Xiongnu Campaigns · Han · Dynasty · History

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Time Capsules

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129 BCE

Wei Qing Strikes Longcheng from Shanggu

On his first independent command, Wei Qing rode from Shanggu to strike the Xiongnu center at Longcheng.

ZhangjiakouHebei

128 BCE

Wei Qing's Yanmen Expedition

Wei Qing led thirty thousand cavalry through Yanmen and struck Xiongnu forces beyond the frontier.

NorthHong Kong

127 BCE

Wei Qing Recovers the Ordos and Founds Shuofang

Wei Qing drove out the White Sheep and Loufan kings, recovered the Ordos Loop, and enabled the founding of Shuofang Commandery.

Henan

124 BCE

Wei Qing Encircles the Right Worthy King

Advancing through Gaoque, Wei Qing surrounded the Right Worthy King's camp at night and captured a large host.

BayannurInner Mongolia

123 BCE

Wei Qing's First Dingxiang Offensive

Wei Qing led six subordinate generals from Dingxiang and inflicted several thousand casualties in the spring offensive.

Ding Xiang CountyXinzhouShanxi

123 BCE

Wei Qing's Second Dingxiang Offensive

A little over a month later, Wei Qing again crossed from Dingxiang and inflicted more than ten thousand casualties.

Ding Xiang CountyXinzhouShanxi

123 BCE

Huo Qubing's First Expedition with Wei Qing

The Book of Han counts two expeditions under Wei Qing; this record preserves the first deployment as a distinct canonical count.

Ding Xiang CountyXinzhouShanxi

123 BCE

Huo Qubing's Eight-Hundred-Rider Raid

Huo Qubing led eight hundred light cavalry hundreds of li beyond the main army, taking over two thousand enemy casualties and captives.

Ding Xiang CountyXinzhouShanxi

121 BCE

Huo Qubing's Spring Hexi Offensive

Huo Qubing rode from Longxi through six days of combat, crossed beyond Yanzhi Mountain, and defeated Xiongnu forces below Gaolan.

Long Xi CountyDingxiGansu

Gao Lan CountyLanzhouGansu

121 BCE

Huo Qubing's Summer Qilian Offensive

In the summer offensive, Huo Qubing crossed Juyan and drove into the Qilian region, taking more than thirty thousand casualties and captives.

Qi Lian CountyHaibeiQinghai

121 BCE

Huo Qubing Receives the Hunye Surrender

Huo Qubing crossed the river to secure the Hunye king's surrender, suppressed wavering factions, and escorted tens of thousands into Han territory.

JiuquanGansu

HexiTianjin

119 BCE

Wei Qing Battles the Chanyu at Mobei

Beyond the desert, Wei Qing formed a wagon defense and enveloped the Chanyu's main army, forcing the ruler to flee at night.

Xilingol LeagueInner Mongolia

119 BCE

Huo Qubing Reaches Mount Langjuxu

Huo Qubing led fifty thousand cavalry beyond the desert against the Xiongnu left wing, performed rites at Langjuxu and Guyan, and reached the northern sea.

EasternHong Kong

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Cause & Context

After the Wen-Jing recovery, Han fiscal strength and cavalry reserves had grown, yet Xiongnu raids continued along the northern frontier. Emperor Wu shifted from defensive heqin diplomacy to sustained expeditions led chiefly by and .

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Epochal Overview

From 129 to 119 BCE, campaigned seven times: striking Longcheng, advancing through Yanmen , recovering the Ordos, surrounding the Right Worthy King, and finally defeating the Chanyu's main force at Mobei. campaigned six times, including the eight-hundred-rider raid, two Hexi offensives, acceptance of the Hunye surrender, and the Mobei advance culminating at Mount Langjuxu.

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Civilizational Impact

The campaigns secured the Ordos and Hexi Corridor , weakened Xiongnu power south of the desert and in the western territories, and shifted Han strategy from frontier defense to deep expeditionary warfare, creating military conditions for western communications and border administration.

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Key Figures

excelled at coordinated, supply-conscious campaigning; specialized in light, fast cavalry operating deep beyond the frontier. Their complementary command styles transformed the Han-Xiongnu war.

Wei QingHuo Qubing