The Hexi Corridor, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Qilian Mountains and the Beishan Mountains, is a place that has been contested by successive dynasties, although it is not large. From Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to the prosperous era of the Sui and Tang dynasties, from the Western Xia to the Ming and Qing dynasties, all regard this place as an important place of the country. What is it that makes this land so important? What kind of disaster will the loss of the Hexi Corridor bring to a dynasty? And what advantages can the control of the Hexi Corridor bring to a regime? Let's go into history and explore the unknown secrets of this land...
1. The geographical location of the Hexi Corridor
When it comes to the Hexi Corridor, the first picture that comes to many people's minds is a long and narrow passage. That's right, the Hexi Corridor is like a long corridor, stretching from the Yellow River in the east to Dunhuang in the west, with a total length of about 1,000 kilometers and a width of between tens of kilometers and 200 kilometers. It is sandwiched between the towering Qilian Mountains in the south and the continuous North Mountains in the north, forming a unique geographical unit.
Although the Hexi Corridor is not large, it occupies an extremely critical position. It connects the Central Plains with the Western Regions, and is an important passage from the ancient Central Plains to the outside world. From the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty to Xuanzang's westward journey in the Tang Dynasty, countless merchants and envoys have traveled through the vast Gobi to distant foreign lands. It was precisely by relying on the Hexi Corridor that the Central Plains Dynasty was able to communicate with the countries of the Western Regions and absorb the nutrients of foreign civilizations.
But the importance of the Hexi Corridor lies not only in the fact that it is a passage connecting the inside and outside, but also because it is a natural barrier. It severed the connection between the Mongolian Plateau and the Tibetan Plateau, and blocked the southward movement of northern nomads. Historically, powerful nomadic empires such as the Xiongnu, Turks, and Tibetans all coveted this rich land. Once they occupy Hexi, it will be equivalent to opening up the passage from the north to the south, and the Central Plains Dynasty will face a huge security threat.
Therefore, for the Central Plains dynasties of successive dynasties, the Hexi Corridor is like their own choke point, and it is a strategic place that must be firmly controlled. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not hesitate to spend a huge amount of money to set up four counties in Hexi, and large-scale immigration to Shibian was to stabilize this strategic place. Tang Taizong also personally led a large army to pacify Hexi to ensure the northwest frontier of the Tang Dynasty.
And when a dynasty loses control of the Hexi Corridor, disaster often ensues. After the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty withdrew from Hexi, and the Tubo took advantage of the situation to invade and captured Chang'an many times, and the Tang Dynasty was exhausted to cope. The Song Dynasty was defeated by the Western Xia in the Battle of Hexi, which gave the Western Xia sufficient supplies and repeatedly harassed Guanzhong.
It can be seen that although the Hexi Corridor is remote, it is a battleground for soldiers. This long and narrow land has carried too many ups and downs. It bears witness to the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties, and also records the defeat of the Song dynasty. The reason why successive dynasties attached so much importance to Hexi was because it was related to the safety and survival of the country. Controlling Hexi is equivalent to controlling the initiative to attack and retreat. And once Hexi is lost, it means that the door of the country is open, and foreign enemies may attack Huanglong at any time.
Therefore, throughout history, every unified dynasty has regarded Hexi as a battleground. From Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's strategy to the pacification of Hexi by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, all reflect the importance that the rulers attach to this land. And when a dynasty's national strength declines and its control over Hexi weakens, it often indicates that the dynasty is about to die. The Hexi Corridor is such a key place related to the rise and fall of the country.
Second, the struggle of successive dynasties for the Hexi Corridor
The Hexi Corridor, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Qilian Mountains and the Beishan Mountains, has been a battleground for soldiers since ancient times. Countless dynasties competed here, staging thrilling historical dramas.
Long before the Han Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor was still the territory of the Yueshi people. But with the rise of the Xiongnu, the Yueshi people were forced to move west, and the Hexi Corridor fell into the hands of the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu occupied Hexi, which directly threatened the security of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was well aware of the importance of the Hexi Corridor and was determined to regain this lost territory.
In 121 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent the general Huo Qubing to lead the army to attack, defeated the main force of the Xiongnu in Mobei in one fell swoop, and seized the Hexi Corridor. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty set up four counties of Wuwei, Zhangye, Dunhuang and Jiuquan in Hexi, and implemented large-scale garrison of Tuntian. Since then, the Hexi Corridor has become an important barrier for the Han Dynasty.
But the good times did not last long, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the national strength of the Han Dynasty declined, and the Hexi Corridor fell into turmoil again. Cao Cao once occupied Hexi, but after the establishment of the Three Kingdoms, Hexi fell into the hands of the Qiang, Di and Xianbei tribes. It was not until the Western Jin Dynasty that Hexi was once again unified. However, after the Rebellion of the Eight Kings, the Western Jin Dynasty perished, and Hexi fell again.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Hexi Corridor once again became the focus of contention. Emperor Wen of Sui and Emperor Yang of Sui successively pacified Hexi and incorporated it into the territory. Tang Taizong personally led the army, pacified Tuyuhun, and completely controlled the Hexi Corridor. In the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor became an important passage connecting the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and it was here that Master Xuanzang started his journey to the west.
However, the Anshi Rebellion changed everything. In order to mobilize troops to quell the rebellion, the Tang Dynasty had to transfer elites from Hexi, giving Tubo an opportunity. Tubo took advantage of the situation and soon occupied Hexi, Longyou, Dunhuang and other places. With the loss of Hexi, the Tang Dynasty's national defense pressure increased sharply, and Tubo captured Chang'an many times, and the Tang Dynasty was tired of coping.
It was not until Zhang Yichao rebelled in Dunhuang and defeated the Tibetan defenders that Hexi returned to the embrace of the Tang Dynasty. But at this time, the Tang Dynasty was not as good as before, and it was no longer able to run Hexi. During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the Hexi Corridor changed hands frequently, and wars continued.
The Song Dynasty was quite passive on the issue of Hexi. After the rise of Western Xia, it soon occupied the Hexi Corridor. With Hexi, an important military horse base and granary, Western Xia frequently invaded the borders of the Song Dynasty and became a major problem for the Song Dynasty. Although the Song Dynasty repeatedly went on northern expeditions, it was never able to recapture Hexi, which also became a major regret for the Northern Song Dynasty.
The Yuan and Ming dynasties had relatively solid control over Hexi. The Mongol cavalry of the Yuan Dynasty was good at steppe warfare and quickly pacified Hexi. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang regarded Hexi as the top priority, and set up a large number of guards along the line to strictly control it. However, in the late Ming Dynasty, the national strength declined, and the border defense was lax, which laid a hidden danger for the later southward movement of the Mongol cavalry.
During the prosperous era of Kang Yongqian in the Qing Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor once again became a military powerhouse. The Qing Dynasty set up a governor in Hexi to strengthen management, and at the same time actively developed, built the Great Wall, and strengthened defense. This made the Hexi Corridor a solid barrier for the Qing Dynasty until the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Throughout history, every great unified dynasty in the Central Plains has regarded the Hexi Corridor as a battleground. From Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to Emperor Taizong's personal conquest of Tuyuhun, from the frequent invasion of Western Xia to the strict control of the Ming and Qing dynasties, all reflect the importance that the rulers attach to this land. And once Hexi is lost, the national fortunes of the dynasty often decline.
The Hexi Corridor, a long and narrow passage, not only connects the Central Plains and the Western Regions, but also witnesses the rise and fall of dynasties. It is the throat of the Silk Road, an important place for soldiers to fight, and a link between Chinese civilization and Western Regions civilization. For thousands of years, countless horses' hooves have trampled on this land, and countless soldiers have fought here. Although it is located in a corner, it has always affected the fate of the Central Plains Dynasty.
3. The strategic significance of the Hexi Corridor
The Hexi Corridor, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Qilian Mountains and the Beishan Mountains, is small in size, but it occupies an extremely strategic location. It is precisely because of this unique geographical location that the Hexi Corridor is of extraordinary strategic significance.
First of all, controlling the Hexi Corridor is tantamount to erecting a natural barrier between the nomadic peoples of the north and the farming peoples of the Central Plains. Historically, nomadic tribes on the Mongolian Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau often united to launch attacks against the Central Plains Dynasty. Once they occupy Hexi, it will be equivalent to opening up the passage between the north and the south, and the Central Plains Dynasty will face a huge security threat.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty knew this very well, so he did not hesitate to spend a huge amount of money to set up four counties in Hexi and implement a large-scale tuntian garrison. In this way, a solid line of defense was formed on the Hexi Corridor, effectively blocking the connection between the Xiongnu and the Qiang. Tang Taizong also personally led a large army to pacify Hexi, just to cut off the exchanges between Tibet and the Turks. It can be seen that the rulers of successive dynasties all regarded the control of Hexi as a key move to protect their families and defend the country.
Secondly, the Hexi Corridor connects the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and is the choke point of the "Silk Road". In ancient times, if the Central Plains Dynasty wanted to communicate with the countries of the Western Regions and obtain the rare treasures of the Western Regions, it was indispensable to go through this passage. Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty and Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty all started from here and started their journey to the west.
Once the Hexi Corridor was lost, the Central Plains Dynasty would lose the gate to the Western Regions. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Hexi fell into the hands of the Western Xia, and the Song Dynasty's connection with the Western Regions became extremely difficult. Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Hexi Corridor was still an important channel for exchanges between China and the West. It can be said that whoever controls the Hexi Corridor will have the initiative in Sino-Western exchanges.
Thirdly, the Hexi Corridor is not only a dangerous terrain, but also a fertile land, which is an important source of military horses and grain. Historically, the Hexi Corridor was rich in horses and was an important source of horses for successive dynasties. The Han Dynasty was in Hexi Tuntian to provide sufficient grain and grass for the army. The Tang Dynasty set up the "Governor Gunma" in the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, which was responsible for the breeding and management of military horses.
The loss of Hexi not only means the loss of the natural barrier, but also the loss of important strategic resources. The defeat of the Song Dynasty to the Western Xia in the Battle of Hexi not only allowed the Western Xia to have sufficient supplies and frequently harassed Guanzhong, but also put the Song Dynasty at a disadvantage in wars with other regimes. It can be seen that the Hexi Corridor is not only of military importance, but also the economic lifeblood of a regime.
Finally, there is an ancient saying: "Hexi'an, then Guanzhong'an, Zhongyuan'an." This sentence speaks to the strategic position of the Hexi Corridor. The Hexi Corridor is like a pass, and only by guarding it can the Guanzhong be stable and the Central Plains be peaceful. Once Hexi is in an emergency, Guanzhong will be threatened, and the Central Plains will also be in turmoil.
After the Anshi Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, Tubo captured Hexi, Chang'an was repeatedly besieged, and the Tang Dynasty was tired of coping. The Song Dynasty lost to the Western Xia on the Hexi issue, causing the Western Xia to frequently invade the hinterland of the Song Dynasty. In the late Ming Dynasty, once the defense of the Hexi Corridor was relaxed, the Mongol cavalry in the north would take advantage of the situation and smash the Yellow Dragon. It can be seen from this that if Hexi is safe, the country will be safe, and if Hexi is in danger, the society will be in danger. This is where the strategic significance of the Hexi Corridor lies.
Throughout history, every great unified dynasty in the Central Plains has regarded the Hexi Corridor as a battleground. From the large-scale tuntian of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, to the pro-conquest of Tuguhun by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, from the frequent intrusion of Western Xia to the strict control of the Ming and Qing dynasties, all reflect the importance that the rulers attach to this land. Because they know very well that although the Hexi Corridor is in a corner, it affects the fate of the entire dynasty.
This long and narrow passage was not only a natural barrier for the Central Plains Dynasty, but also a choke point to the Western Regions; it was not only an important production area for military horses, grain and grass, but also a strategic place for soldiers to fight for. For thousands of years, countless iron horses have stepped here, and countless caravans have walked through here. It witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties and also determined the outcome of wars.
The Hexi Corridor, an inconspicuous strip of land, is destined to play a pivotal role on the stage of history. Its strategic significance is far from being summed up in a sentence or two.
Fourth, the lessons of losing the Hexi Corridor
The wheels of history roll forward, dynasties change, rise and fall are impermanent. However, in this complicated history, there is a place that has always affected the fate of the Central Plains Dynasty. It is the Hexi Corridor.
Sandwiched between the Qilian Mountains and the Beishan Mountains, this narrow strip of land is not large, but it is a battleground for soldiers. Once it loses control of the Hexi Corridor, the Central Plains Dynasty will face a huge security threat. Historically, powerful nomadic empires such as the Xiongnu and Tubo all regarded the Hexi Corridor as a springboard to the south.
In the early years of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu were strong and occupied the Hexi Corridor. They used this as a base and frequently invaded the Central Plains. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was well aware of the importance of the Hexi Corridor, and did not hesitate to spend huge sums of money to launch a large-scale war to finally recapture this land. However, by the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the national power of the Han Dynasty declined, and the Hexi Corridor once again fell into the hands of the Xiongnu. From then on, the Xiongnu cavalry could go directly south and capture Luoyang, the capital of the Han Dynasty, many times, bringing great disasters to the Han Dynasty.
In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, with its strong national strength, the Tang Dynasty firmly controlled the Hexi Corridor. The Turks in the north were unable to make contact with Tibet on the Tibetan Plateau, and the Tang Dynasty's northwestern frontier defense was consolidated. However, after the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty had to transfer elites from Hexi in order to mobilize troops to quell the rebellion. Tubo took advantage of the situation and soon occupied Hexi, Longyou, Dunhuang and other places. With the loss of Hexi, the pressure on the Tang Dynasty's defense increased dramatically. After that, Tubo repeatedly used Hexi as a base to capture Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, bringing huge losses to the Tang Dynasty.
The Song Dynasty suffered even more on the Hexi issue. After the rise of Western Xia, it soon occupied the Hexi Corridor. With Hexi, an important military horse base and granary, Western Xia frequently invaded the borders of the Song Dynasty and became a major problem for the Song Dynasty. Although the Song Dynasty repeatedly went on northern expeditions, it was never able to recapture Hexi, which also became a major regret for the Northern Song Dynasty.
In the late Ming Dynasty, the border defense was abolished, and the defense of Hexi was gradually relaxed. This laid a hidden danger for the later southward movement of the Mongol cavalry. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty naturally occupied the Hexi Corridor. During the prosperous era of Kang Yongqian, Hexi became a stable barrier for the Qing Dynasty. However, in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor once again became a battleground for soldiers. The peasant rebel armies such as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Twist Army regarded the capture of the Hexi Corridor as an important goal. It can be seen that no matter how the times change, the strategic position of the Hexi Corridor has never changed.
Throughout history, every dynasty that lost the Hexi Corridor paid a terrible price. The Xiongnu and Tubo used Hexi as their base and captured the capital of the Central Plains Dynasty many times. Xixia had to go west of the river and invaded the Song Dynasty several times. In the late Ming Dynasty, the border defense was lax, and the defense of Hexi was relaxed, laying a hidden danger for the Mongol cavalry invasion. These painful lessons all illustrate a truth: The Hexi Corridor is like a chokepoint, and once it is lost, it will be difficult to guarantee national security.
Therefore, successive rulers have all regarded the control of the Hexi Corridor as the top priority of their governance. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened up his territory and expanded his territory, and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty personally conquered Tuguhun, all in order to stabilize this strategic land. And when a dynasty's national strength declines and its control over Hexi weakens, it often indicates that the dynasty is about to die.
The Hexi Corridor, an inconspicuous strip of land, is destined to play a pivotal role on the stage of history. It witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties and also determined the outcome of wars. For thousands of years, rulers have learned from this place, and they have staged a drama of fighting for each other here.
History is the best textbook. Today, we look back on the history of the Hexi Corridor, not only to remember the wisdom of our ancestors, but also to draw wisdom from history to better meet the challenges of the future. The story of the Hexi Corridor, this ancient and magical place, is far from over. It will continue to write a more wonderful chapter in the long river of history.