Ordos bronze 'Copulating Tigers' plaque 5th-3rd C. BCE

"6.15 Modu Humiliates Empress Dowager Gao (aka Lu Zhi): At the time of the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Gao, Modu became increasingly arrogant and conceited. He prepared a letter and sent it through an envoy to the Empress Dowager, it read,

"I am a forlorn King living in the damp and marshy swamps in the north. Every time I rode to the border of Han, I wished to visit the heartland of the Middle Kingdom. Now, Your Majesty, you are all alone without a spouse. Since the two of us are both unhappy, besides we could not gratify ourselves, why don't we get together to share what we both miss?"

At this Lu Zhi was furious. Both her and minister Fan Kuai desired to attack the Xiongnu but minister Ji Bu reminded them what had happened the last time. When Emperor Gao previously invaded the Xiongnu it resulted in China's status changing from an independent nation to a vassal state. And Fan Kuai was involved in that failed attack.

The minister Ji Bu attempted to console her: "the Yi and Di people are like beasts and animals. There is nothing to be enchanted when one receives servility and praises from them and equally not to be infuriated with their derogatory comments". 

Lu Zhi, realizing she didn't have the ability to militarily vent her frustrations, sent a letter to Modu stressing her lack of physical appeal to dissuade him from pursuing her: "My hair and teeth are falling out; when I walk, I stagger most tentatively. The Chanyu has been misinformed; it is not worth Your Highness's while to lower yourself. Our humbler state has not committed any offences or transgressions and should be pardoned."

-Hanshu Xiongnu Zhuan Volume 94 Number 64 A. The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han (from the Shiji, Hanshu, and Hou Hanshu) translated and annotated by Joseph P. Yap

Ordos bronze 'Copulating Tigers' plaque 5th-3rd C. BCE. "Copulating animals occur on artifacts belonging to the non-Chinese peoples that inhabited northern China and Inner Mongolia, particularly areas where hunting was a major element in the local economy" - Emma C. Bunker, Ancient Bronzes of the Eastern Eurasian Steppes, New York 1997, p.166.

Source:

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Quote:

Hanshu Xiongnu Zhuan Volume 94 Number 64 A. The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han (from the Shiji, Hanshu, and Hou Hanshu) translated and annotated by Joseph P. Yap