The Fourth Qiang Rebellion
In the second year of the Yanxi era, the Liang family, a powerful external family faction, was completely eradicated. The same year, the third Qiang Rebellion broke out with a forceful roar. The Qiang tribes, including the tribes of Shaodang, Shaohe, Dangjian, and Lejie, launched a fierce attack on the Jincheng Fort in Longxi.
For this rebellion, the imperial court finally shifted its approach. It was no longer officials from the east, but local forces from Liangzhou, such as the Liangzhou Sanming, who were given the opportunity to rise to prominence. Among them, one of the most notable was the experienced military leader, Huangfu Gui.
Huangfu Gui had been ostracized by the imperial bureaucracy after exposing the unspoken rules of the official world. For over a decade, he had lived in quiet obscurity, only to later be called back into action. A detailed account of the third Han-Qiang War, and the tragic defeat of the 100,000-strong Han army, can be found in this article.
This time, however, it was Zhang Huan’s turn to take center stage.
Zhang Huan, styled Ranming, was from Dunhuang, Liangzhou. As a young man, he traveled widely, studying under the renowned Grand Tutor, Zhu Chong. He later entered the service of the Great General Liang Ji, eventually being recruited into the government. Being from Liangzhou, Zhang Huan was given the opportunity to return to his homeland to suppress the Qiang rebellion. This marked the beginning of his journey as a true representative of the local elite.
Although Zhang Huan was known for his military prowess, his cultural achievements were equally impressive. He topped the imperial examination and was promoted to Yilang (an official rank for those who passed the imperial examination).
In the first year of Yongshou (155 CE), Zhang Huan was reassigned to serve as the Shuguo Douwai in Anding Commandery. The political situation in Anding was complex, with two major forces—the eastern Qiang from Liangzhou and the southern Xiongnu from Bingzhou—vying for dominance.
Not long after Zhang Huan assumed his position, a rebellion broke out in the southern Xiongnu. Led by figures like Zuo Yan Jian and Qie Qu Bode, the southern Xiongnu launched an insurrection, attacking the city of Meiji, where the Xiongnu's leader, Shizhu Bu Dan, was stationed. The eastern Qiang also responded, sending troops to attack Zhang Huan's camp.
Upon hearing the news of the approaching rebellion, Zhang Huan quickly gathered his forces. However, his subordinates, seeing their small numbers—only about 200 men—feared they would be overwhelmed and pleaded with him to withdraw.
Zhang Huan remained calm and collected, understanding that the Qiang were merely trying to seize the opportunity for personal gain. He knew that offering them benefits would calm their rebellion. At the same time, he sent out emissaries, including Wang Wei, to negotiate with the eastern Qiang. His efforts bore fruit, as many local tribal leaders came forward to pledge loyalty to him.
With the support of the Qiang, Zhang Huan led a combined Han-Qiang army to successfully defeat the rebellion, crushing the forces of Qie Qu Bode. The leader of the rebellion, Qie Qu Bode, surrendered in fear, and the large-scale rebellion was swiftly suppressed.
In analyzing Zhang Huan’s approach to warfare, his tactics can be summarized in eight words: \"Punish and pacify simultaneously, with a preference for pacification.\" Among the Liangzhou Sanming, Zhang Huan and Huangfu Gui shared the most similar approach. The third member of this trio, however, was far less accommodating.
Following the suppression of the rebellion, the Qiang tribal leaders presented Zhang Huan with tribute: twenty warhorses and eight gold earrings as a token of gratitude. After years of living alongside Han people, the Qiang had adopted some of their customs, and they felt compelled to show their respect for their leader in return.
Zhang Huan, however, rejected their gifts. He pledged that, even if the horses were as common as sheep and the gold as plentiful as millet, he would never accept such tributes. “You can take them back,” he insisted, assuring them that he was not corrupt.
The Qiang were deeply moved. They had fought many bloody battles, but they had never met a leader as selfless and honorable as Zhang Huan. In contrast, the officials from the east had always exploited them, leading them to rebel time and time again.
As a result of his outstanding performance in quelling the rebellion, in the first year of Yanxi (158 CE), the imperial court appointed Zhang Huan as the Middle General of the Xiongnu, and he was sent to the Southern Xiongnu's territory to deal with their affairs.
He arrived just in time.
That same year, the southern Xiongnu, under the leadership of Xiu Tuge, launched another rebellion against the Han, attacking the nine frontier counties, including the burning of the military headquarters in Manbai.
The morale of the Han forces plummeted. Soldiers were terrified and considered fleeing.
Zhang Huan, however, remained unfazed. Sitting in his tent, he calmly discussed Confucian classics with his disciples, completely indifferent to the chaos outside. His composure inspired his troops to regain their courage.
In ancient military history, one often reads about instances where soldiers panic during a night alarm and scatter, but remaining calm during times of crisis is a key trait of a great general.
Zhang Huan continued his strategy of combining punishment with pacification, first negotiating with the pro-Han U-huan people and later focusing his forces on the southern Xiongnu. He defeated Xiu Tuge’s forces, and the remaining rebels surrendered.
What had originally been a three-way conflict—between the Han, the southern Xiongnu, and the U-huan—became a joint effort between the Han, the southern Xiongnu, and the U-huan to defeat the Xianbei. The Xianbei stood no chance against the combined forces and soon withdrew beyond the Great Wall. Zhang Huan’s double victories firmly cemented his reputation as one of the Eastern Han’s greatest generals.
But let’s not forget who recommended Zhang Huan for the role: Liang Ji.
To be fair, Liang Ji was a highly skilled administrator and had a sharp eye for talent. One must often evaluate historical figures objectively.
After Emperor Huan executed Liang Ji, Zhang Huan, having served under him in the Great General’s office, was also dismissed from his position and placed under house arrest.
It was at this time that the fourth Qiang Rebellion erupted with full force.
Fortunately, Emperor Huan, having regained control, was able to realize that the previous policy of suppressing the local aristocracy had failed. He appointed Duan Jiao, a man from Wuwei, to the position of Protector of the Qiang, a crucial local post that had previously been occupied by outsiders. The local people were finally given the chance to have one of their own in power.
And so, the Liangzhou Sanming saw the rise of Duan Jiao, the most bloodthirsty of them all.
Duan Jiao, styled Jiming, was from Guchang in Wuwei, part of a long line of military families. He had grown up with a strong sense of adventure, excelling in archery and horsemanship. After maturing, he abandoned his earlier life of roaming and instead immersed himself in scholarly pursuits.
The general quality of the officials and generals of the Eastern Han was exceptionally high, with most being well-versed in both martial and literary skills. If one compares the generals of the Eastern Han to those of other periods, they stand out as some of the most well-rounded military leaders.
Duan Jiao first gained fame when he served as the Douwai in Liaodong, where he made a name for himself, though not for the right reasons. He had once forged an imperial decree.
When the Xianbei invaded the border, Duan Jiao hurried to the frontlines. Fearing that the Xianbei might escape, he secretly sent a false order through a messenger, ordering his forces to retreat, only to lay an ambush for the Xianbei.
The Xianbei, unaware of the trap, fell for Duan Jiao's ruse and were defeated in a surprise attack. The captured Xianbei were all executed without mercy. This incident revealed Duan Jiao’s ruthless and cunning style of leadership.
Later, Duan Jiao was punished for forging an imperial decree and was recalled to the capital, where he was appointed as Yilang.
A few years later, when a rebellion broke out in Taishan and Langya, Duan Jiao was again dispatched to quell it. Despite the rebellion being widespread, Duan Jiao's decisive action broke the back of the insurgents and led to the capture of their leaders, Dong Guo Dou and Gong Sun Ju.
In the second year of Yongshou (156 CE), Emperor Huan decreed that a general of both literary and martial merit be selected to handle the rebellion, and Duan Jiao was chosen. With his decisive action, he crushed the uprising, slaying thousands of rebels and securing his place in history.
By the second year of Yanxi, Duan Jiao was promoted to Protector of the Qiang, leading an army of 12,000 cavalry from the Yizong Qiang to suppress the rebellion.
The Yizong Qiang
