Qiedihou (; r. 101–96 BCE), whose name was probably Qiedi, was a Chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire, and the successor to Xulihu. His reign was contemporaneous with that of the Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC). He was the younger brother of Xulihu, who died, after just a one-year reign, during a campaign against a newly built Western Han fort Shuofang in Ordos. Qiedihou reigned during one of the most aggressive periods in Chinese history, and one of the many troubled periods in Xiongnu history. In 101 BCE Qiedihou, wishing to establish relations with the Han, said immediately after accession to the throne: “I am a child. How can I view the Han Emperor as an enemy when I have a venerable old man in front of me?” He returned to the Han all detained ambassadors. Life Qiedihou succeeded his brother Xulihu in 101 BC. In 101 BC, the Xiongnu raided Dingxiang, Yunzhong, Zhangye, and Jiuquan. Considering that Qiedihou would look favourably on the Han dynasty, the Han emperor decided to try and achieve his goal of persuading the Chanyu to submit to the Han dynasty. The difficult economic situation in the Han dynasty, created by long struggles with northern, western and southern neighbours, prompted Emperor Wu to try to settle relations with the Xiongnu through peaceful negotiations. In 101 BC an embassy headed by Su Wu left for the Xiongnu loaded with rich gifts. However, contrary to Han expectations, Qiedihou was reported to be very arrogant, and the question of an allegiance was not even raised. While visiting the Xiongnu, a deputy of Su Wu, Zhang Sheng (張勝), made contact with Han prisoners and conspired with them to revolt, kidnap Chanyu's mother, assassinate the Chanyu's half-Han advisor Wei Lü (衛律), and then head home. Zhang Sheng also tried to bribe the Chanyu's Prince of Gou (緱王) and Yu Chang (虞常). The plot was uncovered, and one of its leaders pointed to Zhang Sheng. A furious Chanyu executed the conspirators, and urged the members of the embassy to admit their guilt and switch to the side of the Xiongnu. When Su Wu refused to betray his country, he was sent to Lake Baikal, where he spend 19 years before he could return to the Han dynasty. In the summer of 99 BC, Li Guangli and three other Han generals led a force of 35,000 against the Xiongnu in the