With attempts at negotiation ending in failure, the following year Han Wu-ti sent troops to engage in battle. But most were lost along the way, and the small group led by Li Ling was no comparison to the Hsiung-nu.
次年，漢廷又派悍將李廣利北征匈奴，五路大軍皆半途迷路，惟李陵所率先鋒部隊，遭逢匈奴主力。