5 replies to this topic

[snowybeagle]

The kingdom of WuSun (乌孙) was located in the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty.

During the early years of the Western Han dynasty, the Imperial Court had adopted forming marriage alliances to the northern tribes to foster better relationships.

Two Han princesses had married the kings of WuSun.

Feng Liao (冯缭) was a maid serving the second princess Jie You (解忧公主) married off to WuSun. Feng Liao herself later married an influential WuSun general. She was said to be intelligent, beautiful, cultured and talented. Her husband was on good terms with prince Wu JiuTu of the kingdom.

In 64BC, the prince seized the throne when his father, the king, passed away.

The kingdom went into turmoil, and as Wu JiuTu's mother was a Xiong Nu (Hun), it was feared that WuSun would become a vassal of Xiong Nu against the Han dynasty.

The Han Imperial Court despatched General Xin WuXian to be stationed at DunHuang for any emergency.

[to be continued...]

Edited by snowybeagle, 12 December 2004 - 04:42 PM.

[snowybeagle]

Zheng Ji, Governor of the Western Regions, was appointed the task of mediate to keep the situation from going out of control.

Zheng Ji recalled Feng Liao who went to WuSun with Princess JieYou some years before. He realised her familiarity with the local customs and people could be employed to help strengthen the ties between WuSun and Han.

A subordinate was despatched to convey the request to Feng Liao who accepted the responsibility. With her husband's help, she visited the armed camp of Wu JiuTu in BeiShan, not altogether without risk.

Because of his maternal ties to XiongNu, Wu JiuTu was said to have been wary against the Han. When Feng Liao arrived, the camp soldiers glared fiercely at her with their hands ready on the hilts of their swords.

Wu JiuTu was uneased by her visit, but as he had always respected her, invited her to be seated in his tent among followers.

Feng Liao, surveying the tense mood, went on the "offensive" and said,
"The country lacks a leader right now. Though you've made yourself king, you cannot be certain that internal strife will not continue."
"XiongNu is watching us closely. Once fighting breaks out, XiongNu will not hesitate to take advantage of the situation for its own gains."

Wu JiuTu was silent, aware of the XiongNu's disposition.

She continued,
"The Han emperor will not allow chaos to prevail in WuSun. Are you aware of the Han Imperial Court has deployed its troops to the region to deal with the internal strife in WuSun?"
"If you give up the idea of joining XiongNu and remain loyal to the Han Dynasty ... the Han emperor is certain to bear your interests in mind. He will meet your requests so long as they're not unreasonable."

Wu JiuTu considered the matter for sometime, then went out with his followers to confer the matter in private.

After sometime, he returned with a reply,
"Madam, I'll heed your advice. But I wish to be conferred a title by the Han emperor."

[to be continued ...]

[snowybeagle]

The situation in the Western Regions had a direct impact on Han's trading with the outside world. Thus, the Imperial Court showed a special interest in WuSun as it occupied a strategic location in the trading route, as well as supplied Han with some hardy horses.

With the progress made, Emperor Xuan (宣) sent for Feng Liao, keen to meet the heroine who saved the day. Feng Liao set off for Chang An from the River YiLi, travelled north along the foothills of the TianShan and crossed the YuMeng Pass.

When she arrived, the emperor summoned her for immediate audience to learn of the situation in WuSun.

Her report,
"WuSun is one of the larger kingdoms in the Western Regions. It has a poopulation of more than 600,000. They are nomadic, but the king and nobility live in strong fortresses and majestic palaces."

The emperor commended her for her diplomacy and judgment, and appointed her as official ambassador to WuSun.

The Court provided a luxurious carriage and the ambassador's staff for Feng Liao, appointing two deputy envoys to assist her.

She returned to WuSun in great honour. Upon arrival, she conducted a grand ceremony with the nobles of WuSun in ChiGu city.

The son of the Han princess married to the late king was given the title Great King of WuSun.
Wu JiuTu was bestowed Little King of WuSun.
The WuSun territory and people were divided between the two kings.

FengLiao presented two royal seals conferred from Han to the respective kings at the ceremony.

Tensions in the region were eased.

[Famous Chinese Through the Ages: Diplomats - Illustrated Ren ChangHong, trans. Geraldine Goh]

[General_Zhaoyun]

Great contribution..it's good to know the story of WuSun..my first time learning..

[sima old bandit]

I take it there was already 2 kings in wusun or did the Han deliberately create 2 kings to divide them?

[snowybeagle]

There's more to Feng Liao that the above. The politics of Wu Sun was more complex and "divide and conquer" was a regular diplomatic tool of Han Dynasty.