匈奴对汉朝的“生物战争”辨析——兼与何新同志商榷

Analysis on Xiongnu's Biological War to Han Dynasty——Discussing With He Xin

在西汉王朝与匈奴的作战中,曾发现"使巫埋羊牛所出诸道及水上"的奇怪现象,而抗击匈奴的名将霍去病也于24岁即死亡,于是有学者提出了匈奴对汉军实施"生物战争"导致霍去病染病身亡,并成为两汉周期性大瘟疫的源头的观点,且影响极为广泛。然而这种说法疑点重重,证据不足,难以成立。霍去病的死因既与漠北之战无关,也和"巫埋羊牛"不相及。东汉时期席卷全国的瘟疫另有原因,匈奴人发动的"生物战争"很可能是不存在的,针对此观点有拨乱反正的必要。

In the war between Han and Xiongnu,there were cases of ＂witchcraft dump- ling dead goats and cows that were possibly drugged on the roads and waters＂. The famous general Huo Qubing died at the age of 24. Hence,some scholars made the assumption that Xiongnu employed ＂biological war＂ to the Han army, from which Huo Qubing died. This is also the source of the periodical plagues in the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties. This as- sumption has wide influence in the academic circle. However,there are still a lot of suspi- cions due to inadequate evidence. Huo Qubing did not die from the disease infected in the battles and had nothing to do with the case of ＂witchcraft dumpling dead goats and cows＂. The wide-spread plagues in the Western and Eastern Han period were caused by other ca- ses. It is very likely that there was no biological war at all. It is necessary to discuss this is- sue deeper to cover opposite ideas.