Chapter n. HIENBI. From time immemorial the military affidrs of China have been bound up with the histoty of her nomadic neighbours. And of all the many empires founded on her northern frontiers, not the least terrible was that of J^iwngTioo, or Huns as they are more generally called. With the interesting early history of Huns we have, however, nothing to do here, as they were far removed firom our countiy of Liaotung. Suffice it to say, that they were the bitter scourge of the Han dynasty from its commencement to its close ; frequently penetrating far into China, ravaging its country, sacking its cities, putting to death countless numbers of its people, and ofttimes becoming virtual masters of the empire. For some time after the Han dynasty was founded, it resisted with youthful vigour the plundering hordes of its northern borderers. But, as in all the dynasties of Chum, that vigour was short-lived. Even before the Christian era^ the senilty of a long-established government clouded the faculties and weakened the hands of the Han rulers. So much so that in A.D. 51, when British savages were occupjdng the attention of Cesar's successors in London, a minister of the Han emperor urged his master to summon the forces of Hienbi and Gaogowli to attack the eastern flank of the Hiwngnoo ; the Chiang Hoo or barbarians of Tibet to march against the western portion of their dominions ; while a Chinese army should march north, and attack them in what is now the north of Chihli. The plan was urged just at that time, because of the frightful famine and pestilence devastating the Hiwngnoo, and carrying off all their cattle, and was hoped to be successful in completely breaking up the Huns in a few years. The emperor, however, did not act on the suggestion.
