How a strategic siege in 67 BC reshaped the power of the Han dynasty
In 67 BC, the Han dynasty launched a decisive campaign for control of the Turpan Basin. By besieging the capital city of Jiaohe, commander Zheng Ji forced a surrender that triggered a complex power struggle against the Xiongnu, eventually leading to the establishment of the Protectorate of the Western Regions.
The conflict centered on the Jushi culture, a strategic population located in the Turpan Basin. In 67 BC, Han forces led by Zheng Ji advanced from the Tarim Basin to besiege Jiaohe, the capital of Jushi. Although the king of Jushi, Wugui, initially surrendered, the situation remained volatile. When Xiongnu forces arrived to support Jushi, Zheng Ji and Sima Xi confronted them, forcing their retreat. Despite leaving a small garrison of 20 men to protect the king, the Han commander faced ongoing instability as Wugui fled to Wusun, fearing a Xiongnu return. The Xiongnu subsequently installed a new leader, Doumo, and relocated the population eastward, prompting Zheng Ji to deploy 300 soldiers to seize the city.
The geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically in 60 BC due to internal fractures within the Xiongnu ruling elite. Prince Rizhu, known as Xianxianshan, defected to the Han imperial court alongside 12,000 troops and 12 royals. This pivotal moment allowed the Han to consolidate authority, leading to the appointment of Zheng Ji as the first Protector General of the Western Regions. Based in Wulei near Qiuci, his office was tasked with overseeing the vast territory spanning from the Tarim Basin to the Pamir mountains.
The stability of this protectorate was not permanent. By 13 AD, the region faced significant unrest, culminating in the death of the Protector General Dan Qin during a rebellion led by Yanqi. A later attempt to re-establish control under the Xin dynasty in 16 AD proved disastrous. The appointed official, Li Chong, led an army against Yanqi but suffered a crushing defeat against the state and its allies. Li Chong retreated to Qiuci, where he died shortly before the collapse of the Xin dynasty, marking the end of that specific administrative effort in the region.
Source: Battle of Jushi
