A famous general of the Eastern Han dynasty.Earlier Travellers of the Silk Road.In the first century AD, Xiongnu frequently invaded the borders of the Han Empire and finally controlled the Tarim region. Ban Chao, the cavalry commander of the Han dynasty, not only restored the Tarim basin but also maintained the area as west as Kashgar under the control of the Han dynasty during his career there.

Having gotten great achievements in defeating the Xiongnus, Ban Chao was given another task of subjugating the kingdoms of the Silk Road, which had allied with the Xiongnu against China. Employed cunning persuasion and military menace at the same time, Ban Chao, the experienced diplomat and resourceful soldier, finally made Loulan, Khotan and Kashgar allied with the Han dynasty, which ensured the long peace and smoothness along the route and reopened the southern Silk Road to trade.

Ban Chao remained in the Western Regions for 31 years, suppressing rebellions and establishing diplomatic relations with over 50 states there. At the age of 70 years old, Ban Chao returned to Luoyang (capital of the Eastern Han dynasty) and before long died there.

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang was an excellent politician, thinker and strategist in the period of the Three Kingdoms. His hometown was in present Shandong Province. He became parentless when still young. His uncle brought him up and he suffered homeless life because of the chaos caused by war. After his uncle died, he took up a recluse life in present Hubei Province for ten years, but still kept a close watch on the state affairs outside. Finally, Liubei, the ruler of the Shu Kingdom entreated him out of the withdrawal. For the rest of his life, he served in the Shu Kingdom as the chief military advisor.

Since the regime of Cao Cao in the north boasted the strongest force, Zhuge Liang suggested his master to make allies with the equally weak Wu Kingdom against Cao Cao, which helped to form the confrontation of three kingdoms for over thirty years. Shu-Wu alliance once thoroughly defeated the army of Cao Cao, who was driven back and stayed in the north of the Yellow River for a long time.

Later, a war broke out between the Wu and Shu kingdoms. Liu Bei was badly defeated and died soon. At his death, he entrust to Zhuge Linag his child and the country. From then on, Zhuge Liang devoted himself to the cause of the restoration of the Han Empire bequeathed by his master. He resumed the good terms with the Wu Kingdom, put down the revolt on the border area and ordered the northern expeditions against the Wei Kingdom.

In 234 AD, Zhuge Liang died of life exhaustion on the battlefield of northern expedition. His death marked the downfall of the Shu Kingdom. He once remarked himself as to bend myself to a task and exert the life to the utmost. Even his rivals could not help admiring his great talent and his devotion to the country. Based on his war experience, Zhuge Liang initiated Eight Elements Battle Formation for army deployment and arrangement. Now the site where he once drilled the army still remains in Fengjie County, Chongqing Municipality. And Wuhou Memorial Temple (Temple of Marquis Wu) has been built all over the country in honor of Zhuge Liang.