Documentary "From Qin Shi Huang to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty".
Episode 6 [Age of Heroes] full text commentary.
In the spring of 129 BC, Liu Che sent his four-way army to attack the Xiongnu in the north, kicking off the Han-Hun all-out war. Through the victory of two battles, the Han Empire regained the territory of the Qin Empire. But at this moment, the Han Empire hoped that the war should be stopped, but Liu Che knew that the future counterattack of the Xiongnu would be a disaster of annihilation, which was a life-and-death battle that would determine the direction of the empire. The promulgation of the Tui'en Decree gave Liu Che all the power he could mobilize the resources of the entire empire and reserve forces for the vast war to completely defeat the Xiongnu. 】
The war against the Xiongnu has begun. The battle of the whole country, life and death, can Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty wash away the shame of his ancestors and establish the dignity of the empire? After years of fighting, the people are struggling to make a living, how will he face the people in the world?
A confident and pathetic emperor, a heroic era of the golden iron horse, will present an immortal legend of the Eastern Empire.
Episode 6 The Age of Heroes.
Chang'an City of the Western Han Dynasty
In the early spring of 129 B.C., the city of Chang'an was still in the cold.
At this time, Liu Che, the emperor of the Han Empire, did not feel a chill. The sound of horses' hooves on the northern border of the Han Empire was knocking on Liu Che's fanatical heart, and a huge adventure plan was quietly underway according to his deployment.
In the spring of 129 BC, Liu Che sent his four-way army to attack the Xiongnu in the north, kicking off the Han-Hun all-out war.
In the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an City, Liu Che was anxiously following the news from the front line. He was not as confident as he appeared to be, because he knew full well that he was facing a terrible force.
The powerful cavalry of the Xiongnu was a nightmare in the hearts of all the soldiers and civilians of the Han Empire.
In 200 BC, Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, dispatched an army of 320,000 troops to attack the Xiongnu. However, in the Battle of Pingcheng, he was besieged by the Xiongnu in Baishan Mountain for seven days and seven nights, and returned defeated, and the nascent Han Empire almost died as a result.
For more than 60 years after that, the Xiongnu in the north seemed to be an invincible myth.
At this time, Liu Che was already twenty-eight years old. He understood that if he attacked the Xiongnu and was careless, the tragedy of the siege of Baideng would be staged again. But Liu Che had no choice. His decision was not a young man's impulse, it was his inescapable mission.
On the northern border of the empire, the Han army broke through into the territory of the Huns in four routes, which was the first time that the Han army fought deep into the enemy's territory.
In a completely unfamiliar environment, in the face of the erratic Hun cavalry, the officers and men of the Han army still suffered heavy losses despite bloody battles. Of the four Han armies that attacked, only one unit achieved a narrow victory.
From today's point of view, this was an unsuccessful combat operation, and the losses far outweighed the results. However, this did not shake Liu Che's determination to fight the Xiongnu in an all-out battle, because he saw the dawn of hope in it.
The Han army that went out on the expedition was no longer the lamb to be slaughtered in front of the Hun cavalry. The courage and determination of the Han army marked the awakening of the will of the Han Empire, and the people of the country looked forward to the glory of the empire more than Liu Che.
Professor Zhang Xiaofeng, Department of Ideology and Politics of University of International Economics:
The first victory since the Han Dynasty broke the myth of the invincibility of the Xiongnu. For Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it greatly encouraged his confidence and strengthened his belief that the Xiongnu could be defeated.
But in this battle, the weaknesses exposed by the Han army also made Liu Che extremely anxious. The lack of geography and intelligence about the Xiongnu prevented his army from exerting its due combat effectiveness.
At this time, Liu Che was very soberly aware that if he did not know the intelligence of the enemy in the north, his future war would make the imperial army pay a heavy price.
He urgently needed to know about his enemies, and anything about the North. In a predicament, Liu Che remembered Zhang Qian, who had sent an envoy to the Western Regions ten years ago.
Also in 129 BC, because of the outbreak of the Han-Hungarian War, Zhang Qian, who had been detained by the Xiongnu for ten years, finally got the opportunity to escape from the Xiongnu.
After ten years of imprisonment, Zhang Qian has not forgotten his mission. He continued to move forward with his only remaining retinue, Tangyi's father, and inquired all the way about the location of the Otsuki clan after moving west. After months of trekking, Zhang Qian finally arrived at the Great Moon Clan.
However, after a few years of migration, the Da Yue clan had gained a firm foothold in the Western Regions, where water and grass were abundant and the land was fertile, and the new Yue clan king had lost the courage to take revenge on the Xiongnu, which greatly disappointed Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian left the Dayue clan with nothing, and he began to travel all over the countries of the Western Regions, recording in detail the customs and geographical products of the Western Regions.
Zhang Qian judged with a keen intuition that these materials from the Western Regions would become very useful information for the Han Empire to fight against the Xiongnu, and this was the news that his emperor was most eager to get.
Chang'an City of the Western Han Dynasty
In the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an City, Liu Che did not know Zhang Qian's life and death. But he knew very well that in the next war, he would not be able to get support from his allies in the Western Regions, and the Han Empire would have to face a powerful enemy alone.
In the repeated contest with the Xiongnu, Liu Che began to gradually wake up to the fact that if he wanted to defeat the Xiongnu, it would be an unattainable utopian dream to rely only on the victory of one or two battles. To achieve ultimate victory, he had to rethink his strategy anew.
Song Chao, Editor, China Journal of Social Sciences:
Just trying to eliminate some of the main forces of the opponent's troops through a battle should have been more impulsive at the time, and it was impossible for it to have a final impact effect. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty later quickly adjusted his strategy, not mainly to annihilate the Xiongnu forces, but to control strategic points, which was a major change.
In front of the huge sand table, Liu Che keenly discovered that an extremely important strategic point was not in his control, which was the Hetao area at the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain.
The Hetao region, which borders the Central Plains Dynasty, is a fertile land. Owning the Hetao region not only allowed the Huns to obtain a vast pasture and grain base, but also served as a springboard for attacking the Central Plains.
Therefore, the Hetao area has always been the focus of contention between the Central Plains Dynasty and the Xiongnu.
In 215 BC, in order to relieve the threat of the Xiongnu, Qin Shi Huang sent the general Meng Tian to lead 300,000 Qin troops to attack the Xiongnu and recapture the Hetao area occupied by the Xiongnu.
Inner Mongolia · Qinyin Mountain Great Wall Ruins
After that, a large-scale construction of the Great Wall on the northern border was carried out for defense.
But after the fall of the Qin Empire. The Xiongnu took the opportunity to recapture the Hetao area, which became the forward base for the Xiongnu's continuous attacks on the Han Dynasty.
Liu Che realized that the Hetao region, which had fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu, was a constant threat to the empire. If this place is not occupied, all the active attacks of the Han army will come to naught. The capture of Hetao would be the primary goal of the Han Empire's next war against the Xiongnu.
Song Chao, Editor, China Journal of Social Sciences:
Control this place, it is a very important area, it is very close to Gyeonggi, very close to Chang'an City. During the period of Emperor Wen, there were three large-scale invasions, all of which used this place as a springboard, which caused a great shock to the capital, which was a strategic location.
However, at this time, the Xiongnu were ready to defend because of the previous attack of the Han army. If the Han army rashly attacked, without any intelligence guidance, it would only get the evil result of defeat. Liu Che needs to wait for an opportunity to attack.
In 127 B.C., the Xiongnu invaded the Shanggu and Yuyang areas in the northeast of the Han Dynasty, and wantonly burned and plundered the border people of the Han Dynasty.
The main force of the Xiongnu went south, so that Liu Che suddenly found that an excellent opportunity was in front of him. He sent Wei Qing to lead 30,000 cavalry to attack from Yanmen and attack the Hetao area occupied by the Xiongnu.
According to the Historical Records of Wei Qing, the Han army won a complete victory and returned with all armor. When the news of Wei Qing's victory reached Chang'an, the whole country was shaken, and the shadow that the Huns had hung over the psychology of the imperial subjects for seventy years finally dissipated.
The Han Empire set up Shuofang County and Wuyuan County in the Hetao area, and migrated 100,000 people from the interior to settle there to consolidate the defense of the Hetao. From then on, the main force of the Xiongnu at the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain began to be exposed to the iron cavalry of the Han Empire.
Professor Zhang Xiaofeng, Department of Ideology and Politics of University of International Economics:
After the Han Dynasty got the Hetao, it became a springboard for us to fight the Xiongnu, that is, to use the Hetao as a stronghold, and then send troops from the Hetao, which would be very beneficial to the Han Dynasty.
The victory at the Battle of Hetao gave Liu Che great confidence that he had successfully kept the Huns out of the borders of the empire. But Liu Che didn't feel a trace of satisfaction, because his heart was longing for a bigger victory.
However, at this time, in the face of victory in the war with the Xiongnu, the whole country suddenly had different voices about whether to continue the war in the future.
In the eyes of many **, the Han Empire has been disgraced, and the dignity of the empire has been duly respected. War is over, and peace is the foundation of a nation.
But Liu Che understands that temporary peace cannot truly safeguard the country's security. If he chooses to compromise, the newly gathered popular will once again dissipate, and he must completely solve the threat of the Xiongnu in order to defend the hard-won unification.
It was a life-and-death battle that would determine the direction of the empire. If the Xiongnu are not destroyed, the war will not end. At this time, Liu Che would never allow any turmoil within the empire. In his opinion, the most difficult force within the empire to control is the princes and kings.
In the era of Emperor Jing, the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms launched by the princes and kings almost completely destroyed the Han Empire, which had just entered the right track. Although the rebellion of the princes and kings was finally extinguished, in Liu Che's eyes, the princes and kings were always a potential threat to the country.
In 127 BC, Liu Che was already thirty years old. At this time, he is no longer a reckless and impulsive teenager. In the experience of climbing to the pinnacle of power step by step, Liu Che is more confident and mature.
In this year, Liu Che promulgated the edict known as the "Tui En Order", in which he wanted to use a very wise plan to completely dissipate the power of the princes and kings who threatened the unity and stability of the country.
Liu Rui, Researcher, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences:
and that the princes should have the right to divide their own land among their sons and grandchildren. After being distributed to his children and grandchildren, if it is a Hou State, the management power of the Hou State is largely under the management of **, that is, the princes are built and their strength is less. Then the vassal states themselves cut off all their own flesh, and finally gave the meat to **. In this way, in fact, it is very gentle, a peaceful way, to weaken the power of the princes and kings.
The implementation of the "Tui En Order" was Liu Che's last effort to completely eliminate the power of the princes and kings, and he finally achieved the complete control of the Han Empire. Now, Liu Che can mobilize the resources of the entire empire to reserve forces for the vast war to completely defeat the Xiongnu.
Lianyungang, Jiangsu · Yinwan Han Tomb
In 1993, Yinwan Village, Donghai County, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, excavated an ancient tomb of the Western Han Dynasty and unearthed a large number of Han Dynasty documents and archives. Among them, there is a slip, which records in detail the inventory of the national ** treasury of Donghai County in the Han Dynasty.
Professor Tian Xudong, School of History, Northwest University:
This is the only very valuable document that we have unearthed so far that can explain the construction of the Han Empire's arsenal, and it is actually a register of the entire weapons and equipment of the Han Empire's arsenal in Donghai County.
Western Han · Crossbow machine Western Han · Spear Western Han · Ge
The total number of crossbows, 52,555 spears, and 78,392 weapons in the arsenal of Donghae County reached 537707, which alone was enough to equip an army of 500,000 people.
It can be seen from the reserves of ** that the Han Empire had strong iron smelting and armament capabilities, which made the level of military equipment of the Han army superior in comparison with the Xiongnu.
In 127 BC, Zhang Qian returned to Chang'an from the Western Regions, but the Hexi Corridor, the route to return to China, was still controlled by the Xiongnu. In order to return to his homeland, Zhang Qian must once again cross the enemy's territory.
For Zhang Qian and his retinue, death could befall them at any time. But Zhang Qian knew that he must not give up his mission. No matter how much time passes, he must fulfill his promise to his emperor.
In 126 BC, thirteen years after leaving Chang'an, Zhang Qian, who had died nine times, finally set foot on the land of the Han Empire again. Looking at the towering Chang'an City from afar, Zhang Qian had mixed feelings at the moment.
He didn't know if his emperor still remembered a messenger who had been away for thirteen years, and whether he still had the ambition and feelings to wipe out the Huns. But in the past thirteen years, Zhang Qian has never forgotten his mission and has not lost his loyalty to his emperor and his country.
The history books do not record what it was like when Liu Che saw Zhang Qian again, but Zhang Qian's trip to the Western Regions had a great shock to both him and the entire Han Empire.
Professor Wang Zijin, School of Chinese Studies, Chinese Minmin University:
Zhang Qian brought back a lot of knowledge about the Western Regions that the Central Plains people did not know before, and the knowledge of geography, humanities, and nature, which greatly expanded the world view of the Chinese, the world view of the Chinese, and the world vision of the Chinese.
Zhang Qian reported to Liu Che in detail what he had seen and heard in the Western Regions. The information from the Western Regions made Liu Che extremely excited, because he not only saw a new world in the West, but also captured an important information from it.
The Western Regions in the eyes of the Han Empire referred to Xinjiang and Central Asia in present-day China. The Western Regions were under the control of the Xiongnu at that time and were the most important material supply base for the Xiongnu. Once the Western Regions were lost, the Xiongnu would lose the capital to compete with the Han Empire for a long time.
However, in order to control the Western Regions, Liu Che must first open up the passage between the Western Regions and the Han Empire, which is the Hexi Corridor.
In 121 BC, a young man who was only twenty years old was entrusted with the important task by Liu Che to lead an elite cavalry of 10,000 people to expedition to the Hexi Corridor.
Huo Quzhi was an outstanding military genius who won Liu Che's trust with his adventurous character. Capturing the Hexi Corridor and cutting off the connection between the Xiongnu and the Western Regions was the only goal of Huo Quzhi's expedition.
At that time, the Hexi Corridor was entrenched in the armies of five Xiongnu vassal states. Huo Qubing went deep alone, with no backup and no supplies, and it seemed to be an impulsive adventure with no chance of winning.
But Huo Quzhi did not live up to Liu Che's trust. He led the Han army on two expeditions to the Hexi Corridor, defeated the enemy at a very small cost, and became clear about all the Xiongnu forces in the Hexi Corridor.
Since then, the Han Empire has taken control of the Hexi Corridor, completely cutting off the connection between the Xiongnu and the Western Regions.
In order to prevent the Xiongnu from counterattacking again, the Han Empire set up four counties of Zhangye, Wuwei, Jiuquan and Dunhuang in the Hexi Corridor, and the passage from the Central Plains to the Western Regions was opened up from then on.
This passage became the main land passage for the exchange of cultural materials between China and Central Asia and West Asia, forming the so-called Silk Road in later generations.
Xu Weimin, professor at Northwest University and vice president of the Chinese Qin and Han History Research Association:
Only through such a road as the Silk Road, people in the Western Regions, Central Asia, and West Asia understood that there was a strong Han Dynasty in the East, so we had some positive things such as Han people, Han culture, Han nationality, and Sinology.
With the loss of the Hexi Corridor, the strength of the Xiongnu was greatly weakened and could not be restored. This once famous steppe people felt unprecedented fear.
The Huns once sang in a ballad describing the loss of the Hexi Corridor: Death of my Qilian Mountain will prevent my six animals from reproducing. I have lost my mountains, and my women have no color.
The victory in the Battle of the Hexi Corridor made Liu Che feel extremely confident. In his opinion, the ideal of himself and his ancestors to wipe out the Xiongnu is no longer out of reach, and he only needs to launch the final blow to completely cut off the greatest threat to the Han Empire.
However, at this time, Liu Che encountered the most difficult moment since the beginning of the war. The army that went out to fight against the Xiongnu again had not yet set out, and the treasury of the empire was empty.
The years of war with the Xiongnu cost the Han Empire dearly, and the wealth accumulated by the country for more than 70 years was exhausted. Now, the country is no longer able to support the huge attrition of the war.
In 120 BC, in the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, Liu Che convened his ministers for a court meeting. How to cope with the huge military expenditure made Liu Che, who was already 37 years old, extremely anxious.
He knew that the last battle against the Xiongnu must not be abandoned halfway. In order to solve the immediate economic crisis, he needs to find a new treasury for the country.
Yang Zhenhong, Director of the Warring States Qin and Han History Research Office of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences:
First of all, the salt and iron official camp was proposed, and then the salt and iron official camp was to take all the salt industry and iron smelting industry under the control of the state, and the state would operate it, and the state would sell it for money, so as to increase the state's tax revenue.
In this year, the state also began to levy a property tax on merchants and craftsmen.
Western Han · Qian Fan Western Han · Jue
The right to issue currency was also taken over, and even liquor was monopolized by the state.
The officials of the empire enacted draconian decrees to encourage the denunciation of wealthy merchants who concealed their property to evade taxes, and the property, land, and slaves of the accused merchants were confiscated by the state.
The implementation of these new economic policies brought huge wealth to the country in a short period of time, and the Han Empire was able to survive the economic crisis.
But the people of the empire were under tremendous pressure for this, and they gave almost everything for this protracted war.
Liu Che is not unaware that the country's civil power is on the verge of collapse, and if he is a little careless, the situation of rebellion in the world at the end of Qin may be staged again. But as an emperor, he knew that he was only one step away from the ideal of destroying the Xiongnu.
At this time, the only consolation in Liu Che's heart was that the Han Empire had gained a unified popular heart. He must lead the people of the world with his will and conviction to get through this difficult time and create lasting peace for the Empire.
In 119 BC, the Han Empire launched the largest Mobei campaign against the Xiongnu. Under Liu Che's careful layout, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing each led 50,000 cavalry, divided into east and west, and set off at the same time, going deep into the desert to find the main force of the Xiongnu for a decisive battle.
Professor Zhang Xiaofeng, Department of Ideology and Politics of University of International Economics:
The Battle of Mobei was the last battle between the Han and the Xiongnu, the last big contest. Therefore, for this campaign, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty concentrated almost all the manpower, material, financial and military resources in the country, and then invested in this campaign.
Soon after Wei Qing's Han army entered the grassland, he encountered the Xiongnu army in the royal court. The approaching Xiongnu army far outnumbered the Han army, which made Wei Qing feel strong pressure.
Under the command of Wei Qing, the Han soldiers bravely met the Hun cavalry. The courage of the Han army to sacrifice their lives and forget their lives made these warriors on the steppe feel terrified. The Xiongnu gave up their troops at the last minute and fled in a hurry.
However, the Xiongnu Shan Yu troops defeated by Wei Qing were not the real main force of the Xiongnu, and the most powerful Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang never appeared on the battlefield.
At this time, Liu Che, who was in Weiyang Palace, began to be anxious, if he could not annihilate the main force of the Xiongnu in this battle, all his previous efforts would be in vain, because his empire was already powerless.
In a state of confusion, Liu Che gave his last hope to the general of the Han Army on the Eastern Road, Huo Quai.
However, at this time, Huo Qubing also led the army forward in pain. In the vast desert, he never found the Hun army.
Huo Qubing knew that if this battle was in vain, the entire empire would miss the best opportunity to defeat the Xiongnu. Although the road ahead is unpredictable, I can only move forward and cannot give up.
However, the turning point of history is often in the turn of firm beliefs. At this time, the Han army of the Eastern Road and the main force of the Xiongnu Zuoxian King suddenly encountered.
In the face of the sudden Hun army, Huo Quzhi, a young general known for his bravery, showed unparalleled courage and determination. Without the slightest hesitation, he took the initiative to attack.
On the Mongolian plateau in 119 BC, a decisive battle broke out that would determine the future fate of the Han Empire and the Xiongnu.
In the face of the Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang, who had an absolute advantage in troops, the Han army, under the leadership of the young general, followed one after another. For the sake of the victory of the empire, they were fearless.
In just one day, the Xiongnu army was completely defeated by the Han army. The Han army was beheaded, more than 70,000 Xiongnu were captured, and the former steppe overlord collapsed.
The decisive battle of Mobei almost annihilated all the main forces of the Xiongnu, and since then the Xiongnu have fled to Mobei, and there is no Xiongnu royal court south of the desert.
Professor Zhang Xiaofeng, Department of Ideology and Politics of University of International Economics:
In the end, the Xiongnu fled far away, running far to the north, and there was no royal court in Monan, that is, the main force of the Xiongnu could no longer stay in Monan. In this case, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty basically solved the problem and lifted the threat of the Xiongnu to the Han Dynasty.
For Liu Che at this time, he has been waiting for twenty-two years for this victory. And the entire Han Empire has been waiting for this victory for eighty-one years.
Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, was helpless and kissed, the humiliation suffered by Empress Lu, and the forbearance of the Wenjing era were rewarded at this moment. The Han Empire finally washed away its former shame and defeated the feuding Xiongnu.
Twenty-two-year-old Huo Qubing became the new hero of the Han Empire.
According to historical records, Liu Che built a luxurious mansion for Huo Qubing as a reward, but the young general did not accept the emperor's gift, and only left a famous saying that has been praised for future generations, "The Huns have not been destroyed, and there is no home."
Shaanxi Xianyang · Huo Qu's Tomb
On the east side of today's Han Wu Emperor Liu Chemao's mausoleum, the nearest are the tomb of Wei Qing and the tomb of Huo Quai. As the two most relied on generals in Liu Che's war against the Xiongnu, Wei Qing and Huo Qu both obtained the most prominent positions in the Maoling burial tomb after they died of illness.
Horse stepping on the Huns In front of the tomb of Huo Quai, there is still a huge stone sculpture of the horse stepping on the Huns. Beneath the powerful steed is a terrified image of a bow-wielding Huns.
The huge stone carving is full of the power of publicity and progress, which is the spiritual symbol of the Han nation that is not afraid of strong enemies and forges ahead.
Peng Wei, Researcher, Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
After the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, there were many political meanings in people's names, called Guanghan, the vast Han Dynasty; Charge the country and charge for the country; Breaking slaves, breaking the Xiongnu, the name suddenly increased, and many of them reflected the ordinary people at that time to identify with the country of the Han Dynasty.
With the rise of the Han Empire, in the following ten years, Liu Che successively incorporated Minyue and Nanyue in Lingnan into the territory of the Han Empire.
At this time, Liu Che had begun to enter old age, and the territory of the empire he mastered not only surpassed that of his ancestors, but also greatly surpassed that of Qin Shi Huang, and a truly unified Chinese empire had been formed.
The imperial dream that Ying Zheng had been looking forward to was finally realized in the hands of Liu Che.
However, at this time, Liu Che was also full of worries. Years of wars and attacks have allowed him to create an incomparably vast empire, but it has also squeezed the country's civil power to the limit.
His subjects did not understand his ambition and ambition as an emperor, and the people of the empire could no longer endure the never-ending wars.
Song Chao, Editor, China Journal of Social Sciences:
His war against the Xiongnu lasted the longest, nearly forty years, so he came to a conclusion at that time that the sea was wasted and the household registration was halved, which was recorded in the history books at that time. The sea was wasted, the account was halved, half of the account was gone, and his loss was very heavy.
As the supreme ruler of the empire, Liu Che may have known that he would be infamous for being reckless in later generations.
But he understood more clearly that he had spent his life campaigning everywhere to create a future without war and for the eternal peace of the empire.
Professor Zhang Xiaofeng, Department of Ideology and Politics of University of International Economics:
For him, he wanted to fulfill one of his great ideals, his dream of unifying the country, so in order to achieve this dream, he had to attack everywhere. But he also knew that this attack would bring drawbacks, which would disturb the people and make their lives very painful. But this pain could not continue, and he had to change his course at some point.
In June 89 BC, Liu Che issued an edict. In this edict, he reflected on the pain and harm that his years of warfare had inflicted on the people.
Since I ascended the throne, I have been rebellious and rebellious, and the world has been miserable. From now on, those who harm the people and waste the world will stop it.
In this sincere edict, Liu Che's inner anguish and self-reproach are revealed. Throughout his life, for the dream of a strong and unified empire in his heart, he has always insisted on going his own way in the opposition and doubts of everyone.
But when his actions had deeply hurt the common people who formed the foundation of the empire, he put aside his pride and pride and made a public confession to his subjects.
In 87 BC, Liu Che died of illness in Wuqi Palace, Chang'an, at the age of seventy.
This is a confident and tragic emperor, who defies tradition and forges ahead for the dream of a strong and unified empire in his heart; This is also a bloody and domineering man, for the dignity and security of the country, he faces strong enemies and is fearless.
It was in the hands of Liu Che that a powerful and unified empire began to rise, and the soul of a nation was tightly condensed, which was the most high-spirited and enterprising green years in the history of the Chinese nation.
Professor Wang Zijin, School of Chinese Studies, Chinese Minmin University:
The pacification of Hexi, the opening of the Western Regions, and the opening of the Silk Road made the Han Empire a world-class political entity, influencing the entire East, and even such a political entity in Central and West Asia. Enterprising is one of his pursuits, that is, the so-called eloquent strategy, he is to pursue the goal of always new.
Fifty years after Liu Che's death, Chen Tang, the deputy lieutenant of the Han Empire stationed in the Western Regions, led the troops of the Western Regions to kill the Xiongnu Zhizhi Shan Yu, who had fled to the Western Regions, and the Xiongnu forces that threatened the Han Empire finally collapsed completely.
Chen Tang said in his recital to the emperor afterwards that he should make it clear to all countries in the world that "those who commit strong men will be punished even if they are far away."
This is a powerful and confident declaration of the Han nation in a magnificent era, which is the continuation of the pioneering and enterprising spirit laid and shaped since Qin Shi Huang to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in later generations.
For 2,000 years, every Chinese has been looking back at that era full of strength and self-confidence, because it provided the Chinese nation with a strong vitality that has endured through the ages.
Peng Wei, Researcher, Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
This era is an era in which China is moving towards the world.
Liu Rui, Researcher, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences:
I think it's a very progressive era.
Xu Weimin, professor at Northwest University and vice president of the Chinese Qin and Han History Research Association:
Such a civilization in the Qin and Han dynasties laid a good foundation for Chinese civilization and also determined the later development trend of Chinese civilization.
Professor Duan Qingbo, School of Heritage, Northwest University:
The Qin Empire and the Western Han Empire completed a tremendous shaping of Chinese culture in more than 220 years. The characteristics of civilization formed during the Qin and Han dynasties influenced the development of Chinese society since then.
Professor Wang Zijin, School of Chinese Studies, Chinese Minmin University:
In this aspect of heroism, enterprising spirit, and open-mindedness, the people of the Qin and Han dynasties have some glorious highlights that are worthy of our remembrance, commemoration, and inheritance.
That majestic era is not far away, and to this day, we are still proud to be the inheritors of the great traditions of the Qin and Han Empires.
This is where the glory of the Qin and Han empires lies. In the depths of its 2,000-year-old history, it looks down on the great nation it formed and continues to this day.