Su Wu shepherds a sheep

Since the Xiongnu had been defeated by Wei Qing and Huo Zhaowei, the two sides had not fought for several years. They verbally said they wanted to make peace with the Han Dynasty, but in reality, they still wanted to invade the Central Plains at any time.

Xiongnu's monarch sent messengers again and again to seek peace, but when Han Dynasty's messengers went to Xiongnu for a return visit, some of them were detained by them. The Han Dynasty also detained some Xiongnu emissaries.

In 100 B.C., Emperor Wu of Han was trying to send troops to fight Xiongnu, when Xiongnu sent messengers to beg for peace, and even released all the messengers of the Han Dynasty back. In reply to Xiongnu's goodwill gesture, Emperor Wu of Han sent Su Wu, the general of the middle band, to Xiongnu with a banner, with his deputy Zhang Sheng and his attendant Chang Hui.

When Su Wu arrived at Xiongnu, he sent back the detained messengers with gifts. Su Wu was waiting for Shan Yu to write a reply letter to let him go back, but unexpectedly at this time, there was an unlucky incident.

Before Su Wu arrived in Xiongnu, a Han Chinese named Wei Lu surrendered to Xiongnu after his mission. Shan Yu especially valued him and made him the king.

Wei Lu had a subordinate named Yu Chang, who was very dissatisfied with Wei Lu. He was a friend of Su Wu's deputy Zhang Sheng, so he secretly discussed with Zhang Sheng that he wanted to kill Wei Li, take Shan Yu's mother and escape back to the Central Plains.

Zhang Sheng was very sympathetic, but he didn't expect Yu Chang's plan didn't work, but was caught by the Xiongnu. Shan Yu was furious and asked Wei Lu to interrogate Yu Chang and find out his accomplices.

Su Wu did not know about this. When the time came, Zhang Sheng was afraid of being implicated, so he told Su Wu.

Su Wu said: "The matter has come to this point, will involve me. If I let people die after the interrogation, won't it be more disgraceful to the court?" After saying this, he pulled out his sword and tried to commit suicide. Zhang Sheng and his attendant, Chang Hui, were quick to see and took the knife out of his hand to persuade him to stop.

Yu Chang suffered all kinds of punishment, but he only admitted that he was friends with Zhang Sheng and talked to him, but refused to admit his complicity.

Wei Lu reported to Shan Yu. Shan Yu was furious and wanted to kill Su Wu, but he was dissuaded by his minister, who asked Wei Lu to force Su Wu to surrender.

As soon as Su Wu heard that Wei Lu told him to surrender, he said, "I am an emissary of the Han Dynasty, if I go against my mission and lose my moral integrity, how can I live to see others?" He pulled out his sword and wiped his neck.

Wei Li hastily held him, but Su Wu's neck was seriously wounded and he fainted.

Wei Lu quickly called for help, and Su Wu slowly woke up.

Shan Yu thought that Su Wu was a good man with courage and admired him very much. When Su Wu's wound was healed, Shan Yu tried to force Su Wu to surrender again.

Shan Yu sent Wei Lu to interrogate Yu Chang and let Su Wu listen to him. Wei Lu first convicted Yu Chang to death and killed him; then, he threatened Zhang Sheng with his sword, which was afraid of death, and surrendered.

Wei Li said to Su Wu, "Your deputy is guilty, and you must also be implicated."

Su Wu said, "I am neither complicit with him nor a relative of his, so why should I be implicated?"