Tian Shan range. Initially successful, Li Guangli defeated the Wise King (Tuqi) of the Right and killed some 10,000 Xiongnu, but was surrounded on the way back and had to defend himself. They managed to drive back the Xiongnu before trying to head back to the Han dynasty. The Xiongnu gave chase leading to heavy casualties for the Han army. Li Guangli only returned with less than half of his original army. The other Han generals, Li Ling and Lu Bode, had been left further back earlier as a rear guard, but Lu Bode objected to serving under Li Ling and decided to advance with only 5,000 infantry, confident that his force of crossbowmen would be able to handle any Xiongnu force they encountered. He was confronted by a force of 30,000 Xiongnu and had set up fortifications between two hills. The Xiongnu made repeated charges on his position, but failed to overcome Li Ling's crossbow and shield/spear formation, suffering heavy casualties. When Li Ling's forces sought to retreat, but the Xiongnu chased after them, harassing them until nightfall. Only 400 men made it back and Li Ling was captured. In the spring of 97 BC, Li Guangli and two other generals led a force of over 160,000 against the Xiongnu. Li's forces were said to have been routed by only 10,000 Xiongnu and fought a running battle for ten days. Gongsun Ao fought an inconclusive battle with the Wise King (Tuqi) of the Left. Han Yue failed to encounter any Xiongnu. Qiedihou had two sons; the elder was the Wise King (Tuqi) of the Left. Before his death Qiedihou bequeathed him the throne under the name of Hulugu Chanyu (rightful Lateral Succession). Footnotes References Bichurin N.Ya., "Collection of information on peoples in Central Asia in ancient times", vol. 1, Sankt Petersburg, 1851, reprint Moscow-Leningrad, 1950 Taskin B.S., "Materials on Sünnu history", Science, Moscow, 1968, p. 31 (In Russian) Chanyus 2nd-century BC rulers in Asia 1st-century BC rulers in Asia 96 BC deaths