And ahead lies a journey to fairy-tale lands...
The question of the second embassy to the West, now concerning the Usuns, has been resolved. At its head is Zhang Qian. Sima Qian writes: “The Son of Heaven appointed him as the Xiongnu magistrate, with 300 soldiers each having two horses and up to 10,000 heads of cattle and sheep... and subordinated to him many assistants with banners — to send them as envoys to various territories along the route.” Liu Shu also participated in the expedition — Zhang Qian had summoned him to the capital in advance. The face of the former elder now expressed the liveliest joy. He did not part with the personal banner of his friend and lord, shouting at the servants to maintain order. The imperial treasury issued him a salary. And ahead lies a journey to fairy-tale lands...
The chief court astrologer Sima Qian, after long observations of the stars, said: the campaign will be extraordinarily successful, Zhang Qian will achieve full success in all his endeavors. This further inspired those departing. Sima Qian was a respected man, with encyclopedic knowledge. It seems there was no field of science, literature, or human relations where he was not a major authority.
In addition to his main occupation — astrology — Sima Qian wrote historical works. Thanks to his grand work — "Historical Records" — we know much of what would have otherwise been lost to time.
It was he, the great historian Sima Qian, the founder of Chinese historiography, who first told of the exploits of Zhang Qian.
The embassy moved along the same route that Zhang Qian had taken many years ago. But now there was no need to fear the Xiongnu — they had retreated far to the north. From the Great Wall to Lobnor, military posts were established along the route. At each such station were warehouses with food and fodder for livestock.
Naturally, the path from Lobnor to Tian Shan proved more difficult. But even here, everything ended successfully. In the Tarim Basin, there were many cities, as the Great Embassy traveled not with a sword, but with peace; the residents of the oases willingly sold food. The detachment of 300 soldiers discouraged bandit attacks. Thus, without incidents, they reached the Heavenly Mountains, and then — to the shores of the Warm Lake.
Zhang Qian sometimes thought: is this not the Lake of Delight from the legends of the journey of My Wang?...
The supreme ruler of the Usuns — the kunbag named Lejiao Mi warmly welcomed the Chinese embassy. He remembered Zhang Qian well from their first meeting thirteen years ago. The kunbag had a sharp memory. At that time, Zhang Qian had appeared before him with a small entourage of exhausted people, without any gifts, with only a banner — a sign of diplomatic dignity. And how they ate then! Lejiao Mi, himself an excellent eater, could only marvel.
Now, however, the envoy was accompanied by three hundred fighters with crossbows, numerous assistants and servants, and behind them trailed a herd of ten thousand cattle and sheep. And how many gifts! The ruler had never seen such beautiful things in his life. What can I say — a very solid guest.
By the order of the kunbag, a large tent was erected for the envoy in an empty space beyond the city walls of the Usun capital, Chigu. For a long time, this tent became the headquarters of Zhang Qian.
Here he sent envoys with banners to the surrounding and distant lands: to Yutian (Hotan), Dawan, Kangju, to the Great Yuezhi, to Daxia (Bactria), Anxi (Parthia), and even to the unknown Shendi (India).
Zhang Qian soon earned the respect of the nomads. He impressed them with his daring horsemanship (having mastered it during 10 years of captivity among the Xiongnu), drank kumis, and ate enough fatty lamb for three. Demonstrating the techniques of Chinese wrestling, he threw down the best strongmen. His friendliness, hospitality, ability to understand others' needs, and, of course, generous gifts — all this opened the hearts and souls of the nomads to him.
Yet some of the most cautious tribal leaders — elders said to their supreme ruler:
— The man from the Han sends his envoys to neighboring countries. They gather all sorts of information. Are they not spies? Will an army of the Han ruler not follow them?
The kunbag, clad in a silk robe adorned with woven pheasants, replied cheerfully:
— Why would an army come? The spies are inquiring about trade routes and what is sold and bought... They are merchants, not warriors.
— Do not forget, my lord, the Han have a strong army! They drove the powerful Xiongnu like rats into distant northern burrows, seized vast lands...
— And they did well! The Xiongnu brought no peace to anyone; now they have calmed down. And we have nothing to divide with the Han. On the contrary: we need them as allies. And we will benefit from them when they establish their trade...
Caravans will pass through our lands. Do you understand?
At the ceremonial feasts, Zhang Qian always occupied an honored place near the ruler. And between them, lively conversations often ensued. The Chinese envoy never tired of insisting on the great benefits for the Usuns if friendship between them was strengthened. He even hinted at one point: in the case of a successful conclusion of the matter, there is hope for the kunbag to be related to the Han House itself, to the great! To the Son of Heaven! And this is the same as being related to a living god. And the princesses from Chang'an — truly celestial maidens... He described the feminine charms, affection, and beauty of Chinese women so vividly that the Usun military leaders could only lick their lips...
In the kunbag's mind, this idea or joke of the Chinese envoy took root firmly!!!
Only in one thing did the eloquent Zhang Qian meet with failure: the kunbag himself, both of his ruling sons, and sixteen elders — leaders who made up the council, all unanimously opposed the relocation to the east. The new land suited them completely. There were many streams and rivers with clean cold water. The mountain ridges had enough trees for economic needs. And besides, there was excellent hunting... And the Xiongnu were far away, and they had long since kept the other nomads under control.
No! The ridges of Tian Shan, the valleys around the Warm Lake had become their new homeland, forever close to their hearts!
Zhang Qian discovered that the Usun tribal confederation was not entirely homogeneous. Besides the Usuns themselves, it included remnants of the previous population — the Saka and the Yuezhi. Agriculture was mainly practiced by the land-bound slaves — these came from various origins...
It was clear that no one wanted to dismantle this well-established economy and move to the arid places of their former habitation, next to an overly powerful empire...
Sending envoys in all directions, Zhang Qian sought to create a complete picture of the western countries — their borders, roads, rivers and crossings, the language of the peoples, their customs and occupations, the state structure, the number, armament, and combat readiness of the army, and relations (peaceful and not peaceful) with other states.
And he accomplished this task. When the embassy returned to Chang'an, Zhang Qian's report made an indelible impression on his contemporaries. If the result of the first journey was merely the discovery of the western lands, now he brought reliable and thorough knowledge. He even had information about the most distant lands — about Mesopotamia, Syria, and the Western Sea.
Now it was possible to start trading...
Zhang Qian in Chigu