From Lingzhou, one could head straight north along the Yellow River to Shuofang Commandery, then continue onward to Wuyuan Commandery. But these lands were now where the Southern Xiongnu lived in concentrated settlements.
In the twenty-first year of Jian'an, Cao Cao detained Huchuquan, the last Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, and appointed the Right Wise King, Qubei, to oversee the state. The Southern Xiongnu were promptly broken up into five divisions, and quite a few tribes among them nursed their fury toward the State of Wei but dared not speak of it.
Over the past years, Wei and the Xiongnu had appeared to mind their own business, like well water and river water that did not mix. Yet as Liu Bei's power gradually rose, the Xiongnu, too, began to entertain thoughts of restoring their state. If Zhang He traveled along the Yellow River, he could easily blunder into Xiongnu settlements, and no one could say what consequences might follow.
His cautious nature led Zhang He to choose the southern route. From Lingzhou, he turned east and traveled several hundred li to Sheyan for supplies, then entered Guanzhong through Shang Commandery in Bing Province.
At this time, the banks of the Yellow River were lush with water and grass, and the pastures had not yet turned to sand from soil erosion. Yet because of the Gobi tracts created by excessive grazing, Zhang He's six-hundred-li route held few grasslands and much desert. Hardly any nomadic Xiongnu could be seen along the way.
The winter winds beyond the frontier were bitingly cold, and physical exertion consumed far more strength than usual. The grain Zhang He had plundered in Lingzhou ran out after merely two or three days beyond the city. Fortunately, they still had several dozen warhorses with them. Those in poor condition