The Northern Xiongnu, during the early part of the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, continue to be a constant threat to both the Han dynasty and her ally the Southern Xiongnu.

Emperor Ming engages in a variety of military and economic tactics, largely successful, to try to maintain peace with the Northern Xiongnu.

In 65, he establishes a permanent border defense force, known as the Duliao Army, charged with protecting the northern boundaries and the Southern Xiongnu, and to prevent the people of the Southern Xiongnu from defecting to the Northern Xiongnu.

Under the Later Han, monumental stone sculptures appear, such as one depicting a horse trampling a barbarian underfoot.