The Han dynasty reached its peak during the reign of Han Wudi . Han Wudi was the most ambitious emperor in the Han dynasty. He sent many punitive expeditions against the Xiong Nu and managed to drive them up North back into Mongolia. He had capable generals like Li Guang to assist him. He ordered Zhang Qian on a mission the Western Regions Xi Yu ( near present day Sinjiang) to try to persuade other tribes like the Da Yue Shi Tribe to join forces against the Xiong Nu. However, he was captured by the Xiong Nu on the way and imprisoned for 10 years before being able to continue his mission. However, he discovered that the Da Yue Shi Tribe had already conquered the Da Xia country and no longer wanted to fight with the Xiong Nu anymore. Although he did not succeed in his mission, Zhang Qian provided valuable information for establishing what came to be known as the Silk Road where many traders from Central Asia and Europe came to trade with China. He also aided the general Wei Qing in one of his expeditions to defeat the Xiong Nu, resulting in Wudi promoting him as a senior official. Besides attacking the Xiong Nu, Wudi also attacked present - day Vietnam, which had a significant effect of the culture of Vietnam. Through all his military conquests, the land area of the Han dynasty expanded greatly. Also, Han Wudi took steps to reduce the power of the nobles. As mentioned above, there had previously been a rebellion, thus to reduce the nobles power, Han Wudi took away their land and status whenever they made a mistake. Also, land that was passed down in the family line had to be equally divided into parts where each son had an equal part. This ensured that the nobles would not be able to become more powerful.
Other contributions of Han Wudi
Wudi also started the imperial examination system, where scholars well - versed in the teachings of Confucius could take part. If they did well in the exam they could become an official to serve at the Emperor's side. This system was continued for many dynasties until the Mongolians under Kublai Khan put a stop to it. Although he was an active ruler, he became extremely obsessed with immorality in his later years and took many pills that contained mercury and ended his life early.