Reflection by Rio Grande

Tag: Qiang

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 203): Old Horse Knows The Way

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 18 Scroll 26 (continued)

    General Zhao Chongguo

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Shen’jue Era (61 B.C. continued)

    The Grandee of Merit, Yiqu Anguo, advanced into Qiangzhong. More than thirty influential Xianling leaders were summoned, and those deemed especially cunning and treacherous were executed. Troops were then released to strike the Xianling tribes, taking over a thousand heads. As a result, the surrendered Qiang and those who had submitted to the Han—such as the Qiang Marquis of Guiyi, Yang Yu—grew resentful and distrustful. They began raiding small settlements, rebelling against the frontier, assaulting towns and cities, and killing local officials. Yiqu Anguo, serving as Cavalry Commandant with three thousand horsemen under his command, was ordered to guard against the Qiang. But upon reaching Gaomen, he fell into an ambush, losing many chariots and weapons. He withdrew to Lingju county and reported the matter to the court.

    At that time, Zhao Chongguo was over seventy years of age. Believing him perhaps too old, the Emperor sent Bing Ji to inquire whom he thought capable of leading the army. Zhao Chongguo replied, “There is no one more seasoned for this task than this old officer.”

    The Emperor summoned him and asked, “General, how do you judge the Qiang barbarians? How many troops are required?”

    Zhao Chongguo responded, “To hear a hundred second-hand tales is not equal to seeing once with your own eyes. It is difficult to grasp the situation from afar. I request permission to hurry to Jincheng and devise the strategy in person. The Qiang and Rong, and the lesser tribes among them, are rebellious and shifting—surely near collapse. I ask Your Majesty to entrust this old servant and harbor no doubt.”

    The Emperor laughed, saying, “So be it.” He then mobilized a great army to advance on Jincheng commandery.

    In April of summer, Zhao Chongguo was appointed to command the campaign against the Western Qiang.

    In June, a comet appeared in the eastern sky.

    When Zhao Chongguo reached Jincheng, he planned to cross the Yellow River only after ten thousand cavalry had assembled. However, fearing interception by the enemy, he dispatched three detachments bearing torches to cross first under cover of night, ordering them to establish fortifications immediately upon landing. By dawn the crossing was complete, and several dozen to a few hundred enemy horsemen appeared, circling around the army.

    Zhao Chongguo said, “Our men and horses are weary from the journey—we must not pursue lightly. These riders are elite, and difficult to command against. Moreover, this is likely a stratagem to lure us into battle. Our purpose is to crush the enemy; trifling victories are not worth the risk.” He then forbade his troops to give chase.

    He sent equestrian scouts ahead toward Siwang Gulch. When they reported no enemy presence, he led the army through the gulch by night and proceeded to Mount Luodu. Summoning his lieutenants, Zhao Chongguo said, “I am certain the Qiang cannot inflict real harm. Had they stationed even a few thousand to guard Siwang Gulch and bar our passage, how could we have come through so easily?”

    Zhao Chongguo regularly sent scouts far ahead to reconnoiter, prepared for battle even while marching, and fortified his camps whenever he halted. He was cautious in all things, valued the lives of his soldiers, and calculated before committing to combat. From Mount Luodu he advanced westward to the headquarters of the Western Commandant, where he held feasts daily for his troops, whose morale surged and who all longed for action. Though the enemy repeatedly provoked him, Zhao Chongguo remained resolute and would not engage.

    After several prisoners were captured alive, they confessed that the Qiang chieftains chastised one another, saying: “I told you we should not rebel! Now the Emperor has sent General Zhao—eighty or ninety years of age, yet unmatched in the art of war. Even if we wished to fight to the death, would we even have the chance?”

    Earlier, the chieftain of the Han and Jian tribes, Midanger, had sent his younger brother Diaoku to report to the Commandant that the Xianling tribe were preparing to rebel. Several days later, they indeed rose in revolt. Since many of Diaoku’s kinsmen were aligned with the Xianling, the Commandant held him as a hostage. Zhao Chongguo, judging him blameless, released him and sent him back with a message for the Xianling chieftains, declaring: “The imperial army punishes only the guilty, sparing the innocent. The Emperor proclaims to all Qiang people: whoever captures lawbreakers shall be rewarded in proportion to the gravity of their captives’ crimes, with gold bestowed accordingly, and the wives, children, and property of the captured awarded as well.” Zhao Chongguo’s design was to employ imperial authority to win over the Han and Jian tribes and those among the raiders who might submit, thereby unsettling the enemy’s plans, exploiting their fatigue, and then striking once their strength faltered.

    At this time the Emperor had already dispatched sixty thousand troops from the inner commanderies to strengthen the border garrisons. The Prefect of Jiuquan, Xin Wuxian, submitted a memorial stating:

    “The commandery garrisons all sit defensively in the southern mountains, leaving the northern frontier exposed—this cannot sustain. If we wait until autumn or winter to advance, such a plan suits only when the enemy is far away. Now they raid us day and night, and the land is bitterly cold. Han horses cannot endure the winter. It would be better to provision our troops in early July with thirty days’ supplies, divide them into two columns, and attack from Zhangye and Jiuquan, converging upon Han and Jian tribes along the Xianshui River. Even if we cannot exterminate them entirely, we may seize their livestock, take their wives and children, and then withdraw. In winter we may strike again, and when the main force advances thereafter, the enemy will surely be thrown into turmoil.”

    The Emperor forwarded Xin Wuxian’s letter to Zhao Chongguo for feedback. Zhao Chongguo replied:

    “Each horse can carry no more than thirty days of grain—two and a half bushels of rice or eight bushels of wheat—besides clothing and arms. Pursuit would be difficult. The enemy will doubtlessly rely on shifting maneuvers, withdrawing gradually, following water and pasture, scattering into mountains and forests. If we chase deeply, they will seize the heights and sever our supply lines, placing us in extreme peril. We would become a joke to the barbarians, and the humiliation would not be washed away for a thousand years. As for Xin Wuxian’s proposal that we seize their livestock and capture their wives and children, this is more hope than strategy, not something that can be relied upon. The Xianling tribe rose first in rebellion, and the other tribes only followed them in raiding and kidnapping. Therefore, this old officer proposes that we acknowledge the excesses committed by the Han and Jian tribes, conceal their offenses, and refrain from exposing them. We should first suppress the Xianling to inspire fear, after which they will seek to correct themselves. Then we may pardon their crimes, appoint capable officials familiar with their customs, and gently guide them toward reconciliation. This is the only plan that protects the whole army and truly secures the frontier.”

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 201): Qiang–People Identified with Sheep

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    Modern Qiang Ethnic Group

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Yuan’kang Era (62 B.C.)

    In January of spring, a decree was issued: “Those aged eighty and above, unless guilty of false accusation or causing bodily harm to others, shall not be subject to punishment.”

    The former Intendant of Right Fufeng, Yin Wenggui, died leaving no wealth behind. In August of autumn, a decree stated: “Yin Wenggui was honest and upright, governing the people with fairness. It is granted that his son shall receive one hundred catties of gold to conduct sacrifice.”

    The Emperor ordered officials to search for the descendants of meritorious followers of Emperor Gaozu whose peerages had lapsed. They found one hundred thirty-six individuals, including Zhou Guanghan, Gongcheng(a title) of Huaili. All were granted twenty catties of gold and exemption from taxation and corvée for their households, with instructions to continue their ancestral sacrifices without interruption for generations.

    On August 11, the Marquis of Fuping, Zhang Anshi, passed away.

    Earlier, when Wei Xian, Marquis Jie of Fuyang, died, his eldest son, Wei Hong, had been imprisoned for a crime. The family altered Wei Xian’s will and falsely named his next son in line, Wei Xuancheng, Commandant of Dahe Commandery, as his heir. Wei Xuancheng, fully aware of his father’s true intentions, feigned madness—lying in his own filth(excretion), laughing and babbling incoherently, behaving confused and deranged. After the funeral, when he was summoned to inherit the title, he pretended to be too insane to answer. The Grand Herald submitted a report, and the Chancellor together with the Imperial Censor conducted an investigation.

    The assigned investigator, the Chancellor’s staff wrote to Wei Xuancheng, saying: “In ancient times, when one declined and yielded a position, one composed a written statement expressing dignified intent, thereby leaving honor to future generations. But you have disfigured yourself and brought shame upon your name by pretending to be mad and witless, hiding your brilliance and sharing none of it with others. It is lamentable that you seek reputation through petty tricks! I am but a simple man, serving in the Chancellor’s office through my meager abilities. I wish only that you hear a little of public opinion; otherwise, you may damage your lofty standing, while I become a petty man for informing against you.”

    Wei Xuancheng’s friend, the Palace Gentleman Zhang, also submitted a memorial, stating: “The sage kings esteemed conciliation and humility in governance. It is fitting to treat Wei Xuancheng with care, and not to force his compliance, so that he may find peace and safety within the simplicity of his home.”

    However, the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor determined that Wei Xuancheng was not truly sick and indicted him. An imperial decree forbade punishment, and he was summoned and granted the title. Reluctantly, Wei Xuancheng accepted it. The Emperor praised his humility and appointed him Prefect of Henan.

    When the king of Jushi, Wugui, fled to the Wusun, the Wusun detained him. The Han court dispatched envoys to demand his release, and the Wusun sent Wugui to the imperial court.

    Emperor Wu had established four commanderies west of the Yellow River, cutting off communication between the Qiang and the Xiongnu and driving out various Qiang tribes, forbidding them to settle in the region of Huangshui River basin. After the Emperor’s accession, the Grandee of Merit, Yiqu Anguo, was sent to deal with the Qiang tribes. The Xianling tribal leaders said, “We wish to cross the northern part of the Huangshui River and occupy the land where people do not farm, but only raise livestock.” Yiqu Anguo acquiesced and reported this. Later, General Zhao Chongguo accused Yiqu Anguo of exceeding his authority and did not perform his duty. Other Qiang tribes, inspired by this earlier statement, crossed the Huangshui River, and the local jurisdictions were unable to restrain them.

    The Xianling and other Qiang tribes reconciled with one another, exchanged hostages, and swore oaths of alliance and enmity. When the Emperor learned of this, he asked Zhao Chongguo for his assessment. Zhao Chongguo replied: “The reason the Qiang are difficult to control is that each tribe has its own leader. They constantly quarrel among themselves and lack unity. Some thirty years ago, when the Western Qiang rebelled, they likewise reconciled with the tribes among them and resisted the Han for five or six years before being subdued. The Xiongnu have long sought to entice the Qiang, wishing to strike Zhangye and Jiuquan and settle the Qiang there. Recently the Xiongnu have been stirring up trouble in the west. I suspect they may have already sent envoys to form alliances with the Qiang. I fear that this unrest will not end here; they may ally with still other tribes. We must prepare before the danger arrives.”

    A month later, the Qiang leader Lang He sent envoys to the Xiongnu requesting troops, intending to attack Shanshan and Dunhuang to sever the Han route. Zhao Chongguo said: “Lang He alone does not have the power to devise this plan. It is likely that Xiongnu envoys have already reached out to the Qiang. The Xianling, Han(Qiang), and Jian(Qiang) tribes have reconciled, and when autumn comes and the horses are fat, the rebellion will surely break out. We must send envoys to patrol the border and make advance preparations, instructing the Qiang tribes not to reconcile, so that their plot may be exposed.” Thus, the Chancellor’s Office and the Censorate again proposed sending Yiqu Anguo to inspect the various Qiang tribes and distinguish between the loyal and disloyal.

    At that time, there had been several years of abundant harvests, and grain cost five coins per picul.