HUNS: Hunnic Internal Turmoils

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Hunnic Internal Turmoils
Hunnic internal turmoils once led to the existence of five 'chanyu'. Nine years earlier, queen zhuan-qu, after being discarded out of favor, went into adultery with rightside virtuous king. At the time of death of chanyu, rightside virtuous king did not heed the queen's call and went to 'dragon city'. When chanyu died, Hunnic king Xing-wei-yang tried to assemble kings in vain. Queen zhuan-qu and her brother conspired to erect Tu-qi-tang [Zhu-qi-tang?, the rightside virtuous king] as the new chanyu. New chanyu killed away the ministers of the former chanyu, including King Xing-wei-yang and utilized queen zhuan-qu's brother as top minister. The son of former chanyu Xu-lu-quan-qu fled to the land of his father-in-law Wu-chan-mu, i.e., a small statelet between Wusun and Kangju. Hunnic 'Rizhuowang' [i.e., sun chasing king], whose sister was married to Wu-chan-mu, would lead dozens of thousands of cavalry for a defection to Han court. Hunnic 'Rizhuowang' [Xian-xian-dan ? or Xian-xian-shan] was conferred the title of Gui-de-hou [i.e., Marquis Returning Gratitude]. New chanyu then made his own brother the new Hunnic 'Rizhuowang'. With Hunnic 'Rizhuowang' defecting to Chinese, Hunnic governor post of "tongpu duwei" automatically revoked itself in Chinese Turkistan. On the Chinese side, the post of "shizhe [emissary] xiaowei [colonel]" was renamed "wuji xiaowei" in charge of military farming at Gaochang [i.e., Turpan].
 
The defection of 'Rizhuowang' had to do with Hunnic Youxianwang (rightside virtuous king) taking over the power with the help of ex-queen. 'Rizhuowang' was the brother (?) of the dead Hunnic chanyu. 'Rizhuowang' sent an emissary to Han protector-general at Quli, Zheng Ji, for help. In 60 BC approximately, Zheng Ji sent an army of 50000 and escorted 'Rizhuowang' to Han capital, i.e., Chang'an.
 
When new chanyu killed two more brothers of defector Hunnic 'Rizhuowang' Xian-xian-dan, Wu-chan-mu admonished the chanyu in vain. After a Hunnic king died, new chanyu instituted his own son instead of selecting a descendant of the dead king, which caused an eastward relocation of the tribe of this Hunnic king. The new chanyu led 10000 cavalry in a chase of the relocating tribe but he was defeated. The new chanyu also antagonized another prominent noble, i.e., "zuo-di-gui-ren" [leftside land's noble man].
 
One year later, Wuhuan attacked the Huns in the east, and Hunnic King Gu-xi-wang was worried about chanyu's rebuking his defeat in the hands of Wuhuan. Hunnic King Gu-xi-wang colluded with Wu-chan-mu and "zuo-di-gui-ren" in supporting the son of the former Hunnic chanyu for setting up an independent court and calling himself 'Huhanye Chanyu' (often wrongly pronounced as huhanxie chanyu). About 40000-50000 people in leftside land assembled to oppose the new chanyu at north of Gu-qie-shui River. After a brother ["rightside virtuous king"] refused to lend support to the new chanyu, new chanyu committed suicide in 58 BC, after a reign of three years. Leftside grand juqu, i.e., Du-rong-qi, led his people to the service of 'Huhanye Chanyu'.
 
After the death of the usurping Hunnic Chanyu, three more Hunnic leaders proclaimed themselves 'chanyu', leading to co-existence of five 'chanyu'. 'Huhanye Chanyu' attempted to kill rightside virtuous king. In the winter, Leftside grand juqu, i.e., Du-rong-qi, colluded with rightside virtuous king in erecting "sun chasing king" [Bo-xu-tang] as Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu. Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu dispatched tens of thousands of troops eastward against 'Huhanye Chanyu'. After defeating 'Huhanye Chanyu', Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu made his two sons into rightside and leftside gu-li kings. In the autumn of the following year, Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu dispatched the brother of Xian-xian-dan, Hunnic "duwei" [captain] Wu-ji and 20000 cavalry against 'Huhanye Chanyu'. In the west, Hunnic King Hu-jie-wang colluded with a Hunnic "danghu" in bad-mouthing rightside virtuous king. Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu fell into the trap and killed rightside virtuous king. Hunnic King Hu-jie-wang, being worried about his safety, fled away to be Hu-jie Chanyu. The brother of Xian-xian-dan declared himself Chen-li Chanyu. Hunnic "duwei" [captain] Wu-ji declared himself Wu-ji Chanyu.
 
Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu dispatched Du-rong-qi agaisnt Wu-ji Chanyu, while he himself attacked Chen-li Chanyu. Chen-li Chanyu and Wu-ji Chanyu fled to the northwest and hence combined with Hu-jie Chanyu into 40000 strong forces. Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu, leaving 40000 cavalry against Hu-han-ye Chanyu in the east, campaigned against Chen-li Chanyu with another 40000 cavalry. Chen-li Chanyu fled to northwest. The next year, Hu-han-ye Chanyu sent a brother against Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu and inflicted a casualty of 10000 onto Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu. Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu personally led 60000 cavalry for 1000 li distance camapaign against Hu-han-ye Chanyu. After a defeat, Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu committed suicide. The son of Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu, together with Du-rong-qi, fled to seek asylum with Han court. Chen-li Chanyu surrendered to Hu-han-ye Chanyu. Tens of thousands of people under Hu-han-ye Chanyu's "leftside grand general" also sought suzerainty with Chinese. At this time, the son of defector Han general Li Ling erected Wu-ji Chanyu. Hu-han-ye Chanyu campaigned against Wu-ji Chanyu and killed him.
 
Huhanye Chanyu's Seeking Suzerainty With Chinese
Soon, the younger and elder brothers of Hu-han-ye Chanyu rebelled. Younger brother of Hu-han-ye Chanyu, i.e., King Xiu-xun-wang, declared himself Run-zhen Chanyu in the west, while elder brother of Hu-han-ye Chanyu, i.e., rightside virtuous king, declared himself Zhi-zhi Gu-du-hou Chanyu in the east. Two years later, Run-zhen Chanyu attacked Zhi-zhi Gu-du-hou Chanyu. Zhi-zhi Gu-du-hou Chanyu killed Run-zhen Chanyu and then combined forces against Hu-han-ye Chanyu. Zhi-zhi Gu-du-hou Chanyu defeated Hu-han-ye Chanyu and obtained the Hunnic central court of Mongolia. Hence, in 53 BC, 'Huhanye Chanyu', against the objections of most ministers, dispatched his son [rightside virtuous king] to the Han Chinese court as a hostage and sought suzerainty by moving his people southward.
 
Around 53 BC, hearing that 'Huhanye Chanyu' obtained the support of the Han Chinese, the last competing 'chanyu', Zhizhi, sent his son [rightside grand general] to Han Court as a hostage as well. In 52 BC, 'Huhanye Chanyu' arrived in Wuyuan Garrison and went on to see Han Emperor Xuandi in Ganquan-gong Palace in Jan of 51 BC. 'Huhanye Chanyu' and his entourage received grand welcome at the capital, with various Han ministers and vassals giving reception at Weiqiao Bridge. 'Huhanye Chanyu' stayed at Chang'an for one month. Han Emperor dispatched Dong Zhong & Haan Chang and 16000 cavalry as an escort to see Hu-han-ye depart Jilu-zhai [chicken and deer garrison] of Shuofang [northern domain] Commandary. Zhizhi Chanyu dispatched emissary to Han court as well.
 
The next year, two chanyu dispatched emissary to Han court. One more year later, 'Huhanye Chanyu' came to Han court again, and received bestowals of 110 leather clothes, 9000 units of silk, and 8000 grams of cotton. No escort was dispatched for seeing him off.
 
Hunnic Split of 51 BC & Zhizhi Chanyu Campaigning To The West
Zhizhi raided to the west. At this time, a brother of former Tu-qi [Zhu-qi] Chanyu defected away from Huhanye Chanyu for the west and declared himself Yilimu Chanyu. Zhizhi Chanyu killed Yilimu Chanyu, and with a combined force of 50000, stayed in the west upon news that Han court might assist Huhanye Chanyu in fighting him. For countering Han court and Huhanye, Zhizhi sent an emissary to Wusun "Xiao-kunmi" [lesser king] Wujiutu for an alliance. However, Wusun killed Zhizhi's emissary and delivered the head to Han's protector-general office. More, Wusun dispatched 8000 cavalry against Zhizhi but got defeated by Zhizhi. Zhizhi further defeated Wujie in the north and Jiankun in the west. Further in the north, Zhizhi defeated Dingling statelet. With combined forces from three statelets, Zhizhi then attacked Wusun several times. Zhizhi made Jiankun his capital. Ban Gu's Han Shu claimed that Jiankun was located 7000 li distance to the west of Chanyu court in Mongolia and 5000 li distance to the north of Cheshi in Chinese Turkistan.
 
At about 48 BC, i.e., the year Han Emperor Yuandi [r 48-32 BC] got enthroned, 'Huhanye Chanyu' wrote to Chinese court about his economic hardship. Yuandi decreed that Yunzhong & Wuyuan commanderies transport 20000 units of grains to the Huns. At this time, Zhizhi chanyu requested with Han court for releasing his son. Han court ordered Gu Ji escort the prince to Zhizhi. However, Zhizhi chanyu killed Gu Ji without a reason. Zhizhi, being afraid of Han for his killing Han emissary, relocated to the west, namely, the ancient Jiankun Statelet. This relocation also had to do with the request from Kangju (Sogdia) king.
 
Western history books said that the Hunnic empire split into two hordes in 51 BC, with the Eastern Horde subject to China. Reading through records on the Huns, I could only point to the event of relocation to Jiankun Statelet by 'Zhizhi Chanyu' for an explanation. 'Zhizhi Chanyu' descendants, namely, the Kirghiz, would stage a comeback in 9th century and replaced the Huihe (Uygurs) around 840s AD. So to say, this group of Huns might not be counted as the ancestors of the Western Huns headed by Attila.
 
During Yuandi's reign, the official "wuji xiaowei" was put in charge of military farming at Cheshi. Western Han Dynasty's "wuji xiaowei" would turn into Eastern Han Dynasty's "yihe duwei" at the times of Eastern Han Emperor Mingdi [reign 58-75 AD].
 
At about 47 BC, Han court returned Huhanye's son by ordereding that Haan Chang & Zhang Meng escorted the prince back to Hun territory. Haan Chang & Zhang Meng inquired with Huhanye Chanyu as to the rumor that Zhizhi Chanyu might have killed emissary Gu Ji. Hearing that the Southern Huns talked about a return to the north of Gobi, Haan Chang & Zhang Meng, on their own initiative, made a swear with Huhanye Chanyu in the attempt of retaining the Huns for better management. Haan Chang & Zhang Meng climbed Mt Dongshan at Ruo-shui River with Huhanye Chanyu and drank the blood-dripped wine with the Yuezhi King skull vessel. The swear claimed that the Han Chinese and Xiongnu [Huns] promise to be of same family for ever. A white horse was killed for the ceremony. Upon the return of Haan Chang & Zhang Meng, court ministers rebuked the two guys for making an 'perpetual' alliance without consulting with the emperor. Han emperor ordered that the swear be released but the alliance be kept. Later, Huhanye Chanyu returned to the north.
 
While Zhizhi Chanyu stationed in Jiankun territory, Kangju (Sogdia) king intended to attack the Wusun Statelet with the Hunnic assistance. Kangju (Sogdia) king sent an emissary to Zhizhi, with a gift of several thousands of camels and horses. On the way to Kangju (Sogdia), Zhizhi Chanyu lost quite some people due to cold weather. About 3000 remnants arrived in Kangju territory for tha alliance. Governor-general Gan Yansou answered the call from Wusun and sent 6 columns of armies to defeat Kangju (Sogdia) and 'Zhizhi Chanyu'. Zhizhi's descendants would later call themselves the Kirghiz, a mutation in the pronunciation of 'Zhizhi'.
 
After the death of Zhizhi, Huhanye Chanyu was both happy and worried. Huhanye wrote to Han court that he did not visit Han emperor frequently because he was worried that Zhizhi might attack him. In 33 BC, 'Huhanye Chanyu', came to Han capital and was married with lady Wang Zhaojun, a court maid of honour. (Lady Zhaojun, like many princesses and maids of honour married with Huns or other nomads before and after her, would later re-marry with the successor Hunnic King, a practice adopted by the nomads throughout history.) Peace ensued for dozens of years.
 
Huhanye Chanyu, after the marriage with Wang Zhaojun, wrote to Han court, expressing the wish to guard the borderline from Shanggu to Dunhuang in lieu of Han Dynasty's border garrisons and beacon towers. A court minister, Hou Ying, objected to the abandonment of garrisons by citing the past history. Hou Ying emphasized that Hunnic chieftans often claimed that Huns often cried whenever passing through Mt Yinshan area, a historical belt that was good hunting and grazing ground due to the abundance of animals and the grass/trees. Hou Ying also mentioned that border garrisons and beacon towers had played the role of preventing Chinese from slipping across the border for the banditry. Hence, emperor wrote to Huhanye about the need to retain border garrisons for guarding against banditry. Huhanye replied to express understanding of the great idea.
 
Lady Wang Zhaojun, titled 'ning [pacifying] hu [Huns] yanzhi [queen]', had born son Yituzhiyashi who was made into rightside sun chasing king. Huhanye Chanyu died in the second year of Emperor Chengdi's Jianshi Era, i.e., 31 BC, after a reign of 28 years.
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