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Wu Han
Han restoration general who brought the Yuyang cavalry over to Liu Xiu, served as his grand marshal for twenty years and destroyed Gongsun Shu at Chengdu in 36
At dusk on a hilltop, a large tent stands open with a table holding a map marked with small stones inside, a saddled horse tethered outside, and fire stands burning; campfires dot the river plain below, and one tiny sentry stands on the slope.
Also known as Zi Ziyan · Guang Pinghou
- Roles
- Commanders
Wu Han, courtesy name Ziyan, came from Wan in Nanyang; born poor, he served as a village constable, then fled to Yuyang when a follower broke the law and lived by trading horses in the north. After Wang Lang proclaimed himself emperor at Handan, Wu persuaded the Yuyang governor Peng Chong to back Liu Xiu, forged a proclamation in Liu's name and led the Yuyang horsemen south, killing Wang Lang's commanders until he joined Liu at Guang'e. When Liu Xiu took the throne in 25 he made Wu grand marshal, and Wu spent the next decade putting down rival forces. In 36 he took Chengdu and destroyed Gongsun Shu, but let his troops plunder the city and was rebuked. The History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu) says that when battles went badly he calmly saw to his weapons, so that the emperor called him worth a whole enemy state. He died in 44 and was later ranked second among the Cloud Terrace generals.
Life and times
Dates Birth unknown–44 CE