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Wei Qing

Brother of Empress Wei Zifu who rose from horseman in Princess Pingyang's household to grand general and led seven campaigns against the Xiongnu

Also known as Zi Zhongqing · Zhang Pinghou

Wei Qing, courtesy name Zhongqing, came from Pingyang in Hedong; his father Zheng Ji fathered him with a maid in the Marquis of Pingyang's household, and as a youth he was a horseman for Princess Pingyang. When his sister Wei Zifu won Emperor Wu's favour in 139 BCE, he too entered imperial service. In 129 BCE he struck from Shanggu as far as Longcheng; in 127 BCE he recovered the lands south of the Yellow River bend, where the Shuofang commandery was set up, and was made Marquis of Changping. After a night attack on the Xiongnu Worthy King of the Right in 124 BCE he was named grand general in the field. In 119 BCE he and Huo Qubing each led fifty thousand horsemen north, and he drove the Chanyu back to Zhaoxin fort. The Shiji counts seven campaigns and over fifty thousand enemy killed or taken. He married Princess Pingyang, died in 106 BCE and was named Lie; his tomb was shaped like Mount Lu.

Life and times

  1. UnknownBornHan
  2. 129 BCEXiongnu CampaignsTook partThe thunder northern campaigns that turned Han from strategic defense to strategic offense.
  3. 129 BCEWei Qing Strikes Longcheng from ShangguOn his first independent command, Wei Qing rode from Shanggu to strike the Xiongnu center at Longcheng.
  4. 128 BCEWei Qing's Yanmen ExpeditionWei Qing led thirty thousand cavalry through Yanmen and struck Xiongnu forces beyond the frontier.
  5. 127 BCEWei Qing Recovers the OrdosWei Qing drove out the White Sheep and Loufan kings, recovered the Ordos Loop, and enabled the founding of Shuofang Commandery.
  6. 124 BCEWei Qing Encircles Right Worthy KingAdvancing through Gaoque, Wei Qing surrounded the Right Worthy King's camp at night and captured a large host.
  7. 123 BCEWei Qing's First Dingxiang OffensiveWei Qing led six subordinate generals from Dingxiang and inflicted several thousand casualties in the spring offensive.
  8. 123 BCEWei Qing's Second Dingxiang OffensiveA little over a month later, Wei Qing again crossed from Dingxiang and inflicted more than ten thousand casualties.
  9. 123 BCEHuo Qubing First Expedition with WeiThe Book of Han counts two expeditions under Wei Qing; this record preserves the first deployment as a distinct canonical count.
  10. 119 BCEWei Qing Battles Chanyu at MobeiBeyond the desert, Wei Qing formed a wagon defense and enveloped the Chanyu's main army, forcing the ruler to flee at night.
  11. 106 BCEDied

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Wei ZifuElder sister
    Wei Qing
  2. Other kin1
    1. Huo QubingSister's son · 140 BCE–117 BCE

Connections

  1. Rulers and officials1
    1. Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che)Sovereign · 156 BCE–87 BCE