During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu went south to plunder mostly in the autumn. Why did the Han army have to wait until the next spring to counterattack?
Introduction: During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu went south to plunder mostly in the autumn. Why did the Han army have to wait until the next spring to counterattack?
The emperors of Qin and Han and Wu all left indelible marks on future generations in their own unique ways. Qin Shihuang unified the six kingdoms, ruled the world, and was powerful all over the world. Putting aside his many achievements, the simple fact that he ordered Meng Tian to lead 300,000 Qin troops and beat the Huns who were good at riding and archery so that they did not dare to go south to herd horses was a great achievement. achievements.
In order to prevent the Huns from coming back and protect this foundation for future generations, Qin Shihuang sent millions of civilians to build the Great Wall. The Chinese people did not understand and complained. Frequent use of troops and massive construction of civil engineering projects. In addition to the Great Wall, major projects such as Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum and Afang Palace were fully carried out. In the end, with the cry of "Princes and generals should be contented with each other, they have their own kind", the rule of the Qin Dynasty collapsed.
On the ruins of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty. In the early days of the Han Dynasty, everything was in ruins and waiting to be reborn. The rulers of the Qin Dynasty left a lot of problems that needed to be solved by the Liu family. The biggest problems they faced were domestic economic problems and the Huns who were eyeing them outside the Great Wall.
The rulers of the early Han Dynasty, faced with internal and external troubles, chose "don't do it, just be cowardly, and there will be a sky under the tower". The Huns were arrogant and arrogant, and generations of Han Dynasty The rulers held back. In their opinion, how could the big man be trampled under the feet of the Huns and try to survive by hiding themselves.
During the "Government of Wen and Jing", the Han Dynasty accumulated wealth, and the Han Dynasty that Liu Che took over was a stable and wealthy country. If you have food in your hands and don't panic, if you have guys in your hands, you will have the confidence to confront the Huns head-on. Therefore, during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty army frequently sent troops to attack the Huns. Huo Qubing sealed Lang Juxu and praised me as a great man. National prestige. According to the "Book of Han" records:
At the age of three, Emperor Wu died. The Han soldiers pursued him for more than 20 years, and the Xiongnu died of heavy pregnancy and inertia (dú, the fetus died in the belly). Since Chanyu, there are always desires and plans for relatives.
During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Han soldiers fought against the Huns for decades and pursued them for more than 20 years. During these years of war, the people on both sides suffered tremendously, especially those at a disadvantage. Huns. Every spring, a large number of Xiongnu women would be chased to the point of miscarriage. No one could bear this kind of life. Therefore, except Shanyu, many people expected the war to end, and hoped to make peace with the Han Dynasty and end the war. The Huns mostly went south in the autumn, and the Han army mostly marched north in the spring.
In fact, no matter whether the Huns or the common people of the Han Dynasty at that time, the frequent battles were just for the purpose of plundering resources, in short, just to make ends meet. The way of life of the Huns and the people of the Han Dynasty were different. The Huns were mainly nomadic and lived in pursuit of water and grass, while the people of the Han Dynasty were mainly agricultural, and less land could support a larger population.
In short, it seems that the people of the Han Dynasty, who mainly engaged in farming, seemed to be more capable of resisting natural disasters, but their own combat effectiveness was obviously not as good as that of the prairie people who rode horses and shot arrows every day. The question that faces the people of the Central Plains is whether they have the ability to protect their homes and wealth.
The Huns have basically finished a year of labor in the crisp autumn weather. Their nomadic work has basically been completed. Their war horses are fat and strong, and they are packing their luggage for the winter. At this moment, the people of the Central Plains are in the midst of the autumn harvest. A large amount of grain has been harvested and dried. Soldiers who serve as soldiers in wartime and as farmers in busy times are also engaged in the intense harvest. At this time, the Han Dynasty's army is at its weakest. when.
The Xiongnu Chanyu thought, I am strong and he is weak, wouldn’t it be nice to lead his army south to rob him and spend the winter comfortably? There is nothing wrong with this in principle. The main business and side business must be grasped by both hands, and both hands must be strong.
But this angered Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty at that time. He decided not to be patient and seek survival. The Han army no longer spent a large amount of troops to "prevent autumn". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty realized that simple defense could not solve all problems. problem, and the best defense is offense. What matters in combat is "the right time, right place, and harmony." Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not blindly launch a counterattack against the Xiongnu in autumn and winter, but put it in the spring of the next year. The editor has summarized the following reasons for this choice:
First: In the autumn counterattack, the Xiongnu will fight if they can win, and leave if they can't. The weather is getting colder and colder, and the Han Dynasty army The warmth and logistical supply will face great challenges. By then the cold, hunger and bad road conditions will cause the Han army to return in defeat, and all the Huns can do is to run forward.
Second: Winter can greatly consume the energy of the Huns; although the Huns live in the grasslands all year round, they are also afraid of the cold. The horses and livestock that were strong in autumn have lost a lot of weight after a winter of consumption. In winter, the Huns all dispersed to spend the winter, but autumn and winter were the harvest days for the people of the Han Dynasty. No matter how they calculated, they still had to ensure that their own harvests were the main ones.
Third: The Huns tend to gather together in spring, which is conducive to the encirclement of the army and maximizes combat results. Spring is also the season when the Huns are at their weakest. Unlike ordinary mammals, winter is the season for the Huns and grassland animals to reproduce. Summer and autumn are too busy. In order to save labor, most Huns prefer to give birth to the next generation in winter. The rich aquatic plants will help increase the survival rate in the coming year. .
Fourth: In spring, Hun women and livestock have entered the pregnancy period. The long winter has already exhausted all the grain they stored, and the fat on the cattle and sheep has also disappeared. They are eager to need supplies. Pasture resources are limited, and the herdsmen who had been scattered in winter gathered together at this moment, and the livestock began to frantically replenish their supplies. At this moment, the Han Dynasty army launched an attack, and the Huns, who had low combat power, had to escape frantically. As a result, the Hun women, who were already in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, frequently suffered miscarriages during their long journeys to escape.
Fifth: The animals and Huns gathered together have restricted movement at this time and are more likely to be surrounded by the Han army. In 121 BC, Huo Qubing led an army into Hexi alone and beheaded 40,000 people. In 119 BC, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing teamed up to launch the Battle of Mobei, beheading 85,000 people. In addition, groups of pregnant animals were captured, and the Huns never entered Monan again. Postscript
Wars must be considered comprehensively. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty exerted the momentum of the Han Dynasty, which we should be proud of. But after all, the people on both sides suffered in the war. In fact, we should cherish peace more.