The defeat in the Battle of Dawan revealed the difficulties of the ancient Silk Road
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty's policy of expansion in the Western Regions suffered a serious setback. In 102 BC, Li Guangli's army marched west to Dawan, but failed miserably. What the hell is going on in this war? Why is it like this? Let's take a look at this dusty history.
The road to battle is fraught with dangers
Speaking of this expedition to the west, it was really full of twists and turns. Li Guangli set off with an army of 60,000, but there were many difficulties along the way. The first is that the terrain is too difficult to navigate, and it is no joke to cross the Tarim Basin and the Pamir Plateau.
The Tarim Basin is arid and rainless, and the desert Gobi is everywhere, and the supply of troops on the march is a big problem. The Pamir Plateau is even more absolute, with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, and the air is very thin, and you will suffer from altitude sickness if you are not careful. Moreover, it is also the intersection of many large mountain ranges, Kunlun Mountain, Karakoram Mountain, Hindu Kush Mountain, not to mention the high mountain road, and it is easy to get lost.
What's even worse is that there are still many small countries eyeing the Han army along the way. For example, Yu Chengguo took the opportunity to rob it, causing heavy losses to the Han army. By the time they finally got to Dawan Kingdom, the soldiers were already exhausted.
Sweaty BMW?
So the question is, why did Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty have to send troops to fight Dawan? Speaking of which, it's for the sake of the horse.
Dawan is rich in sweat and blood BMW, which is the best war horse at that time. When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty heard about it, he salivated and sent an envoy to Dawan to ask for it. As a result, King Dawan did not sell it, but slaughtered the messenger. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious and sent Li Guangli to crusade.
However, the strength of Da BMW and Da Wan is not a joke. Located near today's Osh City, Kyrgyzstan, the capital of Dawan, the city is high and thick, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, the Dawan army has superb riding skills, and the Han army is not an opponent at all.
The Silk Road was eventually defeated
The final result of this war can be imagined, the Han army returned with a crushing defeat. Of the 60,000 troops led out by Li Guangli, only a few thousand remained in the end. This defeat was a blow to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and made him realize the complexity and hardship of the Western Regions.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, the reason for the failure is not difficult to understand. First of all, the road is too far, from Chang'an to Dawan, you have to go half a year each way. Coupled with the complicated terrain along the way and the difficulty of supply, the soldiers were already exhausted.
There is also the unfamiliarity with the geographical environment of the Western Regions. For example, the Yandun Valley was an important passage along the Silk Road. But the Han army didn't know anything about this place, and it was likely that they suffered a big loss here.
Compare the ancient and the modern to see the changes
Speaking of which, looking at this ancient Silk Road now, it is really emotional. Li Guangli and the others used to walk so hard, but now they go by high-speed rail.
For example, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, which connects China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. If it is completed, it will really reshape the pattern of the ancient Silk Road.
Then there's Kashgar, an ancient city that could now become an important trading center in western China. Think about the scene where the caravan used to rest and replenish here, and then look at the lively international bazaar now, it's really a sea of vicissitudes.
History enlightens the present
What can we learn from this history? First of all, we should not underestimate the influence of geography. If Li Guangli had known more about the terrain of the Western Regions, perhaps he would not have been so miserable.
The second is to respect other countries and peoples. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty waged war for a few horses, and as a result, both sides were defeated. If we can negotiate peacefully, we may be able to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
I think it's better to learn more about history. Places like Yandun Valley are said to be the most spectacular red rock canyons in China. It would be nice to see it with your own eyes.
In short, although the battle of Dawan failed, it left us with valuable historical lessons. I hope that if we take the Silk Road again in the future, we can know both the past and the present, and understand both geography and human feelings. After all, this road not only connects East and West, but also connects the past and the future.