Zhaohui

Zhaohui (born 1708, China—died Dec. 10, 1764, Beijing) was a famous Qing dynasty general who played a prominent part in the conquest of East Turkistan (now Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China).

A member of the imperial family, Zhaohui volunteered to lead an expedition against the western Mongols, whose continued history of usurpations, tribal rebellions, wars, invasions, and migrations in Outer Mongolia and East Turkistan were a constant source of trouble on China’s northwestern borders. During 1755–57 Zhaohui led several forays into the area, on the last of which his troops were cut off and surrounded. Relief finally came, and he succeeded in virtually exterminating the Dzungar (Junggar) tribes of the western Mongols. To consolidate his conquest, he put the region under a military governor and established Chinese garrisons and penal colonies.

Meanwhile, Muslims in the southern part of East Turkistan revolted, and Zhaohui was sent to subdue them. Once more his troops were surrounded; the siege lasted so long that the soldiers are said to have been reduced to cannibalism. When finally relieved, he completed the conquest of the region. As a result, Chinese control in the northwest was extended to the Pamirs range, which divides eastern from western Asia. Although Zhaohui was much decorated, he is usually viewed as a fujiang (“lucky general”) in view of his two “lucky” escapes from desperate sieges.