Tag: Xiongnu

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang  

Annals of Han Book 21 Scroll 29 (continued)

The 3rd year of Emperor Yuan’s Jianzhao Era (36 B.C.)

In the summer, on June 19, Wei Xuancheng, Marquis of Fuyang, passed away.

In July of autumn, Kuang Heng was appointed Chancellor. On July 14, Li Yanshou, Commandant of the Palace Guards, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.

In winter, the envoys sent to the Protector-General of the Western Regions—Cavalry Commandant Gan Yanshou of Beidi and Lieutenant Colonel Chen Tang of Shanyang—acted jointly and slew Zhizhi Chanyu of the Xiongnu in Kangju.

Earlier, Zhizhi Chanyu, relying on the strength of his people and boasting of his might, regarded himself as a great power and grew arrogant. Having gained victories, he became increasingly insolent and failed to treat the King of Kangju with due respect. In a rage, he slew the king’s daughter along with several hundred nobles and commoners, some of whom he dismembered and cast into the Dulai River. He compelled the people of Kangju to build a fortified city, forcing five hundred men to labor each day; the work continued for two years before completion. He also sent envoys to demand annual tribute from the kingdoms of Yancai and Dayuan, which dared not refuse.

The Han court dispatched three envoys to Kangju and Zhizhi Chanyu to recover the bodies of Gu Ji and the others who had been killed by them. Zhizhi Chanyu humiliated and tormented the envoys, refused to receive the imperial edict, and instead sent a letter to the Protector-General of the West, feigning submission and claiming that he was in distress and wished to rely upon the mighty Han, even offering to send his son as a hostage. Such was his disdain and duplicity.

Chen Tang was a man of courage and composure, adept at deep calculation and bold in devising quirky stratagems. He delighted in extraordinary achievements. He said to Gan Yanshou:

“The barbarians are by nature awed by great gens. The Western Regions once belonged to the Xiongnu. Now Zhizhi Chanyu’s reputation has spread far and wide; he oppresses Wusun and Dayuan, and frequently conspires with Kangju, intending to subdue them. If he gains control of these two states, within a few years all the cities and kingdoms will be endangered. Moreover, his people are fierce and warlike, often victorious in battle. If they are left unchecked for long, they will surely become a great calamity to the Western Regions.

“Though they dwell in remote lands, they have no strong cities nor effective crossbows. If we draw troops from the agricultural garrisons and combine them with the forces of Wusun, advancing directly upon their camps, they will have nowhere to go if they flee; if they stand and fight, they will not be able to endure. An achievement of a thousand years may be accomplished in a single day.”

Gan Yanshou approved of this reasoning and wished to present it to the court. Chen Tang, however, said, “The Son of Heaven would summon the Three Excellencies and the Nine Ministers to deliberate on such a matter. Our far-reaching design is not something mediocre officials can comprehend, and it will certainly not be approved.” Gan Yanshou still hesitated.

At that time, Gan Yanshou had long been ill and confined to his bed. Chen Tang thereupon took matters into his own hands, mobilizing troops from the commanderies and garrisons under a forged imperial decree. When Gan Yanshou learned of this, he was startled into rising from his bed and attempted to stop him. Chen Tang, enraged, drew his sword and rebuked him, saying, “The army has already been set in motion—would a mere fellow like you dare to obstruct it?” Thereupon Gan Yanshou yielded.

They assembled the host, numbering more than forty thousand men, Han troops together with allied aliens. Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang submitted a memorial acknowledging their unauthorized action, explaining the military situation, and then divided the army into six columns. Three columns advanced by the southern route, crossing the Congling (Pamir) Mountains and proceeding directly toward Dayuan. The other three, led by the Protector-General Gan Yanshou himself, set out from the kingdom of Wensu, entered Chigu(Yshtyk, the capital of Wusun) by the northern route, passed through Wusun territory, crossed into Kangju lands, and advanced westward to the vicinity of Lake Tianchi (Issyk-Kul).

Meanwhile, Baotian, the deputy king of Kangju, led several thousand cavalry eastward to raid near Chigu(Yshtyk). He killed and captured more than a thousand of the people of the Great Kunmi of Wusun and seized large numbers of livestock. He then pursued the Han army from the rear and plundered its supplies. Chen Tang released the auxiliary alien troops to counterattack. They slew four hundred and sixty of the enemy, recaptured four hundred and seventy captives taken from Wusun, and returned them to the Great Kunmi. The horses, cattle, and sheep were taken to provision the army. They also captured a Kangju noble named Inudu.

Upon entering the eastern border of Kangju, Chen Tang ordered that the army should not plunder. He secretly summoned the Kangju noble Tumo and met with him, explaining the authority and trustworthiness of the Han dynasty. They drank together and concluded an alliance, after which Tumo was allowed to depart. The army then advanced and encamped sixty li from the city of Zhizhi Chanyu.

They captured another Kangju noble, Jusezi Nankaimou, and compelled him to serve as guide. Jusezi, being the maternal younger brother of Tumo, harbored resentment toward Zhizhi Chanyu and therefore disclosed all information concerning him. On the following day, the army advanced again and encamped thirty li from the city.

The Chanyu then sent an envoy to Chen Tang, asking, “Why have the Han troops come?”

The answer was: “The Chanyu once wrote, ‘I am in distress and wish to submit to the mighty Han, and to come in person to attend the court.’ The Son of Heaven, taking pity on your abandonment of your former realm and your submission to Kangju, has therefore dispatched the Protector-General to welcome the Chanyu’s wives and children. Fearing to alarm those nearby, he has not yet dared to approach the city walls.”

The envoy went back and forth several times with replies. Thereupon Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang rebuked him:

“We have come from afar on the Chanyu’s behalf, yet to this day not a single noble or chief has come forth to meet the General and receive his commands. Why does the Chanyu neglect this great undertaking, failing in the proper duties between host and guest? Our troops have traveled far; men and cattle alike are exhausted, and our provisions are nearly spent. We fear that we shall have no means of return. We ask the Chanyu to deliberate carefully on this matter with his ministers.”

The following day, they advanced to the banks of the Dulai River near the city of Zhizhi Chanyu and encamped three li away. They saw five-colored banners and pennants raised upon the city walls, with several hundred armored men stationed atop them. More than a hundred cavalry rode back and forth below the walls, while over a hundred infantrymen were drawn up in fish-scale formation at the gates, drilling in martial display.

Those on the walls beckoned toward the Han army, shouting, “Come and fight!” More than a hundred cavalry charged toward the Han camp, but the camp was already prepared, crossbows drawn and aimed. The cavalry withdrew at once. Some officers and soldiers shot at the cavalry and infantry at the gates, forcing them to retreat back within the city.

Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang issued orders to the army, saying: “When the drums are sounded, press forward from all sides, encircle the city, and hold your positions. Dig trenches, block the gates, set large shields in front, and array spearmen and crossbowmen behind to strike those upon the walls.”

The defenders on the towers fled. Outside the earthen walls stood a wooden palisade, from which arrows were shot, inflicting some casualties upon the Han troops. The Han soldiers set fire to the palisade. During the night, several hundred cavalry attempted to break out, but were met by arrows and slain.

Earlier, when the Chanyu heard that the Han army had arrived, he wished to flee, but suspected that Kangju harbored resentment against him and would collude from within. Moreover, hearing that the Wusun and other states had also mobilized their forces, he found no place to escape. At first he departed, but then returned, saying, “It is better to hold our ground. The Han army has come from afar and cannot long sustain itself.”

Thereupon the Chanyu donned armor and ascended the tower. Several dozen of his wives(yanzhi) and concubines also mounted the walls and shot arrows at the attackers. A Han soldier shot Zhizhi Chanyu in the nose, and several of his consorts were killed. The Chanyu then withdrew from the tower.

After midnight, the wooden palisade was breached. The defenders withdrew into the earthen city, climbing the walls and crying out. Kangju then sent more than ten thousand cavalry, divided into over ten detachments, to encircle the city and join with the defenders. Throughout the night they repeatedly assaulted the Han camp, but each attack was repelled.

At dawn, fires rose on all sides. The Han officers and soldiers advanced with loud shouts, drums and gongs resounding and shaking the ground. The Kangju troops withdrew, and the Han forces advanced with large shields, entering the earthen city.

The Chanyu, together with more than one hundred men and women, fled into the inner quarters. The Han soldiers set fires and stormed in, wounding and killing the Chanyu. Deputy Commander Du Xun beheaded Zhizhi Chanyu. They recovered the two Han scepters and the silk documents carried by Gu Ji and the other envoys. The spoils were distributed to those who had captured them.

In total, one thousand five hundred and eighteen heads were taken, including those of wives(yanzhi), crown princes, nobles, and others. One hundred and forty-five persons were captured alive, and more than a thousand surrendered. These captives were distributed among the various city-states and the fifteen kings who had joined the Han coalition forces.