121: Han dynasty conquers the Yanzhi and Qilian mountain ranges | 121: Xiongnu tribes of Hunye and Xiutu submitting to the rule of the Han dynasty. - Scroll Down for more details

"The Han Expansion: Conquest of the Yanzhi and Qilian Mountains (121 BCE)"

The Han Dynasty's Western Campaigns

In 121 BCE, under the reign of Emperor Wu (Wudi), the Han Dynasty achieved a major military victory by securing control over the Yanzhi (焉支山) and Qilian (祁连山) mountain ranges in modern-day Gansu and Qinghai provinces. This conquest was part of the broader Han-Xiongnu Wars, a decades-long struggle between the Han Dynasty and the nomadic Xiongnu confederation for dominance over Central Asia and the Hexi Corridor.

Strategic Importance of the Region

The Yanzhi and Qilian mountains were critical for several reasons:
1. Pasturelands {content}amp; Horses - The region was rich in grasslands, providing vital grazing lands for the Xiongnu's horse-based nomadic economy. The Han sought to deny the Xiongnu these resources while securing superior horse breeds for their own cavalry.
2. Hexi Corridor Control - These mountains flanked the Hexi Corridor, a crucial trade and military passage linking China to the Western Regions (modern Xinjiang and Central Asia). Controlling this area allowed the Han to project power westward.
3. Defensive Buffer - By pushing the Xiongnu northward, the Han reduced raids on their northwestern frontier.

Key Military Campaigns

The conquest was led by General Huo Qubing, one of Emperor Wu's most brilliant commanders. In a series of lightning campaigns, Huo Qubing defeated Xiongnu forces, seizing the mountain ranges and forcing their chieftains to surrender or flee. According to the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), the Xiongnu lamented their loss in a famous lament:
"Having lost our Qilian Mountains, our livestock no longer thrive; having lost our Yanzhi Mountains, our women have no rouge for their cheeks."

Aftermath {content}amp; Legacy

• The victory in 121 BCE allowed the Han to establish the Hexi Corridor Commanderies (Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang), securing the Silk Road's eastern stretch.
  
• It marked a turning point in the Han-Xiongnu Wars, weakening the Xiongnu's grip on the region.
  
• The Han later expanded further into the Western Regions, leading to the famous missions of Zhang Qian and the formalization of the Silk Road.

This conquest was a pivotal moment in Han expansion, demonstrating Emperor Wu's ambition to secure China's frontiers and dominate Eurasian trade routes.

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