1
烏孫國，大昆彌治赤谷城，去長安八千九百里。 戶十二萬，口六十三萬，勝兵十八萬八千八百人。 相，大祿，左右大將二人，侯三人，大將、都尉各一人，大監二人，大吏一人，捨中大吏二人，騎君一人。 東至都護治所千七百二十一里，西至康居蕃內地五千里。 地莽平。 多雨，寒。 山多松樠。 不田作種樹，隨畜逐水草，與匈奴同俗。 國多馬，富人至四五千匹。 民剛惡，貪狼無信，多寇盜，最為強國。 故服匈奴，後盛大，取羈屬，不肯往朝會。 東與匈奴、西北與康居、西與大宛、南與城郭諸國相接。 本塞地也，大月氏西破走塞王，塞王南越縣度。 大月氏居其地。 後烏孫昆莫擊破大月氏，大月氏徙西臣大夏，而烏孫昆莫居之，故烏孫民有塞種、大月氏種雲。
The kingdom of Wusun was ruled by the senior Kunmi from Chigu; the capital lay eight thousand nine hundred li from Chang'an. It had one hundred twenty thousand households, six hundred thirty thousand people, and one hundred eighty-eight thousand eight hundred men of military age. Its government included a chancellor, a grand steward (Dalu), two senior generals of the left and right, three marquises, a grand general and a commandant, two chief overseers, a chief clerk, two chief clerks of the royal encampment, and a master of cavalry. It lay one thousand seven hundred twenty-one li east of the Protector-General's headquarters and five thousand li west of the inner pasturelands of Kangju. The terrain was for the most part open and flat. Rainfall was heavy and the climate cold. The hills were thick with pine and oak. They did not farm or plant orchards but moved their herds after water and pasture, in the same nomadic way as the Xiongnu. Horses were abundant; a wealthy household might own four or five thousand. The people were tough and truculent, rapacious and untrustworthy, and prone to raiding; among the frontier powers Wusun ranked as the strongest. They had once acknowledged Xiongnu overlordship, but as they grew powerful they slipped the tether of vassalage and refused to attend the Xiongnu court. It bordered the Xiongnu on the east, Kangju to the northwest, Ferghana to the west, and the oasis kingdoms of the Tarim basin on the south. The land had once belonged to the Sai people until the Yuezhi, pressing from the west, shattered their kingdom and forced the Sai king south across the rope bridge gorges. The Great Yuezhi then settled there. Later the Wusun ruler Kunmo broke the Yuezhi, who withdrew westward to subjugate Bactria while the Kunmo took their pastures—hence the saying that Wusun blood mixed Sai and Yuezhi strains.
2
始張騫言烏孫本與大月氏共在敦煌間，今烏孫雖強大，可厚賂招，令東居故地，妻以公主，與為昆弟，以制匈奴。 語在《張騫傳》。 武帝即位，令騫繼金幣住。 昆莫見騫如單于禮，騫大慚，謂曰：「天子致賜，王不拜，則還賜。 」昆莫起拜，其他如故。
Zhang Qian had first argued that Wusun and the Yuezhi had once shared the lands around Dunhuang; even now that Wusun was powerful, rich gifts might draw them back east to their old pastures, a Han princess could seal a fraternal alliance, and together they could pin down the Xiongnu. The full account appears in the biography of Zhang Qian. After Emperor Wu came to the throne he sent Zhang Qian west again with another train of gold and silk. The Kunmo received Zhang Qian with the courtesy shown a Xiongnu chanyu, which mortified the envoy. Zhang Qian warned him, 'These are gifts from the Son of Heaven—if you will not bow in acceptance, we shall take them back.' The Kunmo rose and performed the bow; on other points he did not change his stance.
3
初，昆莫有十餘子，中子大祿強，善將，將眾萬餘騎別居。 大祿兄太子，太子有子曰岑陬。 太子蚤死，謂昆莫曰：「必以岑陬為太子。 」昆莫哀許之。 大祿怒，乃收其昆弟，將眾畔，謀攻岑陬。 昆莫與芩陬萬餘騎，令別居，昆莫亦自有萬餘騎以自備。 國分為三，大總羈屬昆莫。 騫既致賜，諭指曰：「烏孫能東居故地，則漢遣公主為夫人，結為昆弟，共距匈奴，不足破也。 」烏孫遠漢，未知其大小，又近匈奴，服屬日久，其大臣皆不欲徙。 昆莫年老國分，不能專制，乃發使送騫，因獻馬數十匹報謝。 其使見漢人眾富厚，歸其國，其國後乃益重漢。
The Kunmo had fathered more than a dozen sons; his middle son, the powerful Dalu, was a gifted commander who camped apart with more than ten thousand horsemen under his banner. Dalu's elder brother was the crown prince, whose own son was called Cenqu. When the crown prince died young, he begged the Kunmo, 'You must name Cenqu as my successor.' Moved by pity, the Kunmo agreed. Dalu, furious, detained his junior kinsmen, mustered his riders in open defiance, and plotted to strike down Cenqu. The Kunmo gave Cenqu a separate command of over ten thousand horse and kept another ten thousand under his own hand as a personal guard. The realm fractured into three camps, yet all still nominally answered to the Kunmo. After presenting the imperial gifts Zhang Qian explained Han's offer: 'Move back east to your ancient pastures, and the court will send a princess as your queen and treat you as a sworn brother; together we can shatter the Xiongnu—they are not invincible.' Wusun lay far from Han and could not gauge the empire's strength; pressed close by the Xiongnu and long habituated to their overlordship, the great nobles refused to migrate. Aging and unable to command a divided court, the Kunmo sent Zhang Qian home under escort with a gift of several dozen horses by way of thanks. Those envoys, dazzled by Han's wealth and population, carried home such reports that Wusun began to take the empire seriously.
4
匈奴聞其與漢通，怒欲擊之。 又漢使烏孫，乃出其南，抵大宛、月氏，相屬不絕。 烏孫於是恐，使使獻馬，願得尚漢公主，為昆弟。 天子問群臣，議許，曰：「必先內聘，然後遣女。 」烏孫以馬千匹聘。 漢元封中，遣江都王建女細君為公主，以妻焉。 賜乘輿服御物，為備官屬宦官侍御數百人，贈送甚盛。 烏孫昆莫以為右夫人。 匈奴亦遣女妻昆莫，昆莫以為左夫人。
When the Xiongnu learned that Wusun was courting Han, they threatened invasion. Han embassies to Wusun also opened a southern corridor through Dayuan and the Yuezhi so that missions marched in an unbroken chain. Alarmed, Wusun sent tribute horses and asked to marry a Han princess in a sworn-brother alliance. The emperor polled his ministers, who approved the match on condition that 'the bride-price must arrive in the capital before we dispatch the princess.' Wusun forwarded a thousand horses as the betrothal gift. During the Yuanfeng reign the court invested Liu Jian's daughter Xijun, princess of Jiangdu, as an imperial princess and sent her to be the Kunmo's consort. She traveled with imperial wardrobe pieces, a household staff of several hundred—including eunuch attendants—and a dowry train of staggering splendor. The Kunmo installed her as senior consort on the right—the honored side in steppe protocol. The Xiongnu countered by sending a bride of their own, whom the Kunmo ranked as left consort, the junior position.
5
公主至其國，自治宮室居，歲時一再與昆莫會，置酒飲食，以幣、帛賜王左右貴人。 昆莫年老，言語不通，公主悲愁，自為作歌曰：「吾家嫁我兮天一方，遠托異國兮烏孫王。 穹廬為室兮旃為牆，以肉為食兮酪為漿。 居常土思兮心內傷，願為黃鵠兮歸故鄉。 」天子聞而憐之，間歲遣使者持帷帳錦繡給遺焉。
Once in Wusun she built her own residence, met the Kunmo only once or twice a year over feasts, and used bolts of silk to court his chief nobles. The aged Kunmo spoke no Chinese, and the princess, heartsick, composed a lament: 'My kin have wed me to the rim of the sky, far off to serve a foreign king in Wusun.' Felt tents for halls and felt for walls, flesh for grain and fermented milk for wine. Homesickness ever gnaws my heart; would I were a yellow swan winging home. Moved by the song, the emperor sent envoys every other year with canopies, hangings, and brocades to comfort her.
6
昆莫年老，欲使其孫岑陬尚公主。 公主不聽，上書言狀，天子報曰：「從其國俗，欲與烏孫共滅胡。 」岑陬遂妻公主。 昆莫死，岑陬代立。 岑陬者，官號也，名軍須靡。 昆莫，王號也，名獵驕靡。 後書「昆彌」雲。 岑陬尚江都公主，生一女少夫。 公主死，漢復以楚王戊之孫解憂為公主，妻岑陬。 岑陬胡婦子泥靡尚小，岑陬且死，以國與季父大祿子翁歸靡，曰：「泥靡大，以國歸之。」
In his old age the Kunmo proposed that his grandson Cenqu inherit the princess according to levirate custom. She protested in a memorial to the throne, but the emperor answered, 'Bow to their customs if you would join Wusun in destroying the barbarians.' Cenqu therefore married her in the Kunmo's stead. When the Kunmo died, Cenqu succeeded him. Cenqu was a title, not a personal name; the man was Junxumi. Kunmo was the royal style; his given name was Liejiaomi. Later writers regularized the title as Kunmi. Cenqu and the Jiangdu princess had a daughter named Shaofu. After that princess died, the court invested Liu Wu's granddaughter Jieyou as princess and sent her to marry Cenqu. Cenqu's son Nimi by his Xiongnu wife was still a child. On his deathbed Cenqu handed the realm to his uncle Dalu's son Wenguimi, charging him, 'When Nimi comes of age, give him back the throne.'
7
翁歸靡既立，號肥王，復尚楚主解憂，生三男兩女：長男曰元貴靡； 次曰萬年，為莎車王； 次曰大樂，為左大將； 長女弟史為龜茲王絳賓妻； 小女素光為若呼翕侯妻。
Wenguimi, enthroned as the Fat King, took Princess Jieyou of Chu and fathered three sons and two daughters; the eldest son was Yuanguimi; the second, Wannian, became king of Shache (Yarkand); the third, Dale, rose to command the left wing as grand general; the eldest daughter, Dishi, married Jiangbin, king of Kucha; the youngest, Suguang, wed a Ruo-hu noble holding the Xihou title.
8
昭帝時，公主上書，言：「匈奴發騎田車師，車師與匈奴為一，共侵烏孫，唯天子幸救之！ 」漢養士馬，議欲擊匈奴。 會昭帝崩，宣帝初即位，公主及昆彌皆遣使上書，言：「匈奴復連發大兵侵兵烏孫，取車延、惡師地，收人民去，使使謂烏孫趣持公主來，欲隔絕漢。 昆彌願發國半精兵，自給人馬五萬騎，盡力擊匈奴。 唯天子出兵以救公主、昆彌。 」漢兵大發十五萬騎，五將軍分道並出。 語在《匈奴傳》。 遣校尉常惠使持節護烏孫兵，昆彌自將翕侯以下五萬騎從西方人，至右谷蠡王庭，獲單于父行及嫂、居次、名王、犁水於都尉、千長、騎將以下四萬級，馬、牛、羊、驢、橐駝七十餘萬頭，烏孫皆自取所虜獲。 還，封惠為長羅侯。 是歲，本始三年也。 漢遣惠持金幣賜烏孫貴人有功者。
Under Emperor Zhao the princess memorialized: 'Xiongnu horsemen are plundering Jushi, and that kingdom has thrown in its lot with them against us—only Your Majesty can rescue Wusun!' Han began drilling troops and mounts for a punitive strike on the Xiongnu. Zhao died just then; as Emperor Xuan took the throne, both the princess and the Kunmi sent pleas: 'The Xiongnu have again hurled great armies against Wusun, seized the districts of Cheyan and Eshi, carried off our people, and demanded that we hand over the Han princess at once to sever Wusun from the empire.' The Kunmi offers to raise half the nation's best warriors—fifty thousand horse of his own provisioning—and throw them fully against the Xiongnu. We beg the Son of Heaven to march an army to rescue the princess and the Kunmi. Han answered by mobilizing one hundred fifty thousand cavalry under five generals advancing on separate routes. The campaign is narrated in the treatise on the Xiongnu. Colonel Chang Hui went with imperial credentials to coordinate the Wusun host; the Kunmi personally led fifty thousand horsemen of his western nobles to the court of the Right Guli Prince, cutting off forty thousand ranked heads from the chanyu's kinsmen, consorts, princesses, great kings, commandants, chiliarchs, and cavalry commanders, and driving off more than seven hundred thousand head of livestock—all of which the Wusun kept as their own spoils. On his return Chang Hui was enfeoffed as marquis of Changluo. The year was the third of the Benshi era. The court then sent Chang Hui back with gold and silk to reward the Wusun nobles who had distinguished themselves.
9
元康二年，烏孫昆彌因惠上書：「願以漢外孫元貴靡為嗣，得令復尚漢公主，結婚重親，畔絕匈奴，原聘馬、騾各千匹。 」詔下公卿議，大鴻臚蕭望之以為：「烏孫絕域，變故難保，不可許。 」上美烏孫新立大功，又重絕故業，遣使者至烏孫，先迎取聘。 昆彌及太子、左右大將、都尉皆遣使，凡三百餘人，入漢迎取少主。 上乃以烏孫主解憂弟子相夫為公主，置官屬侍御百餘人，捨上林中，學烏孫言。 天子自臨平樂觀，會匈奴使者、外國君長大角抵，設樂而遣之。 使長羅侯光祿大夫惠為副，凡持節者四人，送少主至郭煌。 未出塞，聞烏孫昆彌翁歸靡死，烏孫貴人共從本約，立岑陬子泥靡代為昆靡，號狂王。 惠上書：「願留少主郭煌，惠馳至烏孫責讓不立元貴靡為昆靡，還迎少主。 」事下公卿，望之復以為：「烏孫持兩端，難約結。 前公主在烏孫四十餘年，恩愛不親密，邊竟未得安，此已事已驗也。 令少主以元貴靡不立而還，信無負於夷狄，中國之福也。 少主不止，徭役將興，其原起此。 」天子從之，征還少主。
In the second year of Yuankang the Kunmi petitioned through Chang Hui: 'Let my Han-born grandson Yuanguimi succeed me, marry him to another imperial princess to renew the double marriage, and break with the Xiongnu—we will offer one thousand horses and one thousand mules as bride-price.' The edict went to the high ministers for debate; Grand Herald Xiao Wangzhi argued that Wusun lay beyond reliable reach and that turmoil there could not be controlled—best to refuse. The emperor, honoring Wusun's fresh victory and reluctant to abandon a proven policy, sent envoys ahead to Wusun to accept the bride-price anyway. The Kunmi, crown prince, senior generals, and commandants dispatched over three hundred men into Han to escort the young princess west. He invested Jieyou's niece Xiangfu as princess, gave her a household of more than a hundred attendants, quartered her in the Shanglin Park, and had her drilled in the Wusun tongue. The emperor himself appeared at the Pingle Lodge to stage a grand acrobatic show for the Xiongnu envoys and foreign dignitaries before sending the bridal party off with music. Marquis Changluo, now Grandee of the Imperial Household Chang Hui, served as deputy to four credential-bearing envoys who convoyed the young princess as far as Dunhuang (here written Guohuang). Before she crossed the frontier, word arrived that Kunmi Wenguimi was dead; the Wusun nobles, invoking the old pact, enthroned Cenqu's son Nimi as Kunmi with the sobriquet Mad King. Chang Hui memorialized: 'Hold the young princess at Dunhuang while I ride post-haste to rebuke Wusun for ignoring Yuanguimi's claim, then bring her home if they persist in error.' The case went back to the ministers; Xiao Wangzhi repeated that Wusun played both sides and could not be bound by treaty. The last princess spent forty years there without winning real affection or quieting the frontier—that experiment has already failed. Recalling the girl because Yuanguimi was passed over costs us nothing in the eyes of the barbarians and is a blessing for the Middle Kingdom. If she pushes on, corvée and war will follow—and the trouble will have started here. The emperor agreed and recalled the young princess.
10
狂王復尚楚主解憂，生一男鴟靡，不與主和，又暴惡失眾。 漢使衛司馬魏和意、副侯任昌送侍子，公主言狂王為烏孫所患苦，易誅也。 遂謀置酒會，罷，使士拔劍擊之。 劍旁下，狂王傷，上馬馳去。 其子細沈瘦會兵圍和意、昌及公主於赤谷城。 數月，都護鄭吉發諸國兵救之，乃解去。 漢遣中郎將張遵持醫藥治狂王，賜金二十斤，采繒。 因收和意、昌系鎖，從尉犁檻車至長安，斬之。 車騎將軍長史張翁留驗公主與使者謀殺狂王狀，主不服，叩頭謝，張翁捽主頭罵詈。 主上書，翁還，坐死。 副使季都別將醫養視狂王，狂王從十餘騎送之。 都還，坐知狂王當誅，見便不發，下蠶室。
The Mad King again married Princess Jieyou of Chu and fathered a son, Chimi, but he quarreled with her and ruled so brutally that he forfeited popular support. When Guard Colonel Wei Heyi and Deputy Marquis Ren Chang arrived to escort the hostage heir, the princess confided that the Mad King tormented the realm and could easily be eliminated. They plotted a banquet, and when the cups were cleared signaled their guards to draw swords and strike him down. The blade glanced aside; wounded, the Mad King vaulted onto a horse and fled. His son Xishenshou raised troops and besieged Wei Heyi, Ren Chang, and the princess in Chigu. For months they remained trapped until Protector-General Zheng Ji mobilized the oasis armies and lifted the siege. Han sent Gentleman Zhang Zun with physicians and drugs to heal the Mad King and showered him with twenty jin of gold and brocades. At the same time Wei Heyi and Ren Chang were shackled, hauled in prison carts from Yanqi to Chang'an, and beheaded. Chief clerk Zhang Weng of the chariot command stayed to interrogate the princess on the plot to murder the Mad King; when she denied any part in it he forced her brow to the floor, seized her by the hair, and showered abuse on her. She appealed to the throne; Zhang Weng, once back at court, was convicted and executed. Deputy envoy Ji Du detached a medical party to tend the Mad King, who saw them off with a dozen horsemen. When Ji Du returned he was judged for knowing the Mad King deserved execution yet failing to strike when he had the chance, and was castrated.
11
初，肥王翁歸靡胡婦子烏就屠，狂五傷時驚，與諸翕侯俱去，居北山中，揚言母家匈奴兵來，故眾歸之。 後遂襲殺狂王，自立為昆彌。 漢遣破羌將軍辛武賢將兵萬五千人至郭煌，遣使者案行表，穿卑鞮侯井以西，欲通渠轉谷，積居廬倉以討之。
Wujiutu, son of the Fat King by his Xiongnu consort, fled in panic when the Mad King was wounded, withdrew into the northern hills with several Xihou, and spread word that Xiongnu reinforcements from his mother's kin were coming—so the tribes flocked to him. He then ambushed and killed the Mad King and proclaimed himself Kunmi. Han sent General Xin Wuxian, the Qiang-breaker, to Dunhuang with fifteen thousand men, ordered survey parties to stake out a line of march, sink Beiji-hou wells west of the frontier, cut canals to float grain forward, and stockpile supplies in border depots for the coming campaign.
12
初，楚主侍者馮嫽能史書，習事，嘗持漢書為公主使，行賞賜於城郭諸國，敬信之，號曰馮夫人。 為烏孫右大將妻，右大將與烏就屠相愛，都護鄭吉使馮夫人說烏就屠，以漢兵方出，必見滅，不如降。 烏就屠恐，曰：「願得小號。 」宣帝征馮夫人，自問狀。 遣謁者竺次、期門甘延壽為副，送馮夫人。 馮夫人錦車持節，詔烏就屠詣長羅侯赤谷城，立元貴靡為大昆彌，烏就屠為小昆彌，皆賜印綬。 破羌將軍不出塞還。 後烏就屠不盡歸諸翕侯民眾，漢復遣長羅侯惠將三校屯赤谷，因為分別其人民地界，大昆彌戶六萬餘，小昆彌戶四萬餘，然眾心皆附小昆彌。
Among the princess of Chu's maids was Feng Liao, literate and experienced, who had often carried Han credentials on her mistress's behalf to distribute gifts among the oasis kingdoms; they honored her and called her Lady Feng. She had married Wusun's right grand general, who was close to Wujiutu; Protector-General Zheng Ji therefore sent Lady Feng to warn Wujiutu that Han armies were on the march and resistance meant annihilation, while submission was the safer course. Wujiutu, alarmed, said, 'I will accept a lesser title.' Emperor Xuan summoned Lady Feng to the capital and questioned her in person. He sent the herald Zhu Ci and the palace guard Gan Yanshou as her escorts to see her off. Riding in a brocade-hung carriage and bearing the imperial staff, Lady Feng ordered Wujiutu to meet Marquis Changluo at Chigu, where Yuanguimi was recognized as senior Kunmi and Wujiutu as junior Kunmi, each receiving seal and ribbon. General Xin Wuxian turned back without crossing the frontier. When Wujiutu refused to hand back all the tribesmen of the Xihou nobles, Han sent Marquis Changluo Chang Hui with three garrison commands to hold Chigu and partition subjects and territory: the senior line counted more than sixty thousand households and the junior more than forty thousand, yet popular loyalty clung to the junior Kunmi.
13
元貴靡、鴟靡皆病死，公主上書言年老土思，願得歸骸骨，葬漢地。 天子閔而迎之，公主與烏孫男女三人俱來至京師。 是歲，甘露三年也。 時年且七十，賜以公主田宅、奴婢，奉養甚厚，朝見儀比公主。 後二歲卒，三孫因留守墳墓雲。
After Yuanguimi and Chimi both died of illness, the princess memorialized that age and longing for home moved her to ask leave to end her days in Han soil. The emperor took pity and summoned her home; the princess arrived at the capital with three of her Wusun children. The year was the third of the Ganlu era. She was nearly seventy; the court granted her an estate, servants, and a generous stipend, and received her at audience with the ceremony due an imperial princess. She died two years later, while three grandsons remained in Wusun to tend the family graves, it is said.
14
元貴靡子星靡代為大昆彌，弱，馮夫人上書，願使烏孫鎮撫星靡。 漢遣之，卒百人送焉。 都護韓宣奏，烏孫大吏、大祿、大監皆可以賜金印紫綬，以尊輔大昆彌，漢許之。 後都護韓宣復奏，星靡怯弱，可免，更以季父左大將樂代為昆彌，漢不許。 後段會宗為都護，招還亡畔，安定之。
Yuanguimi's son Xingmi succeeded as senior Kunmi while still a boy; Lady Feng asked to return to Wusun to steady the young ruler. The court approved and sent a hundred troops to escort her west. Protector-General Han Xuan proposed investing Wusun's chief clerk, grand steward, and chief overseer with gold seals and purple ribbons to bolster the senior Kunmi; the court agreed. Han Xuan later urged that the timid Xingmi be set aside in favor of his uncle, the left grand general Yue; the court refused. When Duan Huizong took office as Protector-General he recalled deserters and rebels and restored order.
15
星靡死，子雌栗靡代。 小昆彌烏就屠死。 子拊離代立，為弟日貳所殺。 漢遣使者立拊離子安日為小昆彌。 日貳亡，阻康居。 漢徙已校屯姑墨，欲候便討焉。 安日使貴人姑莫匿等三人詐亡從日貳，刺殺之。 都護廉褒賜姑莫匿等金人二十斤，繒三百匹。
Xingmi died and was succeeded by his son Cilimi. The junior Kunmi Wujiutu died. His son Fuli succeeded but was murdered by his younger brother Rier. Han sent an envoy to enthrone Fuli's son Anri as junior Kunmi. Rier fled and took refuge in Kangju. Han shifted the Yi garrison colonel to Gumo to watch for a chance to strike him. Anri sent three nobles, including Gumoni, to feign defection, join Rier, and assassinate him. Protector-General Lian Bao rewarded Gumoni's party with twenty jin of gold and three hundred bolts of silk.
16
後安日為降民所殺，漢立其弟末振將代。 時大昆彌雌栗靡健，翕侯皆畏服之，告民牧馬畜無使人牧，國中大安和翁歸靡時。 小昆彌末振將恐為所並，使貴人烏日領詐降刺殺雌栗靡。 漢欲以兵討之而未能，遣中郎將段會宗持金幣與都護圖方略，立雌栗靡季父公主孫伊秩靡為大昆彌。 漢沒入小昆彌侍子在京師者。 久之，大昆彌翕侯難棲殺末振將，末振將兄安日子安犁靡代為小昆彌。 漢恨不自誅末振將，復使段會宗即斬其太子番丘。 還，賜爵關內侯。 是歲，元延二年也。
Later Anri was killed by surrendered tribesmen, and Han enthroned his brother Mozhenjiang in his place. The senior Kunmi Cilimi was vigorous, and the Xihou nobles feared him; he forbade outsiders from pasturing herds in his domain, and the realm knew a calm like the days of Wenguimi. The junior Kunmi Mozhenjiang, fearing annexation, sent the noble Wuriling under false colors to murder Cilimi. Han could not yet mount a punitive expedition, so it sent Gentleman Duan Huizong with treasure to concert plans with the Protector-General and set up Cilimi's uncle, the princess's grandson Yizhimi, as senior Kunmi. Han seized the junior Kunmi's hostages who were lodged in the capital. Eventually the senior Kunmi's noble Nanxi killed Mozhenjiang, and Anri's grandson Anlimi succeeded as junior Kunmi. Angry that Mozhenjiang had not died by Han hands, the court ordered Duan Huizong to execute his crown prince Fanqiu on the spot. On his return he was ennobled as a marquis within the passes. The year was the second of the Yuanyan era.
17
會宗以翕侯難棲殺末振將，雖不指為漢，合於討賊，奏以為堅守都尉。 責大祿、大吏、大監以雌栗靡見殺狀，奪金印紫綬，更與銅墨雲。 末振將弟卑爰疐本共謀殺大昆彌，將眾八萬餘口北附康居，謀欲借兵兼併兩昆彌。 兩昆彌畏之，親倚都護。
Duan Huizong argued that although Nanxi had not acted explicitly for Han, killing Mozhenjiang served justice against a traitor, and recommended him for appointment as commandant of the firm garrison. He censured the grand steward, chief clerk, and chief overseer for allowing Cilimi's murder, stripped their gold seals and purple ribbons, and reassigned them seals of bronze with black cords. Mozhenjiang's brother Bei'aidi, who had conspired in the regicide, led more than eighty thousand followers north to Kangju and schemed to borrow troops to swallow both Kunmi lines. Both Kunmi feared him and clung to the Protector-General for protection.
18
哀帝元壽二年，大昆彌伊秩靡與單于並入朝，漢以為榮。 至元始中，卑爰疐殺烏日領以自效，漢封為歸義侯。 兩昆彌皆弱，卑爰疐侵陵，都護孫建襲殺之。 自烏孫分立兩昆彌後，漢用憂勞，且無寧歲。
In the second year of Yuanshou under Emperor Ai the senior Kunmi Yizhimi entered the capital together with the chanyu—an occasion Han counted among its honors. During the Yuanshi era Bei'aidi slew Wuriling to prove his loyalty and was enfeoffed as marquis of Returning Allegiance. With both Kunmi enfeebled, Bei'aidi bullied them until Protector-General Sun Jian ambushed and killed him. From the day Wusun split into two Kunmi lines, Han was kept in constant anxiety and scarcely knew a year of peace.
19
姑墨國，王治南城，去長安八千一百五十里。 戶二千二百，口二萬四千五百，勝兵四千五百人。 姑墨侯、輔國侯、都尉、左右將、左右騎君各一人，譯長二人。 東至都護治所二千二十一里，南至於闐馬行十五日，北與烏孫接。 出銅、鐵、雌黃。 東通龜茲六百七十里。 王莽時，姑墨王丞殺溫宿王，並其國。
The kingdom of Gumo was ruled from its southern capital, eight thousand one hundred fifty li from Chang'an. It had twenty-two hundred households, twenty-four thousand five hundred inhabitants, and forty-five hundred men under arms. Its officials included a Gumo marquis, an assistant-to-the-state marquis, a commandant, generals of the left and right, cavalry lords of the left and right—one of each—and two chiefs of interpreters. It lay two thousand twenty-one li east of the Protector-General's headquarters, fifteen days' ride south to Khotan, and bordered Wusun on the north. It produced copper, iron, and orpiment. Six hundred seventy li to the east lay Kucha. Under Wang Mang the king of Gumo, Cheng, slew the king of Wensu and annexed his realm.
20
溫宿國，王治溫宿城，去長安八千三百五十里，戶二千二百，口八千四百，勝兵千五百人。 輔國侯、左右將、左右都尉、左右騎君、譯長各二人。 東至都護治所二千三百八十里，西至尉頭三百里，北至烏孫赤谷六百一十里。 土地物類所有與鄯善諸國同。 東通姑墨二百七十里。
Wensu was ruled from Wensu city, eight thousand three hundred fifty li from Chang'an, with twenty-two hundred households, eighty-four hundred people, and fifteen hundred soldiers. It had two each of assistant marquises, left and right generals, left and right commandants, left and right cavalry lords, and interpreter chiefs. It stood twenty-three hundred eighty li east of the Protector-General, three hundred li west of Weitou, and six hundred ten li south of Wusun's Chigu. Its terrain and products resembled those of Shanshan and the neighboring states. Gumo lay two hundred seventy li to the east.
21
龜茲國，王治延城，去長安七千四百八十里。 戶六千九百七十，口八萬一千三百一十七，勝兵二萬一千七十六人。 大都尉丞、輔國侯、安國侯、擊胡侯、卻胡都尉、擊車師都尉、左右將、左右都尉、左右騎君、左右力輔君各一人，東西南北部千長各二人，卻胡君三人，譯長四人。 南與精絕、東南與且末、西南與杅彌、北與烏孫、西與姑墨接。 能鑄冶，有鉛。 東至都護治所烏壘城三百五十里。
The kingdom of Kucha was governed from Yan city, seven thousand four hundred eighty li from Chang'an. It counted six thousand nine hundred seventy households, eighty-one thousand three hundred seventeen people, and twenty-one thousand seventy-six troops. Its bureaucracy included a grand commandant's aide, marquises for assisting and securing the state, marquises for striking and repelling the Hu, commandants for operations against the Hu and Jushi, paired generals, commandants, cavalry lords, and strength-assisting lords, two chiliarchs for each quarter of the realm, three Hu-repelling lords, and four interpreter chiefs. It bordered Jingjue on the south, Qiemo to the southeast, Wumi to the southwest, Wusun to the north, and Gumo on the west. The people worked metal and had deposits of lead. The Protector-General's seat at Wulei lay three hundred fifty li to the east.
22
烏壘，戶百一十，口千二百，勝兵三百人。 城都尉、譯長各一人。 與都護同治。 其南三百三十里至渠犁。
Wulei had one hundred ten households, twelve hundred inhabitants, and three hundred soldiers. It had one city commandant and one interpreter chief. It shared the seat with the Protector-General. Quli lay three hundred thirty li to the south.
23
渠梨，城都尉一人，戶百三十，口千四百八十，勝兵百五十人。 東北與尉犁、東南與且末、南與精絕接。 西有河，至龜茲五百八十里。
Quli was administered by a city commandant and counted one hundred thirty households, fourteen hundred eighty people, and one hundred fifty troops. It bordered Yanqi to the northeast, Qiemo to the southeast, and Jingjue on the south. A river lay to the west; Kucha was five hundred eighty li away.
24
自武帝初通西域、置校尉，屯田渠犁。 是時，軍旅連出，師行三十二年，海內虛耗。 征和中，貳師將軍李廣利以軍降匈奴。 上既悔遠征伐，而搜粟都尉桑弘羊與丞相御史奏言：「故輪台東捷枝、渠犁皆故國，地廣，饒水草，有溉田五千頃以上，處溫和，田美，可益通溝渠，種五穀，與中國同時孰。 其旁國少錐刀，貴黃金采繒，可以易谷食，宜給足不乏。 臣愚以為可遣屯田卒詣故輪台以東，置校尉三人分護，各舉圖地形，通利溝渠，務使以時益種五穀，張掖、酒泉遣騎假司馬為斥候，屬校尉，事有便宜，因騎置以聞。 田一歲，有積穀，募民壯健有累重敢徙者詣田所，就畜積為本業，益墾溉田，稍築列亭，連城而西，以威西國，輔烏孫，為便。 臣謹遣征事臣昌分部行邊，嚴敕太守、都尉明烽火，選士馬，謹斥候，蓄茭草。 願陛下遣使使西國，以安其意。 臣昧死請。」
Ever since Emperor Wu first opened the Western Regions and posted colonels, Han had farmed garrison lands at Quli. Campaigns had followed one another for thirty-two years, draining the empire. During the Zhenghe era Ershi General Li Guangli surrendered his army to the Xiongnu. The emperor had repented his distant wars, but Search-for-Grain Commandant Sang Hongyang and the chancellor and imperial counsellor memorialized: 'East of Luntai lie the old domains of Jiezhi and Quli—broad lands, rich pasture, more than five thousand qing of irrigable soil in a mild climate. Ditches could be extended, the five grains sown, and harvests timed with the heartland.' Neighboring kingdoms lack metal tools yet value gold and brocades, so grain could be traded for cloth and metal until supplies were ample. We propose sending colonists east of old Luntai under three colonels who would survey the ground, cut channels, and expand grain plantings on schedule, while Zhangye and Jiuquan detail acting majors with cavalry as scouts under those colonels, reporting anything urgent by relay. After one season's crop there would be granaries to draw sturdy settlers with families; they could build on those stores, open more irrigated land, raise a line of signal towers westward in a chain of forts to overawe the western states and support Wusun—altogether the advantageous course. Your servant has sent Investigator Chang to tour the frontier by sectors with orders to the grand administrators and commandants to man the beacons, drill troops and mounts, tighten patrols, and stock fodder. We ask that you send envoys to the western kingdoms to reassure them. We beg leave to speak at the peril of our lives.
25
上乃下詔，深陳既往之悔，曰：
The emperor then promulgated an edict that set forth in painful detail his regret for the past. It read:
26
前有司奏，欲益民賦三十助邊用，是重困老弱孤獨也。 而今又請遣卒田輪台。 輪台西於車師千餘里，前開陵侯擊車師時，危須、尉犁、樓蘭六國子弟在京師者皆先歸，發畜食迎漢軍，又自發兵，凡數萬人，王各自將，共圍車師，降其王。 諸國兵便罷，力不能復至道上食漢軍。 漢軍破城，食至多，然士自載不足以竟師，強者盡食畜產，羸者道死數千人。 朕發酒泉驢、橐駝負食，出玉門迎軍。 吏卒起張掖，不甚遠，然尚廝留其眾。 曩者，朕之不明，以軍候弘上書言「匈奴縛馬前後足，置城下，馳言『秦人，我匄若馬』」，又漢使者久留不還，故興遣貳師將軍，欲以為使者威重也。 古者卿大夫與謀，參以蓍龜，不吉不行。 乃者以縛馬書遍視丞相、御史、二千石、諸大夫、郎為文學者，乃至郡屬國都尉成忠、趙破奴等，皆以「虜自縛其馬，不祥甚哉！ 」或以為「欲以見強，夫不足者視人有餘。 」《易》之卦得《大過》，爻在九五，匈奴困敗。 公軍方士、太史治星望氣，及太卜龜蓍，皆以為吉，匈奴必破，時不可再得也。 又曰：「北伐行將，於釜山必克。 」卦諸將，貳師最吉。 故朕親發貳師下釜山，詔之必毋深入。 今計謀卦兆皆反繆。 重合侯得虜候者，言：「聞漢軍當來，匈奴使巫埋羊牛所出諸道及水上以詛軍。 單于遺天子馬裘，常使巫祝之。 縛馬者，詛軍事也。 」又卜「漢軍一將不吉」。 匈奴常言：「漢極大，然不能飢渴，失一狼，走千羊。」
Not long ago ministers asked to raise the poll tax by thirty cash for the frontier—that would only crush the aged, the weak, and those without kin. Now they ask again to send troops to farm at Luntai. Luntai lies more than a thousand li west of Jushi. When Marquis Kaifeng-ling attacked Jushi, young nobles of six states—Weixu, Yanqi, Loulan, and the rest—who were in the capital hurried home, drove out herds and grain to feed Han troops, and raised tens of thousands of their own horse; each king led his men, and together they besieged Jushi and forced its king to yield. Those allies then dispersed and lacked strength to meet our columns on the march with further supplies. Han took the town and found ample grain, yet the men could not carry enough to finish the campaign; the strong devoured the livestock and the weak died by thousands along the road. I ordered donkeys and camels from Jiuquan loaded with grain to meet the army beyond the Jade Gate. Relief parties set out even from nearby Zhangye, yet still the host was stalled and straggling. Once before, misled by a report from the scout Hong that the Xiongnu had hobbled their horses beneath the walls and shouted, 'Men of Qin, we beg your horses,' and because Han envoys had long been detained, I launched the Ershi expedition chiefly to overawe them and ransom our men. The ancients took counsel with their high ministers and checked the milfoil and tortoise—if the omens were ill they did not move. Lately I circulated the bound-horse dispatch to the chancellor, counsellor, two-thousand-dan officials, court scholars, and even border officers such as Cheng Zhong and Zhao Ponu; all cried that for the barbarians to hobble their own mounts was the worst of ill omens. Others read it as bluster from a people who, knowing their weakness, pretend to strength. The Book of Changes gave the hexagram Da Guo with a moving line at the fifth place—sure sign that the Xiongnu would be broken. Court astrologers, star-readers, and the grand diviner with tortoise and stalks alike pronounced the signs favorable and the Xiongnu doomed—a chance not to be missed. They added, 'The northern expedition will prevail on Mount Fu.' When the generals were divined, Ershi's lot was the best. So I sent Ershi against Mount Fu in person, yet ordered him not to drive too deep. Now every plan and every omen has proved the reverse of truth. Marquis Chonghe captured a Xiongnu scout who said, 'When they heard Han was coming, the Xiongnu set shamans to bury sheep and cattle at every spring and ford to curse your host.' The chanyu even sent the Son of Heaven a horse-hide cloak and kept shamans working curses on it. Hobbling the horses was part of the same curse against our army. The tortoise had also warned that one Han general would meet ill fortune. The Xiongnu have a saying: 'Han is vast, yet it cannot go hungry and thirsty; let one wolf slip away and you lose a thousand sheep.'
27
乃者貳師敗，軍士死略離散，悲痛常在朕心。 今請遠田輪台，欲起亭隧，是擾勞天下，非所以優民也。 今朕不忍聞。 大鴻臚等又議，欲募囚徒送匈奴使者，明封侯之賞以報忿，五伯所弗能為也。 且匈奴得漢降者，常提掖搜索，問以所聞。 今邊塞未正，闌出不禁，障候長吏使卒獵獸，以皮肉為利，卒苦而烽火乏，失亦上集不得，後降者來，若捕生口虜，乃知之。 當今務在禁苛暴，止擅賦，力本農，修馬復令，以補缺，毋乏武備而已。 郡國二千石各上進畜馬方略補邊狀，與計對。
Since Ershi's defeat I have lived with the grief of men killed, taken, or scattered in rout. To farm distant Luntai now and raise beacons and tunnels would harry the empire and is no way to show mercy to the people. I cannot bear to hear more of this. The Grand Herald and his colleagues even proposed ransoming rage with convict escorts and promised marquisates—something the Five Hegemons themselves would not have attempted. Besides, whenever the Xiongnu take Han defectors they strip and search them and wring out every rumor. The passes are still slack, illegal crossings go unchecked, and garrison officers send men hunting for hides and meat while the men suffer and the beacon fuel runs short; losses never reach my desk, and I learn the truth only when fresh deserters arrive as living witnesses. Our duty now is to curb cruelty, end illegal taxes, put effort into farming, restore the horse-furlough statutes to make up shortfalls, and keep defenses sound—nothing more. Let every two-thousand-dan official submit plans for breeding horses and stock for the frontier to be filed with the annual accounts.
28
由是不復出軍。 而封丞相車千秋為富民侯，以明休息，思富養民也。
After that no further armies were sent. The court enfeoffed Chancellor Che Qianqiu as marquis of Enriching the People to signal a turn toward rest and toward enriching the common people.
29
初，貳師將軍李廣利擊大宛，還過杅彌，杅彌遣太子賴丹為質於龜茲。 廣利責電茲曰：「外國皆臣屬於漢，龜茲何以得受杅彌質？ 」即將賴丹入至京師。 昭帝乃用桑弘羊前議，以杅彌太子賴丹為校尉，將軍田輪台，輪台與渠犁地皆相連也。 龜茲貴人姑翼謂其王曰：「賴丹本臣屬吾國，今佩漢印綬來，迫吾國而田，必為害。 」王即殺賴丹，而上書謝漢，漢未能征。
When Ershi General Li Guangli marched against Dayuan he passed through Wumi, which sent Crown Prince Laidan as a hostage lodged in Kucha. Guangli rebuked the king of Kucha—the text writes Dianzi—demanding, 'Every outer state acknowledges Han; by what right did Kucha accept Wumi's hostage?' He marched Laidan straight to the capital. Emperor Zhao revived Sang Hongyang's plan, named the Wumi crown prince Laidan a colonel, and set him to colonize Luntai, whose fields adjoined Quli. A Kucha noble named Guyi warned his king, 'Laidan was once our vassal; now he returns wearing Han's seal ribbon to force our soil under the plow—that can only harm us.' The king murdered Laidan and sent an apology to Han, which was in no position to retaliate.
30
宣帝時，長羅侯常惠使烏孫還，便宜發諸國兵，合五萬人攻龜茲，責以前殺校尉賴丹。 龜茲王謝曰：「乃我先王時為貴人姑翼所誤，我無罪。 」執姑翼詣惠，惠斬之。 時烏孫公主遣女來至京師學鼓琴，漢遣侍郎樂奉送主女，過龜茲。 龜茲前遣人至烏孫求公主女，未還。 會女過龜茲，龜茲王留不遣，復使使報公主，主許之。 後公主上書，願令女比宗室入朝，而龜茲王絳賓亦受其夫人，上書言得尚漢外孫為昆弟，願與公主女俱入朝。 元康元年，遂來朝賀。 王及夫人皆賜印綬。 夫人號稱公主，賜以車騎旗鼓，歌吹數十人，綺繡雜繒琦珍凡數千萬。 留且一年，厚贈送之。 後數來朝賀，樂漢衣服制度，歸其國，治宮室，作檄道周衛，出入傳呼，撞鐘鼓，如漢家儀。 外國胡人皆曰：「驢非驢，馬非馬，若龜茲王，所謂騾也。 」絳賓死，其子丞德自謂漢外孫，成、哀帝時往來尤數，漢遇之亦甚親密。
Under Emperor Xuan, Marquis Changluo Chang Hui, returning from Wusun, mustered fifty thousand allied troops on his own authority and struck Kucha to punish the murder of Colonel Laidan. The king of Kucha answered, 'That crime belongs to my father's reign and the mischief of the noble Guyi; I am innocent.' He handed Guyi over to Chang Hui, who executed him. The Wusun princess had sent her daughter to Chang'an to study the zither; Gentleman Yue was detailed to escort the girl home through Kucha. Kucha had already sent envoys to Wusun to ask for the princess's daughter, and they had not yet come back. When the girl reached Kucha the king held her back and messaged the princess, who consented. The princess then asked that her daughter be allowed to attend court as if of the imperial clan; King Jiangbin of Kucha, swayed by his queen, added his own plea to marry a Han imperial granddaughter in fraternal alliance and to bring both women to the capital. In the first year of Yuankang they arrived for the New Year audience. King and queen each received seal and ribbon. The queen was styled princess and was given chariots, escort, drums, and dozens of musicians, with brocades, silks, and curios worth tens of millions. They stayed almost a year before the court sent them home with lavish gifts. They returned often for audiences, copied Han dress and court style, rebuilt their palace, ran cordoned carriage roads with heralds and bell-and-drum salutes like a Han mansion. The frontier Hu joked, 'Neither ass nor horse—just like the king of Kucha: a mule.' When Jiangbin died his son Chengde styled himself Han's grandson and shuttled to court constantly under Cheng and Ai; Han received him with unusual warmth.
31
東通尉犁六百五十里。
Weili lay six hundred fifty li to the east.
32
尉犁國，王治尉犁城，去長安六千七百五十里。 戶千二百，口九千六百，勝兵二千人。 尉犁侯、安世侯、左右將、左右都尉、擊胡君各一人，譯長二人。 西至都護治所三百里，南與鄯善、且未接。
The kingdom of Weili was ruled from Weili city, six thousand seven hundred fifty li from Chang'an. It had twelve hundred households, ninety-six hundred people, and two thousand troops. Its officers included marquises of Weili and of Secure Age, paired generals and commandants, a strike-Hu lord, and two interpreter chiefs. The Protector-General lay three hundred li west; Shanshan and Qiemo bordered it on the south.
33
危須國，王治危須城，去長安七千二百九十里。 戶七百，口四千九百，勝兵二千人。 擊胡侯、擊胡都尉、左右將、左右都尉、左右騎君、擊胡君、譯長各一人。 西至都護治所五百里，至焉耆百里。
Weixu was governed from Weixu city, seven thousand two hundred ninety li from Chang'an. It counted seven hundred households, forty-nine hundred inhabitants, and two thousand soldiers. It listed a strike-Hu marquis and commandant, paired generals and commandants, cavalry lords, a strike-Hu lord, and an interpreter chief—one of each. Five hundred li west stood the Protector-General; Yanqi was a hundred li away.
34
焉耆國，王治員渠城，去長安七千三百里。 戶四千，口三萬二千一百，勝兵六千人。 擊胡侯、卻胡侯、輔國侯、左右將、左右都尉、擊胡左右君、擊車師君、歸義車師君各一人，擊胡都尉、擊胡君各二人，譯長三人。 西南至都護治所四百里南至尉犁百里，北與烏孫接。 近海水多魚。
The greater kingdom of Yanqi ruled from Yuanqu, seven thousand three hundred li from Chang'an. It had four thousand households, thirty-two thousand one hundred people, and six thousand warriors. Officials included marquises for striking and repelling the Hu, an assistant marquis, paired generals and commandants, Hu-striking left and right lords, lords for striking and for submitting Jushi—one apiece where listed—two strike-Hu commandants and two strike-Hu lords, and three interpreter chiefs. It lay four hundred li southwest of the Protector-General's headquarters, a hundred li south of Weili, and bordered Wusun on the north. It lay near brackish water rich in fish.
35
烏貪訾離國，王治於婁谷，去長安萬三百三十里。 戶四十一，口二百三十一，勝兵五十七人。 輔國侯、左右都尉各一人。 東與單桓、南與且彌、西與烏孫接。
Wutan Zili was ruled from Yulou valley, ten thousand three hundred thirty li from Chang'an. It had only forty-one households, two hundred thirty-one people, and fifty-seven soldiers. It had an assistant marquis and left and right commandants. It bordered Danhuan on the east, Qiemi on the south, and Wusun on the west.
36
卑陸國，王治天山東乾當國，去長安八千六百八十里。 戶二百二十七，口千三百八十七，勝兵四百二十二人。 輔國侯、左右將、左右都尉、左右譯長各一人。 西南至都護治所千二百八十七里。
Beilu lay east of the Tianshan range at Gandang, eight thousand six hundred eighty li from Chang'an. It had two hundred twenty-seven households, thirteen hundred eighty-seven people, and four hundred twenty-two troops. Its government included an assistant marquis, paired generals and commandants, and paired interpreter chiefs. The Protector-General's seat lay one thousand two hundred eighty-seven li to the southwest.
37
卑陸後國，王治番渠類谷，去長安八千七百一十里。 戶四百六十二，口千一百三十七，勝兵三百五十人。 輔國侯、都尉、譯長各一人，將二人。 東與郁立師、北與匈奴、西與劫國、南與車師接。
Rear Beilu was ruled from Fanqule valley, eight thousand seven hundred ten li from Chang'an. It counted four hundred sixty-two households, eleven hundred thirty-seven inhabitants, and three hundred fifty soldiers. It had an assistant marquis, a commandant, an interpreter chief, and two generals. It bordered Yulishi on the east, the Xiongnu on the north, Jie on the west, and Jushi on the south.
38
郁立師國，王治內咄谷，去長安八千八百三十里。 戶百九十，口千四百四十五，勝兵三百三十一人。 輔國侯、左右都尉、譯長各一人，東與車師後城長、西與卑陸、北與匈奴接。
Yulishi was governed from Neidui valley, eight thousand eight hundred thirty li from Chang'an. It had one hundred ninety households, fourteen hundred forty-five people, and three hundred thirty-one troops. Officers included an assistant marquis, left and right commandants, and an interpreter chief; on the east it bordered the commandant of Jushi's rear city, on the west Beilu, and on the north the Xiongnu.
39
單桓國，王治單桓城，去長安八千八百七十里。 戶二十七，口百九十四，勝兵四十五人。 輔國侯、將、左右都尉、譯長各一人。
Danhuan was ruled from Danhuan city, eight thousand eight hundred seventy li from Chang'an. It had twenty-seven households, one hundred ninety-four people, and forty-five soldiers. It listed an assistant marquis, a general, left and right commandants, and an interpreter chief.
40
蒲類國，王治天山西疏榆谷，去長安八千三百六十里。 戶三百二十五，口二千三十二，勝兵七百九十九人。 輔國侯、左右將、左右都尉各一人。 西南至都護治所千三百八十七里。
Pulei lay west of the Tianshan in Shuyu valley, eight thousand three hundred sixty li from Chang'an. It had three hundred twenty-five households, two thousand thirty-two inhabitants, and seven hundred ninety-nine warriors. It had an assistant marquis and paired generals and commandants. The Protector-General lay one thousand three hundred eighty-seven li to the southwest.
41
蒲類後國，王去長安八千六百三十國。 戶百，口千七十，勝兵三百三十四人，輔國侯、將、左右都尉、譯長各一人。
Rear Pulei: the king's seat lay eight thousand six hundred thirty li from Chang'an; the text mistakenly writes guo instead of li. It had a hundred households, ten hundred seventy people, three hundred thirty-four troops, and one each of assistant marquis, general, commandants, and interpreter chief.
42
西且彌國，王治天山東於大谷，去長安八千六百七十里。 戶三百三十二，口千九百二十六，勝兵七百三十八人。 西且彌侯、左右將、左右騎君各一人。 西南至都護治所千四百八十七里。
West Qiemo lay east of the Tianshan in Yudai valley, eight thousand six hundred seventy li from Chang'an. It counted three hundred thirty-two households, nineteen hundred twenty-six people, and seven hundred thirty-eight soldiers. Its titles included the West Qiemo marquis with paired generals and cavalry lords. The Protector-General stood one thousand four hundred eighty-seven li to the southwest.
43
東且彌國，王治天山東兌虛谷，去長安八千二百五十里。 戶百九十一，口千九百四十八，勝兵五百七十二人。 東且彌侯、左右都尉各一人。 西南至都護治所千五百八十七里。
East Qiemo was ruled from Duixu valley east of the Tianshan, eight thousand two hundred fifty li from Chang'an. It had one hundred ninety-one households, nineteen hundred forty-eight inhabitants, and five hundred seventy-two troops. It listed the East Qiemo marquis with left and right commandants. The Protector-General's headquarters lay one thousand five hundred eighty-seven li southwest.
44
劫國，王治天山東丹渠谷，去長安八千五百七十里。 戶九十九，口五百，勝兵百一十五人。 輔國侯、都尉、譯長各一人。 西南至都護治所千四百八十七里。
Jie lay east of the Tianshan in Danqu valley, eight thousand five hundred seventy li from Chang'an. It had ninety-nine households, five hundred people, and one hundred fifteen soldiers. It had an assistant marquis, a commandant, and an interpreter chief. One thousand four hundred eighty-seven li southwest stood the Protector-General.
45
狐胡國，王治車師柳谷，去長安八千二百里。 戶五十五，口二百六十四，勝兵四十五人。 輔國侯、左右都尉各一人。 西至都護治所千一百四十七里，至焉耆七百七十里。
Huhu was governed from Jushi's Liugu, eight thousand two hundred li from Chang'an. It counted fifty-five households, two hundred sixty-four inhabitants, and forty-five troops. It had an assistant marquis and paired commandants. Eleven hundred forty-seven li west lay the Protector-General; Yanqi was seven hundred seventy li away.
46
山國，王去長安七千一百七十里。 戶四百五十，口五千，勝兵千人。 輔國侯、左右將、左右都尉、譯長各一人。 西至尉犁二百四十里，西北至焉耆百六十里，西至危須二百六十里，東南與鄯善、且末接。 山出鐵，民出居，寄田糴谷於焉耆、危須。
The hill country of Shan lay seven thousand one hundred seventy li from the capital. It had four hundred fifty households, five thousand people, and a thousand soldiers. Officers included an assistant marquis, paired generals and commandants, and an interpreter chief. Two hundred forty li west was Weili, one hundred sixty li northwest was Yanqi, two hundred sixty li west was Weixu, and Shanshan and Qiemo lay to the southeast. Its hills yielded iron; the people lived abroad, leasing fields and buying grain in Yanqi and Weixu.
47
車師前國，王治交河城。 河水分流繞城下，故號交河。 去長安八千一百五十里。 戶七百，口六千五十，勝兵千八百六十五人。 輔國侯、安國侯、左右將、都尉、歸漢都尉、車師君、通善君、鄉善君各一人，譯長二人。 西南至都護治所千八百七里，至焉耆八百三十五里。
Front Jushi was ruled from Jiaohe. Two branches of a river meet beneath the walls, which gives Jiaohe its name, Confluence. The city stood eight thousand one hundred fifty li from Chang'an. It had seven hundred households, six thousand fifty inhabitants, and one thousand eight hundred sixty-five warriors. Its bureaucracy paired assistant and securing marquises, generals, commandants, a submit-to-Han commandant, lords of Jushi, of connecting goodness, and of inclining to goodness, plus two interpreter chiefs. Eighteen hundred seven li southwest stood the Protector-General; Yanqi was eight hundred thirty-five li off.
48
車師後國，王治務塗谷，去長安八千九百五十里。 戶五百九十五，口四千七百七十四，勝兵千八百九十人。 擊胡侯、左右將、左右都尉、道民君、譯長各一人。 西南至都護治所千二百三十七里。
Rear Jushi ruled from Wutu valley, eight thousand nine hundred fifty li from Chang'an. It counted five hundred ninety-five households, forty-seven hundred seventy-four people, and one thousand eight hundred ninety troops. Officers included a strike-Hu marquis, paired generals and commandants, a guide-the-people lord, and an interpreter chief. The Protector-General lay one thousand two hundred thirty-seven li to the southwest.
49
車師都尉國，戶四十，口三百三十三，勝兵八十四人。
The commandant's canton of Jushi had forty households, three hundred thirty-three people, and eighty-four troops.
50
車師後城長國，戶百五十四，口九百六十，勝兵二百六十人。
The rear-city chief's canton counted one hundred fifty-four households, nine hundred sixty inhabitants, and two hundred sixty soldiers.
51
武帝天漢二年，以匈奴降者介和王為開陵侯，將樓蘭國兵始擊車師，匈奴遣右賢王將數萬騎救之，漢兵不利，引去。 征和四年，遣重合侯馬通將四萬騎擊匈奴，道過車師北，復遣開陵侯將樓蘭、尉犁、危須凡六國兵別擊車師，勿令得遮重合侯。 諸國兵共圍車師，車師王降服，臣屬漢。
In the second year of Tianhan, Emperor Wu made the Xiongnu defector King Jiehe marquis of Kaifeng-ling and sent Loulan troops in the first strike on Jushi; the Right Worthy King rode to the rescue with tens of thousands of horse, Han faltered, and withdrew. In the fourth year of Zhenghe, Marquis Chonghe Ma Tong took forty thousand horse against the Xiongnu along a route north of Jushi, while Marquis Kaifeng-ling was sent with troops from six states including Loulan, Weili, and Weixu to hit Jushi and keep it from intercepting Chonghe. The allied hosts besieged Jushi until its king yielded and acknowledged Han.
52
昭帝時，匈奴復使四千騎田車師。 宣帝即位，遣五將將兵擊匈奴，車師田者驚去，車師復通於漢。 匈奴怒，召其太子軍宿，欲以為質。 軍宿，焉耆外孫，不欲質匈奴，亡走焉耆。 車師王更立子烏貴為太子。 及烏貴立為王，與匈奴結婚姻，教匈奴遮漢道通烏孫者。
Under Emperor Zhao the Xiongnu again sent four thousand riders to farm Jushi. Emperor Xuan's first campaign against the Xiongnu scattered the Jushi colonists, and Jushi reopened ties with Han. Enraged, the Xiongnu summoned crown prince Junxiu to hold him hostage. Junxiu, a grandson of Yanqi on his mother's side, refused to be a Xiongnu hostage and fled to Yanqi. The king of Jushi replaced him with his son Wugui as heir. Once Wugui ruled he married into the Xiongnu and showed them how to cut Han traffic to Wusun.
53
地節二年，漢遣侍郎鄭吉、校尉司馬喜將免刑罪人田渠犁，積穀，欲以攻車師。 至秋收谷，吉、喜發城郭諸國兵萬餘人，自與所將田士千五百人共擊車師，攻交河城，破之。 王尚在其北石城中，未得，會軍食盡，吉等且罷兵，歸渠犁田。 收秋畢，復發兵攻車師王於石城。 王聞漢兵且至，北走匈奴求救，匈奴未為發兵。 王來還，與貴人蘇猶議欲降漢，恐不見信。 蘇猶教王擊匈奴邊國小蒲類，斬首，略其人民，以降吉。 車師旁小金附國隨漢軍後盜車師，車師王復自請擊破金附。
In the second year of Dijie, Zheng Ji and Colonel Sima Xi led commuted convicts to farm Quli and pile grain for an attack on Jushi. After the autumn harvest they mustered over ten thousand oasis troops and, with their own fifteen hundred colonists, stormed Jushi, took Jiaohe, and broke the defenses. The king held out in his northern stone fort; supplies ran out, so Zheng Ji broke off the siege and brought the men back to farm at Quli. When the harvest was in they marched again on the king in the stone fort. The king fled north for Xiongnu aid, but none came. He returned and plotted with the noble Suyou to submit to Han, yet feared Han would not trust him. Suyou urged him to raid the Xiongnu vassal state of Lesser Pulei, take heads and captives, and offer them to Zheng Ji as proof of good faith. A petty state called Jinfu nipped at Han's rear and raided Jushi, so the king asked leave to crush Jinfu himself.
54
匈奴聞車師降漢，發兵攻車師，吉、喜引兵北逢之，匈奴不敢前。 吉、喜即留一候與卒二十人留守王，吉等引兵歸渠犁。 車師王恐匈奴兵復至而見殺也，乃輕騎奔烏孫，吉即迎其妻子置渠犁。 東奏事，至酒泉，有詔還田渠犁及車師，益積穀以安西國，侵匈奴。 吉還，傳送車師王妻子詣長安，賞賜甚厚，每朝會四夷，常尊顯以示之。 於是吉始使吏卒三百人別田車師。 得降者，言單于大臣皆曰：「車師地肥美，近匈奴，使漢得之，多田積穀，必害人國，不可不爭也。 」果遣騎來擊田者，吉乃與校尉盡將渠犁田士千五百人往田，匈奴復益遣騎來，漢田卒少不能當，保車師城中。 匈奴將即其城下謂吉曰：「單于必爭此地，不可田也。 」圍城數日乃解。 後常數千騎往來守車師，吉上書言：「車師去渠犁千餘里，間以河山，北近匈奴，漢兵在渠犁者勢不能相救，願益田卒。 」公卿議以為道遠煩費，可且罷車師田者。 詔遣長羅侯將張掖、酒泉騎出車師北千餘里，揚威武車師旁。 胡騎引去，吉乃得出，歸渠犁，凡三校尉屯田。
When the Xiongnu struck Jushi after its submission, Zheng Ji and Sima Xi marched north to meet them and the Xiongnu halted. They left one signal officer and twenty men with the king while the main body withdrew to Quli. Fearing the Xiongnu would kill him, the king bolted on light horse to Wusun; Zheng Ji brought his family to safety at Quli. He was eastbound to report when orders caught him at Jiuquan: resume farming at Quli and Jushi, pile grain to steady the west, and pressure the Xiongnu. Zheng Ji convoyed the royal family to Chang'an, where they were richly rewarded and paraded at audiences with the frontier peoples. Zheng Ji then posted three hundred clerks and troops to colonize Jushi. A turncoat reported the chanyu's council saying, 'Jushi is rich pasture hard by us; if Han farms and stores grain there, our realm suffers—we must fight for it.' They sent horse against the colonists, so Zheng Ji and the colonel marched every Quli farmer—fifteen hundred men—into Jushi; the Xiongnu poured in more riders, and the outnumbered Han shut themselves in the city. A Xiongnu general rode under the walls and told Zheng Ji, 'The chanyu claims this soil—no plowing for you.' They besieged the town for days, then lifted the siege. Thousands of Xiongnu horse then ringed Jushi; Zheng Ji wrote that the city lay a thousand li from Quli across rough terrain under Xiongnu guns, so the Quli garrison could not relieve it and begged for more colonists. The high ministers judged the route too costly and voted to suspend the Jushi colony. An edict sent Marquis Changluo with Zhangye and Jiuquan cavalry a thousand li north of Jushi to overawe the nomads. The Hu horse withdrew and Zheng Ji escaped back to Quli, where three colonels resumed the farms.
55
車師王之走烏孫也，烏孫留不遣，遣使上書，願留車師王，備國有急，可從西道以擊匈奴。 漢許之。 於是漢召故車師太子軍宿在焉耆者，立以為王，盡徙車師國民令居渠犁，遂以車師故地與匈奴。 車師王得近漢田官，與匈奴絕，亦安樂親漢。 後漢使侍郎殷廣德責烏孫，求車師王烏貴，將詣闕，賜第與其妻子居。 是歲，元康四年也。 其後置戍己校尉屯田，居車師故地。
When the king of Jushi fled to Wusun, that kingdom held him and memorialized to keep him as a hostage who, in a crisis, could strike the Xiongnu from the west. Han agreed. Han then called forward the old crown prince Junxiu from Yanqi, set him on the throne, moved the whole nation of Jushi to Quli, and ceded old Jushi to the Xiongnu. The new king lived beside Han's farm officers, cut off from the Xiongnu, and settled happily under Han influence. Later Han sent Gentleman Yin Guangde to rebuke Wusun and demand King Wugui, who was brought to the capital, given a house, and lodged with his family. The year was the fourth of Yuankang. Later Wu and Ji colonels were posted to farm the old territory of Jushi.
56
元始中，車師後王國有新道，出五船北，通玉門關，往來差近，戊己校尉徐普欲開以省道裡半，避白龍堆之厄。 車師後王姑句以道當為拄置，心不便也。 地又頗與匈奴南將軍地接，曾欲分明其界然後奏之，召姑句使證之，不肯，系之。 姑句數以牛羊賕吏，求出不得。 姑句家矛端生火，其妻股紫陬謂姑句曰：「矛端生火，此兵氣也，利以用兵。 前車師前王為都護司馬所殺，今久系必死，不如降匈奴。 」即馳突出高昌壁，入匈奴。
Under Yuanshi the rear kingdom of Jushi opened a new track north of Wuchuan to the Jade Gate, shortening the journey and skirting the White Dragon Desert; Colonel Xu Pu of Wu and Ji wished to formalize it. Rear king Guju saw the route as a choke point that would harm his interests. His territory marched with the Xiongnu south general's zone; the colonel meant to fix the line and summoned Guju to testify, but he refused and was jailed. Guju tried to buy his freedom with livestock but failed. A flame danced on his spearhead at home; his wife Zizhou said, 'Fire on a spear is the sign of war—time to fight. The front king of Jushi died at a Protector-General's major's hand; if you stay chained you die—better to flee to the Xiongnu.' He broke out of Gaochang fort and rode to the Xiongnu.
57
又去胡來王唐兜，國比大種赤水羌，數相冠，不勝，告急都護。 都護但欽不以時救助，唐兜困急，怨欽，東守玉門關。 玉門關不內，即將妻子人民千餘人亡降匈奴。 匈奴受之，而遣使上書言狀。 是時，新都侯王莽秉政，遣中郎將王昌等使匈奴，告單于西域內屬，不當得受。 單于謝屬。 執二王以付使者。 莽使中郎王萌待西域惡都奴界上逢受。 單于遣使送，因請其罪。 使者以聞，莽不聽，詔下會西域諸國王，陳軍斬姑句、唐兜以示之。
King Tangdou of Hulai, whose realm bordered the great Chishui Qiang, had clashed repeatedly, lost, and begged the Protector-General for aid. Dan Qin failed to help in time; Tangdou, desperate, blamed Qin and blocked the Jade Gate from within. When the pass refused him entry, he led over a thousand followers with families and defected to the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu took them in and reported the matter to the court. While Wang Mang held power he sent Wang Chang and others to tell the chanyu that the Western Regions belonged to Han and must not shelter the fugitives. The chanyu apologized and handed them over. He seized both kings and delivered them to Han envoys. Wang Mang told Gentleman Wang Meng to meet the party on the frontier at Wudunu. The chanyu sent escorts and asked forgiveness for his part. The envoys reported; Mang ignored the plea, summoned the kings of the west, and executed Guju and Tangdou before the host as a lesson.
58
至莽篡位，建國二年，以廣新公甄豐為右伯，當出西域。 車師後王須置離聞之，與其右將股鞮、左將屍泥支謀曰：「聞甄公為西域太伯，當出，故事給使者牛、羊、谷、芻茭，導譯，前五威將過，所給使尚未能備。 今太伯復出，國益貧，恐不能稱。 」欲亡入匈奴。 戊己校尉刀護聞之，召置離驗問，辭服，乃械致都護但欽在所埒婁城。 置離人民知其不還，皆哭而送之。 至，欽則斬置離。 置離兄輔國侯狐蘭支將置離眾二千餘人，驅畜產，舉國亡降匈奴。
When Mang seized the throne, in the second year of Jian'guo he named Zhen Feng of Guangxin Right Overlord for a mission west. Rear king Xuzhili of Jushi heard the news and conspired with his generals Yindi and Shinizhi: 'They say Zhen Feng will be supreme steward of the west; by custom we owe envoys oxen, sheep, grain, fodder, and guides, yet the last Five Might mission bled us dry. If this great steward comes again our poor kingdom cannot possibly meet the levy.' They planned to bolt to the Xiongnu. Colonel Dao Hu heard, questioned Xuzhili until he confessed, shackled him, and sent him to Dan Qin at Leilou. His people knew he would not return and wept him on his way. Dan Qin executed him on arrival. His brother Hulanzhi, assistant marquis, led over two thousand followers with herds and abandoned the kingdom for the Xiongnu.
59
是時，莽易單于璽，單于恨怒，遂受狐蘭支降，遣兵與共冠擊車師，殺後城長，傷都護司馬，及狐蘭兵復還入匈奴。 時戊己校尉刀護病，遣史陳良屯桓且谷備匈奴寇。 史終帶取糧食，司馬丞韓玄領諸壁，右曲候任商領諸壘，相與謀曰：「西域諸國頗背叛，匈奴欲大侵。 要死。 可殺校尉，將人眾降匈奴。 」即將數千騎至校尉府，脅諸亭令燔積薪，分告諸壁曰：「匈奴十萬騎來人，吏士皆持兵，後者斬！ 」得三四百人，去校尉府數里止，晨火然。 校尉開門擊鼓收吏士，良等隨人，遂殺校尉刀護及子男四人、諸昆弟子男，獨遺婦女小兒。 止留戊己校尉城，遣人與匈奴南將軍相聞，南將軍以二千騎迎良等。 良等盡脅略戊己校尉吏士男女二千餘人入匈奴。 單於以良、帶為烏賁都尉。
Mang had just humiliated the chanyu with a new seal; furious, he welcomed Hulanzhi, sent horse with him to raid Jushi, killed the rear-city chief, wounded the Protector-General's major, then pulled back into the steppe. Colonel Dao Hu fell ill and sent clerk Chen Liang to hold Huanqie valley against Xiongnu raids. Zhong Dai for supplies, Han Xuan held the walls, Ren Shang the redoubts; they schemed, 'The west is rising in revolt and the Xiongnu mean a major strike. We are dead men either way. Kill the colonel and lead everyone to the Xiongnu.' They rode thousands strong to the colonel's yamen, forced beacons to burn their fuel piles, and cried along the walls, 'A hundred thousand Xiongnu are coming—arm every man; stragglers die!' They gathered three or four hundred followers, halted a few li off, and at dawn lit great fires. The colonel opened gates and beat assembly; Chen Liang's men slipped in, slew Dao Hu and four sons and other male kin, sparing only women and children. They held the Wu-Ji colonel's citadel, messaged the Xiongnu south general, who met them with two thousand horse. They drove over two thousand colonel's men, women, and children into the Xiongnu. The chanyu named them commandants of Wuben.
60
後三歲，單于死，弟烏累單于鹹立，復與莽和親。 莽遣使者多繼金幣賂單于，購求陳良、終帶等。 單于盡收四人及手殺刀護者芝音妻子以下二十七人，皆械檻車付使者。 到長安，莽皆燒殺之。 其後莽復欺詐單于，和親遂絕。 匈奴大擊北邊，而西域瓦解。 焉耆國近匈奴，先叛，殺都護但欽，莽不能討。
Three years later the chanyu died; his brother Xian, the Wulie chanyu, renewed peace with Mang. Mang sent envoys laden with gold and silk to buy back Chen Liang, Zhong Dai, and their confederates. The chanyu rounded up the four ringleaders, twenty-seven more including Zhiyin who had slain Dao Hu, and sent them in caged carts. At Chang'an Mang burned them all alive. Mang's further deceit ended the marriage alliance. The Xiongnu hammered the northern frontier and the Western Regions fell apart. Yanqi, close to the Xiongnu, revolted first, slew Protector-General Dan Qin, and Mang could not avenge him.
61
天鳳三年，乃遣五威將王駿、西域都護李崇將戊己校尉出西域，諸國皆郊迎，送兵谷，焉耆詐降而聚兵自備。 駿等將莎車、龜慈兵七千餘人，分為數部入焉耆，焉耆伏兵要遮駿。 及姑墨、尉犁、危須國兵為反間，還共襲擊駿等，皆殺之。 唯戊己校尉郭欽別將兵，後至焉耆。 焉耆兵未還，欽擊殺其老弱，引兵還。 莽封欽為剼鬍子。 李崇收余士，還保龜茲。 數年莽死，崇遂沒，西域因絕。
In the third year of Tianfeng, Wang Jun and Protector-General Li Chong led the Wu-Ji colonel west; states met them in the suburbs with grain and escorts, while Yanqi feigned submission and secretly armed. Wang Jun took over seven thousand troops from Khotan and Kucha in several columns into Yanqi, where ambushes waited. Gumo, Weili, and Weixu troops turned coat and joined Yanqi in wiping out Wang Jun's force. Only Colonel Guo Qin came late with a separate column. Before Yanqi's army returned, Guo Qin cut down their noncombatants and withdrew. Mang ennobled him as marquis of the shaved beard. Li Chong rallied survivors and held Kucha. Within a few years Mang died, Li Chong fell, and the Western Regions were severed from Han.
62
最凡國五十。 自譯長、城長、君、監、吏、大祿、百工、千長、都尉、且渠、當戶、將、相至侯、王，皆佩漢印綬，凡三百七十六人。 而康居、大月氏、安息、罽賓、烏弋之屬，皆以絕遠不在數中，其來貢獻則相與報，不督錄總領也。
In all there were fifty states. From interpreter chiefs up through kings, three hundred seventy-six western officers wore Han seals and ribbons. Kangju, the Yuezhi, Parthia, Jibin, and the Indian states lay too far off to be tallied here; when they sent tribute Han answered in kind without listing or commanding them.
63
贊曰：孝武之世，圖制匈奴，患者兼從西國，結黨南羌，乃表河西，列四郡，開玉門，通四域，以斷匈奴右臂，隔絕南羌、月氏。 單于失援，由是遠遁，而幕南無王庭。
The summation runs: Under Emperor Wu, scheming to master the Xiongnu, Han bound the afflicted western states and allied with the southern Qiang, marked out the Hexi, set four commanderies, opened the Jade Gate, and reached the four quarters to cut the Xiongnu right arm and wall off the southern Qiang and Yuezhi. The chanyu lost his allies, fled deep into the steppe, and left no court south of the desert.
64
遭值文、景玄默，養民五世，天下殷富，財力有餘，士馬強盛。 故能睹犀布、玳瑁則建珠崖七郡，感枸醬、竹杖則開牂柯、越巂，聞天馬、蒲陶則通大宛、安息。 自是之後，明珠、文甲、通犀、翠羽之珍盈於後宮，薄梢、龍文、魚目、汗血之馬充於黃門，巨像、師子、猛犬、大雀之群食於外囿。 殊方異物，四面而至。 於是廣開上林，穿昆明池，營千門萬戶之宮，立神明通天之台，興造甲乙之帳，落以隨珠和璧，天子負黼依，襲翠被，馮玉幾，而處其中。 設酒池肉林以饗四夷之客，作《巴俞》都盧、海中《碭極》、漫衍魚龍、角抵之戲以觀視之。 及賂遺贈送，萬里相奉，師旅之費，不可勝計。 至於用度不足，乃榷酒酤，管鹽鐵，鑄白金，造皮幣，算至車船，租及六畜。 民力屈，財力竭，因之以凶年，寇盜並起，道路不通，直指之使始出，衣繡杖斧，斷斬於郡國，然後勝之。 是以末年遂棄輪台之地，而下哀痛之詔，豈非仁聖之所悔哉！ 且通西域，近有龍堆，遠則蔥嶺，身熱、頭痛、縣度之厄。 淮南、杜欽、揚雄之論，皆以為此天地所以界別區域，絕外內也。 《書》曰「西戎即序」，禹即就而序之，非上威服致其貢物也。
Heaven had enjoyed Wen and Jing's quiet rule for five generations, leaving the realm wealthy, the treasury full, and the army strong. Thus rhino hide and tortoise shell prompted the seven Zhuya commanderies; the famed sauce of Zangke and its bamboo staffs opened Zangke and Yuexi; tales of blood-sweat horses and grapes opened Ferghana and Parthia. Thence pearls, tortoiseshell, rhino horn, and kingfisher feathers crowded the harem; fine horses filled the imperial stables; elephants, lions, mastiffs, and ostriches grazed the outer parks. Curios from every quarter streamed to the throne. Then came the great expansion of the Shanglin Park, the cutting of Kunming Pool, palaces of a thousand gates, towers that seemed to touch the gods, paired canopies hung with legendary pearls and jade, and the Son of Heaven robed in embroidered screen and kingfisher quilt, resting on a jade armrest at the center of it all. Wine lakes and forests of meat entertained envoys from every quarter, while Ba and Yu acrobats, pole acts, Dangji sea music, roaming beast masques, and wrestling filled the eye. Bribes and counter-gifts crossed ten thousand li, and the cost of armies defied reckoning. When revenue failed, the state monopolized wine, took over salt and iron, minted token silver, issued leather notes, taxed carts and boats, and even levied rent on the six kinds of livestock. The people were broken and the treasury drained; famine followed, banditry closed the roads, and only when axe-bearing commissioners in embroidered robes toured the provinces to judge and execute did order return. Hence at the close of the reign Luntai was abandoned and the sorrowful edict went forth—surely the very sort of regret a humane sage must feel. Moreover the road west runs soon upon the White Dragon Mound, then far beyond to the Pamirs, with the fevers, the giddy heights, and the rope-bridge gorges in between. Writers from the Huainan circle to Du Qin and Yang Xiong have argued that these wastes are Heaven's way of marking off the world and dividing inner from outer lands. The Classic of Documents says the western Rong 'were brought to order'—Yu arranged them by settlement, not by terrorizing them into tribute.
65
西域諸國，各有君長，兵眾分弱，無所統一，雖屬匈奴，不相親附。 匈奴能得其馬畜旃罽，而不能統率與之進退。 與漢隔絕，道裡又遠，得之不為益，棄之不為損。 盛德在我，無取於彼。 故自建武以來，西域思漢威德，鹹樂內屬。 唯其小邑鄯善、車師，界迫匈奴，尚為所拘。 而其大國莎車、于闐之屬，數遣使置質於漢，願請屬都護。 聖上遠覽古今，因時之宜，羈縻不絕，辭而未許。 雖大禹之序西戎，周公之讓白雉，太宗之卻走馬，義兼之矣，亦何以尚茲！
The oasis kingdoms each have their own lords; their forces are scattered and feeble, with no single hegemon, and though they acknowledge the Xiongnu they do not truly cleave to them. The Xiongnu may take their horses, herds, and felts, yet cannot march them as one obedient host. They lie cut off from Han by immense distance; to win them adds little, to leave them costs little. Our own virtue is abundance enough; we need nothing from them. Since the Jianwu era the western states have yearned for Han's majesty and grace, and one and all wish to enter the register as inner subjects. Only the petty states of Shanshan and Jushi, squeezed against the Xiongnu frontier, remain under duress. The greater powers such as Yarkand and Khotan have sent envoys again and again, left hostages at court, and begged to be placed under the Protector-General. The sage emperor weighs past and present, fits policy to the hour, keeps the loose rein unbroken, yet has courteously declined—for the moment. Here is the righteousness that informed Yu's ordering of the western tribes, the Duke of Zhou's modest refusal of the white pheasant, and Emperor Taizong's return of the horses—combined in one policy; what could rank above it!