Introduction: First of all, we need to explain that Zhang Qian's title is definitely not only because of the fact that he sent an envoy to the Western Regions (detailed in the text). Similarly, Su Wu's contribution to the Xiongnu was also a vassal state, and the final title, the Marquis of Guannei, was also crowned for other reasons. However, Su Wu was not inferior at all, and he was selected as the eleventh meritorious hero of the Qilin Pavilion in recognition of his national integrity and patriotic enthusiasm to enjoy the state offering. As for Su Wu's treatment being suppressed first and then promoted, it was really caused by the complicated turmoil in the KOREAN situation. Heroes will never be forgotten, and Zhang Qian and Su Wu, as rare diplomatic talents of the Han Dynasty, will forever be counted in the annals of history and remembered by future generations. Below we describe the difference in treatment between Zhang Qian and Su Wu at several levels.
Of course, from the direct result, it seems that Zhang Qian was directly enfeoffed as the Marquis of Bowang, while Su Wu was only given a vassal state (an official in charge of the unpopular yamen of ethnic minorities). This contrast and difference seems to be relatively large, which is due to the complex situation of the DPRK. However, the last two were marquises, and Su Wu was given the title of Marquis of Guannei (emperor Xuan of Han). Let's briefly describe the reasons:
The purpose of Zhang Qian and Su Wu's missions was different in importance
After the Han Wudi Emperor Liu Che succeeded to the throne, the Han Dynasty had accumulated a large amount of wealth through the recuperation of Wenjing's rule. People live and work in peace and contentment, and the country prospers. Emperor Wu of Han had long planned to counterattack the Xiongnu, so he sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions to contact the Great Moon Clan, who had a feud with the Xiongnu, to attack the Xiongnu. That is to say, the purpose of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions was to set out out of the needs of the national strategy. This is so important that it even involves the life and death of the Han Dynasty. Moreover, after being detained for 10 years, Zhang Qian continued to march westward through the Western Regions, exploring geographical knowledge unknown in the Western Regions at that time, laying a valuable foundation for counterattacking the Xiongnu and setting up the Western Regions Capital Protectorate in the later period. Therefore, Zhang Qian is also known as the first person in China to see the world, the Columbus of the East.
Let's look at what su Wu's purpose of sending envoys to the Xiongnu was. In 100 BC, the Xiongnu Xindan Yu ascended the throne, and Emperor Wu of Han sent Su Wu to the Xiongnu with rich gifts to thank Shan Yu in order to show friendship. To put it bluntly, it is a simple diplomatic etiquette to congratulate the new monarch on the other side. It cannot be said that it is dispensable, but it is really not of great significance to the Han Dynasty. In addition to Su Wu's national integrity, the others had little substantive significance to the Han Dynasty. Besides, not only did Su Wu endure more than ten years without apostasy, but Zhang Qian also insisted on this for more than ten years and still completed the task.
Therefore, in terms of the purpose and importance of the mission, Su Wu was indeed inferior to Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian and Su Wu had different relationships with the emperor
Zhang Qian served as an attendant official named "Lang" during the reign of Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty. See no, this is the role of the close secretary can not be a confidant? Moreover, at that time, Emperor Wu of Han had not long succeeded to the throne, and his 20s were at a time when Fenghua Zhengmao attached great importance to brotherhood. Zhang Qian's envoy to the Western Regions was the recognition of Emperor Wu of Han's trust and ability in his brothers. At the time of Zhang Qian's mission, Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty was not yet 30 years old. Therefore, in "Emperor Wu of Han", Zhang Qian sent an envoy back to Chang'an, and the excitement and excitement of Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty overflowed into words.
"My God, I want to change my clothes and see him at the Chengming Hall" "Notify officials of more than two thousand stones to come and prepare for the ceremonial music" "After thinking about you for thirteen years, where have you been?"
Emperor Wu of Han and the courtiers had tears in their eyes, and this kind of friendship between kings and courtiers was touching. And Liu Che is walking down the grade stage to tell the parting friendship in the tone of a friend.
And Su Wu and Emperor Wu of Han did not have selfish friendships, even if there was not much intersection in work. Moreover, when Su Wu was sent to the Xiongnu as a middle lang, Emperor Wudi of Han was already old and old, so it was difficult to impress his personal friends. Work is work, life is life. And by the time Su Wu returned to China, Emperor Wu of Han had already died and Emperor Zhao of Han was in power. It cannot be said that people take tea and cool, but it is necessary to go to the heavens and a courtier. Moreover, Su Wu was not a hot figure when he was Emperor Wu of Han, so it was even cooler during the han zhao emperor's period.
Zhang Qian and Su Wu were given different times
When Zhang Qian returned to China, it was the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty's counterattack against the Xiongnu. Therefore, although Zhang Qian did not complete the task, the geographical details of the Western Regions brought back and the subsequent humanities had a strong reference significance for the Han Dynasty to attack the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian was precisely because he was familiar with the geographical environment of the Western Regions, and in the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty, he was awarded the title of Marquis of Bowang because he assisted the Han Army in the Northern Expedition to solve the water source of the Northern Expedition army due to his familiarity with the terrain. Zhang Qian used his contributions to the country and the nation, and the marquisate was well deserved.
The Sixty-third Chronicle of the Chronicle of Dawan records that Qian took the rank of lieutenant to attack the Xiongnu from a great general, and when he knew the water and grass, there was no shortage of troops, and he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Bowang.
Su Wu sent an envoy to the Xiongnu in 100 BC, and the Western Han Dynasty had seriously weakened the Xiongnu's power through three major battles in Monan, Hexi and Mobei. This made him unable to move south from then on, resulting in a situation in which "the Post-Xiongnu were far away, and there was no royal court in the shogunate". Therefore, Su Wu's envoy to the Xiongnu at this time was of much less significance to the Han Dynasty. And during the Han Zhao Emperor's period, because Sang Hongyang and Huo Guang competed for power, Su Wu was caught in it and also ate melons. Therefore, the timing of Su Wu's return to China was not right, so the officials could only be the pawns of the two thousand stones.
The two people who insisted on national integrity were treated the same in history
Although both Zhang Qian and Su Wu were coerced and seduced by the Xiongnu, they were both detained for a long time. But we were touched by the national integrity shown by the two heroes, which is the backbone and hope of the nation. The reason why our Chinese civilization has been like a phoenix nirvana in the long five thousand years, and it has always been maintained and passed down is precisely for these reasons.
Zhang Qian's hometown was in Bowang Village, so he was crowned Marquis of Bowang. The two missions to the Western Regions laid a solid foundation for the opening of the Silk Road and the establishment of the Western Regions Protectorate. Although Su Wu was not reused during the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, he was crowned Marquis of Guannei because of his meritorious service in supporting Emperor Xuan of Han. Su Wu was listed as the eleven heroes of the Qilin Pavilion because of his national popularity, and he was forever remembered by future generations.
The "Hanshu SuWu Biography" records: A few years later, Emperor Zhao collapsed. Wu Yi established Emperor Xuan with a plot of two thousand stones and gave him the title of Marquis of Guannei
I am the emperor of history, welcome your attention; if there is a flaw, the axe is right.