Chapter 59 58 Bai Deng was besieged

Since the defeat of the Xiongnu during the reign of Qin Shihuang, the north has been peaceful for more than ten years.After the fall of Qin, there was a conflict between Chu and Han in the Central Plains, and the Xiongnu took the opportunity to fight south step by step. At the time of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu's Maodun Shanyu (pronounced moAduchanAyu, Maodun is a person's name, Shan is the king of the Huns) led 400,000 troops to surround the fief Mayi (now Shanxi Province) of Han Wangxin (a former Korean nobleman, and Han Xin was two people). Shuo County).Han Wangxin couldn't resist, so he asked Maodun for peace.When Han Gaozu heard the news, he sent an envoy to blame Han Wangxin.Han Wangxin was afraid that Han Gaozu would do his crime, so he surrendered to the Xiongnu.

Maodun occupied Mayi, then continued to attack south and surrounded Jinyang.Han Gaozu personally rushed to Jinyang to confront the Xiongnu. In the winter of 200 BC, the sky was snowing heavily and the weather was extremely cold. The soldiers in the Central Plains had never encountered such cold weather. Many people were froze and some people lost their fingers due to the cold.However, as soon as the army of the Han Dynasty came into contact with the Xiongnu soldiers, the Xiongnu soldiers were defeated.He won several battles in a row.Later, it was heard that Maodun Shanyu fled to Daigu (now northwest of Dai County, Shanxi).

Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty entered Jinyang and sent soldiers to reconnaissance. Those who came back said that Maodun's subordinates were all old and weak soldiers, and even their horses were quite thin.If you take advantage of the situation and fight in the past, you will surely win the battle. Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was afraid that the reconnaissance of these soldiers would be unreliable, so he sent Liu Jing to the Xiongnu camp to spy. Liu Jing came back and said: "The Huns we saw were indeed old and weak soldiers, but I think Maodun must have ambushed the elite soldiers. Your Majesty must not be fooled by this."

Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was furious and said: "You dare to talk nonsense and want to stop me from marching." As he said, he imprisoned Liu Jing. Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty led a group of troops to Pingcheng (northeast of today's Datong City in Shanxi Province), when suddenly countless Xiongnu soldiers poured out from all directions.Han Gaozu desperately fought his way out and retreated to Baidengchu, east of Pingcheng. Mao Dun sent 400,000 elite soldiers to besiege Han Gaozu in Baideng Mountain.The surrounding Han troops were unable to rescue them. Some of Han Gaozu's troops were in Baideng, and they were besieged for seven days, unable to escape.

Chen Ping, a counselor around Gaozu, sent an envoy with gold and jewels to see Yan Azhi (pronounced yanAzhi, the queen of the Huns) of Maodun, asking her to say something nice in front of Shan Yu.When Yan saw so many gifts, he was very happy. That night, the Yan family said to Mao Dun: "We have occupied the territory of the Han Dynasty, and we cannot live for a long time. Besides, the emperor of the Han Dynasty will come to rescue him. Let's withdraw our troops as soon as possible!" After listening to Yan's words, Mao Dun ordered to withdraw a corner of the siege net early the next morning and let the Han soldiers go out.

Early the next morning, when there was thick fog, Han Gaozu quietly evacuated Baideng.Chen Ping was still worried, and asked the archers to draw their bows to the left and right sides to protect Han Gaozu from going down the mountain. Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty walked out of the encirclement of the Xiongnu in fear, and fled to Guangwu in one breath.He collected himself, let Liu Jing out first, and said, "I didn't listen to you, and I was surrounded by the Huns in Baideng, and I almost couldn't meet you." Han Gaozu escaped from the tiger's mouth, knowing that he had no strength to conquer the Huns, so he had to return to Chang'an.Since then, the Huns have been invading the north, causing Han Gaozu a lot of headaches.He asked Liu Jing what to do?Liu Jing said: "It is best to adopt the method of 'reconciliation'. Everyone can make peace and become relatives, so that each other can live peacefully."

Han Gaozu agreed with Liu Jing and sent Liu Jing to the Xiongnu to talk about marriage, and Mao Dun agreed.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty selected a daughter born to a court lady, called the eldest princess, and sent her to the Huns, and Mao Dun made her the family of Yan. From then on, the Han Dynasty began to adopt the policy of "peace with relatives", and the relationship with the Xiongnu temporarily eased.