Huo Qubing

Two campaigns in Hexi and the sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu; died young at twenty-four.

Life

The Young Marquis Guanjun

Huo Qubing was Wei Qing's nephew. At eighteen he campaigned with Wei Qing, leading 800 light cavalry deep behind enemy lines and killing or capturing far more than his own numbers, and was made Marquis Guanjun. When Emperor Wu of Han offered to teach him the military classics of Sunzi and Wu Qi, he replied, "What matters is the strategy itself; there is no need to study the old art of war."

Hexi Campaign

In 121 BCE he struck at Hexi twice: the first time he fought for six days and pushed more than 1,000 li past Mount Yanzhi; the second time he drove deep into the Qilian Mountains, forcing King Hunye to surrender to Han with more than 40,000 people, which opened the Hexi Corridor to the Han. At the Battle of Mobei in 119 BCE he advanced north more than 2,000 li, crushed the Worthy Prince of the Left and performed a sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu before returning.

Sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu

When Emperor Wu wanted to build him a mansion, he replied, "The Xiongnu are not yet destroyed; I have no use for a home." He died of illness in 117 BCE, aged only twenty-four, and Emperor Wu built his tomb in the shape of the Qilian Mountains to honor his achievements in Hexi.

Legacy

Huo Qubing was famed for long-range raids deep behind enemy lines, and the "Sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu" became the highest symbol of martial achievement for later generals. The "Horse Trampling a Xiongnu" stone sculpture before his tomb is one of the earliest surviving large-scale monumental stone carvings.

Major works & achievements

• Two Hexi campaigns opened the Hexi Corridor
• Sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu after the Battle of Mobei

Did you know? He was only 24 when he died, making him one of the youngest famed generals in Chinese history.

Key dates

• 123 BCECampaigned with Wei Qing; made Marquis Guanjun
• 121 BCETwo campaigns in Hexi; King Hunye surrenders to Han
• 119 BCEBattle of Mobei; sacrifice at Mount Langjuxu
• 117 BCEDied of illness at twenty-four