Huo Qubing crosses the eastern Gobi, defeats and executes Bijuqi, defeats the Tuqi (Worthy Prince) of the Left (East), and captures three kings. He reaches as far as
Lake Baikal.
Failing to reconnoiter with Wei Qing's army, general
Li Guang commits suicide after learning that Wei has prepared charges against him.
Emperor Wu creates the rank of Grand Marshal and gives it to both Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, thereby making Huo's rank and salary equal to that of Wei.
Emperor Wu suspends further campaigning against the Xiongnu due to a shortage of horses.[1][2]
Government monopolies are established in
iron,
salt and
liquor.
The
Second Dalmatian War ends with victory for
Rome. Lucius Caecilius Metellus assumes the surname Delmaticus.
Numidia
Micipsa dies and
Numidia, following the king's wish, is divided into three parts, a third each ruled by Micipsa's own sons,
Adherbal and
Hiempsal I, and the king's adopted son,
Jugurtha.
China
Emperor Wu of Han secretly executes his favourite necromancer Shao Weng for fraud.
Battle of Noreia: The
Cimbri and
Teutones cross the
Danube and enter the lands of the
Celtic tribe, the
Taurisci (centered in what is now
Austria and north-eastern
Italy). The latter sent emissaries to
Rome, seeking help in dealing with the migration. The
Senate sends consul
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo across the
Julian Alps, to deal with the migration at the head of an army (some 30,000 men). He offers guides to escort them out of the territory of the Taurisci. The guides are instructed to lead the tribes to the town of
Noreia, where Carbo sets an ambush. The Cimbri manage to discover Carbo's plan, they turn the tables and defeat the Romans during an ambush. Carbo manages to escape with the remnants of his consular army (some 6,000 men) during a heavy thunderstorm. Later, he is indicted by the Senate for losing the battle, but escapes conviction by committing suicide.[3][4]
The state of
Nanyue, a vassal of the
Han dynasty, agrees to submit to Han laws and receives envoys to oversee the succession of the young king
Zhao Xing.[5]
Lü Jia, Premier of the
Han vassal state of
Nanyue, opposes increased Han control and refuses to appear before the king of Nanyue and the envoys of Han. He rebels against the Han when
Emperor Wu sends an armed force of 2,000 men to kill him and his allies. Lü kills king
Zhao Xing and his regent, Queen Dowager Jiu, massacres the Han force, and installs
Zhao Jiande as king.[6]
Autumn – Emperor Wu launches a major invasion of Nanyue, sending five riverine fleets to invade under
Lu Bode, Yang Pu and three former Yue generals.[7]
The king of
Dongyue, Zou Yushan, sends an army to link up with Yang Pu, but he secretly sends an envoy to Zhao Jiande and halts the transport fleet to await the war's outcome, claiming that the weather is preventing its advance.[8]
Emperor Wu executes his favourite necromancer Luan Da for fraud.[9]
Jugurtha, king of
Numidia, bribes the commander
Lucius Calpurnius Bestia and Roman friends to secure easy terms. He is given a
safe conduct to Rome in order to account for his actions in the
Roman Senate. Jugurtha contemptuously bribes his way through all difficulties.
In winter, the
Han general Yang Pu captures Xunxia Gorge and Shimen and defeats the
Nanyue army. He and Han general
Lu Bode then attack the Nanyue capital
Panyu and receive its surrender. Nanyue's King
Zhao Jiande and Premier
Lü Jia are captured in flight and killed.
Nanyue's ally
Cangwu submits to the Han dynasty, and Nanyue is divided into nine prefectures. The Han dynasty thereby extends its control to modern-day
North Vietnam.[10]
Han-Xiongnu War: the Han generals Gongsun He and Zhao Ponu invade deep into
Xiongnu territory, Gongsun marching from Wuhuan and Zhao from Lingju. However, neither come upon a Xiongnu army. There follows a period of several years in which the Han and Xiongnu seek to establish peace.[11][12]
Autumn – After learning that Yang Pu had suggested an invasion of
Dongyue to
Emperor Wu of Han, Dongyue's king, Zou Yushan, declares himself 'Emperor Wu' and sends an army under Zou Li to invade Han territory. They capture Baisha, Wulin and Meiling, and the Han Treasurer Zhang Cheng is executed for avoiding the Dongyue army.
Emperor Wu of Han sends two maritime fleets and three armies, including an army under Yang Pu, to invade Dongyue.[13]
In winter, the Han general Yang Pu retakes Wulin, and a faction of Dongyue nobles kill their king Zou Yushan before surrendering to the Han general Han Yue.