Desert Journey: Zhang Qian and Changyi Fu

Author: An Gen / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-11-01
Features: At the end of March, snow still fell in the capital. In recent years, it was rare to see such weather in Chang'an, the capital of the empire. A few days ago, the weather had warmed up, with bright sunshine, melting ice rivers, and the first signs of spring on the branches of willow trees. But suddenly, a fierce snowstorm hit last night, turning the climate back to that of the severe winter of the "Three Nines," as if extending the winter that had already passed. The streets and alleys within the capital were sparse with people and horses. The once colorful towers, pavilions, and high and low residences were now covered in white snow, like a group of respectful little white rabbits lying on the ground. The luxurious and solemn roofs and grounds of the imperial palace were also blanketed in snow, giving off an air of solemnity, confusion, and mystery.
The newly ascended Emperor Wu of Han was pacing slowly within the palace, sometimes bowing his head in thought, sometimes examining the scattered maps on the zitan wood table, sometimes flipping through official documents, and sometimes gazing at the distant snow scene. Yet, no matter what he did, he appeared distracted. The young emperor was tall and imposing, with a resolute face that usually radiated confidence. But now, it was filled with an unresolved doubt. He was deeply pondering how to fight the northern Xiongnu, and even the morning meal sent by the eunuch Fang had grown cold.
A few days ago, he had learned from a defected Xiongnu that there was a previously unknown country called "Yuezhi" far to the west of the Xiongnu. The Yuezhi, like the Great Han, were neighbors to the Xiongnu and had long suffered from the aggression and oppression of the Xiongnu. They had also built a generational enmity with the imperial court. Although the Yuezhi were not as large as Han and had a smaller population, they had dared to wage a decade-long war of resistance against the powerful imperial court. This news shocked and delighted the young, spirited emperor. He then thought: If the Han court could send envoys to ally with the Yuezhi in the west and reach some consensus, it would effectively open a second battlefield without spending a single soldier. By attacking the Xiongnu from both east and west, they could create a pincer movement, which would be the only hope of subduing the formidable enemy and defeating the Xiongnu, finally ending the northern border troubles.
However, the Xiongnu defector who provided this information, named Kulu, was from the eastern Xiongnu in the Xing'an Mountains and was unaware of the situation to the west of the Xiongnu or the exact location of the Yuezhi.
On page 2, it was originally stated that the Xiongnu territory was vast and divided into three parts: the central part was ruled by the Chanyu, with the capital in the imperial court, while the eastern and western parts were respectively governed by the Left and Right Xianwang. At that time, the Xiongnu's territory was four to five times larger than that of Han. The eastern Xiongnu in the Xing'an Mountains knew nothing about the distant western Xiongnu, just as the northern state of Yan did not understand the southern state of Chu. Therefore, the information provided by Kulu went no further.
As a result, in the following days, the emperor summoned several high-ranking officials to discuss the matter of contacting and sending envoys to the western Yuezhi. Yet, none of the ministers, who were experts in military strategy and territorial expansion, knew anything about the Yuezhi. They not only lacked understanding of the west but had never even heard of a country called Yuezhi. Some even doubted its existence. Only a few generals who had fought in the northern deserts, such as General Li Guang of the Changle Guard, believed that there were people and states to the west of the Xiongnu. However, they could not provide any evidence of the Yuezhi's existence, relying only on imagination and experience.
The emperor, who had been excited by the possibility of the Yuezhi's existence, was now consumed by suspicion and contemplation. Could Kulu's words be false? Could there be no such country as the Yuezhi in this world? Could the plan to contact the Yuezhi be a futile hope?
Because of this, Emperor Wu could not sleep for several nights and, early one morning after the snowfall, was poring over the maps. At that moment, Fang, the eunuch who had been serving in the adjacent room, pushed open the curtain and entered. Seeing the scattered maps on the table and the untouched morning meal, he knew that the young, ambitious emperor was deeply engrossed in the idea of contacting the western Yuezhi. Fang stood inside the doorway, neither daring to leave nor to step forward, his hands hanging down in respectful anticipation of the emperor's command.
Fang, in his fifties, had a wrinkled face that looked like that of a seventy-year-old. He had served three generations of emperors and was well-versed in the ins and outs of the court, excelling at reading people's expressions and understanding the emotions of the emperors and high officials.
"Old minister, shall I bring the emperor some hot food?" Fang hesitantly asked, wanting to remove the already cold morning meal.
"Among all these maps, none are labeled with the Yuezhi country," the emperor replied, his mind not on eating but on complaining about the incomplete maps.
"Oh, these maps are quite disorganized, and it's quite difficult to look at them! But Your Majesty has sharp eyes and can see the smallest details. If it were my dim old eyes, I wouldn't be able to make out anything at all. Could we hire someone knowledgeable to redraw these maps and combine them into a neat, large map? That would make it much easier to see." Fang flattered the emperor in a tactful way, making his words pleasing to listen to.
Fang's suggestion reminded the emperor, and his eyes suddenly lit up as he thought of a solution.
"Minister Fang, I appreciate your kind words. Not only will I hire someone to redraw the maps, but I will also recruit envoys to the Yuezhi country. Do you think this plan is feasible?"
"The emperor is wise. Though this may be a small strategy, it is indeed a great achievement for the ages. It is certainly feasible, certainly feasible! Your Majesty is magnanimous and renowned for your deeds! Your further recruitment of talent and grand achievements can be recorded as another great deed."
"I believe Kulu's words are not false. I believe there is indeed a place called the Yuezhi, and I believe this path can be taken."
Thus, the imperial court issued a public decree to recruit envoys to contact the Yuezhi, which was sent to all parts of the empire. The decree was posted not only in the capital Chang'an but also in various prefectures and commanderies.
"Times create heroes," and at this critical moment, many people responded to the court's recruitment, ready to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the state. The envoys would not only serve as ambassadors but also explore the way forward; they would gain honor but also face risks and hardships. Success could bring promotions and titles, while failure might lead to sacrifice and death in the vast desert. The mission was undoubtedly arduous, requiring knowledge of astronomy, geography, and diplomacy. The envoys had to be eloquent, brave, skilled in martial arts, loyal, and able to endure hardships.
When the decree was issued, people from all walks of life responded eagerly, with applicants coming one after another. Within less than a month, over 800 people had registered in Chang'an, eight times the original quota of 100. This number did not even include applicants from outside the capital. Among them were wandering knights from the common people, soldiers from the army, and young men from official families—truly a gathering of talents.
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