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This general of light cavalry showed outstanding military talent and bravery when just a teenager. He led his troops deep behind enemy lines and inflicted heavy defeats on the Xiongnu. Huo died of plague at the age of 24 – it is believed the Xiongnu contaminated water sources with dead cattle to spread plague among the Han soldiers during fighting in the Gobi Desert. The emperor ordered that a tomb be built for Huo next to the emperor’s. It had the shape of the mountain where the general gained his first victory.