User:Cold Season/sandbox5

Han–Xiongnu War sandbox

Background

 * Using barbarians (Chang 2007a, 145-147)

Military
'''(REWRITE) However, on level plains, he regarded Xiongnu cavalry inferior especially when faced with Han shock cavalry and chariots as the Xiongnu are easily dispersed. He emphasized that the Xiongnu were incapable of countering the superior equipment and weaponry. He also noted that in contrast the Han armies were better capable to fight in disciplined formations. According to Chao, the Xiongnu were also defenseless against coordinated onslaughts of arrows—especially long-ranged and in unison—due to their inferior leather armor and wooden shields. When dismounted in close combat, he believed that the Xiongnu, lacking the ability as infantry, would be decimated by Han soldiers. ''' (see also Chang 2007a, 153)

Geography
[...] To negate these difficulties, Chao Cuo elaborated a proposal, which in essence suggested that military-agricultural settlements with permanent residents should be established to secure the frontier and also that surrendered tribes should serve along the frontier against the Xiongnu. '''Chao's suggestions were implemented during Emperor Wu's reign. '''

(NOTE) Describe the proposal....

??
'''In 99 BC, Li Ling's force was surrounded by the Xiongnu near Dunhuang, thus he gave each soldier two sheng (0.4 liters) of dried grain and a piece of ice, ordering his troops to disperse and meet at a Han fort three days later. This impossible situation, as explained, demonstrates why the Han armies had to travel fast and light in order to survive during military expeditions across the Han borders. '''

''' stated that subjugation of the Xiongnu was difficult by just conventional means alone, such as conquest, as the Xiongnu could retreat far away to recover despite each defeat and whose settlements were not permanent. '''

'''Although the campaign of Huo Qubing and Wei Qing was highly successful, it came with a drastic price. Official records report that the two forces lost 80,000 to 90,000 men, while less than 30,000 horses returned of the total 140,000 horses brought into the desert. These losses prevented the Han from launching another invasion against the Xiongnu into the desert. '''

(QUOTE) "Then in 119 B.C. both Huo and Wei, each leading 50,000 cavalrymen and 30,000 to 50,000 footsoldiers, and advancing along different routes, forced the shan-yü and his court to flee north of the Gobi."

(QUOTE FROM Government of the Han Dynasty as of 2 oct 2012) "The Minister Coachman (Taipu 太僕), also known as the Grand Coachman, was responsible for the maintenance of imperial stables, horses, carriages and coachhouses for the emperor and his palace attendants, and for the supply of horses for the armed forces. His latter duty entailed the supervising of large breeding grounds of frontier pastures, tended by tens of thousands of government slaves. By the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC) these contained 300,000 warhorses intended for use in campaigns against the nomadic Xiongnu Confederation. "

REDO

 * Cambridge History of China, vol 1
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China
 * Cambridge History of China, vol 1
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China
 * Cambridge History of China, vol 1
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China
 * Cambridge History of China, vol 1
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China
 * Cambridge History of China, vol 1
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China
 * Cambridge History of Ancient China