杜茂 / Du Mao (Eastern Han)

Overview

杜茂 / Du Mao is currently synthesized as an Eastern Han frontier commander whose current profile now begins with an unsuccessful northern attack against Jia Lan and Min Kan in Hanji 708, then runs through defensive infrastructure and later command accountability. Hanji 714 adds his role in guarding against Lu Fang, Xiongnu, and Wuhuan pressure through Feihu-route repair, forts, and beacon stations. Hanji 717 then marks a command-accountability point when he is removed and replaced by Ma Cheng, while Zhang Kan later uses his former troops at Gaoliu.

Current Profile

Hanji 708 supplies Du Mao’s earliest current layer. Wu Han and Du Mao attack Jia Lan and Min Kan, but Xiongnu forces rescue the opponents, and the source records no Han victory. This makes Du Mao part of a northern pressure pattern already visible in 33 CE, before the later defensive-infrastructure notices.

Hanji 714 supplies Du Mao’s earlier current role. Liu Xiu sends the Piaoji General Du Mao and others to defend the northern frontier while Lu Fang, Xiongnu, and Wuhuan forces repeatedly raid. The source emphasizes preparation and containment rather than decisive victory: Feihu route repair, forts, beacon stations, and repeated fighting without final resolution.

Du Mao’s page remains intentionally narrow. Hanji 717 does not develop him as a full founding general biography; it records the accountability event and the reuse of his force structure. His importance is that Guangwu-era frontier correction reaches command rank rather than stopping at local disorder.

The reassignment branch also matters. Du Mao’s removal does not make his troops useless: Liu Xiu sends Zhang Kan with Du Mao’s troops, and Zhang Kan defeats Xiongnu at Gaoliu. Du Mao therefore connects punishment, personnel replacement, and continued operational use of frontier manpower.

Key Characteristics

• Eastern Han frontier commander removed because misconduct by a subordinate commander is attributed upward.
• Earlier co-commander in an unsuccessful attack where Xiongnu rescue prevents a northern Han victory.
• Earlier northern frontier defender linked to route repair, forts, and beacon infrastructure.
• Commander in a long-consumption pressure field rather than a decisive victory notice in Hanji 714.
• Accountability case showing that command responsibility could reach senior military office.
• Personnel bridge between Ma Cheng’s replacement command and Zhang Kan’s later use of former troops.
• Source-bounded figure currently known through one 39 CE frontier notice.

Evidence

• Unsuccessful northern attack: Hanji 708 says Wu Han and Du Mao attack Jia Lan and Min Kan, but Xiongnu rescue prevents a successful Han outcome.
• Northern deployment: Hanji 714 says Liu Xiu sends Du Mao and others to defend the northern frontier against Lu Fang, Xiongnu, and Wuhuan pressure.
• Defensive infrastructure: Hanji 714 links Du Mao’s branch to Feihu-route repair, forts, and beacon stations, while noting that no decisive victory follows.
• Removal: Hanji 717 says Du Mao is removed after a subordinate commander kills someone.
• Replacement: Hanji 717 says Ma Cheng replaces Du Mao in the frontier role.
• Troop reuse: Hanji 717 says Zhang Kan is sent with Du Mao’s troops and defeats Xiongnu at Gaoliu.

Qualifications

The current sources do not establish Du Mao’s full earlier service, rank history beyond these frontier notices, or the legal details of the subordinate’s killing. Hanji 708 should not be read as a complete defeat narrative; it records an unsuccessful attack because the enemy side is rescued by Xiongnu. Hanji 714 should not be read as a victory claim; it emphasizes long-running northern pressure and defensive preparation. Hanji 717 should not infer personal culpability beyond the source’s removal-and-replacement sequence.

What Changed

• Added Hanji 708 as Du Mao’s earliest current northern fighting layer, paired with Wu Han against Jia Lan and Min Kan.
• Added Hanji 714 as Du Mao’s earlier northern defensive infrastructure and containment layer.
• Preserved Hanji 717 as the command-accountability and troop-reassignment layer.
• Kept the page scoped to frontier notices rather than a full biography.

Relationships

• 光武帝刘秀 - ruler whose frontier command correction removes Du Mao and reuses his troops.
• 吴汉 - co-commander in Du Mao’s unsuccessful Hanji 708 northern attack.
• 闵堪 - opponent in the Hanji 708 northern attack later incorporated into the Dai settlement.
• 卢芳 - claimant whose Xiongnu- and Wuhuan-linked activity forms Du Mao’s earlier pressure field.
• 马成 - replacement commander after Du Mao’s removal.
• 张堪 - official who later uses Du Mao’s former troops at Gaoliu.
• 匈奴 - frontier opponent in the Gaoliu branch after Du Mao’s troops are reassigned.
• 功赏罪罚秩序 - related concept because the episode treats military office as accountable to punishment as well as later success.