by then, it'll be too late. Those are revenge troops, not reinforcements!" The Emperor asked, "What should we do? When will the siege be lifted? When can we expect good news?" Wei Qing knew the Wusun people were a disorganized group and could hold out only a few days at most. So he reckoned, "The siege has already been lifted! In less than five days, we will definitely receive good news!" Sure enough, four days later, word came that Duan Huizong was safe. General Wang Feng got Wei Qing appointed Assistant Minister, giving him a lot of responsibility. Wei Qing knew the law, was good at spotting opportunities, and most of his ideas were adopted. But he took bribes, wrote petitions for pay, and that’s how he fell.
At first, Wan Nian and Tang were on excellent terms. Since the era of Emperor Yuan, the resettlement of people to build a city had ceased. Emperor Cheng wanted to build Chuling, but a few years later, he decided to relocate the construction to a more favorable site south of Baling Qu Pavilion. Wan Nian and Tang discussed this, saying: "During the reign of Emperor Wu, the craftsman Yang Guang was promoted to the position of Imperial Works Minister because of his excellent work. Later, Geng Shouchang, the Minister of Agriculture and the Censor-in-Chief, built Duling and was appointed as the Marquis Within the Pass. The Imperial Works Minister Chengmayannian was granted the official position of two thousand stones (a high-ranking official position) for his hard work. Now, in building Chuling and establishing cities, this is a great achievement, and Wan Nian should also be rewarded. Your wife's family is in Chang'an, and your children have grown up in Chang'an. If you are unwilling to go east, you can request relocation and receive rewards of land and houses, which serves both purposes." Tang thought this was a good idea, so he wrote to the emperor: "Chuling is located in the capital, with fertile land, and a county can be established. The people of the world have not been relocated near the tombs for more than thirty years. There are more and more wealthy people in the east, occupying good fields and exploiting the poor. Relocating the people to Chuling can strengthen the power of the capital, weaken the power of the vassals, and allow ordinary people to live a good life. I'm willing to move my family to Chuling first, to set an example for everyone else."
The emperor adopted his advice and indeed established Changling County. Later, he moved people from the inner counties. Wan Nian boasted that he could complete the project in three years, but in the end, it was not completed. Many ministers said this was highly inconvenient. The court ordered the relevant departments to discuss the matter, and everyone said: "Changling's construction is a massive undertaking. We're raising low-lying land into mountains; even the outhouses are on level ground! Using earth hauled from miles away, we can't guarantee the sanctity of the imperial tombs. The foundation is unstable. Millions of laborers are employed, even working by torchlight at night, hauling earth from Dongshan at a cost as high as grain. Years of construction have exhausted the nation, emptying the treasury and leaving the people destitute. The original site, nestled amongst mountains and rivers, offered a high, spacious location near the ancestral tombs and already had a decade's worth of work completed. We should return to the original plan and halt further relocation of the people." The emperor then issued an edict cancelling Changling's construction, as recorded in the *Cheng Ji*. The Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor requested the demolition of the houses in Changling County. Before the memorial was approved, someone asked Tang: "So, the houses aren't down yet – are they still moving people?" Tang replied: "Given the ministers' advice, I'd bet they'll still move those people."
Shang Gang, the Marquis of Chengdu, had just been appointed Grand Marshal and Wei General, and already disliked Tang. Hearing that Tang was subverting the people, he arrested him and put him in prison to investigate his crimes. Tang used to be a cavalry commander and once wrote a letter to Wang Mang saying, "My father died young without reward; my mother, along with the Empress Dowager, raised the Emperor with great hardship; she deserves recognition." As a result, she was indeed rewarded as the Marquis of Xin Du. Later, the Empress Dowager's half-brother, Gou Can, became the commander of the Water Conservancy Department but died, and his son Gou Ji became a court attendant. Gou Can's wife wanted to seek a title for Gou Ji, so she gave Tang fifty pounds of gold. Tang promised to help her submit a petition to the Emperor. The Hongnong prefect, Zhang Kuang, embezzled over a million coins and was both cunning and corrupt. Ordered to appear for immediate questioning, Zhang Kuang, fearing imprisonment, bribed Tang. Tang then delayed Zhang Kuang's case for over a month before finally accepting a two million coin bribe. All this happened before the general amnesty.
Later, a black dragon appeared in Donglai County, and someone went to ask Tang what this was a sign of. He said, "This is some sort of celestial event. Unusual comings and goings have been happening one after another, which is why the dragon appears at abnormal times." He also mentioned that the court was planning to relocate the people again, and this news spread widely. The Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor submitted a memorial stating, "Tang is inciting unrest, behaving improperly, and spinning tales to deceive the emperor. This is a great insolence!" After discussion, Minister Zeng believed, "Tang's behavior is indeed improper, as he has not followed proper legal procedures. He exploited loopholes in the law to lessen his sentence, setting a bad example for his subordinates, so he should be handed over for trial. Unprecedented matters should be reported to the emperor to ensure justice and protect lives. The emperor cared about the people and has ordered the cancellation of the relocation plan for Changling, which has been announced. Tang's reckless predictions about another relocation, although causing some panic, did not lead to unrest among the people, so it cannot be said that he is inciting unrest. Tang fabricates lies and invents non-existent things; this is a great contempt!" The emperor ordered, "Minister Zeng is right. Tang previously had military achievements against the Zhi Zhi Chanyu, so his death penalty is pardoned, and he is demoted to a commoner and exiled to the border." The emperor also said, "Former Chief Architect Wan Nian is a treacherous and disloyal official, acting with reckless abandon, collecting excessive taxes, imposing heavy labor, and building projects that caused widespread suffering and wasted resources, leading to many people suffering injustice, with countless deaths and injuries, and people were furious. Although he has been pardoned, he should not stay in the capital." Therefore, Tang and Wan Nian were exiled to Dunhuang. Meanwhile, after a long time, the Prefect of Dunhuang submitted a memorial saying, "Tang personally killed the Zhi Zhi Chanyu before, and his reputation has spread far overseas, so he's too valuable to be stationed near the border." The court then ordered him to be relocated to Anding.
Geng Yu sent a letter to the emperor to complain about the injustice done to Chen Tang. Geng Yu said, "Yanshou and Chen Tang, they have achieved great military feats for the Han Dynasty, making our country proud and erasing years of humiliation, conquering rebellious kings and distant enemies. Nobody could match their achievements! The late emperor highly praised them, issued decrees to commend their accomplishments, and even changed the calendar year to honor them. Because of their merits, Nanjun presented a white tiger, and the border regions were peaceful. Even when he was sick, the emperor kept pushing the prime minister to reward Chen Tang, sending officials to nag him repeatedly. However, Prime Minister Kuang Heng obstructed this, only giving Yanshou and Chen Tang a measly few hundred acres, causing the meritorious soldiers to feel disappointed!"
Emperor Xiaocheng inherited the late emperor's legacy, relying on the late emperor's military achievements, and the country was peaceful, allowing the troops to rest. However, the court was full of corrupt officials and sycophants. The emperor was more interested in power than the country's best interests, ignoring warnings and resenting anyone who achieved more than him, leading to Chen Tang's wrongful imprisonment and death in Dunhuang. This humiliation at the gateway to the West, mocked even by the remnants of the Xiongnu, is heartbreaking. Even today, envoys still boast about defeating the Xiongnu to show off Han power. Using other people's victories to scare enemies, while ditching the heroes to please the bad guys—isn't that a crying shame?
The country should be vigilant even in times of peace and consider the possibility of decline even in times of prosperity. These days, we ain't got the overflowing treasury like Emperor Wen's time, nor the army of top-notch generals like Emperor Wu's – just Chen Tang, that's it! If Chen Tang had not met a wise monarch like Your Majesty, I'd still hope they'd give him some proper recognition, build him a tomb, you know, inspire the next generation. Chen Tang was fortunate to live in an era of wise rule; he achieved great deeds shortly but was later slandered by treacherous officials and exiled to a remote area, eventually dying in exile without a burial place. Smart folks are still sayin' Chen Tang's achievements were legendary, and his mistakes were peanuts, but those jealous weasels got him anyway. It's a real shame! This is the reason why I, Geng Yu, feel extremely worried for the country.
After Geng Yu's memorial was presented, the Emperor ordered the release of Chen Tang, but Chen Tang ultimately died in Chang'an.
Wang Mang's been running the show for years now, all the while pretending to respect the old Han heroes while kissing up to the Empress Dowager. He even took credit for the Zhi Zhi campaign, changing Emperor Yuan's temple name to "Gaozong." He figured the old rewards given to Tang and Yanshou were a joke, and poor Du Xun got nothing! So, he gave Yanshou's grandson Qian another 1,600 households and made Tang the "Marquis of Breaking the Hu," his son Feng the same, and Du Xun the "Marquis of Conquering the Di."
Duan Huizong, courtesy name Zisun, was a native of Shanggui County, Tianshui Prefecture. During the Jingning era, he was appointed as the magistrate of Duling County, recommended by senior government officials, and served as the governor of the Western Regions, eventually rising to the rank of cavalry commander and a high-ranking official. The tribes of the Western Regions greatly respected him. Three years later, after completing his mission and returning to the court, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pei County. Later, because the Xiongnu Chanyu visited the court, he was transferred to serve as the magistrate of Yanmen County. Several years later, he was dismissed from office for committing a crime. The Western Regions sent petitions to the court requesting his return, and during the Yangshuo era, he was once again appointed as the governor of the Western Regions.
Duan Huizong was a man of integrity and was highly ambitious. He was a good friend of Gu Yong. Gu Yong, seeing that despite his advanced age he still wanted to go to the Western Regions, wrote a letter advising him: "Given your success in pacifying the border, it's great you've been given such an important position again! With your skills, you could be living the high life in the capital. Why bother risking your neck on the frontier? Managing the tribes and keeping the peace are all your strengths; I can't even begin to describe how talented you are! However, friends should be honest with each other, so I'll be straight with you. Nowadays, the strength of the Han Dynasty is flourishing, the borders are stable, and look at guys like Fu Jiezhi, Zheng Ji, Gan Yanshou, and Chen Tang – their achievements are legendary! I hope you follow the experience of the past, do not pursue extraordinary achievements, come back early; your safety is paramount. Think about it."
After Duan Huizong set off, various Western Region states sent representatives to the outskirts to greet him. The King of Xiaokunmi, Anri, had been helped by Duan Huizong before and was very grateful to him. He wanted to personally visit him, but other officials advised against it. So he went to Kucha to visit Duan Huizong. Kucha was very welcoming to him. The Prince of Kangju, Baosuni, led more than 10,000 people who wanted to surrender. Duan Huizong reported this to the court, and the court sent an imperial guard commander to meet them. Duan Huizong illegally mobilized the troops of the Wujijun to follow the commander to accept the surrender. The commander, fearing the size of the Kangju force, ordered them all bound, which angered Baosuni, who fled with his army. After completing the task and returning to the court, Duan Huizong was punished for his unauthorized mobilization of the Wujijun troops. The court issued an edict for him to make amends. He was later appointed as the governor of Jincheng County, but was dismissed due to illness.
More than a year later, Xiaokunmi was killed by the people of Wusun, and various vassal kings began to rebel, causing all hell to break loose. The court then sent Duan Huizong to serve as a high-ranking official and concurrently as the Grand Master of Splendor, to pacify the chaos in Wusun, support the brother of Xiaokunmi, Mozhen, to become king, and only returned after stabilizing the country of Wusun.
In the second year, Mo Zhen killed Da Kunmi again, but he died of illness himself. The Han Dynasty was furious, but couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter. During the Yuan Yan period, the Han Dynasty sent Hui Zong with the Wujixiaowei and troops from various countries to kill Mo Zhen's son Fanqiu. Hui Zong feared a large army would frighten Fanqiu off, so he left the main force at Dianlou, taking only thirty elite soldiers to Fanqiu's location. He called Fanqiu over and rebuked him, saying, "Mo Zhen not only fratricided but also murdered the Han princess's offspring. He died before he could be punished. I am ordered to come and kill you!" After speaking, Hui Zong directly drew his sword and killed Fanqiu. The other officials, terrified, fled.
Xiao Kunmi's uncle, Wuli Mi, who was Mo Zhen's nephew, gathered several thousand cavalry to surround Hui Zong. Hui Zong said to them, "If you surround and kill me now, it will be as easy for the Han Dynasty as plucking a hair from a cow. Isn't Zhizhi Chanyu's head still on display at Gaojie? Don't you Wusun know?" Kunmi and the others softened and said, "Killing his son is fine, but why the surprise? We could have prepared a feast!" Hui Zong replied, "Giving him warning would have been a serious crime. Besides, accepting your hospitality would've looked like I valued family ties more than justice." Kunmi and the others cried and dispersed. After returning to the court, Hui Zong reported the incident, and the ministers in the court lauded Hui Zong's swift action. His daring raid into Wusun territory, killing Fanqiu with minimal troops, demonstrated the Han's power and earned him a handsome reward. So the Emperor made him Marquis of Guannei and gave him a hundred catties of gold.
At that time, Xiaokunmi's uncle Beiyuan Zhi gathered many troops to plot to kill Xiaokunmi. The Han Dynasty sent Protector-General Sun Jian to appease the Wusun, and he worked together with Hui Zong to quell the rebellion. The following year, Hui Zong died of illness in Wusun at the age of seventy-five. Wusun held a grand funeral and built a shrine for him.
Since the Yuan Shou period of Emperor Wu of Han, Zhang Qian first opened up the road to the Western Regions. It wasn't until during Emperor Xuan's reign that Zheng Ji officially established the position of Protector-General of the Western Regions. Up until Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han, there were a total of eighteen Protectors-General of the Western Regions, each selected for their courage and cunning. However, very few left behind any significant achievements.
Lian Bao was renowned for his virtue and trustworthiness; Guo Shun was known for his integrity and fairness; Sun Jian was illustrious for his authority. As for the other Protectors-General, there’s not much remarkable to report. Chen Tang, though valiant in battle, was arrogant and reckless, leading to an impoverished end. Many people felt sorry for him, so I recorded his story as well. "It is praised: Since the Yuan Shou period, Zhang Qian began to open up the Western Regions. Until the time of Emperor Xuan, Zheng Ji established the title of Protector-General, and up to Wang Mang's time, there were a total of eighteen individuals, all selected for their courage and cunning, but only those with achievements are noted here. Lian Bao was known for his virtue and trustworthiness, Guo Shun for his integrity and fairness, Sun Jian for his authority, and the others are insignificant. Chen Tang, though valiant, failed to restrain himself and ended up penniless, which was lamented by many; therefore, his story is included here."
