An ancient folk song sung to this day is one about Su Wu. It runs:
Su Wu by the Huns detained.
His integrity maintained.
Sent as an emissary of Emperor Han Wu Di to the northern nomads the Xiongnu (Huns). Su Wu was held by them. but despite great privation refused to go over to their side to free himself.
For more than a century the Xiongnu has been growing stronger and troubling the border lands under Han dynasty rule. His specific mission was to solve the problem of indiscriminate detention of envoys by both sides. which had been going on for some time. He was from a military family which had distinguished itself fighting the Xiongnu. and the History of the Han Dynasty . which tells his story. ascribes the origin of his indomitable will to his early strict education.
In 100 BC Su Wu set out with a subordinate named Zhang Sheng and some hundred retainers bearing birth gifts for the Chanyu. or Xiongnu Khan - the leader of the Xiongnu. He expected to fulfil his mission successfully and remove the misunderstandings which had accumulated over the years.
When he reached the north he found that the situation was not what he had expected. The Chanyu was overbearing and suspicious. Things became even more complicated when Zhang Sheng became implicated in a plot against the Xiongnu leaders.
Previously a Han dynasty man named Yu Chang had gone over to the good graces of Han. He gathered together 700 men and plotted to kidnap the Chanyu`s mother to impress the Han delegation. He told his plan to Zhang Sheng. who supported the idea. It was an abortive effort and led to Yu Chang`s arrest. Since the plot took place at the same time as Su Wu`s visit. the Changyu naturally suspected that he was behind it.
When Zhang Sheng went to Su Wu and told him of the situation. Su Wu was aghast. ``For the envoy of the Han emperor to be interrogated would be the grossest insult to Han`` he said. In order to prevent it from happening he would have killed himself right then and there had not one of his attendants snatched his sword from him.
The Changyu ordered Su Wu and his men put on trial and Su Wu made a second attempt on his own life. The Changyu really believed that Su Wu was implicated in the plot and wanted to force him to confess. But he realised that here was an indomitable will that had to be broken. In the meantime. Yu Chang was sentenced to death and executed immediately. Then the Xiongnu went to work on Zhang Sheng. who was a spineless person and admitted to guilt even though in fact he had not had anything directly to do with the plot.
Su Wu was different. ``What guilt do I have?`` he replied. He would not confess even to save his life. for he knew it would have disastrous consequences for relations between Han and the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu realised that no threat of death could scare him. So they tried to buy him over with the offer of a high position and handsome income. All they received in return were reproaches from Su Wu.
Thus Su Wu ended up spending four days and nights in a cold damp cave without food or water. It was midwinter and the cold was terrible. The lack of food and water was beginning to weaken him. so he ate snow to quench his thirst and chewed on a piece of his felt blanket to appease his hunger. Surprised at his strong power of survival. the Xiongnu thought he must be protected by a god.
Finally they sent Su Wu off to herd sheep on shores of the ``northern sea``. Indicating some rams. the Chanyu said ``You will be allowed to return to the land of Han only when these bear lambs.`` meaning never - unless he would come over to the side of the Huns.
Su Wu faced this new test with dignity. He asked for his staff of office. made of bamboo with tassels of yak hair. the symbol of his authority as a representative of Han. and carrying it he departed with his sheep in the direction of Lake Baikal.
He spent nineteen hard years in that cold. uninhabited place. There was not enough to eat. and in winter he had to kill rats for food. But no matter how hard life was. he never for one day forgot that he was the emissary of Han. The tassels wore out and fell off. but Su Wu always kept the staff of office with him.
In 81 BC peace was made between Han and the Xiongnu and normal relations were established. An envoy of Han was sent to the Xiongnu to bring Su Wu back. The Xiongnu. afraid to reveal the truth. told him that Su Wu had died long before. The Han envoy said. ``One day the emperor went hunting and shot a wild goose that flew down from the north. On its leg was a message written by Su Wu tied with a piece of silk. This proves he is still alive``. The Xiongnu leader then ordered his men to bring Su Wu back.
Su Wu was by now over sixty and his hair had turned completely white. Still holding the staff. he returned to the palace in Chang`an and was received by Emperor Hao Zhao Zong. He was given a position as a high-ranking official in charge of border peoples and vassal states. After his death his portrait was hung in the palace in history to preserve his memory forever.
