What does the "Maodun Pingcheng Disaster" in the Han Dynasty mean?

Also known as the siege of Baden.

Since the defeat of Xiongnu in Qin Shihuang period, the north has been quiet for more than ten years. After the demise of the Qin dynasty, there was a dispute between Chu and Han in the Central Plains, and the Huns took the opportunity to call out to the south step by step.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, Khan, the magic capital of Xiongnu, led 400,000 troops to surround Mayi (now Shuoxian County, Shanxi Province), a fief of Han Wangxin (formerly a Korean aristocrat and Han Xin). Han Wangxin couldn't help it, so he made peace with modu chanyu. Emperor gaozu got the news and sent messengers to blame Han Wangxin. Han Wangxin was afraid that Emperor Gaozu would commit a crime and surrendered to the Huns.

Modu chanyu occupied Mayi, continued to attack south, and surrounded Jinyang. Emperor gaozu personally rushed to Jinyang to fight against the Huns.

In the winter of 200 BC, there was heavy snow in the sky and the climate was particularly cold. Soldiers in the Central Plains have never encountered such cold weather. Many people were frozen stiff, and some even lost their fingers. However, as soon as the army of the Han Dynasty came into contact with the Xiongnu soldiers, the Xiongnu soldiers were defeated. Won several battles in a row. Later, I heard that Maodun Khan fled to Daigu (northwest of Daixian County in Shanxi Province).

Emperor gaozu went to Jinyang and sent troops for reconnaissance. People who came back said that his men were old, weak and beaten soldiers, and even the horses were quite thin. If we use the past situation to fight, we will certainly win the battle.

Emperor Gaozu was afraid that the reconnaissance of these soldiers was unreliable, so he sent Liu Jing to scout the Xiongnu camp.

Liu Jing came back and said, "The Huns we saw were really old, weak and disabled soldiers, but I think modu chanyu must have ambushed the elite soldiers. Your majesty must not be fooled. "

Emperor Gaozu was furious and said, "How dare you talk nonsense and try to stop me from marching." He said, and locked Liu Jing up.

Emperor Gaozu led a group of troops to Pingcheng (now northeast of Datong City, Shanxi Province). Suddenly, countless Xiongnu soldiers poured out of the air, all strong and strong, and all the old, weak and beaten soldiers were gone. Emperor gaozu fought his way out and retreated to Bailuogou, east of Pingcheng.

Modu chanyu sent 400,000 chosen men to besiege Emperor Gaozu in Dengbai Mountain. The Han army could not be rescued. Some troops of Emperor Gaozu were surrounded by Deng Bai for seven days and could not get away.

Chen Ping, the counselor around Gao-zu, sent an emissary with gold and jewels to see E Shi, the queen of Xiongnu, and asked her to say something nice in front of Khan. E Shi was very happy when he saw so many presents.

That evening, E Shi said to modu chanyu, "We have occupied the territory of the Han Dynasty, and we can't stay here long. Besides, the emperor of the Han dynasty also had someone to save him. Let's withdraw our troops and go back early! "

Modu chanyu E Shi words, the second day early in the morning, he ordered to remove a corner around, let the han soldiers out.

The next morning, it was foggy, and Emperor Gaozu quietly left Deng Bai. Chen Ping was not at ease, so he told the archers to draw their bows to the left and right to protect Emperor Gaozu from going down the mountain.

Emperor gaozu walked out of the encirclement of Xiongnu in fear, galloped his horse and fled to Guangwu in one breath. After a pause, he let Liu Jing go first and said, "I didn't listen to you, so I was surrounded by Huns in Deng Bai, and I almost didn't see you."

Emperor gaozu escaped from the gate of hell and knew 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, which is a big headache for Emperor Gaozu. He asked Liu Jing what to do? Liu Jing said: "It is best to adopt the method of' marriage', so that everyone can make peace, become relatives and live in peace with each other."

Emperor Gaozu agreed with Liu Jing and sent Liu Jing to Xiongnu as matchmaker, and he agreed. Emperor Gaozu chose the daughter of a palace girl named big princess and sent her to the Xiongnu, and she was named E Shi in modu chanyu.

Since then, the Han dynasty began to adopt the policy of "affinity", and the relationship with the Xiongnu was temporarily eased.