Speaking of Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Shezhu Di, he was the grandson of Chanyu Huhanxie and the son of Wuzhuliuruo Di. After Chanyu Huhanxie, his sons took turns becoming Chanyu. When Shezhu Di's uncle, Xiaochanyu, took over, Shezhu Di was appointed as the King of Youshejian Rizhu, governing the southern frontier and the Wuhuan region.
In the early years of the Jianwu period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Peng Chong rebelled in Yuyang, and this Chanyu Shezhu Di colluded with him and helped reinstate Lu Fang as the Governor of Wuyuan. At that time, Emperor Guangwu had just pacified domestic rebellions and had little time to address external affairs. It was not until the sixth year of Jianwu that Marquis Guide Liu Sa was sent to visit the Xiongnu, who in turn sent envoys to pay tribute. The Han Dynasty sent the General of the Household Han Tong to return the visit and sent gold and silver treasures to restore friendly relations between their nations. However, Shezhu Di was so proud that he compared himself to Modu Chanyu, speaking to the Han envoys in an arrogant and disrespectful way. Emperor Guangwu, however, still treated him the same way as before. Initially, the envoys of both nations exchanged visits frequently, but the Xiongnu frequently raided the Han Dynasty's northern border alongside Lu Fang.
In the ninth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu of Han sent Grand Marshal Wu Han and his companions to attack the Xiongnu, but after a year of fighting, they achieved little success. The Xiongnu became stronger, and the raids and harassment on the border of the Han Dynasty became more serious. By the thirteenth year of Jianwu, the Xiongnu even reached the Hedong region, and local officials could not stop them. As a result, the Han government gradually relocated the people on the borders of Youzhou and Bingzhou to the east of Changshan Pass and Juyong Pass. However, the left faction of the Xiongnu re-entered the territory. The court grew increasingly worried and increased the number of troops in the border areas by thousands, intensifying the construction of watchtowers and signal towers. When the Xiongnu heard that the Han Dynasty was offering a reward for capturing Lu Fang, they sent Lu Fang back to surrender, hoping to earn rewards. However, Lu Fang claimed all the credit for the surrender without mentioning that he was sent back by the Xiongnu. As a result, the Chanyu of the Xiongnu was furious that his scheme had failed, so the rewards from the Han Dynasty were not given. Because of this, the Chanyu became even angrier and invaded the border of the Han Dynasty more frequently. In the twentieth year of Jianwu, the Xiongnu army even reached the Shangdang, Fufeng, and Tianshui regions. In the winter of the twenty-first year of Jianwu, they invaded the Shanggu and Zhongshan regions, killing many people and looting a lot of property. The northern border of the Han Dynasty was plunged into turmoil. At first, the younger brother of the Xiongnu Chanyu, Yutuzhiyashi, was destined to become the Left Wise King. This Left Wise King was the heir to the Chanyu, akin to a Crown Prince. However, the Chanyu wanted to pass the position to his son, so he had Yutuzhiyashi killed. Yutuzhiyashi was the son of Wang Zhaojun. Zhaojun, also known as Yan, was from Nanjun. Initially, during the reign of Emperor Yuan, she was chosen as a concubine for the imperial palace. At that time, when the Chanyu of the Huns came to visit the Han Emperor, the Emperor ordered that he be rewarded with five palace maids.
Zhaojun has been in the palace for many years, but has not been able to see the emperor. Feeling quite stifled, she asked the palace steward to let her leave the palace. When the Chanyu Huhanye was preparing to leave, a grand farewell banquet was held, and the emperor summoned five palace maids for him to see. Zhaojun dressed elegantly and radiated beauty in the Han palace; her graceful demeanor and wistful expression captivated everyone around her. The emperor was taken aback by her at first sight and wanted to keep her, but didn't want to go back on his word to the Xiongnu, so he ended up marrying her to Chanyu Huhanye. Zhaojun gave birth to two sons to Chanyu Huhanye. After Chanyu Huhanye's death, his original wife's son succeeded as Chanyu and wanted to marry Zhaojun. Zhaojun petitioned to return to the Han Dynasty. Emperor Cheng ordered her to adhere to the customs of the Xiongnu, so she became the wife of the new Chanyu. It is said that Yashi was killed, which left Bi feeling quite resentful. He muttered, "In terms of brotherly relations, Prince Yugu Li should inherit the position of Chanyu; in terms of father and son, I am the eldest son of the former Chanyu; I should be the one to inherit!" He was filled with fear and anger and seldom participated in court meetings. The Chanyu grew suspicious of him, so he sent two Gudu Hou to keep an eye on Bi's forces. Two years later, the Chanyu Yudi died, and his son Zuo Xian Wang Wudadi Hou succeeded as Chanyu. This Chanyu soon passed away, and his brother Zuo Xian Wang Punu succeeded as Chanyu. Bi had long aspired to the position of Chanyu, but he was consumed with anger. Unfortunately, at this time, the Xiongnu faced years of drought and locust plagues, leaving thousands of miles of land barren, trees dying, and many people and livestock starved to death, with over half of them dead or injured. The Chanyu feared that the Han Dynasty would take advantage of this and sent envoys to Yuyang to seek a peace agreement. The Han Dynasty sent Zhonglang General Li Mao to respond to the Xiongnu. However, Bi secretly sent a Han Chinese, Guo Heng, with a Xiongnu map, to the Governor of Xihe to pledge allegiance to the Han Dynasty.
The two Gudu Hou dimly sensed Bi's intentions. During the May Long Temple sacrifice, they reported to the Chanyu, saying that Bi had been ambitious since childhood and had ambitions of wrongdoing. They warned that if he was not killed, the Xiongnu would be in chaos. At that time, Bi's younger brother Wang served under the Chanyu's tent. Upon hearing this news, he hurried to inform Bi. Fearing for his safety, Bi swiftly gathered an army of 40,000 to 50,000 men from the southern eight tribes, preparing to kill the two Gudu Hou upon their return. As the two Gudu Hou were nearing, they learned of Bi's plot and fled on horseback to inform the Chanyu. The Chanyu sent ten thousand cavalry to attack Bi. Seeing the large number of Bi's troops, they dared not act rashly and retreated.
In the spring of the following year, the leaders of the eight tribes convened and decided to proclaim Bi as Chanyu, because Bi's great-grandfather had once thrived under the Han dynasty. Bi then sent envoys to Wuyuan Pass, expressing his willingness to forever be a vassal of the Han dynasty and resist northern threats. The Han emperor accepted the suggestion of General Geng Guo and granted Bi's request. That winter, Bi proclaimed himself as Huhanye Chanyu.
In the spring of the twenty-fifth year, Emperor Han Wu sent his brother, Prince Left Virtuous, with over ten thousand troops to attack the brother of the Northern Chanyu, Prince Left Virtuous. As a result, Prince Left Virtuous was captured alive, and the main camp of the Northern Chanyu was breached. Over ten thousand people were captured, along with seven thousand horses and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep. The Northern Chanyu was so terrified that he retreated more than a thousand miles.
Earlier, the emperor made significant efforts and designed a new type of battle chariot that could pull several oxen at once. A tall watchtower was built on the chariot, which was specifically designed to defend against the Xiongnu and placed on the border. When people saw the battle chariot, they murmured among themselves, "Hey, wasn't there a prophecy that stated after nine generations of the Han Dynasty, they would drive the Northern Di out more than a thousand miles? Could this be the prophecy coming true?" Indeed, the Han Dynasty's territory expanded as a result.
But that's not all; the Northern Wuhuan General and the Right Wuhuan General in the north surrendered to the Southern Chanyu along with over thirty thousand soldiers. The Southern Chanyu quickly sent envoys to Chang'an to pledge their allegiance, offered precious treasures, requested the Han Dynasty to send envoys to supervise them, and offered to send his son as a hostage to renegotiate the previous alliance.
In a certain year B.C., the court sent Zhonglang General Duan Chen and Deputy Colonel Wang Yu to meet the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, whose residence was eighty miles from the western border of Wuyuan. The Chanyu personally stepped out to greet the envoys. The envoys stated, "The Chanyu must prostrate himself and accept the imperial edict." The Chanyu glanced around before prostrating himself. After the bow, the Chanyu had the translator tell the envoys, "I have just ascended to the throne and am truly embarrassed; I hope the envoys will not impose difficulties upon us." The Wuhuan General and others witnessed this scene and began to weep. After Duan Chen and the others returned to report to the court, the court permitted the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu to relocate to Yunzhong. The Chanyu also dispatched envoys to present two camels and ten fine horses.
That summer, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu welcomed the Northern Xiongnu defector King Zuo Xian and his troops, as well as five Gu Du Hou leaders from the south, bringing the total to over 30,000 people who were located over 300 miles from the Northern Xiongnu court. They supported King Zuo Xian as the Chanyu. About a month later, they began to turn on each other, and all five Gu Du Hou were killed; King Zuo Xian also took his own life. The surviving sons of the Gu Du Hou each fortified their own positions. In the autumn, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu dispatched his son to serve the emperor and presented tribute to the court. The court bestowed upon the Chanyu hats, clothes, gold seals, and ribbons, along with over ten thousand pieces of gold, brocade, cloth, and ten thousand jin of cotton, as well as luxurious horse carriages, feather umbrellas, magnificent decorations, four-horse carriages, swords, bows and arrows, three black joints (a type of weapon), two stallions, musical instruments, drum carriages, ceremonial guards, weapons, and various dining utensils. The court also allocated 25,000 hu of rice and dry provisions from Hedong, and thirty-six thousand heads of cattle and sheep to support them. The court appointed a clerk to manage legal matters, observe their activities, and pardoned fifty criminals, allowing them to follow the Chanyu with weapons and crossbows. Every year, at year's end, the Chanyu would send envoys to pay tribute, send his son to serve the emperor, and an official under the Zhonglang General would lead them to the capital. The Han Dynasty would send an envoy to escort the Chanyu's son returning from his service the previous year on the way back to the Chanyu's residence. Once the New Year's greetings and ancestral sacrifices were completed, the Han Dynasty would send envoys to return the Chanyu's envoys and grant them a thousand pieces of colored satin, four pieces of brocade, ten catties of gold, condiments used in the palace, oranges, tangerines, longans, lychees; and also grant over ten thousand pieces of silk to the Chanyu's mother, other consorts, sons, the Left and Right Xian Kings, the Left and Right Gu Li Kings, and the meritorious Gu Du Hou. This ritual is conducted annually.
The Xiongnu people have a custom of offering sacrifices to the gods three times a year, usually on the wu days of the first month, fifth month, and ninth month to honor the heavenly gods. After the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu submitted to the Han Dynasty, they also worshiped the emperors of the Han Dynasty and gathered tribal leaders to discuss national affairs, while enjoying horseback riding and camel riding. The highest-ranking ministers serving the Chanyu were known as the Left Wise King, followed by the Left Guli King, the Right Wise King, and the Right Guli King, collectively known as the "Four Corners"; below them were the Left and Right Rizhu Kings, Left and Right Wen Yudi Kings, and Left and Right Jianjiang Kings, known as the "Six Corners"; these were all sons of the Chanyu, destined to succeed him in order. In addition to the Chanyu's relatives, there were other ministers, such as the Left and Right Gudu Hou, as well as the Left and Right Shizhu Gudu Hou, with positions like Rizhu, Quequ, and Danghu, which varied based on their power and the number of people they oversaw. The Chanyu's surname was Xulianti. There were also several prominent clans with different surnames, such as Huyan, Xubu, Qiulin, and Lan, who were prominent among the Xiongnu and frequently intermarried with the Chanyu. The Huyan clan was on the left side, while the Lan and Xubu clans were on the right side, primarily responsible for adjudicating cases and reporting directly to the Chanyu without requiring written records. In winter, the son of the former Left Gudu Hou led three thousand people to defect to the south, which led the Northern Xiongnu Chanyu to dispatch cavalry to apprehend them. The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu sent troops to resist but were defeated. Consequently, the court ordered the Chanyu to relocate to Xihemeiji in the West River and sent Zhonglang General Duan Chen and Deputy Colonel Wang Yu to protect him, and established officials, staff, and scribes to assist him. The Xihemei Prefect was ordered to send two thousand cavalry every year, pardon five hundred prisoners, assist the Zhonglang General in protecting the Chanyu, station troops in winter, and withdraw in summer. This practice became a tradition and successfully restored control over the eight border prefectures.
After the Southern Xiongnu Chieftain moved to Xihé, he also appointed his various tribal leaders to assist in defending the border. He stationed the Han's Guduhou in Beidi, the Right Noble King in Shaofang, the Dāngyú Guduhou in Wuyuan, the Hūyǎn Guduhou in Yunchu, the Láng clan Guduhou in Dingxiang, the Left Southern General in Yanmen, and the Lìjí Guduhou in Daijun. They all brought their own soldiers to gather intelligence on enemy movements for the counties and served as scouts. The Northern Xiongnu Chieftain was quite fearful, so he sent back the Han people he had previously captured as a gesture of goodwill. Every time they sent troops to the south, when they passed through Tinghou on their return trip, they would say, "We are only fighting those Xiongnu rebels; we dare not offend the Han Dynasty." In the year 27 AD, the Northern Xiongnu Chieftain sent envoys to Wuwei to request a marriage alliance. The Emperor convened a meeting of the ministers to discuss, but no conclusion was reached. The Crown Prince stood up and said, "The Southern Xiongnu has just surrendered to us, and the Northern Xiongnu is wary of us attacking them, so they are complying with our demands, eager to submit to us. Now we have not sent troops, but instead have been in contact with the Northern Xiongnu. I'm concerned that the Southern Xiongnu might reconsider their allegiance, and those who have surrendered from the Northern Xiongnu may not return." The Emperor agreed with the Crown Prince's reasoning, so he instructed the Prefect of Wuwei to reject the Northern Xiongnu's envoys' request.
In the 28th year of the emperor's reign, the Northern Xiongnu dispatched envoys to the capital, offering horses and furs as tribute, once again requesting a marriage alliance, and even requested some musical instruments and to bring some Hu people from various Western Regions to the capital for an audience. The emperor entrusted this matter to the Three Dukes for discussion on how to respond. Ban Biao, the Minister of Works, reported: I have heard that Emperor Xiaoxuan once cautioned the border generals: "The Xiongnu are a powerful nation, unpredictable, and skilled in deceit. When dealing with them, you must understand their true nature in order to effectively resist and counterattack; if you respond incorrectly, you will be despised and deceived by them." Now the Northern Xiongnu see that the Southern Xiongnu have surrendered to us, and they are afraid that we will attack them, so they repeatedly seek a marriage alliance, and come from a long way to trade with us, the Han Dynasty, even sending prestigious royal members with many gifts as tribute. All of this is deliberately showing themselves as powerful and wealthy to deceive us. The more they offer as tribute, the weaker their country is, and the more they seek a marriage alliance, the more fearful they become. However, we have not yet been able to fully help stabilize the Southern Xiongnu, so we should not completely sever ties with the Northern Xiongnu, as this would only delay their intentions, and we should still respond with the necessary courtesy. I believe we should grant them some rewards, approximately equivalent in value to their tribute, and clearly inform them about the previous dealings with Huhanye Chanyu and Zhizhi Chanyu.
First, the emperor should respond to the Xiongnu Chanyu's request and drafted a reply; the draft is roughly as follows: Chanyu, do you still recall the kindness of the Han Dynasty, thinking of the agreements made by our ancestors, wanting a marriage alliance to seek national stability? This idea is commendable! I sincerely appreciate it.
In the past, the Xiongnu often fought amongst each other. Thanks to the help of Emperor Xiaoxuan, the conflicts between Huhanye and Zhizhi were put to rest. They both sent envoys to the Han Dynasty to serve as subjects and protect the borders. Later, Zhizhi cut off relations with the Han Dynasty, while Huhanye stayed loyal and devoted. After the Han Dynasty defeated Zhizhi, Huhanye was able to keep his kingdom intact, and his descendants continue to this day. Now, the Southern Chanyu is marching his troops south to pledge allegiance to the Han Dynasty. Technically, he’s Huhanye’s rightful eldest son and should take the throne. However, because of power struggles, mistrust, and infighting, he has repeatedly requested assistance from the Han Dynasty to conquer the Northern Xiongnu, with various conspiracies and tricks emerging constantly.
However, I can’t just take your word for it. After all, the Northern Chanyu has been sending tribute to the Han for years and seeking a marriage alliance. So, I haven't agreed to your request just yet, to protect your reputation for loyalty and devotion. The Han Dynasty is well-known and rules over many nations. Wherever the sun shines, they are our subjects. All ethnic groups, near or far, will be rewarded if they obey and punished if they resist, as seen in the cases of Huhanye and Zhizhi.
Now, Chanyu, I see your sincerity in wanting a marriage alliance. Why do you need to have all the Western Regions come to pay respects as well? The Western Regions used to belong to the Xiongnu, so what is the difference between belonging to the Xiongnu or to the Han Dynasty? You have initiated wars multiple times, leaving the country empty, so as long as the tribute gifts are proper, there’s no need to send horses and furs. I’m giving you 500 pieces of silk, a bow, a quiver, and four arrows. I’m also rewarding the Left Marquis of Bones and the Right King of the Valley with 400 pieces of silk and a fine sword each.
You mentioned before that the musical instruments given to Hu Hanxie by the late emperor, the yǔ and sè, were broken and you wanted more. I have noted it down. However, considering that your country is still unstable and in a critical military period, the yǔ and sè are not as useful as bows and arrows, so they were not sent this time. I’m not being stingy with these little things, so if the envoy has any needs, please let us know, and I will send someone to deliver them.
The Emperor fully agreed with this response. In the twenty-ninth year, the Emperor rewarded the Southern Chanyu (Chanyu Nan) with tens of thousands of sheep. In the thirty-second year, envoys from the Northern Xiongnu came again, and the Emperor replied with a gift of silk, but he did not send any envoys.
Chanyu Bi died nine years later, and the court sent General Zhonglang Duan Chen with troops to offer condolences. During the mourning ceremony, they offered wine and rice and provided military protection. Bi's brother, King Zuo Xian Mo Li, succeeded to the throne. The Emperor sent envoys with an imperial edict to appease him, granting him the Emperor's seal and ribbon, along with hats, shoes, three sets of red robes, a child's dagger, a silk ribbon, and four thousand bolts of silk to distribute to other nobles. Since then, whenever a Chanyu passed away, the court would send people to offer condolences, perform sacrifices, and offer consolation gifts, which became a custom.
Chanyu Qiu Fu You Di Mo ascended the throne in the first year of Zhongyuan and died a year later, with his brother Han succeeding him. Yi Fa Yu Lu Di Han ascended the throne in the second year of Zhongyuan. In the second year of Yongping, the protector of the Northern Xiongnu, Qiu, surrendered with over a thousand people. After ruling for two years, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Han passed away, and Bi's son Shi succeeded him.
Chanyu Xi succeeded in the second year of Yongping. In the winter of the fifth year, about six to seven thousand cavalry from the Northern Xiongnu invaded Wuyuan Pass, then went on to loot Yuncheng, all the way to Yuanyang. The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu led his troops to drive them back, and Ma Xiang, the Prefect of Xihe, also led troops to support. Only then did the Northern Xiongnu retreat. After four years in power, Chanyu Xi died, and his son Su succeeded him, who became known as Chanyu Qiu Chu Che Lin. He died after only a few months, and Chanyu Xi's younger brother Chang took over.
Chanyu Hu Xie succeeded in the sixth year of Yongping. At that time, the Northern Xiongnu were still very powerful and frequently harassed the border, which greatly concerned the court. At the same time, the Northern Xiongnu Chanyu wanted to trade with the court and sent envoys to propose a peace treaty and marriage alliance. Emperor Xianzong of Han hoped to use this opportunity to establish friendly relations with them and agreed to their request in hopes of ending their raids.
In the eighth year before the Common Era, the emperor sent Sima Zheng Zhong of the Yuezhi cavalry to the north to deliver a letter. Consequently, the Southern Xubu Hou and others heard about the close relationship between the Han Dynasty and the northern Xiongnu, and they began to plot rebellion. They secretly conspired with the northern messengers, hoping to have the Xiongnu send troops to support their uprising. After Zheng Zhong went out of the pass, he sensed that something was amiss and began to observe secretly, eventually discovering the messengers sent by Xubu. So Zheng Zhong quickly reported to the emperor, recommending that a powerful general be appointed to guard against these two conspirators. Therefore, the court established the "Duliao Camp," appointing Wu Tang as the Zhonglang General overseeing the Duliao General's affairs, and sent Miao, Yan Zhang, and Guo with the Liyang Huya Camp soldiers to station at Manbai in Wuyuan; they also sent Cavalry Commander Qin Peng to station troops in Meiji. In the autumn of that year, the northern Xiongnu sent two thousand cavalry to scout Shuofang and even constructed wooden boats to cross the river to support those in the south who wanted to rebel, but upon realizing the Han Dynasty was well prepared, they retreated. However, they repeatedly harassed the border, committing atrocities so severe that the gates of Hexi had to be closed during the day, causing the emperor a great headache. In the sixteenth year before the Common Era, the emperor mobilized troops and dispatched several armies northward to confront the Xiongnu. The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu dispatched the Left Wise King Xin to accompany Grand Herald Jisong and Wu Tang from Gaoque in Shuofang to attack the King of Gaolin Wen Yu in Zhuoxie Mountain. Upon hearing that the Han army was approaching, the Xiongnu quickly fled north. Consequently, Jisong and Wu Tang were relieved of their duties for failing to capture Zhuoxie Mountain, and Cavalry Commander Lai Miao was appointed to succeed the Duliao General. That year, the northern Xiongnu invaded Yunzhong and even advanced to Yuyang, where Lian Fan, the Prefect of Yuyang, successfully repelled them. The emperor sent messenger Gao Hong with troops from three counties to pursue them, but they were unable to catch up.
In the first year of Jianchu, Lai Miaosheng was promoted to be the governor of Jiyin County, and the court appointed General Geng Bing as the General of Duliang. At this time, Wang Gaolin Wenyu took his troops back to Zhuoxieshan. Upon hearing this, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu sent light cavalry and troops from various border counties along with the Wuhuan troops to attack him, resulting in the beheading of hundreds and capturing three to four thousand people. That year, there was a locust plague in the south, causing a great famine. The emperor distributed food to over 30,000 poor people. In the seventh year of Jianchu, Geng Bing was transferred to be the commander of the Jinwu Guard, and Zhangye Prefect Deng Hong took over as the General of Duliang. In the eighth year of Jianchu, the Northern Xiongnu, led by Sanyulouzi Daren Ji Liusi and others, along with 38,000 people, 20,000 horses, and more than 100,000 cattle and sheep, surrendered at Wuyuansai.
In 806 AD, the Governor of Wuwei, Meng Yun, reported to the court that the Northern Xiongnu Chanyu wanted to engage in trade with Han officials. The emperor approved Meng Yun's report and sent envoys to welcome the Northern Chanyu and appease him with reassuring words. The Northern Xiongnu Chanyu then sent Dachegu Yimozhi Wang and others to bring over tens of thousands of cattle and horses to trade with Han merchants. Some Xiongnu kings and ministers even visited in person, and they were accommodated in various counties with official residences and rewards to entertain them.
Upon hearing this, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu sent light cavalry to raid the residents of Shangjun, plundering cattle and horses, and then driving the stolen goods back into the border.
In January of 807 AD, 73 prominent figures from the Northern Xiongnu, including Cheli and Zhuobing, fled to the Han Dynasty. At that point, the Northern Xiongnu were already in a weakened state, with their forces divided and morale low. They were being attacked from the south by the Dingling, from the rear by the Xianbei, from the left by the Xianbei, and from the right by the Western Regions. They could not hold on any longer and fled far from their homeland.
After reigning for twenty-three years, the Northern Xiongnu Chanyu passed away, and his son Xuan succeeded him as Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu.
Yi Tu became Chanyu Xuan in the second year of Yuanhe. That year, the Chanyu sent over a thousand men to Mount Zhuoxie to hunt, where they encountered the Wenyu Du King of the Northern Xiongnu. A battle broke out, and the Chanyu's forces succeeded in decapitating the Wenyu Du King and bringing back his head. In winter, Meng Yun reported, "We previously formed alliances with the Northern Xiongnu, but our southern people have raided them again. The Northern Chanyu feels betrayed by the Han and is considering invading our borders! I think we should return the captives from the south to appease them." The Emperor agreed with Meng Yun after consulting Yuan An. A decree stated, "The Xianyun and Xunyu tribes have long troubled the Central Plains. Though we were allied in name, it had no real impact. The people along the borders have suffered, fathers are fighting on the frontlines while sons are dying at home, vulnerable women cower behind city walls, orphaned children weep on the roads, elderly mothers and widows can only pray and weep, hoping for the return of their deceased loved ones from beyond the desert. How tragic! As the saying goes, 'The sea can hold all rivers because it is low everywhere.' What does a little humility hurt? Moreover, we have clarified our relationship with the Xiongnu through sincere words and clear agreements. They have also paid tribute multiple times; how can we betray their trust and invite trouble? General Du Liao and Colonel Pang Fen are ordered to return those captured from the south to the Northern Xiongnu. As for those who have captured heads and prisoners in battle from the south, their merits will be calculated and rewarded as usual." Then, the Southern Chanyu ordered the King of the Yudi Tribe to lead thousands of light cavalry to raid the Northern Xiongnu, resulting in over a thousand deaths. Seeing the Han Dynasty's favorable treatment of the Southern Xiongnu, the Northern Xiongnu also heard that the Han Dynasty was surrendering several thousand people every year.
In the first year of Zhanghe, the Xianbei people invaded the Left Region, attacked the Northern Xiongnu, secured a decisive victory, killed Yuli Chanyu, and brought back Xiongnu furs and pelts. The Northern Xiongnu were in disarray, comprising fifty-eight tribes, including Qulan, Chubei, and Huduxu, totaling two hundred thousand people and eight thousand elite soldiers, all surrendering to Yunzhong, Wuyuan, Shuofang, and Beidi.
Chanyu Xuan passed away after three years of rule, and his brother Tuntuhe succeeded him as Chanyu.
Xiulan Shizhu succeeded Chanyu Tuntuhe in the second year of Zhanghe. At that time, the Northern Xiongnu were in turmoil, compounded by famine and locust disasters, with waves of surrendering people. The Southern Chanyu was preparing to annex the Northern Ting when Emperor Suzong of the Han Dynasty died, and Empress Dowager Dou assumed control of the government. In July of that year, the Chanyu presented a memorial:
For several generations, my ancestors have received the grace of the emperor, which is truly hard to repay. Emperor Xiaozhang was wise and astute, and to effectively address the northern issue, he commanded the Wuhuan and Xianbei to launch an attack on the Northern Xiongnu, killing the Chanyu and inflicting heavy damage on their realm. Now, the newly surrendered Xuqu and others have informed me: "Last March, we set out from the Xiongnu capital, and at that time the Northern Chanyu was busy dealing with the southern army and fearing Dingling and Xianbei, so he fled to a distant place and took refuge west of Anhou River. In January of this year, Goduhou and others supported the Chanyu's half-brother, Prince Youxian, as the new Chanyu. In their bid for the Chanyu position, they have all scattered." Together with various kings, Goduhou, and the newly surrendered leaders, I discussed strategies, and everyone agreed that we should take advantage of the internal division of the Northern Xiongnu, immediately launch an attack, completely eliminate the Northern Xiongnu, unify the north and south, ensuring the Han Dynasty has no concerns in the north.
On the eighth day of this month, the newly surrendered Right Xiu Ri Zhu Xian Tang traveled a long distance to report to me that many tribes of the Northern Xiongnu are willing to submit to the Han Dynasty. It's just that they are worried about losing face and embarrassed to approach us for surrender, so no one has come yet. If we launch an attack, they will definitely respond. If we do not act this year, they may unite again. I recall that since my late father submitted to the Han Dynasty, we have always received the protection and care of the court, with a strong military presence guarding the borders. The court has been supporting us vigorously for forty years. We, who grew up in Han territory, rely on the court for our livelihood. The court's annual rewards reach billions, and although we live a comfortable life, we feel ashamed that we have not had the chance to repay the court's kindness. Therefore, I hope to mobilize the domestic army, the old Huns from various tribes, and the newly surrendered elite soldiers. I will send Left Gu Li Wang Shizi and Left Huyan Ri Zhubi to lead ten thousand cavalry from Shuofang, and Left Xian King Anguo and Right Da Qie Qu King Jiele Su to lead ten thousand cavalry from Juyan, with plans to meet in Xiongnu territory in December. I will lead the remaining ten thousand troops to defend Wuyuan and Shuofang Pass as a rear guard. I consider my own abilities to be average, and my military strength is relatively weak, insufficient to handle both internal and external challenges. I hope the court can send Geng Bing, General Du Liao Deng Hong, and the governors of Xihe, Yunzhong, Wuyuan, Shuofang, and Shangjun to advance north together, and instruct the governors of Beidi and Anding to respectively guard the fortresses, in hopes of pacifying the Northern Xiongnu through the emperor's deterrent reputation. The key to our success this year is crucial. I have instructed all tribes to ready themselves for war, and all troops will assemble by the Yellow River after the Longci Festival in September. I earnestly ask Your Majesty to consider my request with utmost seriousness!
The Empress Dowager reviewed Geng Bing's proposal. Geng Bing then reported: "During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he wanted to conquer the Xiongnu, but missed the right timing, so he was unsuccessful. It was only during the reign of Emperor Xuan that the Chanyu of the Xiongnu surrendered, the border stabilized, the country united, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. This peaceful situation lasted for over sixty years. Later, after Wang Mang usurped power and caused chaos, the Chanyu rebelled again. Emperor Guangwu succeeded to the throne, once again sought the submission of the Xiongnu, and the devastated border regions were restored. The Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes gained influence in all directions. The effect was as such. Now we are fortunate to have a perfect opportunity due to internal conflicts among the Northern Xiongnu. We can take advantage of their infighting, which would benefit the country; therefore, this plan should be approved." Geng Bing then stated that he had received the emperor's grace and should serve in the military. The Empress Dowager agreed to his suggestion.
In the first year of Yongyuan, Geng Bing was appointed as the General of the Western Expedition. Together with the General of Cavalry Dou Xian, they led eight thousand cavalry troops, along with Douliao soldiers and thirty thousand cavalry troops from the Southern Xiongnu, launching an attack on the Northern Xiongnu from the Shuofang region and achieved a decisive victory. The Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu fled in panic, and the Han army captured over twenty thousand prisoners. The details are recorded in the "Biography of Dou Xian."
In the second year of spring, Deng Hong was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and Governor Huangfu Leng of Dingxiang acted as the deputy commander of the Liaodong General. The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu once again requested the elimination of the Northern Xiongnu, so the court sent Left Valley King Li Shizi and others to lead two groups of eight thousand cavalry, setting out from Jilu Pass. Langzhong General Geng Tan dispatched officials to escort them. After arriving at Zhuoxie Mountain, they left behind their supplies, divided into two teams, and led light cavalry to attack from two different paths. The left route went north of the Western Sea and reached the north side of Heyun; the right route circled around the Tian Shan from the west of the Xiongnu River, crossing the Ganwei River to the south. After the two armies met, they surrounded the Northern Xiongnu Chanyu at night. The Chanyu was taken by surprise and led over a thousand elite soldiers to fight. The Chanyu was injured, fell off his horse and got back on, fleeing with dozens of light cavalry, barely escaping. The Han army captured the Chanyu's imperial seal, captured the Chanyu's wife and five others, beheaded eight thousand, captured thousands, and returned victorious. At this time, the southern region kept winning victories, with many people surrendering. The number of households had reached thirty-four thousand, the population stood at two hundred thirty-seven thousand three hundred, and the army had fifty-one thousand seven hundred soldiers. Since the Langzhong General was only equipped with two officials, Geng Tan requested an increase of twelve more officials due to the large number of new surrendering people. It is said that after three years, the Northern Chanyu was defeated by Right Colonel Geng Kui and vanished without a trace. His brother, Right Valley King Yu Chujian, was appointed as the Chanyu, leading thousands of people to the Pulei Sea, and even sent envoys to the court to seek peace. General Dou Xian sent a memorial to the court, suggesting the appointment of Yu Chujian as the Northern Chanyu, which the court agreed to.
In the fourth year, the court sent Geng Kui to give Chanyu's seal and ribbon to Yu Chujian, rewarding him with four jade swords, a carriage with a feathered roof, and sent Zhonglang Jiang Ren Shang with the emperor's token to protect him, stationed at Yiwu, just as had been done with the Southern Chanyu before. They were planning to assist him in returning to Beiting, but Dou Xian was killed. In the fifth year, Yu Chujian rebelled again and fled back to the north. The emperor then sent General Wang Fu of the Ministry of War with over a thousand cavalry, along with Ren Shang, to chase after him. They lured Yu Chujian back and killed him, completely wiping out his army. When Chanyu Tunhe died after six years, his brother's son Anguo succeeded him as Chanyu. Anguo served as Chanyu for five years. At the beginning of Anguo's reign as the Left Wise King, he had little reputation. However, the Left Wise King Shizi was a formidable character, being both intelligent and brave, with extensive knowledge. Previous Chanyus Tunhe and Xuande admired his decisiveness, so they often sent him to lead troops out of the borders to fight in Beiting. Upon their return, they were heavily rewarded, and the emperor also treated him specially. Therefore, people throughout the country respected Shizi but were not very loyal to Anguo. Anguo therefore disliked Shizi and wanted to kill him. The newly surrendered tribes, who had been plundered by Shizi while outside the borders, held a grudge against him. Anguo used these newly surrendered tribes to plot against Shizi. After Anguo became Chanyu, Shizi was successively promoted to the Left Wise King. He discovered the conspiracy involving the Chanyu and the newly surrendered tribes, so he moved to the Wuyuan area. Every time the Chanyu held a meeting, Shizi pretended to be sick and did not attend. Huangfu Leng knew about this and protected him, preventing him from attending, which only fueled the Chanyu's anger further.
In the spring of the sixth year of Yongyuan, Huang Fu Ling was dismissed from office, and the court appointed Zhu Hui, the commander of the Jinwu Guard, as the acting General of Liaodong. At that time, tensions were high between the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu and Zhonglang General Du Chong, and the Chanyu lodged a formal accusation against Du Chong in a letter. Du Chong suggested that the Prefect of Xiriver suppress the Chanyu's accusation, and this issue never reached the emperor. Du Chong and Zhu Hui submitted a joint memorial to the emperor, saying, "The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Anguo alienates the veteran ministers and seeks to win over the newly surrendered, and he plans to kill the Left Wise King and the Left Tai and others. Worse still, the newly surrendered right-wing troops are conspiring to coerce Anguo into rebellion against the Han Dynasty. The three counties of Xiriver, Shangjun, and Anding are all on high alert!" The emperor summoned the ministers to discuss, and everyone unanimously agreed, "Barbarians are notoriously unpredictable, but with the Han army strong, they shouldn't dare to act rashly. We should send a clever envoy to the Chanyu court, together with Du Chong, Zhu Hui, and the Prefect of Xiriver, to keep an eye on their movements. If there is nothing unusual, allow Du Chong to meet with Anguo and his ministers to reprimand their subordinates for their reckless behavior that endangers the border and to jointly punish the offenders. If they do not listen, respond flexibly based on the circumstances, and reward and punish according to the situation after the matter is over, to serve as a warning to other barbarians." The emperor accepted this suggestion.
So Zhu Hui and Du Chong set out, heading straight for the Chanyu's court. Anguo was taken aback when he heard that the Han army had arrived in the middle of the night; he abandoned his tent and fled, leading his troops to capture the newly surrendered Xiongnu, intending to kill Shizi. Shizi had made preparations and fled into Manbei City with his entire family. Anguo chased to the city gate, which was tightly shut and impassable. Zhu Hui sent someone to convince Anguo to surrender, but he refused to listen. With the city under siege, Zhu Hui established a camp in Wuyuan. Du Chong and Zhu Hui mobilized cavalry from various counties and pursued them swiftly, terrifying the Xiongnu. Anguo's uncle, Duke Gudu, and others, fearing for their lives, ended up killing Anguo. Anguo had only been Chanyu for a year, and his son Shizi succeeded him. Speaking of Shizi, he was the son of the Xiongnu Chanyu Hou Di and became Chanyu in the sixth year of Yongyuan. Consequently, five to six hundred newly surrendered Xiongnu launched a surprise attack on Shizi in the middle of the night. At that time, Wang Tian, an official from Anji County, engaged them with the garrison troops and emerged victorious. This was a significant event that terrified the newly surrendered Xiongnu. Fifteen tribes, totaling over 200,000 people, united in rebellion! They forcibly elected Wang Fenghou, the son of the former Chanyu Huntuhe, as their new Chanyu. They began killing officials, burning relay stations, and setting tents ablaze, and fled with a large convoy towards Shuofang, trying to escape to the north. Upon hearing this, the court quickly dispatched General Deng Hong, Captain Feng Zhu, and General Zhu Hui, leading soldiers from the Yulin Army and the five battalions of the Northern Army, along with elite archers and border soldiers selected from across the regions, a total of 40,000 troops to suppress the rebellion. At the same time, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu and the Middle General Du Chong were stationed in Pastoral City, but Wang Fenghou led more than 10,000 cavalry to besiege them, but they were unsuccessful.
Winter arrived, and Deng Hong and his men reached Meiji. They unexpectedly took advantage of the frozen river to cross the dangerous area and headed towards Manyigu. The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu sent his son with ten thousand cavalry, along with Du Chong's four thousand cavalry, to pursue Feng Hou along with Deng Hong and his men. They chased them to a place called Dachengsai, achieving a decisive victory by killing over three thousand enemies and capturing more than ten thousand prisoners and defectors. Feng Zhu subsequently divided his forces to pursue Feng Hou's other troops, killing an additional four thousand enemies. Ren Shang led eight thousand cavalry, including the Xianbei Grand Protector Suba Hui and the Wuhuan chieftain Wuke, to intercept Feng Hou in Manyigu, defeating him yet again. Altogether, they killed nearly seventeen thousand people.
In the end, Feng Hou escaped the border with the remaining remnants of his defeated troops, and the Han army was unable to catch up with him. It was not until January of the seventh year of Yongyuan that the Han army returned to the capital.
Feng Zhu established the Huya Camp in Wuyuan, then disbanded the forces of the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Qiang tribes, appointing Suba Hui as the King of the Multitudes and rewarding him with gold and textiles. Deng Hong returned to the capital and was imprisoned for his role in the defeat stemming from delayed military action, which ultimately led to his death. The Emperor later discovered that Zhu Hui and Du Chong had mishandled the barbarian affairs, and ultimately had them executed. Yanmen Prefect Pang Fen was then appointed as the General Who Pacifies the Liaodong. Pang Fen divided his forces into two groups beyond the border, leading the right group and positioning it at the foot of Zhuoxieshan; the left group was stationed northwest of Shuofang, several hundred miles away.
In the winter of the eighth year, the left Hu tribes rebelled against each other because of mutual distrust and returned to the Shuofang Pass. Pang Fen welcomed and pacified them, resulting in more than four thousand elite troops and over ten thousand commoners surrendering. Pang Fen resettled them across various northern counties. The Southern Chanyu suspected his right minister Wuyu Du Wang of colluding with An Guo and wanted to interrogate him. Wuyu Du Wang led several thousand people in another rebellion, fleeing to the mountains outside the pass, bringing harm to the local population. In the autumn, Pang Fen, Feng Zhu, and the armies of various counties attacked Wuyu Du Wang, who ultimately surrendered. Therefore, Pang Fen moved Wuyu Du Wang's followers along with over twenty thousand others who had previously surrendered to Anding County and Beidi County. Upon his return to court, Feng Zhu was promoted to Grand Architect. Fenghou's followers were starving and destitute, defeated by the Xianbei people, with nowhere else to turn; they fled back to the pass in a continuous stream.
Chanyu Shizi Li reigned for four years before his death, and his eldest son Tan succeeded him. Wan Shi Shi Zhudi succeeded Chanyu Tan and ascended the throne in the tenth year of the Yongyuan era. In the twelfth year, Pang Fen was appointed as the Intendant of Henan, and Shuofang Prefect Wang Biao took over as the General of the Duliang Command. The Southern Chanyu had been continuously sending troops to attack Fenghou for several years, capturing many people and retrieving over a thousand prisoners, resulting in an increasingly dire situation for Fenghou. In the sixteenth year, the Northern Chanyu sent envoys to the capital to pay tribute, seeking peace and the restoration of the alliance established during Chanyu Huhan Xie’s reign. Emperor He believed their rituals were insufficient and declined their request, but merely bestowed some gifts without responding to their envoys. In the first year of Yuanxing, the Northern Chanyu sent envoys to Dunhuang to offer tribute, claiming poverty and an inability to prepare a complete set of rituals, requesting high officials to come and meet them, and offering to send their son to serve at the court. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng was in power and did not agree to their request, only bestowing some gifts.
In the third year of Yongchu, in the summer, Han Cong, a person from the Han Dynasty, followed the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu to Chang'an to meet the emperor. When he returned, he said to the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, "There are floods in the Guandong region, and many people are starving. Now is a good time to attack!" The Chanyu believed him and led a rebellion, attacking the Zhonglang General stationed in Meiji. In the autumn, Wang Biao died. In the winter, the court sent General He Xi and Deputy Zhonglang General Pang Xiong to suppress him.
In the spring of the fourth year of Yongchu, Chanyu Tan sent more than a thousand cavalry to attack the Changshan and Zhongshan areas. The court appointed Liang Qin, the Colonel of the Western Region, as the General of Duli, and let him and the Liaodong Prefect Geng Kui defeat the Xiongnu cavalry. For more details, you can refer to the biographies of Liang Qin and Geng Kui. When the Chanyu saw that the Han army was attacking from all directions, he was frightened and turned to Han Cong and said, "You said that all the Han people were dead at that time. Then what about these people?" So he quickly sent envoys to surrender, and the court accepted his surrender. The Chanyu removed his hat, knelt barefoot, and confessed his crimes to Pang Xiong and the others, saying that he deserved to die. The court pardoned him and restored his previous status. The Chanyu also sent back more than 10,000 Han men and women and Qiang people who had been captured and sold by the Xiongnu. In the first year of Wuchu, Liang Qin was dismissed, and the court appointed Geng Kui, the Prefect of Yunzhong, as the General of Duli.
In the first year of Wuchu, Geng Kui was dismissed, and the court appointed Deng Zun, the Colonel of the Wuhuan, as the General of Duli. Deng Zun was the maternal cousin of the Empress Dowager, so he became a true general from the beginning.
In the fourth year of Wuchu, Feng Hou was defeated by the Xianbei, and his subordinates scattered in flight, all seeking refuge with the Northern Xiongnu. In the spring of the fifth year of Wuchu, Feng Hou returned with more than a hundred cavalry, surrendered at the border of Shuofang, and Deng Zun reported to the court, recommending that Feng Hou be relocated to Yingchuan County.
In the first year of the Jianguang era, Deng Zun was dismissed from office, and the court reappointed Geng Kui as the General of the Northern Expeditions. At that time, the Xianbei frequently harassed the border, and Geng Kui, along with Wenyudu King Huyou Hui, led the newly surrendered Xianbei to repeatedly venture beyond the border to combat their fellow Xianbei over several years. Upon their return, they were stationed at important strategic locations. However, Geng Kui mobilized troops and horses too frequently, causing the newly surrendered Xianbei to resent the court and secretly plot rebellion.
After twenty-seven years of reign, Chanyu Tan passed away, and his brother Ba ascended to the throne. Geng Kui was dismissed from office again, and the court appointed Fadu, the Prefect of Taiyuan, to replace him as the General of the Northern Expeditions.
Wuji Marquis Shizhudi ascended as Chanyu Ba in the third year of Yanguang. In the summer, a faction of the newly surrendered leaders, known as the Azu tribe, staged a rebellion! They even forced Huyou Hui to flee with them. Huyou Hui declared, "I am old and have already benefited from the Han Dynasty's favor; I would rather die than flee with you rebels!" The rebels wanted to kill him, but luckily someone saved him, and he survived. The Azu tribe fled with their wives, children, and luggage. Colonel Ma Yi dispatched troops and Hu cavalry to pursue them, nearly annihilating them, capturing tens of thousands of cattle, sheep, and horses. In the winter, Fadu passed away.
In the fourth year of Yanguang, Fu Zhong, the Prefect of Hanyang, took over as General. However, Fu Zhong also passed away that winter. In the first year of Yongjian, Pang Can, the Prefect of Liaodong, succeeded him as General.
Previously, many of the border fortresses west of Shuofang were not repaired, and the Xianbei people often raided southward, even killing our border generals. The Chanyu (the title of the Xiongnu ruler) was deeply concerned, so he wrote a memorial requesting the repair of the border fortresses, which was approved by Emperor Shun. He then dispatched troops from Liyang Camp to garrison the northern border of Zhongshan, bolstered the military presence in various border counties, stationed troops at the border fortifications, and intensified military training.
After four years of reign, the Chanyu passed away, and his brother Xiuli succeeded him. In the third year of the Yongjian era, Qu Teruo succeeded Xiuli as Chanyu. In the fourth year of the Yongjian era, Pang Can was promoted to Grand Herald, and the Eastern Pingxiang Song Han replaced him as General of Douliao. In the second year of Yangjia, Song Han was promoted to Grand Minister, and the Wuhuan Colonel Geng Ye replaced him as General of Douliao. In the first year of Yonghe, Geng Ye fell ill and requested to resign, and the Protector of the Qiang, Ma Xu, replaced him as General of Douliao.
It is said that five years ago in the summer, the Left Ju Long King Wusi of the Southern Xiongnu and Cheniu rebelled, leading over three thousand cavalry to raid Xihai, and even colluded with the Right Xian King to surround Meiji with seven to eight thousand cavalry, killing the Chief Historian of Shuofang and Daijun. This was intolerable; General Ma Xu, along with Colonel Liang Bing and Wuhuan Colonel Wang Yuan, gathered the border forces along with the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Qiang troops, totaling over twenty thousand people, and launched a fierce surprise attack, defeating them decisively.
However, the rebels did not lose heart; they regrouped their forces, launched attacks on cities, and plundered at will. The emperor sent envoys to confront the Chanyu, appealing to his reason and emotions, persuading him to surrender the rebel army. The Chanyu never intended to rebel. Upon hearing this, he quickly removed his hat, knelt outside the tent, and begged Liang Bing for forgiveness. Since Liang Bing was sick, he appointed Chen Gui, the Governor of Wuyuan, to take his place as general. Chen Gui felt that the Chanyu was unable to manage his subordinates, so he exerted intense pressure on him, which led to the Chanyu and his brother, Prince Zuo Xian, taking their own lives. Chanyu Lin Li reigned for thirteen years. Chen Gui also wanted to relocate the Chanyu's relatives to the interior, but those who had surrendered began to waver once more, and Chen Gui was subsequently imprisoned and relieved of his duties.
General Liang Shang believed that the Qiang and Hu tribes were rebellious and they had not fully consolidated their power. It would be difficult to conquer them by force, so we should adopt a strategy of surrender. He wrote to the emperor, saying: "The Xiongnu people have rebelled, and they themselves know the gravity of their offenses. Like cornered beasts and desperate birds, they all just want to survive. Moreover, they are numerous and strong, so it is impossible to eliminate them all at once. Transportation is becoming increasingly difficult, the army is worn out, and the country is depleted, yet we still have to support the border. This offers no benefit to the nation. I believe General Du Liao, Ma Xu, is quite strategic and has long been stationed on the border, very knowledgeable about military affairs. Every time I receive his reports, they are in line with my thoughts. Ma Xu should be allowed to build strong defensive fortifications, use kindness and sincerity to win them over, publicly announce rewards, and clearly outline the deadline and conditions for surrender. In this way, those rebellious Xiongnu people will surrender, and the country will be at peace." The emperor agreed to Liang Shang's proposal and ordered Ma Xu to surrender the rebellious Xiongnu people. Liang Shang also wrote to Ma Xu and his subordinates, saying: "Our country is now peaceful, and we have not fought for a long time. The Xiongnu cavalry are good at field battles, with arrows raining down in combat, and victory is quickly decided. This is their strength and our weakness. We are good at defending with strong crossbows, holding fortresses, and waiting for them to tire out. This is our strength and their weakness. Therefore, we should leverage our strengths, monitor their movements, set rewards, encourage them to repent and not jeopardize everything for small gains." Ma Xu and the various counties followed Liang Shang's strategy. As a result, Yidi, a subordinate of King Youxian, surrendered to Ma Xu with over 13,000 followers.
In autumn, Ju Long and his followers rebelled alongside the Chanyu's chariot. They allied with the Wuhuan to the east and bribed the Qiang, Rong, and other minority groups to the west, amassing an army of tens of thousands. They launched an attack and breached the Hu Ya Camp in Jingzhao, killing the Commandant and the military governor of Shangjun, then looted the four provinces of Bingzhou, Liangzhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou. The court had no option but to relocate the capital of Xihe County to Lishi, and the capital of Shangjun was moved to Xiayang, while the capital of Shuofang County was relocated to Wuyuan. In winter, the court dispatched Middle General Zhang Dan with troops from various Youzhou Wuhuan counties to confront them. They engaged in battle at Mayi, slaying over 3,000 foes, capturing many prisoners, and seizing a large number of weapons and livestock. Several leaders under Ju Long's command surrendered, but Wusu persisted in raiding with his forces and the Wuhuan. In the following spring, Ma Xu led five thousand Xianbei cavalry to Gu Cheng to fight against Wusu, killing hundreds of people. Zhang Dan was notably brave and skilled at calming his soldiers, and the soldiers in the army all followed his commands. Later, they encircled the enemy tightly, chasing them all the way to Tianshan, defeating the Wuhuan, killing all their leaders, saving the Han people, and capturing a large number of livestock and property. In summer, Ma Xu was relieved of his duties, and the court appointed Wu Wu as his replacement. In the autumn of the first year of Han'an, Wusu, together with Yudi Taiqi and Qie Qubeide, raided Bingzhou.
Hulanruo's son, Zhuo, was appointed as the Chanyu in the second year of the Han An era before he arrived in the capital. The emperor personally received him in the palace, and the Grand Herald presented him with a seal and a ceremonial sash, leading him into the hall. The emperor rewarded him with a green carriage, horses, chariots, an imperial guard, cavalry, jade swords, and many other items, as well as two thousand pieces of colored cloth. The Chanyu's wife and followers were also rewarded with gold brocade, various items, two carriages, and horses. The court sent a General with a decree to escort the Chanyu back to the Southern Court. The emperor ordered the Grand Herald, the Minister of Rites, and envoys from various states to hold a grand reception outside the Guangyang Gate, with a grand feast, performances of song and dance, and various other entertainments. Emperor Shun even attended the Walnut Palace to watch. In winter, General Ma Shi secretly recruited assassins to kill Julongwusi and sent his head to Luoyang. In the first year of Jiankang, the court continued its campaign against the remnants of Wusi, killing more than 1,200 people. The remaining Wuhuan, numbering over 700,000, all surrendered to Ma Shi, with countless captured carts, cattle, and sheep. After five years as Chanyu, Zhuo passed away. Yiling's son, Zhuo, ascended the throne in the first year of Jianhe. In the first year of Yongshou, the Xiongnu rebelled again, raiding the Meiji and Anding regions, and Zhang Huan, the Commandant of the vassal state, defeated and subdued them. This event is recorded in the "Biography of Zhang Huan." In the first year of Yongxi, the various tribes of the Southern Xiongnu united in rebellion and, along with the Wuhuan and Xianbei, invaded nine border counties. The court appointed Zhang Huan as the Northern General to suppress them, and the various tribes of the Chanyu surrendered. Zhang Huan believed the Chanyu was unfit to govern, so he arrested the Chanyu and appointed the King of Left Valley Li as the new Chanyu. Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty decreed, "The 'Spring and Autumn Annals' states, 'great dwellings are upright,' Zhuo has always been loyal; why depose him without cause? Send him back to the Xiongnu!"
The Chanyu Ju Che'er reigned as Chanyu for twenty-five years before he died, and his son succeeded him. Tu Te Ruo Shi Zhu ascended to the position of Chanyu (his name is not recorded in historical records) in the first year of the Xi Ping era. In the sixth year, Chanyu and the Zhonglang general Zang Min led troops out of Yanmen Pass to attack the Xianbei led by Tan Shihuai, achieving a great victory. That year, Chanyu died, and his son Hu Zheng succeeded him. Chanyu Hu Zheng ascended to the throne in the first year of the Guanghe era. Two years later, the Zhonglang general Zhang Xiu had a falling out with Chanyu, and Zhang Xiu took it upon himself to assassinate Chanyu, installing the Right Righteous King Qiang Qu as the new Chanyu. Zhang Xiu was imprisoned and sent to trial for assassinating Chanyu without court approval. Chanyu Qiang Qu ascended to the throne in the second year of the Guanghe era. In the fourth year of the Zhongping era, the former Prefect of Zhongshan, Zhang Chun, rebelled, leading Xianbei forces to attack various border counties. Emperor Ling ordered the mobilization of the Southern Xiongnu army to assist Governor Liu Yu of Youzhou in suppressing Zhang Chun. Chanyu sent the Left Righteous King with cavalry to Youzhou. People within Xiongnu were worried that Chanyu would continue to send troops, and in the fifth year of Zhongping, over ten thousand people, including Xiluo and Xiuzhe from the Right Wing, rebelled and killed Chanyu. Chanyu Qiang Qu ruled as Chanyu for ten years, and his son, the Right Righteous King Yu Fu Luo, succeeded him. Chi Zhi Shi Zhu Hou Yu Fu Luo succeeded as Chanyu in the fifth year of Zhongping. Those who killed his father also rebelled, proclaiming Xubugu Dou as Chanyu, while Yu Fu Luo surrendered himself to the court. Just as Emperor Ling passed away, chaos erupted throughout the land, and Chanyu, along with several thousand cavalrymen, joined forces with the White Wave bandits to attack the counties of Henei and others. However, the common people had all gone into hiding, and there were no benefits to be gained from looting, resulting in heavy losses for his army. Yu Fu Luo wanted to return to Xiongnu, but the Xiongnu people did not accept him, so he stayed in the Hedong region. Xubugu Dou died after a year as Chanyu, leaving the position of Chanyu in Southern Xiongnu vacant, with an old king managing state affairs in the interim. Chanyu Yu Fu Luo died after ruling as Chanyu for seven years, and his brother, Hu Chu Quan, took over the Chanyu position.
Huchuquan ascended to the position of Chanyu in the second year of Xingping. Because his brother had been ousted from the throne and could not return to their homeland, he was often attacked by the Xianbei people. In the first year of Jian'an, Emperor Xian fled back to the east from Chang'an. At that time, the Righteous King, along with Han Xian, the leader of the Baibo bandits, protected the emperor and resisted Li Jue and Guo Si. After the emperor returned to Luoyang and then moved to Xuchang, Huchuquan was finally able to return to his homeland.
In the twenty-first year, the Chanyu came to pay his respects to Cao Cao, who kept him in Ye City and sent him back to Beihuo to oversee the Southern Xiongnu.
When the Han Dynasty was first established, they encountered the cunning and ruthless Chanyu Modun of the Xiongnu, who had strong soldiers and horses. Although Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang was renowned across the land, he almost found himself trapped in Pingcheng. Despite Emperor Wen Liu Heng's diligent governance, he was unable to exact revenge. By the time of Emperor Wu Liu Che, who was determined to conquer the Xiongnu, he sent troops into battle multiple times, with banners blocking out the sun and flames of war reaching near Ganquan Palace. Xiongnu cavalry even penetrated deep into the heart of the Han Dynasty many times. The battles were truly exhausting, relying on divine intervention for support. Although the Xiongnu suffered heavy losses, the Han Dynasty was also significantly weakened, resulting in mutual devastation.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan Liu Xun, internal strife erupted among the Xiongnu, leading Chanyu Hu Hanxie to surrender. Emperor Xuan adopted a policy of appeasement, allowing Chanyu Hu Hanxie to assist in defending the Han Dynasty's borders, lifting the guard in border areas and allowing the people to recuperate. The emperor, dressed in ceremonial attire, held a grand ceremony by the Qingwei River to receive Chanyu Hu Hanxie with great honor. From that point on, there were no more wars along the northern border for over sixty years. Later, Wang Mang usurped power and clashed with the Xiongnu again. This was followed by the chaos of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xuan's reign, leading to the fragmentation of the Han Dynasty's territory. Taking advantage of the situation, the Xiongnu grew stronger and began to cause chaos again, invading the borders and endangering the people.
After the Eastern Han Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu reunified the realm, he restored friendly relations with the Xiongnu, sent and received envoys and gifts. However, the Xiongnu Chanyu grew increasingly arrogant and overbearing, and internal conflicts deepened. Emperor Guangwu was busy dealing with domestic affairs and had little time to attend to border matters. He could only express his thanks and then bolster the military presence and settle more civilians in the border regions. Once the situation in the Guandong region stabilized, and Longxi and Shu were pacified, the valiant and skilled generals were itching to prove themselves and replicate the feats of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. However, Emperor Guangwu was weary of warfare; he sought to prioritize cultural and political advancement, so he did not agree to their requests.
Later, internal strife erupted within the Xiongnu, and some Xiongnu surrendered to the Han Dynasty, seeking to restore the friendly relations of the Chanyu Huhanxie era, to jointly resist other nomadic tribes in the north, and expressed their willingness to become vassals of the Han Dynasty. The Han Emperor accepted this proposal, ordered the allocation of land along the northern border for their settlement, sent envoys to facilitate their settlement in accordance with established protocols, prepared clothing and ceremonial vessels for them, bestowed official titles upon them, and formally conferred the title of Chanyu upon them. This led to the division of the Xiongnu into the Southern and Northern Xiongnu. They were rife with conflicts, frequently clashing with one another, but ultimately, the Han Dynasty's border regions were stabilized.
Later, the Han Dynasty also sent troops multiple times to attack the Xiongnu. Dou Xian, Geng Kui, and others led the army north, using various clever tactics to penetrate deep into Xiongnu territory. They pursued for over three thousand li, broke the Xiongnu's sacrificial sites, burned their tents, killed many Xiongnu people, captured the Xiongnu's queen consort, and erected stone tablets to record this victory before returning triumphantly. The Xiongnu Chanyu was so frightened that he fled to the Wusun. The northern region lay in desolation. If they had pursued and driven the Xiongnu beyond the Yinshan Mountains to the north and the West River to the west, the Xiongnu issue could have been completely resolved. This would have achieved Emperor Guangwu's strategic goal and prevented the invasion of the Central Plains by the Western Region barbarians. Geng Guo's (Geng Bing) plan would not have been buried, and Yuan An's suggestions would have been adopted by future generations. This would have been a truly great achievement!
However, Dou Xian was complacent about his victories, neglected long-term considerations, acted arrogantly, abused power, and ended up supporting the Northern Xiongnu, allowing them to regain strength and showering them with favor. He became consumed by his own pleasures, neglecting the nation's safety and making a grave mistake. Thinking back on everything that happened before, it truly breaks the heart! Subsequently, the Han Dynasty's border policy errors led to frequent uprisings in border areas, and the threat of the Xiongnu still existed. How can we possibly sum this up in just a few simple sentences? Eventually, the Han Dynasty's guard against the Xiongnu slackened, ultimately leading to the loss of territory and the downfall of the dynasty. Alas! A levee of a thousand li may collapse because of an ant hole - the lessons of triumph and failure are deeply instructive!
Legend has it that we shattered the Xiongnu, and the border became peaceful, with hardly any reports of battles. Ah, it's a pity. Ambition is like an unshakeable burden, and in the end, it will bring you a heap of trouble.
The line "The Xiongnu are divided, and news of feather letters is rare" describes the situation at that time, indicating a peaceful border with fewer conflicts. However, what followed proved the truth of the saying "Ambition is hard to let go of, and in the end, it leads to chaos." This ambition is like a ticking time bomb; you think it has settled down, but it can explode at any moment, causing endless trouble. So, people need to stay grounded and not get caught up in unrealistic fantasies.
In conclusion, these four lines of poetry capture the situation well, summarizing the context and revealing an important truth. "The Xiongnu are divided, and news of feather letters is rare. Ambition is hard to let go of, and in the end, it leads to chaos." These eight words are definitely worth reflecting on.
