27 Facts About Li Ling

Li Ling, courtesy name Shaoqing, was a Chinese military general of the Western Han dynasty who served during the reign of Emperor Wu.

Li Ling later defected to the Xiongnu after being defeated in an expedition in 99 BC.

Li Ling was born in Chengji in the Longxi region.

Li Ling was the grandson of the "Flying General" Li Guang.

Li Ling was later assigned a military position on the border front, and once led 800 men over 1,000 miles into Xiongnu territory for a reconnaissance mission.

Li Ling was assigned to provide an escort for Li Guangli's supply line.

Li Ling requested Emperor Wu's permission to lead his own regiment to the east, saying that he led a personal legion of "warriors from Jingchu and extraordinary swordsmen", who were capable of "strangling tigers and sharpshooting".

Li Ling then bragged that he would crush the Chanyu's main tribe with nothing more than his 5,000 infantry.

Emperor Wu was angry at Lu's request, believing that Li Ling had collaborated with Lu and had asked for a delay out of cowardice, and responded by ordering an immediate mobilization of Li's troops.

Li Ling's troops encountered the main forces of the Chanyu upon arrival at the Altay Mountains, and were quickly encircled by 30,000 cavalry between two mountains.

Li Ling then discovered that his troops were low in both morale and energy, leading him to search for and kill the many women who were hiding in the wagons and serving as camp followers for his soldiers.

Li Ling then retreated southeast for the next 4 to 5 days into a large reed swamp, where his forces managed to survive a fire attack.

The Chanyu Qiedihou then sent his own son Hulugu Chanyu to lead the pursuit, only to suffer further casualties when Li Ling's forces took refuge in a forest and repelled the attack with their crossbows, field artillery, and melee combat resistance.

Li Ling's situation worsened as the Xiongnu charged over 20 times a day, and were repelled only after suffering another 2,000 casualties.

Li Ling's men returned fire from the bottom, depleting 500,000 arrows in one day, and were forced to abandon their wagon transports.

One night, Li Ling left the camp and refused any followers, claiming that he was planning to assassinate the Chanyu on his own.

Li Ling returned unsuccessful, lamenting that they were solidly defeated and all going to die.

Emperor Wu initially thought Li Ling was killed in action, and summoned his family to pay tribute.

The 'disaster of Li Ling' induced China to give up for a time this system of counter-raids, but did not imperil the boundaries of Gansu.

Li Ling hence bore a deep hatred towards Li Xu, and arranged his assassination.

However, the Xiongnu Queen Dowager disliked Li Ling and wanted him killed.

Li Ling was defeated badly by the Han forces, and retreated after suffering heavy casualties.

Li Ling was dispatched twice by the Chanyu to persuade the detained Han ambassador Su Wu to surrender, as Li and Su used to be co-workers and good friends.

On his first visit, Li Ling mentioned how everyone in Su Wu's family back in China had either died or remarried, hoping to sever Su's patriotic bond.

Ren took the opportunity to talk to Li privately, telling him that all his sins could be forgiven, that he needed not worry about wealth after returning and his old friends missed him.

However, Li Ling refused, claiming that he had already become a "foreigner" and he couldn't stand to be ashamed a second time.

Li Ling died of disease in 74 BC, after more than 20 years among the Xiongnu as a defector.