Xiongnu

12In 138 BCE, he dispatched the well-known Zhang Qian mission, aimed at allying the Yuezhi people, who had been driven away by the Xiongnu from the Hexi Corridor to the Western Region.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

8The struggle among the Western Han, the Southern Yue, and the Xiongnu was the second historical event that brought part of Yunnan under Han China's authority.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Whereas the Han campaign in the north had temporarily created a lull in the south, the Xiongnu issue led to Han China's march to the southwestern frontiers.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Though the war continued, the Xiongnu were greatly weakened and unable to launch further large-scale invasions.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Li Pi, a Tang minister, suggested to the emperor that an alliance among the Tang, Uyghur, Turks (Tujue), Nanzhao, India (Tianzhu), and Arabs (Dashi) against Tubo be established, a similar plan to what Emperor Wudi had designed to manage the Xiongnu. 67 With such an alliance, Tang China could complete encirclement and Tubo would become so distracted that it would no longer be able to concentrate on China.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

It is interesting that a Tang source states that the Kunming regime and the Xiongnu reportedly were brotherly states (xiongdiguo).

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

The decisive reason for the abandonment of the campaign however was not local, but the Xiongnu threat from the north.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Finally, the Xiongnu people were divided into two groups and no longer remained a threat to China.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

When the extent of this threat became clear, Emperor Wudi, ambitious as he was, knew it was too dangerous to fight two wars at the same time and decided to give full attention to resolving the Xiongnu issue (zhuanli shi xiongnu) .16

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

At first the Western Han paid no attention to Yunnan, as it initially lacked information about the so-called Southwestern Barbarians in Yunnan. 10 Furthermore, the Han Dynasty was busy reviving the dilapidated economy and trying its best to keep peace with the Xiongnu in the north.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008