The boy Emperor He had no real powers, of course; the powers were in the hands of Empress Dowager Dou, and she entrusted her brothers Dou Xian, Dou Du (竇篤), Dou Jing (竇景), and Dou Gui (竇瑰) with power.
Empress Dowager Dou agreed, and Dou Xian led an army and crushed the North Xiongnu in 89.