‘On that day in 144 BC, Colonel Li Guang [Lee Gwang, rhymes with ‘angst’ without the ‘st’] was in command at the frontier outpost when one of his officers dashed in to give a breathless report. While on patrol with a band of cavalry, the Chinese officer had sighted three of the enemy, nomadic Xiongnu [She-yong-new] horsemen. Apparently, they were out hunting. Thinking he had caught them unawares, the officer moved in with his unit, only for the hunters to turn their bows on them. Keeping their distance, the Xiongnu picked off all but the officer, who narrowly escaped with his life.‘

This episode was written by Scott Forbes Crawford.

Based in Asia, Scott writes about ancient and medieval history in novels and nonfiction alike. A newly published history book, The Han-Xiongnu War, 133 BC – 89 AD, explores a decisive conflict between China and a nomadic steppe empire through the lives of fifteen historical figures, including the subject of today’s episode.