{"id":3643,"date":"2008-08-30T23:29:17","date_gmt":"2008-08-30T15:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ajia.site\/blog\/2008\/08\/30\/ke_chi_shu_20080830\/"},"modified":"2025-12-25T06:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T22:56:12","slug":"ke_chi_shu_20080830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajia.site\/blog\/en\/2008\/08\/30\/ke_chi_shu_20080830\/","title":{"rendered":"A pic\u00adture book you can read and recite: Su Wu Shep\u00adherd\u00ading Sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\u53ef\u6301\u4e66\u541f\u5531\u7684\u56fe\u753b\u4e66\u2014\u2014\u300a\u82cf\u6b66\u7267\u7f8a\u300b\"<\/a>
\nThe orig\u00adi\u00adnal pic\u00adture book \u201cSu Wu Shep\u00adherd\u00ading Sheep\u201d was illus\u00adtrat\u00aded by Xiong Liang and pub\u00adlished by Com\u00adic Book Pub\u00adlish\u00ading House in 2008.
\nIt is actu\u00adal\u00adly a song with lyrics by Jiang Yin\u00adtang and music by Tian Xihou.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll sing it first, sor\u00adry for the poor per\u00adfor\u00admance :)<\/p>\n

Link:Lis\u00adten to flute music online: Su Wu Shep\u00adherd\u00ading Sheep<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Su Wu herd\u00ading sheep on the North Sea coast in the snow and ice<\/p>\n

Where is the North Sea? The North Sea is actu\u00adal\u00adly a large lake, which is today\u2019s Lake Baikal in Rus\u00adsia. Dur\u00ading the West\u00adern Han Dynasty, it was under the con\u00adtrol of the Xiongnu.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu08.jpg<\/a>
\nCom\u00adplete Map of the West\u00adern Han Dynasty (Scanned from Con\u00adcise Atlas of Chi\u00adnese His\u00adto\u00adry)<\/p>\n

Su Wu\u2019s fam\u00adi\u00adly was in Chang\u2019an, yet he had to go to such a remote place with ice and snow to herd sheep. No one would be will\u00ading to do that, but Su Wu went any\u00adway. That was around 100 BC, or 2,100 years ago.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu03.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

Today, Lake Baikal is a beau\u00adti\u00adful and fer\u00adtile lake, a pop\u00adu\u00adlar tourist des\u00adti\u00adna\u00adtion. How\u00adev\u00ader, 2,100 years ago, for a Han Chi\u00adnese like Su Wu, life was a dif\u00adfi\u00adcult one. He was detained and exiled there, like a pris\u00adon\u00ader or a slave. He was com\u00adplete\u00adly alone, with\u00adout a sin\u00adgle Han Chi\u00adnese by his side.<\/p>\n

Detained for 19 years<\/p>\n

Su Wu was held cap\u00adtive by the Xiongnu for nine\u00adteen years, a some\u00adwhat unlucky fate. He was a kind man, and the Han Emper\u00ador Wu of Han great\u00adly favored him and placed him in impor\u00adtant posi\u00adtions. When he arrived in the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu king, Chanyu, also favored him and tried every pos\u00adsi\u00adble means to sub\u00adju\u00adgate him. How\u00adev\u00ader, Su Wu suf\u00adfered instead.<\/p>\n

In the first year of the Tian\u00adhan era (100 BC), Su Wu was pro\u00admot\u00aded by Emper\u00ador Wu of Han to the rank of Gen\u00ader\u00adal of the Cen\u00adtral Guards (chief of the impe\u00adr\u00adi\u00adal guards) and sent on a diplo\u00admat\u00adic mis\u00adsion to the Xiongnu. Pri\u00ador to this, Su Wu held a low-rank\u00ading posi\u00adtion, serv\u00ading as a mere guard in the emper\u00ador\u2019s inner cir\u00adcle, and had achieved no sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant feats. He gained this posi\u00adtion because his father, Su Jian\u00adli, had mil\u00adi\u00adtary achieve\u00adments, ris\u00ading to the rank of pre\u00adfect and the title of Mar\u00adquis of Pin\u00adgling. This pro\u00admo\u00adtion was also due to Emper\u00ador Wu\u2019s fond\u00adness for him. Coin\u00adci\u00adden\u00adtal\u00adly, he was 41 years old that year, which also coin\u00adcid\u00aded with Emper\u00ador Wu\u2019s 41st year on the throne.<\/p>\n

Log\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly, Su Wu\u2019s assign\u00adment to the Xiongnu was a wel\u00adcome one. Rela\u00adtions between the Han and Xiongnu had been strained for some time. Due to mis\u00adun\u00adder\u00adstand\u00adings, fric\u00adtion, and a rebel\u00adlious nature, each side had detained some of the oth\u00ader\u2019s envoys. That year, the Xiongnu Chanyu, Qiedi\u00adhou, had just come to pow\u00ader and, out of a sense of right\u00adeous\u00adness, prompt\u00adly sent the Han envoys back. Emper\u00ador Wu of Han was over\u00adjoyed, believ\u00ading the new Chanyu was a man of integri\u00adty. So, he, too, sent envoys to return the detained Xiongnu envoys. Fur\u00adther\u00admore, he also pre\u00adpared gen\u00ader\u00adous gifts for the Chanyu Chanyu. Who would\u00adn\u2019t be hap\u00adpy about such a mutu\u00adal\u00adly ben\u00ade\u00adfi\u00adcial sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion? There\u00adfore, Su Wu\u2019s assign\u00adment was sup\u00adposed to be a great one, earn\u00ading him a pro\u00admo\u00adtion and facil\u00adi\u00adtat\u00ading good\u00adwill for both sides. So, accom\u00adpa\u00adnied by two deputies and over a hun\u00addred sol\u00addiers, he set off with the detained Xiongnu envoys, escort\u00ading gifts and mak\u00ading friends along the way. It seemed his trip was bound to be high\u00adly reward\u00ading.<\/p>\n

But things went against their wish\u00ades. The prob\u00adlem start\u00aded with the gen\u00ader\u00adous gifts. Accord\u00ading to the Han peo\u00adple\u2019s under\u00adstand\u00ading, cour\u00adtesy is reci\u00adprocity, and when giv\u00ading gen\u00ader\u00adous gifts, it is nat\u00adur\u00adal to have some\u00adthing in return. But the Xiongnu peo\u00adple did\u00adn\u2019t think so. See\u00ading Emper\u00ador Wu of Han so polite, the Chanyu became proud, and see\u00ading that the oth\u00ader par\u00adty was so rich, they could\u00adn\u2019t help but want to find an oppor\u00adtu\u00adni\u00adty to grab some more. We always say \u201cthe more cour\u00adtesy, the less blame\u201d, but that only applies to the Han peo\u00adple. Being polite and respect\u00adful to every\u00adone is fine for fam\u00adi\u00adly mem\u00adbers, but some\u00adtimes it will cause prob\u00adlems for out\u00adsiders. In short, the Chanyu kept delay\u00ading and did\u00adn\u2019t give a reply, that is, a reply or a gift, so Su Wu and his com\u00adpan\u00adions had no choice but to stay there, wait\u00ading, wait\u00ading\u2026<\/p>\n

Final\u00adly, some\u00adthing hap\u00adpened. One of Su Wu\u2019s lieu\u00adtenants, Zhang Sheng, was embroiled in a Xiongnu con\u00adspir\u00ada\u00adcy, par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpat\u00ading in the assas\u00adsi\u00adna\u00adtion of Prince Gou, Wei Lu. Wei Lu, a native of the Hu peo\u00adple, had served as an offi\u00adcial in the Han Dynasty and an envoy to the Xiongnu. He lat\u00ader defect\u00aded to the Xiongnu and became a close con\u00adfi\u00addant of the Khan. This inci\u00addent is a long sto\u00adry, but sim\u00adply put, Zhang Sheng was embroiled in a sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion com\u00adplete\u00adly unre\u00adlat\u00aded to his mis\u00adsion. Regard\u00adless of his ini\u00adtial inten\u00adtions, he ulti\u00admate\u00adly com\u00admit\u00adted a major diplo\u00admat\u00adic offense.<\/p>\n

The assas\u00adsi\u00adna\u00adtion attempt failed, and the mas\u00adter\u00admind was arrest\u00aded. Zhang Sheng hur\u00adried over to tell Su Wu the truth. He had to tell the truth because he knew he would be betrayed soon. Su Wu was shocked after hear\u00ading this, and in des\u00adper\u00ada\u00adtion he was about to draw his sword and com\u00admit sui\u00adcide. This was Su Wu\u2019s first sui\u00adcide attempt. It was called \u201cthe first time\u201d, so of course it was unsuc\u00adcess\u00adful. Zhang Sheng and anoth\u00ader deputy, Chang Hui, hugged him. Why did Su Wu want to com\u00admit sui\u00adcide as soon as he heard about this? Because he was a diplo\u00admat who under\u00adstood the rules of diplo\u00adma\u00adcy very well. He knew that he was in the wrong in this mat\u00adter, and the Huns would def\u00adi\u00adnite\u00adly hold on to it and make use of it. At that time, his per\u00adson\u00adal safe\u00adty would be small, but the coun\u00adtry\u2019s face would be lost. As the per\u00adson in charge of this mis\u00adsion, he want\u00aded to die to apol\u00ado\u00adgize.<\/p>\n

As expect\u00aded, Zhang Sheng was arrest\u00aded soon after. The Chanyu thought this was a good oppor\u00adtu\u00adni\u00adty, so he asked Wei Lu to find a way to use this as an excuse to sub\u00addue Su Wu. On the one hand, he want\u00aded to embar\u00adrass the Han Dynasty, and on the oth\u00ader hand, the Chanyu still liked Su Wu. The Chanyu sent Wei Lu to arrest Su Wu for tri\u00adal. When Su Wu heard about it, he imme\u00addi\u00adate\u00adly drew his sword and com\u00admit\u00adted sui\u00adcide. This was Su Wu\u2019s sec\u00adond sui\u00adcide attempt. This time he almost suc\u00adceed\u00aded. At that time, he was only with Chang Hui. Su Wu explained to Chang Hui that this was an apol\u00ado\u00adgy to his coun\u00adtry. Chang Hui did not dare to stop him this time, because he also under\u00adstood the rea\u00adson\u00ading. It was extreme\u00adly humil\u00adi\u00adat\u00ading for a diplo\u00admat to be arrest\u00aded and tried. So Su Wu real\u00adly slit his throat and almost died. For\u00adtu\u00adnate\u00adly, Wei Lu arrived in time, per\u00adson\u00adal\u00adly picked up Su Wu, dug a pit, drained the blood, and found a con\u00adcu\u00adbine. After a long time of hard work, he final\u00adly res\u00adcued Su Wu.<\/p>\n

From then on, the Chanyu became even more fond of Su Wu. You see, this is the nature of the Xiongnu: if you\u2019re polite, they\u2019ll look down on you, think\u00ading you\u2019re weak and easy to bul\u00adly; if you\u2019re des\u00adper\u00adate, they\u2019ll respect you and be polite. While Su Wu was recov\u00ader\u00ading from his injuries, the Xiongnu took excep\u00adtion\u00adal care of him. King Wei Lu also vis\u00adit\u00aded him dai\u00adly, per\u00adson\u00adal\u00adly car\u00ading for him and con\u00adstant\u00adly try\u00ading to get close to him.<\/p>\n

After Su Wu\u2019s wounds healed, Wei Lu began to make arrange\u00adments again. He arranged a joint tri\u00adal, this time invit\u00ading Su Wu to the bench to watch Wei Lu inter\u00adro\u00adgate the pris\u00adon\u00aders, includ\u00ading Zhang Sheng. This scene was clear\u00adly for Su Wu to watch. Wei Lu first ordered the mas\u00adter\u00admind to be brought in and behead\u00aded on the spot. He then called Zhang Sheng and want\u00aded to behead him as well, but Zhang Sheng, fear\u00ading death, sur\u00adren\u00addered on the spot. Wei Lu threat\u00adened Su Wu, but Su Wu remained unmoved. See\u00ading that hard tac\u00adtics did\u00adn\u2019t work, Wei Lu tried soft tac\u00adtics, using him\u00adself as an exam\u00adple to per\u00adsuade Su Wu to sur\u00adren\u00adder. He also said that if you sur\u00adren\u00adder, we will become sworn broth\u00aders, but if you don\u2019t, you will nev\u00ader see me again. Su Wu then cursed Wei Lu: Who do you think you are? You are an ungrate\u00adful trai\u00adtor who is seek\u00ading fame and for\u00adtune. Who would care about you? If you have the guts, kill me. Nanyue, Wan, and Korea had all killed Han envoys in the past, and all suf\u00adfered dev\u00adas\u00adtat\u00ading retal\u00adi\u00ada\u00adtion. The Xiongnu had nev\u00ader killed a Han envoy. If you kill me today, the dis\u00adas\u00adter for the Xiongnu will begin from now on. Wei Lu was so fright\u00adened that he had to give up.<\/p>\n

Upon hear\u00ading Wei Lu\u2019s report, the Chanyu, far from being angry, was over\u00adwhelmed with admi\u00adra\u00adtion for Su Wu. He was deter\u00admined to sub\u00adju\u00adgate Su Wu, dis\u00adre\u00adgard\u00ading all diplo\u00admat\u00adic rules and the Han Dynasty\u2019s mil\u00adi\u00adtary threat. Thus began Su Wu\u2019s cap\u00adtiv\u00adi\u00adty with the Xiongnu.<\/p>\n

The above sto\u00adry is pri\u00admar\u00adi\u00adly based on Ban Gu\u2019s \u201cBook of Han,\u201d with ref\u00ader\u00adence to rel\u00ade\u00advant sec\u00adtions of Sima Guang\u2019s \u201cZizhi Tongjian.\u201d Both of these his\u00adtor\u00adi\u00adcal texts were writ\u00adten by Han Chi\u00adnese. I\u2019m curi\u00adous about how the Xiongnu would have writ\u00adten about this peri\u00adod of history\u2014if they actu\u00adal\u00adly did. While I cer\u00adtain\u00adly admire Su Wu for his remark\u00adable achieve\u00adments, I also find the Chanyu and Wei Lu to be lov\u00adable indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals, espe\u00adcial\u00adly the Chanyu, who deeply admired heroes. The Chanyu, con\u00advinced of Su Wu\u2019s excep\u00adtion\u00adal hero\u00adism, was deter\u00admined to gain his alle\u00adgiance, even at the cost of a for\u00adtune. This is a tru\u00adly hero\u00adic act. How\u00adev\u00ader, from a Han per\u00adspec\u00adtive, it seems out\u00adra\u00adgeous and unrea\u00adson\u00adable.<\/p>\n

Thirsty drinks snow, hun\u00adgry swal\u00adlows felt<\/p>\n

There is also a ver\u00adsion writ\u00adten as \u201cthirsty drink\u00ading blood\u201d, which is also writ\u00adten in this pic\u00adture book. Although it can be explained in anoth\u00ader way, I think it is bet\u00adter to use \u201cthirsty drink\u00ading snow\u201d. It has a source and the sto\u00adry feels more real.<\/p>\n

The Book of Han records: \u201cThe Chanyu became increas\u00ading\u00adly eager to sur\u00adren\u00adder, so he impris\u00adoned Wu and placed him in a large cel\u00adlar, deny\u00ading him food or drink. When it began to snow, Wu lay down and gnawed on snow and its hair, swal\u00adlow\u00ading it, and sur\u00advived for sev\u00ader\u00adal days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Chanyu was com\u00adplete\u00adly help\u00adless against Su Wu. Nei\u00adther threats nor bribes worked; he could\u00adn\u2019t let him go, nor could he kill him. He had no choice but to imprison him in a large cel\u00adlar, depriv\u00ading him of food and water, to see how long he could endure. While some\u00adone could endure a few days with\u00adout food, they could\u00adn\u2019t endure with\u00adout water. The Chanyu prob\u00ada\u00adbly thought Su Wu might give in and sur\u00adren\u00adder. If he did\u00adn\u2019t, he would have starved to death, not been killed by the Huns. In essence, it was the same thing.<\/p>\n

But a few days lat\u00ader, the Xiongnu dis\u00adcov\u00adered that Su Wu was still alive. It turned out that it was snow\u00ading heav\u00adi\u00adly at the time, and Su Wu chewed hand\u00adfuls of snow when he was thirsty, and gnawed on the wool felt wrapped around him when he was hun\u00adgry. This is how he tena\u00adcious\u00adly sur\u00advived.<\/p>\n

The Xiongnu believed Su Wu to be a god and, no longer able to hold him cap\u00adtive, sent him to the North Sea to herd sheep. They left him there with\u00adout food, leav\u00ading him to fend for him\u00adself. Yet Su Wu man\u00adaged to sur\u00advive, some\u00adtimes even dig\u00adging into bur\u00adrows where wild mice hid their food and snatch\u00ading mil\u00adlet from them to sat\u00adis\u00adfy his hunger.<\/p>\n

Some may ask, con\u00adsid\u00ader\u00ading Su Wu attempt\u00aded sui\u00adcide twice, why did he lat\u00ader fight so tena\u00adcious\u00adly for sur\u00advival? Are there any con\u00adtra\u00addic\u00adtions between his actions? I believe there are none. Su Wu\u2019s first two sui\u00adcide attempts were not for him\u00adself, but for his coun\u00adtry. As an envoy, he risked his life when his coun\u00adtry was threat\u00adened with humil\u00adi\u00ada\u00adtion, embody\u00ading the say\u00ading, \u201cBet\u00adter to die in glo\u00adry than live in dis\u00adgrace.\u201d It was pre\u00adcise\u00adly because of Su Wu\u2019s atti\u00adtude that the Xiongnu dared not make a fuss about this mat\u00adter, and their sub\u00adse\u00adquent actions were pri\u00admar\u00adi\u00adly direct\u00aded at Su Wu per\u00adson\u00adal\u00adly. The Chanyu com\u00adplete\u00adly dis\u00adre\u00adgard\u00aded diplo\u00admat\u00adic pro\u00adto\u00adcol and no longer treat\u00aded Su Wu as an envoy. Instead, they sought to force him to sur\u00adren\u00adder and sub\u00adju\u00adgate him, putting him in a des\u00adper\u00adate sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion, com\u00adplete\u00adly iso\u00adlat\u00ading him, and sap\u00adping his fight\u00ading spir\u00adit. At this point, Su Wu was incred\u00adi\u00adbly stub\u00adborn, deter\u00admined to sur\u00advive as long as there was a glim\u00admer of hope!<\/p>\n

As an indi\u00advid\u00adual, Su Wu can endure humil\u00adi\u00ada\u00adtion and endure it, just because of his belief, his mis\u00adsion, and his com\u00admit\u00adment, he can sur\u00advive in an extreme\u00adly hum\u00adble way!<\/p>\n

This is what makes a great hero!<\/p>\n

Sleep\u00ading Alone in the Wild Night<\/p>\n

Both this song and this pic\u00adture book allow us to see a stub\u00adborn, lone\u00adly soul in the wilds of nature. The sky is his tent, the earth his bed, even the sheep hud\u00addle togeth\u00ader, and only the bright moon lis\u00adtens to his silent con\u00adfes\u00adsion\u2026<\/p>\n

What is this lone\u00adly man think\u00ading?
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu04.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

The dream of the Han Dynasty is in my heart, and my old home\u00adland is in my heart<\/p>\n

After going through so much hard\u00adship, I still haven\u2019t returned<\/p>\n

He was nat\u00adu\u00adral\u00adly think\u00ading of his home\u00adland, his home\u00adland. How do we know? Look at what he was hold\u00ading in his arms: a stick with a row of fur tas\u00adsels tied to it. From a dis\u00adtance, it looked like a flag when blown by the wind. Su Wu leaned on it while herd\u00ading sheep all day, held it when he sat down, and even kept it close at hand when he went to sleep.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu05.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

This is no ordi\u00adnary stick or flag; it\u2019s called an envoy, a sym\u00adbol of the coun\u00adtry and its mis\u00adsion. Dur\u00ading his long, lone\u00adly wait by the North Sea, it was Su Wu\u2019s only old acquain\u00adtance who remained with him, and it held all his faith.<\/p>\n

The tas\u00adsels of this kind of envoys were made of yak tails, hence the name \u201cjiemao\u201d. Dur\u00ading the Spring and Autumn Peri\u00adod, Prince Ji of Wei was on a diplo\u00admat\u00adic mis\u00adsion to Qi. On the way, he was ambushed by ban\u00addits sent by his father. The envoy\u2019s tas\u00adsels he was hold\u00ading were made of white hair, hence the name \u201cbaimao\u201d.<\/p>\n

Su Wu was\u00adn\u2019t the first per\u00adson to herd sheep while on a diplo\u00admat\u00adic mis\u00adsion. Before him, Zhang Qian had also spent over ten years herd\u00ading sheep while hold\u00ading a diplo\u00admat\u00adic mis\u00adsion in the Xiongnu. How\u00adev\u00ader, Zhang Qian\u2019s cir\u00adcum\u00adstances were dif\u00adfer\u00adent. He was on a mis\u00adsion to the West\u00adern Regions, prepar\u00ading to unite with the Xiongnu to attack the Xiongnu. There\u00adfore, when cap\u00adtured by the Xiongnu, he could be con\u00adsid\u00adered a pris\u00adon\u00ader of the ene\u00admy state, and being forced to herd sheep as a slave did not vio\u00adlate diplo\u00admat\u00adic rules. Su Wu was tru\u00adly wronged. He was clear\u00adly an envoy to the Xiongnu, and as the say\u00ading goes, \u201cWhen two coun\u00adtries are at war, envoys are not exe\u00adcut\u00aded.\u201d Yet, he was also forced to herd sheep as a slave, and his mis\u00adsion last\u00aded for nine\u00adteen years!<\/p>\n

Because he always held on to this envoy, after a few years, the hairs on it fell off, and there was still no hope of return\u00ading home.<\/p>\n

Sit\u00adting alone in the cold, I hear the sound of the Hujia, and my ears ache.<\/p>\n

Sit\u00adting alone in the extreme\u00adly cold wilder\u00adness, still with my back straight, the mourn\u00adful and trag\u00adic sounds of the Hujia music came to my ears from time to time. I don\u2019t know if it was in my ears or in my heart, it was so painful!<\/p>\n

The mean\u00ading of this line like\u00adly comes from \u201cLi Ling\u2019s Reply to Su Wu,\u201d a book some con\u00adsid\u00ader a forgery. Regard\u00adless, it\u2019s a well-writ\u00adten piece of writ\u00ading, equal\u00adly poignant and mov\u00ading. One pas\u00adsage reads: \u201cThe land of the Hu peo\u00adple is cov\u00adered in black ice, the bor\u00adder\u00adlands are shat\u00adtered, and all I hear is the mourn\u00adful sound of a des\u00ado\u00adlate wind. In the cool ninth month of autumn, the grass out\u00adside the Great Wall with\u00aders. Sleep\u00adless at night, I lis\u00adten intent\u00adly to the echo\u00ading sounds of the Hujia. The herds of pas\u00adtur\u00ading hors\u00ades neigh mourn\u00adful\u00adly, the whistling of flocks, the sounds of the bor\u00adder ris\u00ading from all direc\u00adtions. Sit\u00adting in the morn\u00ading, lis\u00adten\u00ading to them, I find myself shed\u00adding tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

Li Ling is a renowned fig\u00adure in his\u00adto\u00adry. I remem\u00adber lis\u00adten\u00ading to the sto\u00adry\u00adtelling of \u201cThe Gen\u00ader\u00adals of the Yang Fam\u00adi\u00adly\u201d as a child. In the sto\u00adry, Yang Ling\u00adgong was defeat\u00aded and trapped, unable to break out. He was led by some mys\u00adte\u00adri\u00adous force to Li Ling\u2019s tomb. Unwill\u00ading to fol\u00adlow Li Ling\u2019s exam\u00adple and sur\u00adren\u00adder to the for\u00adeign pow\u00aders, Yang Ling\u00adgong crashed into his head and died in front of Li Ling\u2019s stele. While this isn\u2019t nec\u00ades\u00adsar\u00adi\u00adly the case in offi\u00adcial his\u00adto\u00adry, the sto\u00adry\u00adtelling nat\u00adu\u00adral\u00adly uses Li Ling as a metaphor.<\/p>\n

In the \u201cHis\u00adto\u00adry of the Han Dynasty,\u201d the deeds of Li Guang, Li Ling, Su Jian, and Su Wu are record\u00aded in the same biog\u00adra\u00adphy, as Li Ling was Li Guang\u2019s grand\u00adson and Su Wu was Su Jian\u2019s son. Among Li Guang\u2019s descen\u00addants, only Li Ling was the most promis\u00ading, inher\u00adit\u00ading his grand\u00adfa\u00adther\u2019s skills: excep\u00adtion\u00adal mar\u00adtial arts, superb archery, and a sea\u00adsoned war\u00adrior. Li Ling and Su Wu remained close friends.<\/p>\n

In terms of skill and mar\u00adtial prowess, Li Ling was undoubt\u00aded\u00adly supe\u00adri\u00ador to Su Wu. How\u00adev\u00ader, in the eyes of lat\u00ader gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtions, Su Wu is a tow\u00ader\u00ading hero, while Li Ling is rid\u00addled with blem\u00adish\u00ades, even sto\u00adry\u00adtellers and chil\u00addren can use him to make fun of him. The only dif\u00adfer\u00adence between the two is that Li Ling sur\u00adren\u00addered to the Xiongnu; Su Wu pre\u00adferred death to sur\u00adren\u00adder.<\/p>\n

In 99 BC, the year after Su Wu was held cap\u00adtive by the Xiongnu, Li Ling led his army in a cam\u00adpaign against the Xiongnu. The Han army suf\u00adfered a crush\u00ading defeat this time, as the com\u00adman\u00adder, Li Guan\u00adgli (no rela\u00adtion to the Li Guang fam\u00adi\u00adly), was a mediocre com\u00adman\u00adder with ques\u00adtion\u00adable char\u00adac\u00adter. But after all, he was the younger broth\u00ader of the emper\u00ador\u2019s favorite con\u00adcu\u00adbine. Unwill\u00ading to fol\u00adlow such a com\u00adman\u00adder, Li Ling request\u00aded to lead a detach\u00adment of 5,000 infantry archers deep into Xiongnu ter\u00adri\u00adto\u00adry. With the main force of the Han army rout\u00aded and iso\u00adlat\u00aded, Li Ling led his troops into bat\u00adtle against a force of 100,000 Xiongnu troops led by the Chanyu him\u00adself. Fight\u00ading while retreat\u00ading, he repelled numer\u00adous Xiongnu attacks and killed near\u00adly 10,000 ene\u00admy sol\u00addiers. Final\u00adly, they were with\u00adin a hun\u00addred miles of the Han fron\u00adtier, but with no one to res\u00adcue them, Li Ling\u2019s troops, exhaust\u00aded by ammu\u00adni\u00adtion and food, were rout\u00aded by the Xiongnu. Despite risk\u00ading his life to remain behind, Li Ling was unfor\u00adtu\u00adnate\u00adly cap\u00adtured. Although Li Ling dealt a heavy blow to the Xiongnu army and killed so many Xiongnu peo\u00adple, the Chanyu still admired and respect\u00aded this gen\u00ader\u00adal, so he accept\u00aded Li Ling and made him a king in the Xiongnu. Lat\u00ader, he entrust\u00aded him with impor\u00adtant troops and tasks.<\/p>\n

The Chanyu had his rea\u00adsons for lik\u00ading Li Ling, but how could Li Ling, a Han gen\u00ader\u00adal and grand\u00adson of the renowned Li Guang, sur\u00adren\u00adder? Accord\u00ading to Li Ling him\u00adself, he had oth\u00ader plans: to endure humil\u00adi\u00ada\u00adtion and sur\u00advive, wait\u00ading for an oppor\u00adtu\u00adni\u00adty to return to the Han court. How\u00adev\u00ader, Li Ling\u2019s sur\u00adren\u00adder deeply angered Emper\u00ador Wu of Han, who first impris\u00adoned Li Ling\u2019s entire fam\u00adi\u00adly and lat\u00ader exe\u00adcut\u00aded them all, even cas\u00adtrat\u00ading Sima Qian, who had spo\u00adken well of Li Ling. Ulti\u00admate\u00adly, Li Ling remained with the Xiongnu.<\/p>\n

Li Ling and Su Wu were good friends, and log\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly, Li Ling should have vis\u00adit\u00aded Su Wu upon his arrival in the Xiongnu. How\u00adev\u00ader, he nev\u00ader went, pri\u00admar\u00adi\u00adly because he knew Su Wu\u2019s char\u00adac\u00adter and felt embar\u00adrassed to meet him. Years lat\u00ader, the Chanyu heard of their rela\u00adtion\u00adship and sent Li Ling to per\u00adsuade Su Wu again. It turned out that the Chanyu still cared about Su Wu.<\/p>\n

Su Wu was delight\u00aded to see Li Ling. After all, they were old friends, and reunit\u00ading in a for\u00adeign land brought them a shared pas\u00adsion. For the first few days, they drank and chat\u00adted, but when Li Ling tried to per\u00adsuade Su Wu to sur\u00adren\u00adder, Su Wu stern\u00adly refused, threat\u00aden\u00ading to die. This filled Li Ling with shame, and he sighed, \u201cAlas, right\u00adeous man! The crimes of Li Ling and Wei Lu are known to heav\u00aden!\u201d<\/p>\n

For a long time, Li Ling dared not see Su Wu. How\u00adev\u00ader, Li Ling remained a loy\u00adal friend. He asked his wife to send some\u00adone to take care of Su Wu, leav\u00ading him live\u00adstock and a tent. He lat\u00ader arranged for Su Wu to mar\u00adry a Xiongnu woman who great\u00adly admired him. With Li Ling\u2019s help, Su Wu\u2019s life in cap\u00adtiv\u00adi\u00adty was rel\u00ada\u00adtive\u00adly pros\u00adper\u00adous and sta\u00adble, and he began to feel a sense of home.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu06.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

The geese are fly\u00ading south, to whom should I send this let\u00adter?<\/p>\n

White-haired girl lean\u00ading against the wood\u00aden door<\/p>\n

Red make\u00adup guards the emp\u00adty cur\u00adtain<\/p>\n

For nine\u00adteen years, Su Wu\u2019s long\u00ading for home and his fam\u00adi\u00adly nev\u00ader ceased, which was also an impor\u00adtant rea\u00adson that kept him alive.<\/p>\n

When Su Wu was sent as an envoy to the Xiongnu, his father had passed away, but his moth\u00ader was still alive. He had an old\u00ader broth\u00ader, a younger broth\u00ader, and two younger sis\u00adters at home. His wife gave birth to a son and two daugh\u00adters for him.<\/p>\n

After Su Wu was exiled to the North Sea, he lost all con\u00adtact with his fam\u00adi\u00adly. Every year, when he saw the geese fly\u00ading south, he could\u00adn\u2019t help but think of his fam\u00adi\u00adly, wish\u00ading he could have wings. What he missed most were his gray-haired moth\u00ader and his wife, who had been with him through thick and thin. He imag\u00adined that they were all wait\u00ading for him anx\u00adious\u00adly.<\/p>\n

After see\u00ading Li Ling, he nat\u00adu\u00adral\u00adly asked about the sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion of his fam\u00adi\u00adly. When he heard it, he was even more sad.<\/p>\n

Li Ling told him: \u201cSince you left, your elder broth\u00ader com\u00admit\u00adted a minor offense while help\u00ading the emper\u00ador out of his car\u00adriage and com\u00admit\u00adted sui\u00adcide. Your younger broth\u00ader, fear\u00ading the con\u00adse\u00adquences of his actions, acci\u00adden\u00adtal\u00adly killed a eunuch dur\u00ading an argu\u00adment and com\u00admit\u00adted sui\u00adcide by poi\u00adson\u00ading. Your moth\u00ader died short\u00adly after your mis\u00adsion, and I attend\u00aded her funer\u00adal at Yan\u00adgling. Your wife was still young, and I heard she remar\u00adried. Only your two younger sis\u00adters, your son, and your two daugh\u00adters remain in your fam\u00adi\u00adly. It has been over ten years since I left, and I have no idea how they are doing now, whether they are dead or alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did Su Wu, who had endured more than ten years of hard\u00adship in the North Sea, feel when he heard this news?<\/p>\n

Alas! The great sor\u00adrow and suf\u00adfer\u00ading of life, how help\u00adless!<\/p>\n

At three o\u2019clock in the morn\u00ading, I entered a dream, uncer\u00adtain about safe\u00adty and dan\u00adger
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu01.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

In this state of mind, how could I sleep? My own safe\u00adty, the fate of my loved ones, were all unknown and unpre\u00addictable\u2026<\/p>\n

Li Ling also includ\u00aded this pas\u00adsage in his speech: \u201cFur\u00adther\u00admore, Your Majesty is old, and the laws are incon\u00adsis\u00adtent. Min\u00adis\u00adters have been exe\u00adcut\u00aded with\u00adout cause, and dozens of fam\u00adi\u00adlies have been exter\u00admi\u00adnat\u00aded. The safe\u00adty of the court is uncer\u00adtain. Who would you serve?\u201d His point was that the Emper\u00ador (Emper\u00ador Wu of Han) was old, and the laws were incon\u00adsis\u00adtent. Today, he exe\u00adcut\u00aded a min\u00adis\u00adter, tomor\u00adrow, anoth\u00ader fam\u00adi\u00adly. The court was in a state of pan\u00adic, and no one knew their own safe\u00adty. Who would you serve?\u2014Of course, this was an argu\u00adment used to per\u00adsuade Su Wu to sur\u00adren\u00adder, but it cer\u00adtain\u00adly held true when it came to Emper\u00ador Wu of Han\u2019s lat\u00ader years.<\/p>\n

Under such cir\u00adcum\u00adstances, could Su Wu be moved?<\/p>\n

Sad and hope\u00adless, but still not with\u00adout its flaws<\/p>\n

Yes, all kinds of expe\u00adri\u00adences, hard\u00adships, shat\u00adtered hopes, bad news about his fam\u00adi\u00adly, and neg\u00ada\u00adtive news about his moth\u00ader\u00adland have wrapped Su Wu up lay\u00ader by lay\u00ader. He feels extreme\u00adly sad and has lost all hope.<\/p>\n

How\u00adev\u00ader, even so, Su Wu, as an envoy of the Han Dynasty, still held the ban\u00adner of hon\u00ador and remained loy\u00adal to his coun\u00adtry. He always adhered to his beliefs, his mis\u00adsion, and his promise!<\/p>\n

Lat\u00ader, prob\u00ada\u00adbly in 87 BC, Li Ling came to Hais\u00adhang again and told him that the emper\u00ador had passed away. This man, who almost nev\u00ader shed tears, faced south and wailed for days and nights until he vom\u00adit\u00aded blood\u2026<\/p>\n

I think Su Wu\u2019s cry\u00ading was not just about cry\u00ading for the emper\u00ador as a min\u00adis\u00adter. His sor\u00adrow far sur\u00adpassed all of this. Because of Emper\u00ador Wu\u2019s death, the envoy would nev\u00ader have the chance to return to report to him. He had endured for 13 years for that day! From then on, his promise would no longer be ful\u00adfilled.<\/p>\n

From now on, what is the point of con\u00adtin\u00adu\u00ading to live?<\/p>\n

Ram not yet lac\u00adtat\u00ading<\/p>\n

Unex\u00adpect\u00aded\u00adly, he final\u00adly sur\u00advived and returned with the Han envoy
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu07.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

The last line of the lyrics seems quite puz\u00adzling on the sur\u00adface: the ram had not yet giv\u00aden birth to a lamb, but unex\u00adpect\u00aded\u00adly it was final\u00adly alive and returned to its home\u00adland with the Han Dynasty envoys dur\u00ading its life\u00adtime.<\/p>\n

How could a ram give birth to a lamb? Indeed, it could\u00adn\u2019t. This was a rather unkind joke played by the Xiongnu on Su Wu. Back then, the Chanyu exiled Su Wu to the North Sea to herd sheep, specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly instruct\u00ading him to herd only rams and declar\u00ading that unless the rams gave birth to lambs, Su Wu would nev\u00ader be able to leave.<\/p>\n

How could there be such a mir\u00ada\u00adcle in the world?<\/p>\n

But anoth\u00ader \u201cmir\u00ada\u00adcle\u201d hap\u00adpened. Thanks to this \u201cmir\u00ada\u00adcle\u201d, Su Wu final\u00adly returned to his home\u00adland.<\/p>\n

After Emper\u00ador Wu of Han\u2019s death, Emper\u00ador Zhao of Han ascend\u00aded the throne, and Huo Guang (Huo Qub\u00ading\u2019s half-broth\u00ader), the min\u00adis\u00adter entrust\u00aded with the care of the young emper\u00ador, assumed great pow\u00ader. Huo Guang des\u00adper\u00adate\u00adly want\u00aded Su Wu to return to Chi\u00adna. The Xiongnu\u2019s old Chanyu had also died, leav\u00ading the nation frag\u00adment\u00aded. The new Chanyu (the old Chanyu\u2019s son) sought peace with the Han dynasty, and Huo Guang seized the oppor\u00adtu\u00adni\u00adty to demand Su Wu\u2019s return. How\u00adev\u00ader, the Chanyu claimed that Su Wu had died sev\u00ader\u00adal years ear\u00adli\u00ader, herd\u00ading sheep in the North Sea. His deputies and atten\u00addants had also passed away. The Han envoys were left with no oth\u00ader options but to return home to report.<\/p>\n

Huo Guang, unwill\u00ading to give up, sent anoth\u00ader envoy to the Xiongnu. This time, Su Wu\u2019s deputy, Chang Hui, man\u00adaged to meet with the Han envoy, told him the truth, and secret\u00adly gave him a plan. The Han envoy once again demand\u00aded Su Wu\u2019s return from the Chanyu, who again lied, say\u00ading, \u201cSu Wu is dead.\u201d The Han envoy then solemn\u00adly explained that Emper\u00ador Zhao of Han had recent\u00adly shot down a wild goose while hunt\u00ading in Chang\u2019an. Tied to the goose\u2019s leg was a piece of silk with a hand\u00adwrit\u00adten let\u00adter from Su Wu, stat\u00ading that he was still alive and herd\u00ading sheep in the North Sea. The Chanyu was stunned for a moment, then sighed, \u201cIf even birds are moved by Su Wu, what else can we say?\u201d He then apol\u00ado\u00adgized to the Han envoy and arranged to retrieve Su Wu and his men and send them back to Chi\u00adna.<\/p>\n

This \u201cmir\u00ada\u00adcle\u201d is the last pic\u00adture in the pic\u00adture book \u201cSu Wu Shep\u00adherd\u00ading Sheep\u201d.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hongniba.com.cn\/bookclub\/demo\/qingyun\/suwu02.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n

In the spring of the sixth year of the Yuan\u00adshi era (81 BC), Su Wu and his com\u00adpan\u00adions returned to Chang\u2019an. There were more than a hun\u00addred of them when they left, but only ten returned. Su Wu was 41 years old when he left, but his hair and beard were com\u00adplete\u00adly white when he returned.<\/p>\n

The streets of Chang\u2019an were desert\u00aded, and every\u00adone rushed to see Su Wu.<\/p>\n

When Su Wu came before Emper\u00ador Zhao of Han with the bare envoy, even the emper\u00ador could not help shed\u00adding tears. He said to Su Wu, \u201cThis envoy was entrust\u00aded to you by the late emper\u00ador. Take it to the Taimiao and offer sac\u00adri\u00adfices. Then you can report back there and make him hap\u00adpy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Su Wu expe\u00adri\u00adenced many hard\u00adships, he remained strong and lived to be over 80 years old. He died in 60 BC.<\/p>\n

Although he held a low offi\u00adcial posi\u00adtion dur\u00ading his life\u00adtime, he was revered by every\u00adone in the court and treat\u00aded like a nation\u00adal trea\u00adsure. His son, impli\u00adcat\u00aded in a palace rebel\u00adlion, was exe\u00adcut\u00aded the year after he returned to Chi\u00adna. Lat\u00ader, the emper\u00ador, sym\u00adpa\u00adthiz\u00ading with his lone\u00adli\u00adness in his lat\u00ader years, offered to redeem his son, born dur\u00ading his time in the Xiongnu.<\/p>\n

When Su Wu returned to his coun\u00adtry, the child was about to be born. He could not bring the child\u2019s moth\u00ader back with him because even Su Wu him\u00adself was just a slave when he was herd\u00ading sheep, let alone his wife. The child\u2019s moth\u00ader asked Su Wu to choose a name for the child before leav\u00ading. Su Wu said, if it is a boy, he will call him Tong\u00adguo, if it is a girl, he can decide for him\u00adself.<\/p>\n

Sure enough, the baby was a son, named Su Tong\u00adguo.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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