《苏武牧羊》
故事来源:东汉(公元25年──公元220年)史书《汉书》
时间:汉武帝执政时期(公元前140年──公元前87年)
地点:中国北部边疆
主要人物:苏武(西汉朝廷使节)胡阿云(苏武之妻)
经常侵犯边关的匈奴族,曾一度威胁到首都长安一带的安全。为此,汉朝对匈奴展开了激烈的征战。连年的苦战,耗费了汉朝大量的人力、物力,汉武帝想以和平的方式解决边境问题,就选派了年轻有为的中郎将苏武出使匈奴。
苏武辞别了母亲和妻子,手持代表政府使命的汉节,一行三十余人,行走了六十多天,来到匈奴国都。苏武拜会了匈奴国王单于,表示了汉朝天子希望两国修好、互罢干戈的意愿。单于见苏武相貌堂堂、才华出众,便以高官厚禄相诱惑,劝他归顺匈奴,苏武严辞拒绝。单于又派出已经受降的汉朝官员卫律、李陵进行劝说,苏武痛骂二人背叛君亲。单于恼羞成怒,罚他到北海牧羊。
一望无际的北海,白雪皑皑,空旷无人。苏武食草饮雪,忍受着常人难以想象的寂寞。他手持汉节,每日以羊群为伴,在北海整整度过了十九个春秋。匈奴元帅之女胡阿云深深地倾慕这位汉家使臣的为人和品格,主动提出嫁给苏武,孤身在异乡的苏武也爱上了这个美丽的红颜知己。他们结婚一年以后,生下一个可爱的儿子。
汉朝政府后来得知苏武被扣多年,坚贞不屈,便大兵进攻匈奴,要求苏武还朝。匈奴无奈,下令释放苏武,但不许胡阿云母子同行。消息传来,夫妻抱头痛哭。为了成全丈夫回国的心愿,胡阿云把孩子托付他人,自己以宝剑自刎。苏武带着深深的痛惜与怀念,手持当年出使时的汉节,回到了祖国。
Su Wu Sent to Herd Sheep
Origin:Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) historical compilation, The Book of the HanTime:Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) during the reign of Emperor Han Wudi (140 BC-87 BC)Place:China's northern frontierMain characters:Su Wu (envoy of the Western Han court)Hu A'yun (Su Wu's wife)
During the time of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD), the Huns, a tribe of horse-riding nomads, regularly invade and plunder China's northern borderlands. When they threaten the safety of the capital, Chang'an, Emperor Han Wudi mounts a major expedition against them. After many years of bitter struggle, the human and material resources of the Western Han government are severely depleted, and the Emperor decides to attempt a diplomatic solution to the border problem. He dispatches young and promising mid-level official Su Wu as envoy to the Huns.
Su Wu bids farewell to his wife and mother, and holding the Han staff of office, departs with his retinue of over thirty people. After a trip of more than two months, they finally arrive at the capital of the Huns. Su Wu is granted an audience with the King of the Huns, Chan Yu. He tells Chan Yu that Emperor Han Wudi would like to foster cordial relations between their two countries, and hopes to reach an agreement to mutually lay down their arms. Chan Yu is very impressed by Su Wu's distinguished appearance and exceptional talents, and offers him high office and great wealth if he will defect to the Huns. Su Wu refuses in uncompromising terms. Chan Yu then sends two officials of the Western Han court who have already gone over to the Huns, Wei Lu and Li Ling, to Su Wu to try to persuade him. Su Wu curses both of them for betraying their monarch and their home. Stung by Su Wu's refusal, Chan Yu punishes him by sending him to Beihai to herd sheep.
Beihai is a vast and limitless field of dazzling ice, without a soul in sight. Su Wu subsists entirely on snow and coarse herbs, and stoically bears unimaginable loneliness. The Han staff of office in hand, he passes every day with only sheep for companions. Nineteen springs and autumns pass. Hu A'yun, daughter of the Hun commander in chief, is strongly attracted by the conduct and character of this man of the Han, and asks him to marry her. Su Wu, alone in a strange land, falls in love in his turn with this beautiful, passionate woman, who offers him such deep and intimate understanding. A year after their marriage, they give birth to a beautiful baby boy.
The Han government learns of Su Wu's detention, and his steadfast loyalty over the years. A great offensive is mounted against the Huns to rescue Su Wu and return him to court. Overmatched, the Huns agree to release Su Wu, but refuse to allow Hu A'yun or their child to accompany him back to the Han court. When the couple learns of this order, they embrace and sob long and bitterly. In order to fulfill her husband's dream of returning to his home, Hu A'yun entrusts their child to someone else, and kills herself with her sword. Su Wu, his heart full of grief and the Han staff of office still firmly in hand, returns to his homeland.