Campaigners › Commanders

Huo Qubing

Western Han cavalry general, nephew of Wei Qing, who took the Hexi corridor from the Xiongnu in 121 BC and drove deep into Mongolia in 119 BC before dying in his twenties

Also known as Guan Junhou

Huo Qubing was a nephew of the general Wei Qing. In 123 BC he rode out with Wei Qing as a commandant and, leading eight hundred light horsemen far ahead of the main army, killed or captured over two thousand of the enemy, for which he was made Marquis Guanjun. Appointed general of swift cavalry in 121 BC, he led two spring and summer campaigns past the Yanzhi and Qilian mountains, and that autumn received the surrender of the Hunye king, bringing the Hexi corridor under Han. In 119 BC he and Wei Qing each led fifty thousand horsemen north; he marched over two thousand li, defeated the Worthy King of the Left, and sacrificed on Mount Langjuxu, and on his return both men were made grand marshal. When Emperor Wu offered to build him a mansion, he replied that while the Xiongnu remained undefeated he had no use for a home. He died in 117 BC, and the emperor had his tomb shaped like the Qilian Mountains.

Life and times

  1. 140 BCEBornHan
  2. 129 BCEXiongnu CampaignsTook partage 11The thunder northern campaigns that turned Han from strategic defense to strategic offense.
  3. 123 BCEHuo Qubing First Expedition with Weiage 17The Book of Han counts two expeditions under Wei Qing; this record preserves the first deployment as a distinct canonical count.
  4. 123 BCEHuo Qubing's Eight-Hundred-Rider Raidage 17Huo Qubing led eight hundred light cavalry hundreds of li beyond the main army, taking over two thousand enemy casualties and captives.
  5. 121 BCEHuo Qubing's Spring Hexi Offensiveage 19Huo Qubing rode from Longxi through six days of combat, crossed beyond Yanzhi Mountain, and defeated Xiongnu forces below Gaolan.
  6. 121 BCEHuo Qubing's Summer Qilian Offensiveage 19In the summer offensive, Huo Qubing crossed Juyan and drove into the Qilian region, taking more than thirty thousand casualties and captives.
  7. 121 BCEHuo Qubing Receives the Hunye Surrenderage 19Huo Qubing crossed the river to secure the Hunye king's surrender, suppressed wavering factions, and escorted tens of thousands into Han territory.
  8. 119 BCEHuo Qubing Reaches Mount Langjuxuage 21Huo Qubing led fifty thousand cavalry beyond the desert against the Xiongnu left wing, performed rites at Langjuxu and Guyan, and reached the northern sea.
  9. 117 BCEDied

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Huo GuangYounger half-brother
    Huo Qubing
  2. Other kin2
    1. Wei QingMaternal uncle · Birth unknown–106…
    2. Wei ZifuMaternal aunt · Birth unknown–91 …

Connections

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