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"The Minyue-Nanyue Conflict of 135 BCE: A Clash of Southern Kingdoms"
In the 2nd century BCE, southeastern China was home to several semi-independent kingdoms that existed on the periphery of Han Dynasty control. Among these were Minyue (modern Fujian) and Nanyue (modern Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam). Both had complex relationships with the Han—sometimes submitting as vassals, other times asserting autonomy.
In 135 BCE, Minyue launched an invasion of Nanyue, seeking to expand its territory. The reasons for the attack are not fully detailed in historical records, but likely involved competition over resources, trade routes, or political dominance in the region.
Nanyue, ruled by King Zhao Mo (Triệu Mạt in Vietnamese sources), was a wealthier and more stable kingdom, benefiting from trade with the Han and Southeast Asia. When Minyue attacked, Zhao Mo appealed to Emperor Wu of Han for assistance, framing the invasion as a threat to Han interests.
Emperor Wu, eager to exert control over the southern kingdoms, sent an army under generals Wang Hui and Han Anguo to intervene. However, before major battles could occur, internal strife in Minyue led to the assassination of its king, Yushan, by his own officials, who then surrendered to the Han.
The Han Dynasty took advantage of the chaos to dismantle Minyue's power, splitting its territory and installing puppet rulers. Nanyue, though spared, remained wary of Han influence. This event marked the beginning of increased Han pressure on Nanyue, which would eventually lead to its annexation in 111 BCE.
The conflict demonstrated:
1. Han expansionism—Emperor Wu's strategy of weakening peripheral states.
2. Fragility of southern kingdoms—their dependence on Han support against rivals.
3. Nanyue's precarious position—though it survived this crisis, it would later fall to the Han.
Primary sources on this event are sparse, mostly coming from the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian. Details on battle tactics, diplomacy, and local perspectives are limited.
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