Fu An

Fu An (Chinese:傅安 fl. 1385–1429) was a Supervising Censor, who was dispatched in 1385 with two other Censors and a eunuch named Liu Wei, to open communications with the nations of Central Asia. They traversed the desert of Gobi and reached Hami; thence on to Karakhodjo and Ilbalik, the ancient capital of Kuldja. Their mission was successful as far as Samarcand, the various places visited acknowledging the suzerainty of China. There however they were imprisoned by Timur until 1407. The survivors, including only 17 of their original escort of 1,500 men, were then sent back after Timur's death and were all rewarded on arrival. Fu An and his companions went on six missions altogether, chiefly to Samarkand, Bishbalik and Herat, until in 1415 Fu An retired to wait on his aged mother. He was a translator.