Map of Xiongnu and Han Empires 1st C. CE
King Bi, the nobles from the Eight Sectors, and the rise of the southern traitors:
In the years leading up to 47 CE drought and famine killed more than half of the Xiongnu population. King Rizhu of Yujian (aka King Bi) was jealous for power and colluded with the Chinese by sending a map of the Xiongnu's lands with a message that he wished to submit to the Han Empire. His plot was discovered at the Xiongnu's Dragon City gathering during the 5th month of that same year. Before he could be apprehended and executed for treason, he escaped to Han with nobles from the Eight Southern Sectors and 40-50,000 soldiers. He was elevated from King to Chanyu by the traitors in 48 CE, creating another split between North and South as had happened under Chanyu Zizhi and Huhanye in the previous century.
In 49 CE, after officially allying with Han, Bi invaded the Northern Xiongnu. The Northern Chanyu, Punu, was caught off guard and Bi was able to capture or obtain the surrender of 40,000 more soldiers from the northerners that year. When Huhanye Chanyu 'submitted' to Han in the previous century he was largely a free agent and able to keep his dignity. He didn't need to kneel before the Han Emperor, he didn't even need to show up to pay homage. Bi, however, kowtowed to the Han Imperial Guard Commander as the Han Court lavished him with more than 10,000 catties of silk, gifts of gold, a purple-green sash, musical instruments, 36,000 heads of cattle and goats, a carriage with feather plumes, special sauce from the imperial chef, large amounts of foodstuffs, and many gifts of decadence. The Chinese used the term Xiongnu in a pejorative manner interchangeably with the word "slave". Bi was a rare example in the history of the Xiongnu leadership in that he fitted that description accurately.
The Northern Xiongnu tried to maintain diplomatic relations with Han but were largely rejected. They sent an envoy to Han in 51 CE but Han wouldn't allow the envoy in. The following year they sent another envoy and Han responded by saying the subservient must be rewarded and those who are not must be punished. Han sent a small amount of silk, a single bow case, a single quiver, and 48 arrows to the Northern Chanyu.
Source: The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han: From the Shiji, Hanshu, and Hou Hanshu. Translated by Joseph P. Yap.
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| Map of Xiongnu and Han Empires 1st C. CE. |
Source/Quote:
The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han: From the Shiji, Hanshu, and Hou Hanshu. Translated by Joseph P. Yap.
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