Ban Chao, a sad temporary worker in Luoyang City.
His job was to copy documents for the government. Every day tired and tired, not to mention, the income is small, the social status is still low, there is no guarantee, and often carry the pot.
More than thirty years old, there are old and young, and the housing prices in the capital are so rushed.
Ban Chao was depressed. In fact, he is in very good condition.
First of all, his family conditions are very good.
The Ban family is a family of official eunuchs: Ban Chao's grandfather and grandfather's father are all orthodox;
The Ban family is a family of high-level intellectuals: Ban Chao's father Ban Biao, brother Ban Gu, and sister Ban Zhao are all famous historians and writers, and the "Book of Han" was written by this grandfather;
The Ban family is a relative of the emperor and the state: Ban Chao's grandfather's sister, Ban Jieyu, is the favorite concubine of the Hancheng Emperor, a famous talented daughter and concubine.
Secondly, he himself is also very good.
Xueba (dabbling in book biography);
Good eloquence (with oral arguments);
Be bold and careful (see below for details);
Strong in martial arts (see below for details).
With such good conditions, why is he a temporary worker?
They all blamed his dad for standing in the wrong line.
Ban Biao is talented and a celebrity. However, when the crowd of heroes was chasing deer for revolution, he actually chose Kui (wěi) to be the boss; later found that Kui Huan was super unreliable (see "Kui Huan: The Middle-Aged Man Who Ate and Waited for Death"), and chose Dou Rong as the boss.
That's the end of it.
Because the final winner is Liu Xiu. And
Kui Huan: One of Liu Xiu's most hated people.
Dou Rong: One of the most feared people in Liu Xiu's father and son.
Later, Ban Biao followed Dou Rong to abandon the dark and surrender Liu Xiu. Although the whole country knows that he is talented and talented, there is no drama.
Labeled "Northwest Gang", who dares to use him? Therefore, Ban Biao was not reused for a lifetime, and when he died, he was a small county magistrate (Wangdu Chang; the big county of the Han Dynasty was called County Ling, and the small county was called county chief).
After the death of ban county magistrate, the only legacy left behind is the big hat of the "Northwest Gang".
Who dares to take care of you? Ban Gu, Ban Chao, a nest of talents, all unemployed.
The Ban family could not continue in Luoyang, so they had to flee from the north and Return to their hometown of Pingling (present-day Qindu District, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province).
His elder brother Ban Gu stayed at home every day and inherited his father's legacy to write the Book of Han. Younger brother Ban Chao had to go out to work to earn money, and he did all the dirty work (often at home, not ashamed of labor).
It took 8 years to be so humble. Ban Chao is 30 years old and has achieved nothing.
The fatal blow is here again.
Some people reported that Ban Gu was privately repairing the history of the country. This is a felony. Emperor Hanming personally instructed that the central special case team directly arrest him, and Ban Gu was imprisoned in the Luoyang prison, and it is said that he was immediately beheaded.
The whole family was stupid, except for Ban Chao. He was bold, and went directly to Luoyang to file a complaint to the emperor and avenge his brother's injustice: Although my brother privately studied the history of the country, he was full of loyalty and patriotism, and what he wrote was all positive energy.
When Emperor Han Ming investigated, he was really red and dedicated. As a result, Ban Gu was blessed with misfortune and was not only acquitted, but also became the secretary of emperor Han Ming (school secretary).
Although the Han Ming Emperor had more than 2,000 secretaries (Lang Guan), Ban Gu became the emperor's sidekick after all. The Ban family moved back to Luoyang.
Of course, the days are still tough. Bangu's low salary cannot support a large family. Therefore, the trustee found a temporary job for Ban Chao: to help the government copy documents (the family was poor, often for the official maid to provide for the book).
The world is so unfair! Ban Chao is super upset!
Once in a row of overtime, everyone was tired and half dead. Taking advantage of the absence of the leader, Ban Chao threw away the pen and complained (after a long time of hard work, he had tasted quitting the industry and sighed): Being a human flesh typewriter every day is also too nestled. A manly husband should be like Zhang Qian, make meritorious contributions to exotic lands, and be a marquis and worship the prime minister! (Origin of the idiom "throw pen from Rong")
Colleague haha laughed: Brother, overtime is stupid, right? Marquis worship? First, there is a five-insurance, one-fund, paid vacation, even if you are a cow.
Ban Chao: There is no way to communicate with you temporary workers.
It's been like this for 10 years. Ban Chao is 40 years old and is still a temporary worker.
The opportunity finally came.
Emperor Hanming wanted to fight the Xiongnu. This matter, the Northwest help is familiar. As a result, Dou Gu, the nephew of the northwest gang boss Dou Rong (deceased) and the brother-in-law of Emperor Ming of Han, was revived after more than ten years of abolition at home and became one of the commanders of the anti-Hungarian campaign.
Dou Gu, of course, had to use his own people. Ban Chao is his own person, and he is very good.
It is estimated that the elder brother Ban Guto had a relationship, and the 40-year-old temporary worker Ban Chao ascended to the heavens one step at a time and was directly appointed as the false Sima (deputy division level) of Dou Gu's troops.
As the old saying goes: there must be someone up there.
In the spring of 73 AD, the Eastern Han Dynasty 4th Route Army set out at the same time to attack the Xiongnu. The ambitious Han Ming Emperor had already written a declaration of victory.
Unexpectedly, the old problem of the Han army was committed again: it could not be found and could not be beaten.
The famous anti-Hungarian general Róng (róng), led the army to run nearly 1,000 miles, "did not see the capture and returned";
The famous military expert Geng Bing, however, encountered the enemy army, chased more than 600 miles in the desert, and lost it (more than 600 miles after the curtain was extinguished);
The great future Miao was the same, met, did not catch up (the prisoners all ran, found nothing).
I am a big man, endure humiliation and burden, and actively prepare for 50 years! Now, all people are united, ten thousand horses are galloping, all are united in their will, they are determined to win, and they have attracted the attention of the world!
I have memorized the speech, you let me wash and sleep, right?
Emperor Han Ming was so angry that he directly took the sacrificial blade and opened the knife: staying and fearing the enemy, delaying the fighter, revoking all duties, and locking up!
A generation of famous generals sacrificed their lives and vomited blood.
Fortunately, there is also Dou Gu.
Dou Gu had good luck (luck is also a manifestation of ability), met and caught up with the enemy army, and fought a victorious battle:
Kill more than a thousand enemies;
Capture of the city of Iwulu (present-day Hami, Xinjiang);
Set up Yihe Du Lieutenant to be responsible for Tun Tian.
Emperor Hanming's great joy: Add a special advance!
Dou Gu, who was at the rank of deputy minister (Fengche Du Wei), was directly promoted to the rank of fourth chief, second only to the third duke (Tai Wei, Situ, and Sikong).
The banjia, who has been weakened for 50 years because of the wrong team, finally stands right!
Because of his heroic performance in battle (beheading many prisoners and returning them), Ban Chao was appreciated by Dou Gu and received a new task: to represent our army in the western regions and engage in united front.
Fighting the Xiongnu was a protracted war, and the attitude of the countries in the western region was very important.
Ban Chao set off with 36 retinues.
The long river sunset, the desert smoke, a super stage that belongs to him.
Ban Chao first arrived in YanshanGuo (鄯善国, in present-day Shanshan County, Xinjiang) and was warmly received. Fine wine, delicious beauty, enough. Everyone was happy.
After a few days, the wine and food beauty, gone.
Ban Chao nibbled on the grilled bread: Strange, how did the standard drop?
Subordinates disagree: in this barbaric country, the reception work is rough.
Ban Chao: It's not that simple. Surely the Huns were coming, and king Shanshan didn't know whose thick legs to hold.
Then, the receptionist who summoned shan shanguo directly said: How many days has the Xiongnu emissary been coming? How many people? Where to stay?
The receptionist of Shan Shanguo quickly explained: It has been 3 days, nearly 200 people, living somewhere. It's not that I'm deliberately hiding it, it's the meaning of the above.
Ban Chao: The Heavenly King Lao Tzu can't be short of our wine and food beauty, come on!
Subordinate: Your heart is really big. The Huns are coming, let's evacuate quickly.
Ban Chao: No rush.
Everybody was drinking hi.
Ban Chao smashed the wine glass, hugged the shoulder of his subordinate, and said: The Xiongnu are coming, the King of Shanshan has instigated us, and we are in danger. If Shan Shan surrenders the Huns, we will have no place to die. What to do?
Alcohol is bold. The subordinate shouted red-faced: him!
Ban Chao smiled and said: Good! Don't go into the tiger's den, get the tiger! Tonight we will destroy the Xiongnu mission and help King Shanshan to make a choice question.
The subordinates were frightened and half awake: The enemy is outnumbered, or should we first feel the situation and then decide?
Ban Chao directly lifted the table: life and death are tonight. They are all masters who stand and pee, what are they afraid of?
Subordinate: Okay, him.
In the middle of the night, the moon is dark and windy. Ban Chao came to the Xiongnu mission with 36 subordinates, ordered 10 subordinates to ambush around with drums, and said: When you see a fire in a moment, you will beat the drum and shout encouragement; others are ambushed at the door, ready to kill people.
Then, Ban Chao lit a fire on the Xiongnu mission station. War drums and shouts of death were everywhere. The Huns were completely in disarray.
Ban Chao personally killed three Xiongnu, his subordinates killed more than 30 people, and the remaining more than 100 people were buried in the sea of fire.
After dawn, Ban Chao gave the head of the Xiongnu emissary to King Shanshan.
Stop talking to the Huns.
King Shanshan directly knelt down: Long live the Great Han, long live the Emperor of the Great Han. I have long wanted to send my son to Luoyang to study.
Ban Chao returned to the camp to resume his orders, dou Gu was overjoyed, reported the victory to emperor Of Hanming, and suggested that the imperial court send a large number of officials to formally go to the western region to engage in united front.
Emperor Hanming replied: What else to choose? Ban Chao is the best candidate. Promote him to Sima (正師) and represent the Han Dynasty on his mission to the Western Regions.
Dou Gu: Good boy, really give me a long face. Say, people and belongings are picked at will.
Ban Chao: Thank you, Chief. Those 36 brothers were enough.
Dou Gu: The Western Regions are not all soft persimmons like Shanshan, don't be squealing.
Ban Chao smiled and said: I am going to engage in the united front, not to fight, why do I want so many people? Besides, if you really want to fight, eight hundred people are not enough. Rest assured, the big man is my strongest backing.
Dou Gu: Do a good job.
Ban Chao and his 36 elder brothers traveled west again to the state of Tián (present-day Hotan, Xinjiang). Khotan was a large country in the southern part of the western region and had good relations with the Xiongnu. The king of Khotan directly gave Ban Chao a dismount.
The sorcerers of Khotan openly declared: The gods are angry and ask us why we are associated with the Han Dynasty. The gods also said that they had taken a fancy to the mount of the envoys of the Han Dynasty and slaughtered the sacrifices.
The prime minister of Khotan formally conveyed the instructions of the gods to Ban Chao, and then asked for horses.
Ban Chao was very calm and said: "No problem, isn't it more sincere to let the wizard personally come and take the horse?" Are the gods more satisfied?
Prime Minister of Khotan: Right, right, right, you have thought it through.
The wizard is coming. Ban Chao cut off his head with a knife, and then tied up the prime minister of Khotan and smoked hundreds of whips. Then, returning the head of the wizard and the crippled prime minister to the king of Khotan, saying:
To insult my horse is to insult me, and to insult me is to insult a big man. You don't want to live anymore?
The king of Khotan was frightened: How could this envoy of the Great Han be more barbaric than the Huns?
Then, he quickly sent someone to kill the Xiongnu emissaries, carrying his head to see Ban Chao and swearing allegiance to the Han.
The southern kingdoms of the Western Regions were collectively frightened: How could this envoy of the Great Han be more barbaric than the Huns?
Then they sent their sons to Luoyang to study and swore allegiance to the Han.
In the Western Regions, which had been out of friendship with the Han Dynasty for 65 years, Ban Chao took 36 people and spent 4 months to get it done.
Bigger challenges ensued.
bibliography:
[1] Sima Guang: Zizhi Tongjian
[2] Fan Ye: Book of the Later Han Dynasty
[3] Wang Fuzhi: "Reading through the Theory"
[4] Lü Zongli: The Great Dictionary of The Official System of Chinese Dynasties (Revised Edition)
[5] Luo Kun: A General History of Chinese Military Affairs
[6] Tan Qijun: Historical Atlas of China
[7] Wang Li: Common Sense of Ancient Chinese Culture