Li was a brother-in-law of Emperor Wu, whose favourite concubine was his sister Lady Li, and was the chosen general in the War of the Heavenly Horses. His supplies for his second sortie are described as being 100,000 cattle, 30,000 horses, and many mules and camels.[2]
Li besieged the city of Erh-shih (probably near Samarkand) to obtain certain fine horses of the Ferghana that had been demanded by the Han Empire but refused. He was given the title "General of Erh-shih" (貳師將軍) in expectation of success.[3] He diverted the river that supplied the inner city with water, and "received three thousand horses in tribute."[4]
In 90 BC, when Li was campaigning in the north against the Xiongnu Empire, his wife was imprisoned in the capital after being involved in a political scandal involving their in-law Liu Qumao (one of Liu's sons had married one of the Lis' daughters). Li sought a quick victory, hoping to win his wife's release. He overextended his army and was decisively defeated by a Xiongnu army of 50,000 led by their ChanyuHulugu. Li surrendered to the Xiongnu, and the Chanyu gave him his daughter for marriage. However, about a year later, he was executed, becoming a human sacrifice,[5] after having a conflict with Wei Lü (衛律), another Han defector who was favoured by the Chanyu.[6]
References
^Li Guangli's biography in Book of Han indicate that he surrendered to the Xiongnu in the 3rd year of the Zheng'he era of Emperor Wu's reign (90 BCE). Vol. 94 part 1 of Book of Han indicate that Li stayed with the Xiongnu for about a year before he was sacrificed. Vol.22 of Zizhi Tongjian also indicate that he died in the 4th year of the Zheng'he era, which corresponds to 7 Feb 89 BCE to 25 Jan 88 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
^Michael Loewe, Dr Michael Loewe (2002). Records of Han Administration. Psychology Press. ISBN9780700713752.
^Michael Loewe (2002). Records of Han Administration. Psychology Press. p. 149. ISBN9780700713752.
