Ma Yi lured the enemy into battle
Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Jing of Han both adopted a policy of rest and recuperation, and for more than 60 years, except for a short period of rebellion by the Seven Kingdoms, there were no major wars. Therefore, the economy of society has been regulated and developed. It is said that in the early period of Emperor Jing's reign, the money in the national warehouse had accumulated countless tens of thousands, and the ropes used to string the money were all broken; The grain in the granary is too much to eat, and it accumulates year after year, filling the open ground. Some even become moldy. In history, this period is known as the 'Reign of Literature and Scenery'.
However, the powerful Han Dynasty was often threatened by the northern Xiongnu. Since Emperor Gaozu of Han was surrounded in Baideng, the Han Dynasty has always adopted a policy of "marriage alliance" towards the Xiongnu. This kind of 'marriage alliance' is actually a compromise, not only to marry the daughter of the Han royal family to the Xiongnu Chanyu, but also to give many gifts to the Xiongnu every year. Despite this, the Xiongnu nobles still frequently invaded the Central Plains, killed the people, plundered food and cattle, and caused unrest in the northern regions.
After the death of Emperor Jing of Han, the enthroned Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was an ambitious emperor who was determined to change this humiliating position.
In 135 BC, the military minister of the Xiongnu, Shan Yu, sent envoys to request marriage, and Emperor Wu of Han asked his ministers to discuss it. There was a general named Wang Hui who said, "In the past, the court made peace with the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu always violated the treaty and invaded the border. We should send troops to strike them
Many ministers opposed Wang Hui's proposal, and Emperor Wu of Han felt uncertain about it, so he temporarily agreed to marry the Xiongnu.
Two years later, a large merchant named Nie Yi from Mayi came to Wang Hui and said, "The Xiongnu often invade the border, which is always a source of trouble. Now, taking advantage of the opportunity to make peace with them, we can lure the Xiongnu out and ambush them, and we will definitely win a great victory
Wang Hui asked him, "Do you have any way to lure the Xiongnu out
Nie Yi said, "I often do business on the border, and the Xiongnu are familiar with me. I can use the reason for doing business to pretend to offer the horse town to Chanyu. Chanyu is greedy for the goods of the horse town and will definitely come. We will ambush the army nearby, and as soon as Chanyu arrives at the horse town, the general can cut off their retreat and capture him alive
Wang Hui informed Emperor Wu of Han of Nie Yi's thoughts. Emperor Wu of Han decided to adopt the strategy of Nie Yi and sent generals such as Wang Hui, Han Anguo, Gong Sunhe, and Li Guang to lead 300000 troops to ambush in the valley next to Mayi.
Nie Yi deliberately fled to the Xiongnu and said to the military official Shan Yu, "I have a way to infiltrate Ma Yi and kill the officials there, so that I can firmly take Ma Yi