Lu Guang stills
When it comes to Lü Guang, it is estimated that many people will be confused, and I don't know why he is also a person? Lü Guang (338–399), courtesy name Shiming, was a native of Linwei (present-day Qin'an, Gansu), a native of The Qi. Although he came from a noble family, it was inevitable that he would be suspected of "fighting for his father", but with his outstanding ability and achievements, as early as his youth, he was deeply valued by the former Qin emperor Jian Jian and the ruling Wang Meng. In a life full of legends, he led an expedition to the Western Regions from 383 to 384, so that the Western Regions, which had been isolated from the Central Plains Dynasty for nearly two hundred years since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, were reintegrated into the territory of the Central Plains Dynasty; the Houliang regime, one of the "Sixteen Kingdoms"; perhaps the most colorful and worthy of the second triumph of the Great Book.
< h1 class="ql-align-center" > the control and administration of the Western Regions by the First and Second Han Dynasties</h1>
The meaning of the western region is divided into narrow and broad senses. The western region in the narrow sense generally refers to the area west of Yumen Pass in Gansu (present-day Xiaofangpancheng, northwest of Dunhuang, Gansu) and Yangguan (present-day Dongtan, southwest of Dunhuang, Gansu), that is, the area of present-day Xinjiang. The western region in the broad sense, in addition to the area contained in the narrow western region, also includes the area west of Xinjiang.
Since ancient times, there have been many small countries in the western region. During the Western Han Dynasty, there were 36 countries. As some countries have diverged, up to more than 60 countries. After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty attacked and expelled the Xiongnu forces by force, the exchanges between the Han Dynasty and the countries in the Western Regions became more and more frequent.
In order to effectively rule the Western Regions, in the second year (60 BC) of the Han Xuan Emperor Shenjue, he formally set up the Western Regions Capital Protectorate in WuleiCheng (in present-day Luntai County, Xinjiang), formally set up officials, garrisons, and administrative orders in the Western Regions, and began to exercise state sovereignty. The Book of Han and the Biography of Zheng Ji says: "The trumpet of Han orders Ban Xiyuyi! "The Western Regions have since become an inalienable part of China's territory.
Restoration map of the ruins of the Western Han Dynasty
According to the "Book of Han and The Biography of the Western Regions", the Western Regions were protected and ruled over the 48 kingdoms of the Western Regions, and "the self-translated chief, the city chief, the jun, the supervisor, the official, the Dalu, the hundred workers, the thousand chiefs, the duwei, the canal, the danghu, the general, the xiangzhi hou, and the king, all pei Han yinshou". The main duties of the Western Regions Are: to guard the border and secure the land, coordinate the contradictions and disputes between the countries in the Western Regions, stop the intrusion of foreign forces, maintain the national and social order in the Western Regions, and ensure the smooth flow of the Silk Road.
At the time of the two Han Dynasties, due to the war in the Central Plains, the change of power, the change of power and the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, did not have time to take care of the western region. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Western Regions were all protected and abandoned.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Later, there were three kingdoms at the top of the river, the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and the rule of the Central Plains Dynasty over the Western Regions, which no longer existed. The countries of the Western Regions also annexed and attacked each other.
<h1 class="ql-align-center" > second, Former Qin Lü Guang was ordered to go to the Western Regions</h1>
In the early "Sixteen Kingdoms" period of the various states conquest and chaos, the Former Qin established by the Hu people gradually unified the Yellow River Valley.
Perhaps in the mind of former Qin Emperor Jian Jian, in addition to dividing Jiangnan and the Eastern Jin Dynasty in a remote corner of the country was an obstacle to his dream of realizing the unification of the world, the Western Regions thousands of miles away would inevitably disturb his thoughts from time to time. Recreating the grand majesty of the two Han Dynasties ruling the western region may be part of the grand plan of Jian Jian.
In September of the eighteenth year of Jianyuan (382), the former king of Cheshi and the king of Shanshan went to Chang'an to pay tribute. They expressed their willingness to assist the Qin army in conquering the countries of the Western Regions. This coincides with Jian Jian's strategic vision! Therefore, Jian Jian immediately appointed Lü Guang as an envoy and a governor to conquer the western regions and lieutenants, and formed a western expedition army composed of 70,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, known as 100,000, to go out on the western region on a day.
In the first month of 383, Lü Guang led a large army and bravely embarked on a long journey to the west. This time, it is really like a great sage, and it will never go back!
After arriving in the Western Regions, the Former Qin army, under the guidance of the cheshi Qianguo and Yanshanguo armies, crossed the three-hundred-mile desert through Gaochang (present-day Turpan, Xinjiang), and arrived in Yanqi in December of that year.
Although Yanqi was in the Wei and Jin dynasties, he became one of the largest countries in the region due to the annexation of many small neighboring countries. However, king Niliu saw that the Former Qin army was fierce, and he heard that the Former Qin army had swept through the Central Plains and was brave, so he led the nearby vassal states and took the initiative to surrender.
Then, Lü Guang swung his army straight at Guizi. As a powerful country that claims to be more than a thousand miles from east to west and six hundred miles from north to south, Guizi naturally disdains to surrender without a fight like Yanqi, but chooses to stubbornly resist.
After half a year of fighting, the Guizi people were exhausted and had to ask for help from Huhu. In view of the lessons of the cold lips and teeth, Hu Hu united with Wen Su and other countries to form a coalition army, claiming to be 700,000, to rescue Guizi. Under lü Guang's calm command, the Western Alliance was defeated. After more than a year of conquest, Lü Guang successively defeated a number of kingdoms that refused to submit. More than thirty countries in the Western Regions, fearful of Lü Guangwei's name, sent envoys to Pay Tribute, submitted to Former Qin, and handed over the runes given by the Han Dynasty.
In August 384, when Jian Jian heard that the Western Regions were pacified, he appointed Lü Guang as an envoy, a military governor west of Yumen, a general of Anxi, and a lieutenant of the Western Regions, and was made the Marquis of Shunxiang.
<h1 class="ql-align-center" > three, cool after establishment</h1>
In March 385, Lü Guang led his army to evacuate the Western Regions, and Ban Shi returned to China. Since lü Guang's western expedition (the first month of 383) had not yet begun at the time of the Collapse of Former Qin (August 383), he may not have known the outcome of the war far away in his homeland. In fact, at this time, due to the defeat at the Battle of Shuishui, Former Qin's control over the grassroots was already in jeopardy. Therefore, Lu Guang's way home was not easy to walk.
After Learning of Lü Guang's return, Yang Han, the Taishou of Gaochang Commandery under Liangzhou, suggested to Liang Xi, the assassin of Liangzhou, that sending troops to guard the dangerous passes such as Quicksand and Gaochang Valley Pass would leave Lü Guang in a position of no evidence and put him to death. Zhang Tong suggested that He establish Zhi Jian's cousin Zhi Luo as emperor and use the imperial authority to subdue Lü Guang. Liang Xi did not comply.
Lü Guang took the advice of the general Du Jin and marched quickly. Along the way, Dunhuang, Jinchang, Gaochang and other counties surrendered. Liang Xi ordered his son Liang Yin to lead an army to block Lü Guang. The Second Army fought at Anmi (安弥, in present-day Jiuquan, Gansu), where Liang Yin's army was defeated and Liang Xihou was captured and beheaded by Lü Guang. Lü Guang's army captured the city of Guzang (古臧, in present-day Liangzhou District, Wuwei, Gansu). In September 385, Lü Guang proclaimed himself a lieutenant of Liangzhou Andishi and Qiang.
In September 386, news of Jian Jian's murder reached Liangzhou. When Lü Guang heard the bad news, he was devastated and ordered his generals to wear ma dai filial piety for Jian Jian. In October, Lü Guang changed his name to Yuan Tai'an. In December, Lü Guang proclaimed himself an envoy, a chinese and foreign governor, a general, a pastor of Liangzhou, and the Duke of Jiuquan.
Although Lü Guang occupied Liangzhou, he was surrounded by strong enemies. Former Liang guo advocated that Zhang Dayu, the son of Tianqi, lead an army to attack, and Lü Guang's subordinates also had many rebels who took advantage of the opportunity.
In July 387, Lü Guang captured and killed Zhang Dayu. In December, Lü Guangjun captured Zhangye City and killed Peng Huang. At this point, all of Liangzhou and most of Hexi were occupied by Lü Guang.
In February 389, Lü Guang proclaimed himself the King of The Three Rivers and changed his name to Yuan Linjia.
In 392, Lü Guang ordered his younger brother Lü Bao to attack The Western Qin Qifu Qiangui who occupied Jincheng (金城, in present-day Lanzhou, Gansu), and his son Lü Lu attacked Peng Xinian of the Southern Qiang, both of which were defeated. Lü Guang personally led an army to defeat Peng Xi's forces and occupy Paohan (robes) (present-day Linxia, Gansu).
In July 395, Lü Guang led an army of 100,000 to attack Western Qin. Beggars surrendered without a fight.
In June 396, Lü Guang was promoted to Heavenly King, and the founding number was Da Liang, known in history as Hou Liang.
<h1 class="ql-align-center" > 4, abdicated as Emperor Taishang, and warned his sons on his deathbed</h1>
In the first month of 397, due to the repeated rebellions of the lord of the Western Qin state, Qifu Qiangui, Lü Guang sent his younger brother Lü Yan to lead the frustrated Canal LuoQiu and others to attack Lintao and other places. Qifu Qiangui repeatedly fought unfavorably, pretending to be defeated and fleeing. Lü Yan was killed by Qifu Qiangui. Lü Guang blamed the defeat on Luo Qiu and beheaded him. In April, Frustrated Canal Mengxun's nephew Frustrated Canal Mengxun rebelled against the cold, and Depressed Canal Mengxun's cousin Frustrated Canal Male became an army response. Male Cheng and Meng Xun jointly elected Jiankang (present-day Gaotai, Gansu) Taishou Duanye as the governor of Dadu, Liangzhou Mu, and the Duke of Jiankang, and changed his name to Yuan Shenxi. History is called Northern Liang.
Lü Guang sent Lü usurpers to attack Duan Ye, and he could not fight for a long time. In August, Hou Liangsan rode Chang Shi and Tai Chang Guo Huang (nún) and others to capture Lü Guang's eight grandsons as hostages and revolted against Liang. Lü Guang also sent Lü usurper to attack Guo Huang. Guo Huang and others were defeated. In order to vent his anger, he killed all eight of Lü Guang's grandsons, drank the blood alliance oath, and allied with the bald-haired Wugu, the lord of the Southern Liang Kingdom. Later Liang Jinchang (present-day Anxi, Gansu) Taishou WangDe, Dunhuang Taishou Mengmin, and others surrendered to Northern Liang.
In December 399, the elderly and sickly Lü Guang became ill due to repeated failures. Perhaps he felt that he had no hope of recovery, so he made the crown prince Lü Shao the Heavenly King and proclaimed himself Emperor Taishang. He admonished Lü Shao: "How difficult it is for me to be cool, and Southern Liang, Western Qin, and Northern Liang all want to wait for an opportunity to annex our country." After my death, you let Lü Lu command the Sixth Army, and Lü Hong manage the government, so that you may get through the difficulties. If your brothers are jealous of each other and cause trouble, the Great Cool Congress will soon perish. He also said to Lü Usurpation and Lü Hong: "Lü Shao did not have the ability to save the world, only because he was the eldest son of a concubine, he made him the king of heaven." Now that The Great Cool is in internal and external difficulties, your brothers should live in harmony. If you make a big fuss, great calamity will soon fall on you. Lü Guang deliberately took Lü Lu's hand and said, "You have a rough personality, and I am very worried." You must assist Lu Shao well, and do not listen to rumors. Soon after, Lü Guang died at the age of 63.
The decline and fall of Beiliang just confirmed that Lü Guang's worries were not unfounded. Lü Shao ascended the throne for only five days before he was killed by Lü Lu. Lü Lu was killed by Lü Chao in 401. After Lü Long ascended the throne, he wantonly killed the clan, ministers, and public secretaries, and the people, and the situation was precarious. In 401, Later Qin invaded on a large scale. In September, Lü Long surrendered. In August 403, Lü Long led hundreds of officials to move to Chang'an. After the cool perished.
<h1 class="ql-align-center" > Wen Shi Jun</h1>
As a meritorious disciple, although Lü Guang was inevitably suspected of "fighting for his father" to ascend to the throne, he even relied on his military merits to win the weight of rulers such as Jian Jian and Wang Meng. In his lifetime, conquering the Western Regions and establishing Houliang was a stroke of genius. He led his troops to conquer the Western Regions without hesitation, so that since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the frequent wars and chaos in China, the Western Regions, which had been cut off from China for nearly two hundred years, were once again included in the Chinese territory and established the Great Meritorious Service. After the completion of the Western Expedition, the motherland of Former Qin at this time had been wiped out. He led his troops through hardships, established Hou Liang, and started his own business. His worries on his deathbed, and his teachings to his sons, were not only ruthlessly confirmed by the cruel historical facts that followed, but also left a deep revelation for future generations: any impregnable fortress was first destroyed from within!
< h1 class="ql-align-center" > references</h1>
1. (Tang) Fang Xuanling et al.: Book of Jin, Beijing: Zhonghua Bookstore, 1974.
2. Lü Simian: History of the Southern and Northern Dynasties of the Two Jin Dynasties, Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1983.
3. Wang Zhongji: History of the Southern and Northern Dynasties of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2016.
4. Bai Shouyi, Editor-in-Chief, He Ziquan, General History of China (Volume V), Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2004.
(Author: Haoran Wenshi Contributor Gao Sheng)
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