In the long history of China, the dispute between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu lasted for hundreds of years. It is known that the Han Dynasty eventually succeeded in expelling the Xiongnu. However, what is less known is that in this long tug-of-war, the Xiongnu took the lead in adopting the strategy of bacteriological warfare, which is also recognized as the first case of bacteriological warfare in the world. So, how did the Xiongnu implement this strategy?
The war between the Central Plains and the Xiongnu has a long history. As early as the Qin Dynasty, General Meng Tian fought against the Xiongnu. After entering the Han Dynasty, the two sides fought frequently. In fact, the root cause of the war was very simple, the Xiongnu lived in a cold land and lacked living resources, so they often invaded the Central Plains and plundered property.
In the fourteenth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu once again invaded the territory of the Han Dynasty. However, this time was different, and before the war officially broke out, the Han army found that a large number of soldiers had been poisoned and died. The Han Dynasty army immediately set up camp and made every effort to investigate the cause. However, in the course of the investigation, many soldiers unfortunately passed away.
Due to the heavy losses of the army, the Han army was at a disadvantage in the confrontation with the Xiongnu. Since then, the Han Dynasty has been exploring the root cause of the disaster. In the end, it was discovered that it was the Xiongnu who launched the bacteriological warfare, and the initiator behind it was actually the former court eunuch of the Han Dynasty!
Bank of China said that he was a figure in the period of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty and was deeply loved by Emperor Wen.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu experienced the revival of Mao Dun Shan Yu and greatly increased their strength. In order to maintain peace, the Han Dynasty adopted a policy of peace and proximity. However, after the death of Mao Dun Shan Yu, he was succeeded by his son Ji Congee and became known as Lao Shang Shan Yu.
Shortly after Lao Shangji Congee Shan succeeded to the throne, Emperor Wen of Han decided to send the eunuch Zhongxing to assist the princess to go to the Xiongnu. The Bank of China said that it was resolutely unwilling to go, but the Han Dynasty forcibly sent it. He said angrily: "If I go to the Xiongnu, it will definitely become a disaster for the Han Dynasty." Sure enough, the Bank of China said that after arriving at the Xiongnu, it quickly surrendered to Shan Yu and gained Shan Yu's extreme trust.
Initially, the Xiongnu were fond of silk and food from the Han Dynasty. However, the Bank of China persuaded Shan Yu: "The total population of the Xiongnu is far less than that of a county in the Han Dynasty, but the reason why it is strong is that our food and clothing are different from those of the Han people, and we do not have to rely on the Han Dynasty." Nowadays, if you change the original customs and like the clothes and food of the Han Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty gives no more than two-tenths of the total number of things, then the Xiongnu will completely belong to the Han Dynasty. We should make the silk obtained from the Han Dynasty into clothes and trousers, and wear it to ride a horse and gallop among the weeds and thorns, so that the clothes and trousers are torn and damaged, so as to show that the silk of the Han Dynasty is not as strong as the Xiongnu clothes and leather jackets. At the same time, we should throw away all the food we received from the Han Dynasty to show that it is not as convenient and delicious as the milk and dairy products of the Xiongnu. ”
Under the bewitchment of the Bank of China, the Xiongnu frequently invaded China. In addition, he set out to develop bacteriological warfare. Once, when he spotted dead horses and sheep in some ponds, the water in those ponds began to become "poisonous." Soldiers will experience symptoms of poisoning after drinking, ranging from diarrhea to death.
The Bank of China said it planned to employ bacteriological warfare in the event of another war with Han Dynasty forces. However, he died before that day could come.
The Xiongnu heeded the advice of the Bank of China and carried out bacteriological warfare against the Han army for the first time, and achieved a preliminary victory. After suffering heavy losses, the Han army quickly found out the cause and took corresponding protective measures. After that, the Han Dynasty army would pay special attention to the water source when marching to avoid being attacked by germ warfare again. However, even so, the Han dynasty was not able to avoid this catastrophe entirely. A few years later, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's beloved general Huo Qu was rumored to have died of illness from drinking this water source.