Tou Bi Cong Rong--Cast Aside The Pen To Join The Army 投笔从戎
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a brave general named Ban Chao (班超) who was from a family of scholars. His father was Ban Biao (班彪), the starter of "the History of the Western Han Dynasty" (The Book of Han, 汉书) which was completed by Ban Chao's brother Ban Gu (班固) and sister Ban Zhao (班昭).

Initially, Ban Chao, like his brother and sister, followed up his father's career, working as a imperial historian. It was said that he was the key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in "the History of the Western Han Dynasty". However, as an ambitious young nobleman, he was not content with the 'boring' and 'quiet' office work. He wanted a kind of life different from his father and was eager to build up his own establishment.

One day, Ban Chao heard his country waged a war against Xiong Nu (a non-Han Chinese group in the north China) to seek the control of the Central Asia, when he was writing in the office. Throwing down his writing brush, he stood up and sighed, "A true man should have no aspiration but to follow great predecessors to win honor in foreign lands and gain a noble title. How can I molder away among writing brushed and ink stones?"

So Ban Chao joined the army, becoming an officer. In the following tens of years, Ban Chao participated in many military campaigns and played an important role in expelling the Xiong Nu from the Tarim Basin and bringing the various people of Central Asia under Chinese rule during the second half of the first century. Due to his great contributions to his country, he was appointed as the governor of the Central Asia, and was given the title of Marquis Ding Yuan.

bulaiya.com，China Information

投笔从戎