Editing Dou Xian (section)

==Campaigns against the Xiongnu==
{{main|Han–Xiongnu War}}
In 89 AD, Dou Xian led a [[Battle of the Altai Mountains|Han expedition]] against the Northern Xiongnu.<ref name="yuu86-415">{{Harvnb|Yü|1986|loc=415}}.</ref><ref name="Crespigny07-171">{{Harvnb|Crespigny|2007|loc=171}}.</ref> The army advanced from Jilu, Manyi, and Guyang in three great columns. In the summer of 89, the forces—comprising a total of 40,000 troops—assembled at [[Zhuoye Mountain]].<ref name=cres09-101>{{Harvnb|Crespigny|2009|loc=101}}.</ref> Near the end of the campaign, Dou's forces chased the [[Northern Chanyu (1st century)|Northern Chanyu]] into the [[Altai Mountains]], killing 13,000 Xiongnu and accepting the surrender of 200,000 Xiongnu from 81 tribes.<ref name="yuu86-415"/><ref name="Crespigny07-171"/> A light cavalry of 2,000 was sent towards the Xiongnu at Hami, capturing the region from them.<ref name="yuu86-415"/>  Dou Xian marched with his troops in a triumphal progress to the heartland of the Northern Xiongnu's territory and engraved an inscription commemorating the victory on [[Mount Yanran]], before returning to Han.<ref name=cres09-101/> The Han victory in the campaign of 89 AD resulted in the destruction of the Xiongnu state.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lewis|2007|loc=138}}.</ref>

In 90 AD, Dou Xian had encamped at Wuwei.<ref name=wu5-71>{{Harvnb|Wu|2013|loc=71–72}}.</ref> He sent Deputy Colonel Yan Pan with 2,000 light cavalry to strike down the final Xiongnu defenses in the Western Regions, capturing Yiwu and receiving the surrender of Jushi.<ref name=wu5-71/> Major Liang Feng was dispatched to capture the Northern Chanyu, which he did, but he was forced to leave him behind as Dou Xian had already broken camp and returned to China.<ref name=wu5-71/> In the tenth month of 90 AD, Dou Xian sent Liang Feng and Ban Gu to help the Northern Chanyu make preparations for his planned travel as he wished to submit to the Han court in person the following month.<ref name=wu5-71/>

However, this never came to be as Dou Xian dispatched General Geng Kui and Shizi of the Southern Xiongnu with 8,000 light cavalry to attack the Northern Chanyu, encamped at Heyun (河雲), in 90 AD.<ref name=wu5-71/> Once the Han forces arrived at Zhuoye Mountains, they left their heavy equipment behind to launch a swift pincer movement towards Heyun.<ref name=wu5-71/> Geng Kui attacked from the east via the [[Khangai Mountains]] and Ganwei River (甘微河), while Shizi attacked from the west via the Western Lake (西海).<ref name=wu5-71/> The Northern Chanyu—said to be greatly shocked by this—launched a counterattack, but he was forced to flee as he left his family and seal behind.<ref name=wu5-71/> The Han killed 8,000 men and captured several thousands.<ref name=wu5-71/> In 91 AD, General Geng Kui and Major Ren Shang with a light cavalry of 800 advanced further via the Juyan Gol (Juyansai) into the Altai Mountains, where the Northern Chanyu had encamped.<ref name=wu5-71/> At the [[Battle of the Altai Mountains]], they massacred 5,000 Xiongnu men and pursued the Northern Chanyu until he escaped to an unknown place.<ref name=wu5-71/> By 91 AD, the last remnants of the Northern Xiongnu had migrated west towards the [[Ili River]] valley.<ref>{{Harvnb|Yü|1986|loc=405}}.</ref>