The Huns is an ancient nomad tribe in North China.At the end of the Warring States Period，the Huns annoyed the northern territory of Qin，Zhao，andYan.The three states thus started to build the Great Wall to resist the Huns.Chief Modu（ruled from 209 to 174 BC）united the tribes and established the state which territory covers the vast area north and south of the Gobi desert.Thenceforth，the Huns extended its territory east to the Liao River，west over the Pamirs，north to Baikal Lake，and south almost to the Great Wall.It has become the first grassland nomad empire in history.At the beginning of Western Han（206 BC–25 AD），the Huns continued to harry the south.In 200 BC，they surrounded Emperor Gaozu of Han，Liu Bang，at Mount Baideng（northeast of Datong，Shanxi）and forced the Han Dynasty to carry out peaceful policies，to pay intribute annually，and to open up market with them for trade.However，the Hunsfrequently broke their agreement and invade the south.
The Huns had become a great frontier trouble of the Han Dynasty.During the reign of Emperor Wudi，the state power of Western Han became strong and sent troops to beat back the Huns for three times（127 BC，121 BC，119 BC）.The power of the Huns gradually declined.
At the beginning of Eastern Han（25–220），the Huns broke up to the north and south parts.King Rizhu led over 400，000 soldiers down south to attach to the Han Dynasty.They were named South Hun and were allocated by the Han at the Hetao area.The Huns remained at the north was named the North Hun.From 89 to 91 AD，the South Hun and the Han allied their troops to attack the North Hun.The latter was beaten twice at the north of the desert and the Altai Mountains.The North Huns was forced to retrieve to the west and disappeared from Chinese history forever.Most scholars take the Huns in European history to be the North Huns that moved west.
During the lasting war between China and the Huns，two historic figures were recorded and remembered.They are Huo Qubing and Wang Zhaojun.
Huo Qubing（140–117 BC）was a famous general during the reign of Emperor Wu.He had established hisbattle achievements in the wars with the Huns.Huo was the nephew of General Wei Qing.His mother，Wei Shao’er，was a sister of Empress Wei Zifu.Huo Qubing was adept at cavalry and toxophily.In 123 BC，Huo followed General Wei Qing to the north to conquer the Huns.He led 800 elite cavalry soldiers and chased the Huns for hundreds of kilometers.2，028 Hun soldiers were killed in that battle，including the chief’s grandfather.They also caught the chief’s uncle.Huo was homaged as the“Champion Marquis.”
In 121 BC，Huo Qubing was promoted to the position of Piaoqi General and led 10，000 cavalry soldiers to go out of Longxi and thousands of kilometers over the Yanzhi Mountain（south of Shandan，Gansu）.He killed Zhelan Chief of the Huns，caught the son of Hunxie Chief，and annihilated 8，000 Hun soldiers.In the summer of 121 BC，Huo Qubing went out of Longxi again over2，500 kilometers beyond Juyanze，He caught Chief Qiutu at Qilian Mountain and killed over 30，000 soidiers and accepted surrender of 2，500 soldiers，while his own troops lost less than one third in number.This battle was a heavy blow upon the Huns.
In the autumn of the same year，t h e Hun chief got angry at the failures and losses of Chief Hunye’s battles andhad the plan to kill Chief Hunye in his fury.Chief Hunye suggested surrender to the Han Dynasty to ChiefXiutu.EmperorWuwassuspiciousabouttheirsurrenderandsentHuo Qubing to receive them with his troops.Huo Qubing crossed the Yellow River and approached Chief Hunye’s army.But some of Chief Hunye’s followerschangedtheirmindwhen they saw the Han troops and escaped in disorder.
