Belisarius vs Zhao Chongguo

Belisarius led a Byzantine expedition to North Africa against the Vandal Kingdom. He defeated King Gelimer at the Battle of Ad Decimum and captured Carthage, restoring Roman control over the province after a century of Vandal rule.

Belisarius defended Rome against a siege by the Ostrogothic army under King Vitiges. Despite being outnumbered, he held the city for over a year using defensive tactics and sorties, until reinforcements arrived. This prolonged the war but preserved Byzantine control.

Belisarius captured the Ostrogothic capital of Ravenna through a combination of siege and deception. He accepted the surrender of King Vitiges and the Gothic nobility, effectively ending the first phase of the Gothic War and restoring Italy to the Empire.

Emperor Justinian recalled Belisarius from Italy due to political intrigues and suspicions of his ambition. Belisarius was stripped of his command and his wealth was confiscated, though he was later restored to favor. This ended his active role in the reconquest.

Zhao Chongguo led a Han army against the Qiang tribes in the Hexi region. Using the tuntian system to supply his troops, he defeated the Qiang and secured the Han frontier, demonstrating the effectiveness of his farming garrison strategy.

Zhao Chongguo proposed establishing farming garrisons (tuntian) in the Hexi Corridor to supply Han forces fighting the Qiang tribes. This system allowed soldiers to farm during peacetime, reducing the cost of long-distance supply lines.

Zhao Chongguo submitted a detailed memorial to Emperor Xuan advocating for the permanent establishment of tuntian colonies. The emperor approved the plan, leading to the long-term settlement of Han soldiers in the frontier regions.