Hexi Corridor Documentary III. post office

6 1 year BC, Xuanquan House, Dunhuang County.

The miser received an urgent document from the postman on a starry night in Chang 'an.

After verification, this is the highest-level official document of the Han empire, which says that a mission of the Han empire concerning the security of the western part of the country is coming soon.

1May, 990 Diaoquan in Dunhuang

Found signs of suspected poaching. With the rescue excavation of the archaeological team in Gansu, a western post station in the Han Empire era hangs in front of people.

This is a square castle. The stables and watchtowers in the accommodation area of the office area are fully equipped, and more than 7650 pieces of various cultural relics 17650 have been excavated from here, including more than 5000 pieces of bamboo slips 15000 in the Han Dynasty.

Since19th century, Chinese and foreign archaeologists have discovered 80,000 Han bamboo slips in China, of which 60,000 were unearthed in Hexi Corridor. Interpreting these Han bamboo slips according to the literature records, two thousand years ago, the historical mirror image of Hexi Corridor gradually emerged.

The Han Empire won the war against the Huns. After the Hexi Corridor was incorporated into the territory of the Central Plains, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty began to set up administrative institutions in the Hexi Corridor, and four counties, namely Hexi, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang, were established one after another. Fortifications such as the Great Wall and the postal system also began to extend westward.

China is one of the earliest countries in the world that began to deliver information in an organized way, and the postal service is regarded as "the blood of the country".

Since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the national post has been called "home". The "home" of the Han Empire was not only a traffic station for delivering official documents and decrees, but also a material transfer station and a reception station for public officials. From the central to the local, from the capital to the border, the issuance of central government decrees, the transmission of grassroots information, the reception of government officials, etc. , are completed through postal stations at all levels.

Hanging spring house

It belongs to Dunhuang County, an important town in Hexi in Han Dynasty, and is a government agency established in Hangzhou Circle.

"Master" is the title of officials below the county level in Qin Empire and Han Empire.

Miser is the CEO of the post office.

Xuanquan House is supervised by Dunhuang magistrate and managed by husband. There are 37 officials, wagons 15, 40 horses, as well as official cows and ox carts.

In Dunhuang County, there are nine places like this, which are placed on the road leading to the western frontier from east to west.

The Han Empire inherited the postal system of the Qin Dynasty, and further improved it. Five-mile postal service, ten-mile bookshop and thirty-mile postal service were installed.

Stations at all levels all over the country are like a huge information network, which ensures the smooth flow of information and the efficient and powerful dominance of the Han Empire.

It can be seen from the bamboo slips unearthed in Hangquan House that in the past, there were mainly some people who mourned in Hangquan House, such as envoys and guests from western countries, central and local officials of the Han Empire, Qiang people who joined the Han Empire, official handmaiden, and mainland refugees and criminals who were resettled by the government.

Among the Han bamboo slips unearthed in Xuanquan House, a bamboo slip entitled "The cost of Xuanquan House in Yuankang for five years is too long" has aroused great interest from many experts and scholars.

Yuankang five years, that is, 6 1 year BC.

My husband has been informed that the imperial diplomatic mission led by Chang Hou Chang Hui, who has served as Luo Hou for a long time, is about to pass through their post station and will stay here for one night.

Changhui

Originally from Shaanxi, he was a diplomatic activist who spanned the three dynasties of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Zhao Di of Han Dynasty and Emperor Xuandi of Han Dynasty. In BC 100, he volunteered to go to Xiongnu with Su Wu in an attempt to ease the conflict between the Han Empire and Xiongnu. Unexpectedly, he was detained by the Huns 19, while Chang Hui and Wu, not only did not compromise, but also showed extraordinary wisdom and talent in the struggle of the Xiongnu dynasty and were finally released back to China. Chang Hui's talent was recognized by the imperial court, and then he entered the imperial court and became an adviser to the Han Empire in handling foreign affairs in the western regions.

6 BC1

Chang Hui, a veteran of the above three dynasties, led a delegation from Chang 'an, the capital of China, and headed for the western regions through Diaoquan in Hexi Corridor.

Miser remembers that this should be Chang Hui's fifth trip through Diaoquan House, and the destination of this mission is Wusun.

Wusun

In the second century BC, there lived an ancient Xirong tribe in Hexi Corridor. They lost in the battle with the Yue tribe and traveled far to the western regions, and finally established a country-Wusunguo in the Ili Valley at the western foot of Tianshan Mountain.

There are many small countries scattered in the west of Hexi Corridor, which is called "Thirty-six Western Regions" in Zhang Qian. Wusunguo is one of the larger city-states in the "Thirty-six Plans for the Western Regions". They have fertile land and excellent pasture. Alashankou and Ili Valley are the only roads leading to Central Asia and Europe.

At this time, after the Huns withdrew from the Hexi Corridor, they urgently needed to rely on the manpower and material resources of the western regions to stabilize their position. Therefore, the vast and rich western regions became a strategic buffer zone for the Huns.

Through the alliance with Wusun, the Xiongnu Dynasty indirectly controlled the communication line from the Ili River basin to the Iranian plateau. If the Huns completely controlled this traffic line, they could surround and invade the Han Dynasty from the northwest. However, the Han empire with open arms has also become within reach of the western regions. The western border line of the Han Dynasty rapidly extended to the northwest along the Hexi Corridor, and the two major forces of Han and Hungary gradually staged a fierce political and military contest in the vast western regions.

In 1 19 BC, when Zhang Qian was sent to the western regions for the second time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had formed a clear national strategy and actively promoted the establishment of diplomatic relations or alliances with countries in the western regions.

Therefore, Zhang Qian made a special trip to Wusun during his second mission to persuade Wusun leaders to send envoys to the Central Plains for field trips. His efforts finally paid off, and Wu Sun's envoys saw the prosperity of the Central Plains Empire and immediately decided to kiss. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty reacted quickly and sent Princess Xijun, a royal woman, to marry Wusun, the leader of Wusun, in order to hunt arrogance.

As a result, the Han empire and Wusun began to form an alliance.

Soon, Wusun's old leader died, and the new army will inherit the throne. Princess Xijun, who could not adapt to life in the western regions, died of depression.

In order to continue to approach Wusun and complete the plan of alliance with the Western Regions, Emperor Wu of Han decided to marry Princess You Jie, the daughter of the King of Chu, to Xu Jun. After Xu Jun's death, according to the custom of Wusun, his younger brother Weng Guimi succeeded to the throne and married Princess You Jie.

In 74 BC, Wusun was jointly attacked by Xiongnu and car drivers in the western regions. Facing the siege of Xiongnu army, Princess You Jie stood up and begged the Han Dynasty to send troops to save Wusun. An urgent letter was sent to Xuanquan's house, and then she quickly went straight to Chang 'an. Unfortunately, when this letter arrived in Chang 'an, it coincided with the death of Emperor Zhao of Han Dynasty, and the Han Empire had no time to look west. After Xuan Di acceded to the throne, he didn't rush to send troops, but decided to send Chang Hui to the western regions to understand the situation.

In 72 BC, Chang Hui made his first mission to the Western Regions.

In the first month of 7 1 BC, Xuan Di, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, ordered an attack on the Huns, and the Fifth Route Army marched westward.

With the title of captain, Chang Hui led more than 10 followers to inform Wusun of the battle plan and deployment of the Han Empire to conquer the Huns through the Hanging Spring Palace, and coordinated the joint military actions of both sides.

Because the Huns fled early, the Fifth Route Army of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty marched westward in vain, while the Wusun 50,000 cavalry, which was coordinated and commanded by Chang Hui as the chief of staff, unexpectedly won a total victory. This military cooperation marks that the Han empire has finally realized its long-cherished wish to seek military alliance in the western regions since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

in 70 bc

Chang Hui, who returned to Beijing, was named "Chang Luohou" by the empire.

Seven years ago, during the reign of Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty, King Qiuci of the Western Regions ordered a sneak attack, killed Lai Dan, a captain sent by the Han Empire to Luntai for reclamation, and drove away the soldiers sent by the Han Empire for reclamation.

Reclamation and frontier defense

At that time, the most important thing for the Han empire was to consolidate the Hexi Corridor, a passage that had fought many wars, and to govern the western regions. When Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty had realized the military and economic value of Hexi Corridor. In order to ensure the safety of the corridor, the primary goal is to achieve military immigration.

After Huo Qubing opened the Hexi Corridor, the Han Empire immediately started the resettlement. After the establishment of the four counties in Hexi, the number of officers and men going to Hexi Corridor was as high as10.8 million, and a large number of troops were deployed along Hexi Corridor. They "land to the tiller and things to the bucket", ensuring the stability and smoothness of this strategic channel.

Gradually, villages and artificial irrigation systems appeared around the oasis in Hexi Corridor under Qilian Mountain.

According to the biography of Xiongnu in Han Dynasty, Hexi Corridor has become the economic center of western China, which has effectively supported the troops of the Central Plains Dynasty.

In 78 BC, Chang Hui made his second mission to the Western Regions.

With the increasingly frequent exchanges between the Han Empire and the Western Regions, the scope of stationing fields to defend the border gradually expanded to the Western Regions along the Hexi Corridor.

Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty appointed Lai Dan as a captain general, and then the reclamation area of the Han Empire was expanded to the driving area. The western expedition plan of the Han empire shocked the Xiongnu dynasty. They encouraged Kucha and others to confront the Han Empire, killed Lai Dan, a captain general, and tried to force the Han Empire to cancel the plan. This is an extremely dangerous signal.

Chang Hui suggested that Wu Sun and other allies should be used to make Qiuci pay the price for killing the officials of the Han Empire, but Xuan Di, the Emperor Gaozu, refused Chang Hui's request.

In 70 BC, Chang Hui went to the Western Ocean for the third time.

Although Xuan Di refused to punish Qiuci, Chang Hui was supported by the military of the Han Empire. He will take this opportunity to send Wusun to launch an expedition to Qiuci, and he will bear the consequences of his unauthorized action alone. Princess You Jie was moved by Chang Hui's courage and stood firmly on Chang Hui's side. She not only persuaded the leader of Wusun to send troops to participate in this military operation, but also sent her own envoys to western countries to discuss the borrowing of soldiers.

Chang Hui, on his way back to Chang 'an from Wusun, led tens of thousands of troops from western countries allied with the empire, and pushed Qiuci at the gates. This is an unprecedented movement to unite western countries. As a result, the soldiers did not bleed. King Qiuci apologized for his behavior that year and punished the murderer of Lai Dan.

64 BC

Chang Hui went to the Western Regions for the fourth time, and led an army to rescue Ji Zheng, assistant minister of the Han Dynasty who was besieged by Xiongnu, and more than 1,000 soldiers who settled the field. He also brought back a letter from the leader of Wusun, proposing that Yuan Guimi, the son of the princess, be the prince of Wusun, and demanding that thousands of horses and mules be employed as Yuan Guimi to marry Princess Han.

6 BC1

For the reunion of Han and Wusun, Chang Hui will go to Hangquan again.

The Central Plains Dynasty's policy of governing the western regions was effective, and the Han Empire was winning the initiative to control the western regions by sending officials and relatives to open fields, giving military gifts and fighting against foreigners.

People in the Central Plains can develop production with peace of mind, and silk specialties in the south also have the opportunity to be exported to other regions. Silk trade gradually prospered, and beautiful and gorgeous silk gathered in Luoyang. From there, it was transported to the vast western regions along the Hexi Corridor.

From the bamboo slips of Han Empire unearthed in Xuanquanjia, people can see that the names and mileage of the post stations along the way from Wuwei to Dunhuang were recorded in detail.

From the watch setting of Cangsong Luan bird Xiao Zhang Zangxian who was late for Qilian, these stations accurately pointed out the route of the eastern section of the Silk Road, and the stations along the prosperous scene of the Silk Road played a huge role as stabilizers.

In 60 A.D., in order to manage the Western Regions, the Han Empire established the Western Regions Capital Protection House in Leo (luntai county, Xinjiang), and officially established officials in the Western Regions to carry out government decrees, and began to form national sovereignty.

Ji Zheng, assistant minister of the Han Dynasty who was rescued by Chang Huijun four years ago, was appointed as the first viceroy and became the highest official of the Han Empire in managing the western regions. This is the "Han Dynasty's order to sail to the West" in the biography of Han Ji Zheng.

Since then, the influence of the Han empire in the western regions has been expanding, and the western regions have protected their territory across the green ridge, and the number of subordinate countries has also increased from 36 to 48. The envoys sent by western countries to the Han empire kept in contact, and "all countries came to Korea" became fashionable for a time.

Diaoquanju, located in Hexi Corridor, is always busy.

From the beginning of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to the third generation of Emperor Zhao and Xuan Di, the Han Empire made every effort to forge ahead for more than 60 years. The military and diplomacy went hand in hand, and the reclamation and frontier defense supported each other, which finally created a new situation of peace and common prosperity between Han and the Western Regions.

Since then, Hexi Corridor has been controlling the traffic passage from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, and as a diplomatic and political passage from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, it has become an important town in the northwest.

52 BC

Princess You Jie's son became the leader of Wusun State, and Wusun officially became a vassal of the Han Empire.

In order to help Princess You Jie and Yuan Guimi, Chang Hui went to Wusun again. During this period, the domestic political situation in Wusun was extremely unstable, and Chang Hui, who was responsible for a major national mission, needed to keep timely and smooth communication with the Han Dynasty. At this time, Chang Hui was urgently recalled to Beijing, and later General Zhao Chongguo died.

Zhao Chongguo

The officer in Longxi (Tianshan Mountain in Gansu Province) was one of the generals in the history of the Han Empire.

Zhao Chongguo's theory of stationing fields to defend the frontier is the guiding principle for the Han Empire to govern the western regions.

6 BC1

Zhao Chongguo, 76, regardless of his age, took the initiative to lead the troops to Hexi Corridor. During the campaign, Zhao Chongguo went to the field for three times, summed up the experience of the Han Dynasty for many years, and put forward the strategic strategy of saving money in class and guarding the field outside. These three imperial edicts raised the reclamation measures of the Han empire to a strategic height, and the reclamation policy received unprecedented attention from the whole empire.

After the war, the soldiers turned swords into plowshares, helped the local area to resume production, and at the same time made the two sides of the war become friends, ensuring the long-term stability of a region. This was not only of strategic significance at that time, but also had a far-reaching impact on later generations.

5/kloc-0 BC/

Yuan Guimi, the leader of Wusun, who had just been sworn in for three years, died of illness.

At this time, Princess You Jie was 70 years old, and a letter she wrote to the Han Empire went to Chang 'an through the hanging spring.

Princess You Jie wants to return to her roots.

In 49 BC

Princess You Jie, who worked hard for the western frontier of China, died in Chang 'an.

Two thousand years later, people finally restored the evolution track of Diaoquan House through continuous archaeological excavations.

According to the textual research of Hangquanjia site, it has been playing a role from Han Dynasty to Wei and Jin Dynasties. After it was abandoned in Wei and Jin Dynasties, it was re-established as "Hangquan Post" in Tang Dynasty. After the Song Dynasty, the hanging spring posts were gradually submerged in the long river of years.