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| Bam Chao statue in Kashgar Source: wikimedia commons |
"Ban Chao (32-102 CE) (...) was an important general of the early Later Han period (25-220 CE). He was a son of Ban Biao and a younger brother of Ban Gu, both historians that compiled the official dynastic history of the Former Han period (206 BCE-8 CE), the Hanshu. Their family came from Anling (near modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) and moved to the capital Luoyang (...), where they lived as scribes for various state institutions. Ban Chao was a senior scribe of the magistrate of Lantai but he had to leave this post because of some minor offense he committed." Source: ChinaKnowledge.de
In 73 AD, Ban Chao led a modest force of thirty-six troops to the Shanshan with the mission from Chinese emperor Ming. Given the small size of his contingent, the locals initially welcomed Ban Chao and his men, perceiving their presence as a peaceful endeavour. However, the atmosphere changed with the arrival of a rival Xiongnu delegation. Determined to outmanoeuvre the competition, Ban Chao coerced a local Shanshan official into revealing the whereabouts of the Xiongnu legate's quarters. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Ban Chao knew that cunning tactics would be vital to achieving victory. Under cover of darkness, he positioned ten drummers around the Xiongnu encampment and set fire to the wooden structures surrounding it.
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| Shanshan location Source: wikimedia commons |
The following morning, Ban Chao requested an audience with the King of Shanshan, presenting him with the severed head of the Xiongnu legate as a chilling reminder of his prowess. Shocked and fearful, the king promptly agreed to the proposed treaty with the Chinese Emperor, cementing the alliance by sending his own son to the imperial court as a hostage.
"In 94 AD, Ban Chao finally defeated the kingdoms of Yanqi (Karashahr), Weixu (Hoxud), and Weili (Korla), vassals of the Northern Xiongnu, bringing the entire Western Regions under the control of the Eastern Han Dynasty. For his achievements, Ban Chao was promoted to the rank of Protector General. Since then he has been referred to as General Ban Chao. Ban Chao spent a total of thirty-one years in the Western Regions, putting down internal unrest and pacifying enemies of the Han Dynasty, and maintaining order and the free flow of goods along the Silk Road." Source: ChineCulture.org
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Primary sources:
[1] Fitzgerald, C.P. "China: A Short Cultural History",
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