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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
Mural of the event “Xiongnu Campaigns”, which this person took part in.
After the Wen-Jing recovery, Han fiscal strength and cavalry reserves had grown, yet Xiongnu raids continued along the northern frontier. Emperor Wu shifted from defensive heqin diplomacy to sustained expeditions led chiefly by Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.
Also known as Guan Junhou
- Roles
- Commanders
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
Dates 140 BCE–117 BCE
- 129 BCEXiongnu CampaignsTook partage 11
- 123 BCEHuo Qubing First Expedition with Weiage 17
- 123 BCEHuo Qubing's Eight-Hundred-Rider Raidage 17
- 121 BCEHuo Qubing's Spring Hexi Offensiveage 19
- 121 BCEHuo Qubing's Summer Qilian Offensiveage 19
- 121 BCEHuo Qubing Receives the Hunye Surrenderage 19
- 119 BCEHuo Qubing Reaches Mount Langjuxuage 21