In the second century B.C., at the beginning of the accession of Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty, the Western Han Empire was faced with the dual pressure of external and internal troubles. The Xiongnu in the north have been invading the frontier all year round and have become a lingering nightmare. In order to consolidate his national power, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted a foreign policy of "distant friendship and close attack", seeking to break the Xiongnu's control of the Western Regions, while seeking to strengthen ties with the Western Regions by opening up the Silk Road. In this context, Zhang Qian's two missions to the Western Regions not only opened up the trade routes between the Han Dynasty and the outside world, but also brought back the legend of the distant Dawan Kingdom and its precious "sweat and blood horse". This horse was considered to be the best among war horses, and it could greatly enhance the cavalry strength of the Han army. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty thus locked his eyes on the distant Dawan, and this expedition of ambition and glory was about to be staged.
In the far-flung land of Dawan, the legendary Sweat Horse is known for its extraordinary endurance and speed. The blood of this horse seems to boil when it runs, and the sweat drips like blood, hence the name. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che, an ambitious ruler, was filled with an insatiable desire for this mysterious creature. He believed that having such a war horse would greatly enhance the strength of the Han army.
After careful consideration, Emperor Wu of Han decided to send an envoy to Dawan and begged the king of Dawan to give him a few sweaty horses. This distant king was unwilling to share their precious resources with the Han Dynasty, and even killed the envoys of the Han Dynasty, which was undoubtedly a great insult to the Han Dynasty.
When the news reached Chang'an, Emperor Wu of Han was furious. He immediately summoned the important ministers of the DPRK and China to discuss countermeasures, and decided to send Li Guangli, the general of the second division, to lead thousands of elite troops to carry out an expedition. At the strategic meeting, Li Guangli showed his military talent, carefully planning every detail of the march, from grain and grass support to the march route.
The first attempt of the Dawan expedition ended in failure. The complex terrain of Dawan, coupled with the long journey, made the Han army exhausted. In the face of this setback, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was not discouraged, but increased military investment, determined to send troops again with the strength of the whole country.
This time, the scale of the fighting was unprecedented. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty mobilized nearly 70,000 troops, carrying a large amount of grain and military supplies. Under the leadership of Li Guangli, the Han army followed the Silk Road, crossed mountains and deserts, and finally reached the heart of the Great Wan Kingdom.
After a series of fierce battles, the Han army demonstrated their military superiority. In the crucial battle, Li Guang used his wit and bravery to set up an exquisite ambush and successfully defeated Dawan's main army. This victory completely destroyed the resistance of Dawan, and the king of Dawan was forced to surrender to the Han Dynasty, willing to pay compensation, and gave dozens of bloody horses as a gift of reconciliation.
The soldiers of the Han army cheered around those precious sweat and blood horses, their hair shining golden in the sun, as if it really condensed the power of sweat and blood. Li Guangli stood on the battlefield, looking at the joy of his soldiers, but his heart was a little heavy. He pondered the cost of it all—the lives of countless soldiers, the suffering of the long journey, and the rift between the two countries deepened by the war.
With the arrival of the sweaty BMW, the people in Chang'an City were boiling. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty held a banquet in the palace to celebrate, praising Li Guangli and his warriors for their bravery. These sweaty horses were soon incorporated into the Royal Cavalry and became a new symbol of the strength of the Han army.
But under the joy of victory, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also had hidden worries in his heart. He began to reflect on the necessity and cost of the war, and how to deal with future relations with distant countries. He realized that true strength was not just demonstrated through war, but through the use of wisdom and strategy to build diplomatic relations of mutual respect and shared interests.
In the dynasty of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Battle of Dawan was not just a simple battle, it was a profound reflection on external expansion and internal management. From the legend of the bloody horses, to the sacrifice of soldiers on the battlefield, to the political and diplomatic handling after the war, every link reflects the growth and pain of an empire. The war, like a mirror, reflected the ambitions and responsibilities of the empire, reminding future rulers of how power and responsibility should be balanced. In the long course of history, every choice is not only about the present, but also about the future.