Huo Qubing

In the sixth year of Yuanshuo under Emperor Wu of Han (123 BCE), seventeen-year-old Huo Qubing was appointed Colonel of the Piao Yao and joined his uncle Wei Qing on a campaign south of the desert, where they routed the Xiongnu. Over the next two years, Huo Qubing led the troops on two more campaigns, defeating the Xiongnu and occupying the Hexi region. From then on, the Han dynasty's western frontier remained secure. At the age of twenty-two, Huo Qubing led his army more than two thousand li north, deep into the desert, to hunt down and destroy the Xiongnu's main forces, advancing all the way to the vast northern sea. After this battle, “the Xiongnu fled far away, and no royal court remained south of the desert.” Yet just two years later, this shining star among China's greatest generals died at the age of only twenty-four. Huo Qubing was one of the youngest famous generals in ancient Chinese history and a legendary warrior in the hearts of the Chinese people. His story has been passed down through the ages. Almost every Chinese person has heard of his military achievements, yet few know about his short, dazzling life. Drawing on historical records, this book recreates the legendary and glorious life of the spirited young general in novel form, taking readers back to an age of war and letting them once again feel Huo Qubing's bold determination: “I will not return until the Xiongnu are defeated.”