[Ancient people have addictions] Realize life ideals from the age of 40

　　WASHINGTON client Beijing November 6 electrical

　　Author Song Yusheng

　　As a middle-aged you, do you feel like this: Whether it’s family or work, it’s stressful for you; there are so many things to worry about every day. I am no longer the boy I used to be. Not so important anymore...

　　But in the Eastern Han Dynasty two thousand years ago, there was such a person.

He realized his ideals in life since he was 40 years old.

This person is called Ban Chao.

Drawing: Ni Wenbing

Write a pen

　　Ban Chao was born in the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

If you look at it from today's perspective, it is not such a great era.

　　According to historical records, "Being in chaos by Wang Mang, Ji Guangwu Zhongxing, domestic households, quasi-precedence, ten cuts two to three." Zhongyuan has just experienced the great turbulence since the end of Xin Mang, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty Liu Xiu was still around at this time. Conquer the separatist forces in various regions.

　　But this is also an era full of opportunities and waiting for those who are prepared to make contributions.

　　Ban Chao was born in a scholarly family: his father Ban Biao and his elder brother Ban Gu were both famous historians at the time, and his younger sister Ban Zhao was a rare female writer of that era.

　　But because of his father's early death, the family's living conditions are poor.

In the fifth year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (62 AD), Ban Gu was summoned to the capital to serve as the school clerk. Ban Chao and his mother also moved to Luoyang.

At that time, Ban Chao, a poor family member, made a living by copying documents for the government.

　　Over time, Ban Chao got tired of this day of copying and writing.

He was impatient with the work, and he once threw the pen away and said with emotion that if a man had no other ambitions, he should go abroad to make contributions like Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian. How could he spend his entire life on pen and ink?

Drawing: Ni Wenbing

　　These words drew ridicule from colleagues.

In the eyes of colleagues, Ban Chao looks like this: Except for him, he is a talented and famous person, but he himself is middle-aged, even a fixed income is a problem, and he always thinks about some unrealistic dreams.

　　But Ban Chao answered them disapprovingly, how can you understand my "ambition of a strong man"!

　　Both Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian mentioned by Ban Chao were warriors who were envoys to the Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty: Zhang Qian, who was in the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, opened the road from the Central Plains to the Western Regions for 13 years and was named Bowanghou; Fu Jiezi was in the time of Emperor Zhao. Visited Loulan to seal Yiyanghou with merit.

　　In fact, Ban Chao's "grand ambition" is exactly the need of that era.

　　In the end of the Western Han Dynasty, social turmoil, the connection between the Central Plains and the Western Regions established during Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty gradually broke off. The Western Regions were controlled by the Northern Huns and the Silk Road was also interrupted.

　　In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, when Ban Chao lived, not only did the two places not recover, but the Northern Huns often invaded the Hexi region.

　　In the 16th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 73), the imperial court sent troops to attack the Northern Huns, and Ban Chao also joined the army.

This year, he is over forty years old, and the chance to realize his dream has finally come.

Go deep into the tiger's den

　　During the war, Ban Chao led his army to fight with the Northern Huns and gained a lot.

　　The excellent record made the general who commanded him at that time considered him outstanding.

As a result, Ban Chao was sent to the Western Regions.

This makes Ban Chao seem to be one step closer to his dream.

　　At that time, there were many small states in the Western Regions, and it was inevitable to be influenced by the Northern Huns.

In the face of the Northern Huns "counting the border counties and burning the cities", the Eastern Han court had to establish contact with the Western Regions that were deeply influenced by the Northern Huns in order to effectively counterattack.

Therefore, the mission of Ban Chao and others is actually very important.

　　The first stop of the class beyond is Shanshan State.

At first, King Shanshan humbled and asked Ban Chao and his group, but his attitude suddenly became cold.

　　The careful Ban Chao discovered something was wrong.

He guessed that an envoy from the Northern Huns must have also come here, making the king hesitate, not knowing which side to obey.

Such speculation was confirmed immediately.

　　In fact, Shanshan State has always pursued a two-sided policy, sometimes turning to the Xiongnu and sometimes relying on the Han Dynasty.

　　The situation was urgent.

Ban Chao worried that once King Shanshan completely fell to the North Xiongnu, the Eastern Han Dynasty mission might encounter accidents.

Drawing: Ni Wenbing

　　So, he summoned 36 people in the mission to explain the current situation.

"If you don't enter the tiger's lair, you won't be a tiger." Everyone discussed and decided that the first step was to be strong.

　　That night, 36 warriors surrounded the residence of the Northern Huns’ embassy, ​​igniting the wind and shouting.

In the chaos, Ban Chao bravely took the lead, killing three people, and the remaining members of the Northern Huns' mission were also wiped out.

　　After this battle, the states of the Western Regions saw the determination and strength of the Eastern Han court.

Thanks to the efforts of the delegation led by Ban Chao, not only Shanshan, but also Yutian who was "custodial" by the Northern Huns, Qiuci and Shule who were established by the Huns expressed their willingness to submit to the Eastern Han court.

　　At the same time, the court of the Eastern Han Dynasty also restored the guards of the Western Regions and Lieutenant Wuji outside the Great Wall, and the north and south silk roads were reopened.

Reconnect to the Western Regions

　　Ban Chao was extremely brave in military operations because he believed that these two-minded states should have "demonstrated their prestige."

But at the same time, he treats the local people more generously.

　　In the eighteenth year of Yongping (AD 75), Emperor Han Ming died and Emperor Zhang ascended the throne.

　　Taking advantage of this moment, the Northern Huns sent troops to the Western Regions, and at the same time provoked Qiuci and Yanqi in the Western Regions to rebel against the Eastern Han court.

During the period, Yanqi attacked and killed Chen Mu, the capital of the Western Regions at the time. The situation changed suddenly, and the traffic between the Central Plains and the Western Regions was once again on the verge of being forced to close.

　　At the time of the "national funeral", the court of the Eastern Han Dynasty failed to send support troops to the Western Regions in time.

Therefore, the court ordered Ban Chao to withdraw from the Western Regions.

　　When Ban Chao was about to return from Shule, the whole country was in fear.

In the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Li Dan, the captain of Shule, said painfully, "The Han ambassador abandoned me, and I will be killed by Qiuci again. I can’t bear to see the Han ambassador go." After speaking, Li Dan drew his sword and killed himself. Died to persuade Ban Chao to stay.

　　When Ban Chao traveled east to Khotan, many people wailed and said that the envoys of the Han Dynasty treated us like parents, and they must not leave.

According to historical records, some people even hugged Ban Chao's legs to make it impossible to move forward.

Drawing: Ni Wenbing

　　Ban Chao saw that the local people were struggling to stay together and determined to stay in the Western Regions.

　　In the first three years of the founding (78 AD), Ban Chao joined forces in Shule, Kangju, Khotan, and Kumi, and led thousands of troops to break through the Gumo Rock City and gradually reversed the dangerous local situation.

　　In the third year of Yongyuan (91 AD), the kingdoms such as Qiuci, which had been opposed to the Eastern Han court, surrendered; three years later, Ban Chao killed the rebellious King Yanqi and passed on as the first capital.

The north-south road of the Silk Road was unblocked again, and Banchao was also sealed off because of his merits.

　　Ban Chao did not leave the Western Regions because of his ban.

Until the twelfth year of Yongyuan (100 AD), Ban Chao became more and more homesick in his later years.

He has realized the ideal he had when he was young in his entire life.

Now, his only wish is to return to his homeland.

　　In August of the 14th year of Yongyuan (102 AD), Ban Chao returned to Luoyang as he wished.

After 31 years, he returned to his hometown.

Only one month later, the 71-year-old Ban Chao passed away.

　　Reference materials: "Books of the Later Han", "A Brief Discussion on the Three Great Three Links of the Western Regions in the Eastern Han Dynasty", "A Research on the Relationship between the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Western Regions", "The Ban Family and the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty-One of the series of studies: the rise and fall of family background and social background", "Ban Chao who pioneered the Western Regions" "The Great Destiny in the Great Era: Ban Chao's Administration of the Western Regions" "Extraterritorial Exploration-Ban Chao's Dream"