Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 19 The Han Dynasty: The Banquet of the Hongmen (7)
In the second year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (115 BC), since King Hunxie surrendered to the Han Dynasty, the Han army drove the Huns to the north of the desert. From Yanze to the east, there were no traces of the Huns. The road to the Western Regions is unimpeded.Therefore, Zhang Qian suggested: "Kunmo, the king of Wusun, was originally a vassal state of the Huns. Later, after his military strength gradually became stronger, he was unwilling to submit to the Huns. Now the Xiongnu Shanyu has just been severely injured by our dynasty, and the land under the jurisdiction of King Hunxie was empty and deserted. The custom of the barbarians is to be attached to their hometown and covet the property of the Han Dynasty. Now they can really use the rich money Wealth wins Wusun Kingdom, attracts them to move eastward, and lives in the land under the jurisdiction of King Hunxie in the past, so as to become a country of brothers with our dynasty. They will definitely obey our orders. Right arm. If we form an alliance with Wusun Kingdom, then the Daxia and other countries to the west of it can be easily recruited to become our vassals." Emperor Wu of Han thought his words were very reasonable, and immediately appointed Zhang Qian as Zhonglang General. Leading more than 300 people, with two horses in hand, tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, and gold and silk worth tens of millions of dollars, etc., and many people as deputy envoys holding Han Dynasty talismans. The country's road, then appointed a deputy to go.

[Original text]

Since Qian came to Wusun, Kun Mo didn't see Qian, and the etiquette was very rude.Qian Yu pointed out: "If Wusun can live in his hometown in the east, the Han will send the princess as his wife and become brothers. They will be far away from the Xiongnu, and the Xiongnu will not be able to break through." Nearby, all the ministers were afraid of the Xiongnu and did not want to emigrate.Qian stayed for a long time, but couldn't get the gist of it. Because of the dispatch of deputy envoys Dawan, Kangju, Da Yuezhi, Daxia, Anxi, Shendu, Khotan and other countries, Wusun sent the translation of the Tao and sent Qian back. Ten people, dozens of horses, thank you with Qian, because I let you see the size of the Han.It's the age, Qian returns, arrives, and worships as a great line.Over the next year or so, the envoys sent by Qian to understand the genus of the Great Xia all came with them, so the Western Regions began to be communicated with the Han Dynasty.

There are 36 countries in the Western Regions, with mountains in the north and south, rivers in the center, more than [-] miles from east to west, and more than [-] miles from north to south.The river has two sources, one out of Congling, the other out of Dao, and they merge to the east and flow into Yanze.Yanze went to Yumen and Yangguan for more than three hundred li.There are two roads from Yumen and Yangguan to the Western Regions: from Shanshan to the north of the Nanshan Mountain, follow the river westward to Shache, which is the South Road;From Cheshiqian Wangting followed Beishan along the river westward to Shule, it was the North Road; the North Road went west to Congling, and then came out of Dawan, Kangju, and Yancaiyan.Therefore, they all belonged to the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu chased the king every day in the west, set up a boy servant as a captain, and envoys led the Western Regions. They often lived in Yanqi, Weixu, and Weili.

Since King Wusun refused to return to the east, the Han Dynasty set up Jiuquan County in the former place of King Hunxie, and moved people to enrich it;

The Son of Heaven got a sweaty and bloody horse, loved it, and named it "Tianma".The messengers looked at each other and asked for it.Among the foreign envoys, there are hundreds of elders and more than a hundred young ones. When the people practiced and practiced widely, they became more accustomed to it and declined.The rate of the Han Dynasty envoys is more than ten years old, and the number is five or six generations; the distant ones are eight or nine years old, and the near ones are several years old.

【Translation】

After Zhang Qian and his party arrived in Wusun, although Kunmo, the king of Wusun, received him, his attitude was very arrogant and his etiquette was not good enough.Zhang Qian directly conveyed the decree of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, saying: "If Wusun can return to the east and live in his homeland, then our great Han will betroth the princess to the king as his wife. From then on, the Han Dynasty and Wusun will become a brotherly state and jointly resist the Huns. It is impossible for the Xiongnu not to be defeated." However, because Wusun was too far away from the Han Dynasty, he did not know the size of the Han Dynasty, and he had been a vassal of the Huns for a long time, so he was very close to the Huns, so all the ministers in the court respected the Huns Youjia, unwilling to move eastward.So Zhang Qian stayed in Wusun for a long time, but he still couldn't get a satisfactory answer, so he sent deputy envoys to Dawan, Kangju, Da Yuezhi, Daxia, Anxi, Shendu, Khotan and nearby countries. Make contact.Wusun sent translators and guides to send Zhang Qian and others back to the country, and sent dozens of people and horses to accompany Zhang Qian to the Han Dynasty as a gift of thanks. The Han court took the opportunity to let them understand the size and strength of the Han Dynasty.That year, after Zhang Qian returned to Chang'an, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty promoted him to Daxing.More than a year later, most of the deputy envoys sent by Zhang Qian to Daxia and other countries also returned to Chang'an with the envoys of the country. From then on, the countries in the Western Regions began to have friendly exchanges with the Han Dynasty.

There are a total of 36 countries in the Western Regions. There are mountains in the north and south, rivers in the middle, stretching for more than 300 miles from east to west, and more than [-] miles from north to south.The river in the central part has two sources, one originates from Congling and the other originates from Khotan, and after confluence, it flows into the salt marsh.Yanze is more than [-] miles away from Yumen and Yangguan.There are two roads leading from Yumen and Yangguan to the Western Regions: from Shanshan, follow the northern foot of Nanshan Mountain, go west along the river to Shache, which is the South Road; Ridge, came to Da Yuezhi and Anxi.From Cheshiqianwangting, follow Beishan along the river to the west to Shule, which is the North Road; from the North Road to the west and cross Congling, you will come to Dawan, Kangju, and Yancai.In the past, all countries in the Western Regions were ruled by the Huns.The Rizhu King in the west of the Xiongnu set up a boy servant Duwei, let him lead the countries in the Western Regions, live in Yanqi, Weixu, and Weili all the year round, collect taxes from the countries in the Western Regions, and take the opportunity to plunder the treasures of the countries.

Since King Wusun was unwilling to return to his hometown eastward, the Han Dynasty set up Jiuquan County in the former jurisdiction of King Hunxie, and gradually moved the people from the interior to enrich this area.Later, part of Jiuquan County was divided and Wuwei County was set up to block the communication channel between the Xiongnu and Qiang tribes.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very fond of the blood-sweat horse produced in Dawan, and named it "Tianma". Envoys came to Dawan to search for "Tianma".The envoys of the Han Dynasty sent missions to various countries in the Western Regions. There were hundreds of people in one group, and more than 100 people in one group. The number of envoys and the items they carried gradually decreased.In about one year, the envoys of the Han Dynasty sent out to various countries in the Western Regions. Sometimes there were more than a dozen batches, and sometimes there were five or six batches. Among them, it took eight or nine years for the long-distance envoys, and several years for the short-term envoys.

[Comment and Analysis]

Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions and bringing the Western Regions into the territory of the Western Han Dynasty created excellent conditions for the great integration of various ethnic groups and has great historical significance.Several years later, Westerners followed this road and transported Chinese silk and tea to Western countries.For the first time the Western nations knew of the abundance and prosperity of the East.When Julius Caesar appeared in clothes made of Chinese silk, the entire Western world was shocked.

Su Wu Shepherd
[Original text]

Emperor Shizong Xiaowu of the Han Dynasty, the first year of Tianhan

Shangjia Xiongnu Shanyu sent Zhonglang to send Su Wu to the Xiongnu envoy to stay in the Han Dynasty. Because of the generous bribes of Shanyu, he responded to his goodwill.Wu and the deputy Zhonglang will Zhang Sheng and the fake official Chang Hui.As far as the Xiongnu, they set up coins and sent them to Shanyu.Shan Yuyi's arrogance was beyond the expectations of the Han Dynasty.

King Huigou, Changshui Yuchang, etc., and those who were about to descend from the Wei Law Office, returned to the Han Dynasty with their shady appearance and conspiracy to rob Shan Yumu's family.The law guard, his father was from Changshui Hu, Li Yannian, the captain of the Lvshan Association, recommended the law envoy to the Xiongnu, and the envoy returned it. After hearing that Yannian's family was taken over, he died and surrendered to the Xiongnu.Shan Yu loves him, seeks state affairs, and establishes himself as King Ding Ling.When Yu Chang was in the Han Dynasty, he knew his deputy Zhang Sheng acquainted, and his private marquis Sheng said: "I heard that the emperor of the Han Dynasty hated Wei Lu very much, and he was often able to shoot and kill him for the Han Funu. My mother and younger brother were in the Han Dynasty, and I was lucky to be rewarded by him." Zhang Better than Xu Zhi, with goods and constant.More than a month later, Shan Yu went hunting, and the Du Yan family and his children were there. Yu Chang and more than [-] people wanted to kill him, but one of them died at night and told him.Shan Yu's sons sent troops and fought, King Gou and others all died, and Yu Chang survived.

Shan Yu envoy Wei Lv to deal with it.When Zhang Sheng heard about it, he was afraid of the previous words, so he used adverbial words.Wu said: "If this is the case, it must reach me. If you see a crime, you will die, and you will be a heavy burden on the country." He wanted to commit suicide.Victory and benefits together.Yu Changguo cited Zhang Sheng.Shan Yu was furious, and summoned all the nobles to discuss, intending to kill the Han envoy.Zuo Yizhizi said: "If you want to seek Shanyu, why add it again! You should all surrender." Shanyu sent Wei Lv to summon Wu to accept his resignation.Wu Weihui and others said: "Qu Jie humiliated his life, although he was born, what face will he return to the Han!" He stabbed himself with a saber.Wei Lv was startled, held his arms in his arms, rushed to call for a doctor, dug the ground as a hurdle, set a fire on it, covered the arms on top, and stepped on his back to bleed.Wu Qi is exhausted, rest in half a day.Hui waited to cry, and Yu returned to the camp.Shan Yu Zhuang Qijie, day and night sent people to wait for Wu, and received Zhang Sheng.

【Translation】

The first year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (100 BC)
In order to reward the Xiongnu Shanyu's loyalty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhonglang Su Wu to send the Xiongnu envoys who stayed in the Han Dynasty back to the Xiongnu, and brought generous gifts by the way to thank the Xiongnu Shanyu for his kindness.Su Wu and his deputy Zhonglang went with Zhang Sheng and Chang Hui, who was temporarily serving as an official of the mission. After arriving in the Xiongnu, they immediately gave gifts to Shan Yu.At this time, Shan Yu behaved more and more arrogantly, which was not what the Han Dynasty had hoped.

At this time, King Gou of the Huns who had surrendered to the Han Dynasty, Yu Chang from Changshui, and Wei Lu's former soldiers of the Han Dynasty who had surrendered to the Huns secretly discussed, intending to hijack the mother of the leader of the Huns, the Yan family, and return to the Han Dynasty. .Wei Lu's father was originally from the Huns in the Changshui area, and Wei Lu himself had a good relationship with Li Yannian, the captain of Xie Lv of the Han Dynasty. Later, on Li Yannian's recommendation, he was sent as an envoy to the Huns by the Han Dynasty.After Wei Lu returned from his mission, he heard that Li Yannian's family had been imprisoned, so he fled to the Huns and surrendered.Shan Yu loved him very much, often conspired with him on state affairs, and appointed him King Ding Ling.When Yu Chang was in the Han Dynasty, he had always been close friends with Zhang Sheng, the deputy envoy, so he visited Zhang Sheng in private and said: "I heard that the emperor of the Han Dynasty has always had a grudge against Wei Lu, so I can set up an ambush and shoot him to death as a substitute. The Han Dynasty eliminates harm. Now my mother and younger brother are both in the Han Dynasty, and I hope they will be rewarded for this." Zhang Sheng agreed to Yu Chang's request and gave him a lot of property.After more than a month later, Shan Yu went out to hunt, leaving only his mother and some children in the royal court.More than 70 people including Yu Chang were preparing to launch a rebellion. Unexpectedly, one of them escaped at night and reported the rebellion plan of Yu Chang and others to Shan Yu's children.So the sons of Shan Yu sent troops to fight against Yu Chang and others. King Gou and his gang were all killed, and Yu Chang was also captured alive.The Xiongnu Shanyu appointed Wei Lu to handle the matter.After Zhang Sheng heard the news, he was afraid that the agreement with Yu Chang would be revealed, so he confessed to Su Wu.Su Wu said: "At this point, I will definitely be involved. If I was humiliated first and then killed, I would have failed the country even more." Then he planned to commit suicide, but fortunately Zhang Sheng and Chang Hui stopped him together.Later, Yu Chang really confessed to Zhang Sheng. Shan Yu was quite annoyed. He called noble officials to discuss and planned to kill the Han envoy.Zuo Yizhizi of the Xiongnu said: "If you try to kill Shan Yu, how can you increase the punishment? We should make them all surrender." Shan Yu then sent Wei Lu to send a message to Su Wu.Su Wu then said to Chang Hui and others: "If you bow your knees, you will insult our mission. Even if you don't die, what face do you have to return to us big men?" After speaking, he drew out his saber and stabbed himself in the body.Wei Lu was shocked when he saw this, he hugged Su Wu, hurriedly summoned the doctor, dug a hole on the ground, lit a charcoal fire, then put Su Wu on the hole, stepped on Su Wu's back with his feet, so as to let the blood flow All out.Su Wu was breathless at the time, and it took a long time for him to wake up slowly.Chang Hui and others wept bitterly, and carried Su Wu back to the Han envoy's residence.Shan Yu was overwhelmed by Su Wu's integrity, and sooner or later he would send someone to check on Su Wu's recovery and arrest Zhang Sheng.

[Original text]

Wu Yiyu, Shanyu's envoy Xiaowu, who wants to surrender, will talk about Yuchang, and wants to surrender to Wu at this time; he cut Yuchang with his sword, and the law said: "Han envoy Zhang Sheng murdered Shanyu's close officials, he should die, Shanyu recruited and surrendered. Forgive the sin." He raised his sword to strike him, but if he wins, please surrender.The law called Wu and said: "If you are guilty, you should sit with each other." Wu said: "There is no plan, and you are not relatives. What is sitting with each other!"

The law said: "Su Jun, before the law, he lost the Han and returned to the Xiongnu. Fortunately, he was given a great gift to be called the king. He has tens of thousands of people, horses and livestock, so rich and noble! Su Jun descends today, and he will come back tomorrow; if he anoints the grass with his body, who will come back?" Know it!" Wu should not.The law said: "Because of me, you surrendered, and you are brothers with you. If you don't listen to my plan now, even if you want to see me again, you can still get it!" Dear, in order to surrender the captives to the barbarians, why do you think of you! And Shanyu believes in you, so that he can decide people's life and death, not to be flat-hearted and upright, but to fight against the two masters, to see disaster and defeat. Nanyue killed the Han envoys and slaughtered them as nine counties; King Wan Kill the envoys of the Han Dynasty, and hang their heads on the North Tower; North Korea kills the envoys of the Han Dynasty, and immediately destroys them; the Huns alone are not heard. If you know that I will not descend to the Ming Dynasty, and want to make the two countries attack each other, the disaster of the Huns will start from me." Don't be intimidated, Bai Shanyu, the more Shanyu wants to surrender.Naiyouwu puts it in the big cellar, and never eats or drinks; it rains and snows in the sky, and Wu is lying down, gnawing snow and hair and swallowing it together, and he will not die for several days.The Xiongnu thought they were gods, so they moved to Wu Beihai to a place where there was no one there, and sent Mu Yi, saying: "You will have to return the milk." Don't leave the officials to Chang Hui and others, and put them in other places.

【Translation】

Su Wu recovered slowly, and Shan Yu sent someone to persuade Su Wu, wanting him to surrender to the Huns.At this time, Yu Chang was also sentenced to death, and Shan Yu tried to use this opportunity to force Su Wu to surrender.After chopping off Yu Chang's head with a sword, Wei Lu said: "Han emissary Zhang Sheng attempted to murder Chan Yu's trusted ministers, he should be executed. Shan Yu is now recruiting and surrendering, and all surrenders will be pardoned." After saying that, he raised his sword to stab Zhang Sheng. , Zhang Sheng begged to surrender.Wei Lu then said to Su Wu: "The deputy envoy is guilty, and you, as the chief envoy, should suffer the same crime." Su Wu replied: "I did not participate in the conspiracy, nor did I have any relationship with Zhang Sheng, so why should I be punished jointly? "Wei Lu threatened Su Wu with his sword again, but Su Wu remained unmoved.

Wei Lu said: "Mr. Su, I betrayed the Han Dynasty and surrendered to the Xiongnu, so I was honored to be honored by Shanyu, who also gave me the title of king, and I have tens of thousands of people, horses and livestock all over the mountains and fields. What a glory Wealthy! If Mr. Su surrendered to the Huns today, he will be as honored as I am tomorrow, otherwise, who would know if he would throw his body in the wilderness for nothing?" Su Wu remained silent.Wei Lu said again: "If you follow my advice and surrender to the Huns, I will treat you like a brother; if you don't listen to my advice today, even if you want to see me again in the future, you will probably be unable to do so, right?" Su Wu He scolded Wei Lu and said: "As a subject of the Han Dynasty, you are ungrateful, betrayed the monarch and relatives, and surrendered to the barbarians. Why should I see you? What's more, Shan Yu trusted you and let you decide the life and death of others. Instead of treating them with a fair heart, you try to provoke the two monarchs to fight each other and gloat on the sidelines. Nanyue Kingdom killed the Han envoy, and after being slaughtered by the Han, it became nine counties; King Dayuan killed the Han After the envoy, his head was hung at the north gate of the Chang'an palace. North Korea killed the Han envoy, and immediately brought disaster to the country. Only the Huns have not done such a stupid thing. You know that I will not surrender, but If I want to provoke a confrontation between the two countries, I am afraid that the disaster of the Xiongnu will start from me." Wei Lu also knew that Su Wu would not be coerced by him in the end, so he had to report the truth to Shan Yu.Seeing that Su Wu was so loyal and unyielding, Shan Yu wanted to win him back even more, so he imprisoned Su Wu in a large cellar and refused to provide Su Wu with food, in an attempt to force him to submit.It was snowing heavily at that time, and Su Wu lay on the ground, eating snowflakes and felt wool from his clothes to satisfy his hunger, but he survived a few days later.The Huns believed that there were gods protecting him in secret, so they exiled Su Wu to a deserted place in the North Sea, gave him a group of rams to graze, and said to Su Wu: "When the rams can produce lambs, you can go back to Han Dynasty." It's time for court." Chang Hui and other officials in the mission who refused to surrender were also detained in different places.

(End of this chapter)