“92 BC, Crossing the Hidaka Sea” [152] Eregzen Talks About the Wusun
Chapter 6: Journey Around the Northern Iron Kilns
Section 9: Crossing the Altai
[152] ■ Episode 2: Eregzen Talks About the Wusun
Once they had descended quite a bit, perhaps feeling a little more at ease, Naoto asked.
“Eregzen, what is the Wusun?”
The ridge was visible just ahead. The two of them, leading their horses through the shrubs while being careful not to injure the horses' legs, were finally about to emerge from that area.
“The Wusun are nomads like us. They are of the same Turkic stock as the great Modu Chanyu. But they do not mingle as closely with the Mongols as we Xiongnu do.”
He said that originally, they had chased sheep in the pastures alongside the Xiongnu and competed for the vanguard on the battlefield. However, when the Laoshang Chanyu, who succeeded Modu Chanyu, passed away, they were permitted to leave the Xiongnu, cross the Dzungarian Basin, and settle in the land surrounded by mountains to the south of the area where the Ili River flows.
“Originally, the Yuezhi, who had fled west after being defeated by the Laoshang Chanyu, were there. I told you about them on the way while we were heading toward the Northern Lake, didn't I? The Wusun drove those Yuezhi out and seized their territory. The Wusun are a strong tribe, you see.
It is said that there is a mysterious lake there called Lake Issyk-Kul. The Wusun built a city near the lake and began to rule the east and west of the lake from that royal court. From the territory of the Wise King of the Right at that time, it was a ten-day journey by relaying fast horses to the west.
The Wusun have now solidified their control over the basin of the Ili River and are said to be eyeing everything from Dzungaria to the western foothills of the Altai Mountains. For the Wusun, that is the land of their fathers and ancestors where the tribe began.”
“Do the Wusun fight the same way as the Xiongnu?”
“Yes, the same. Not only men, but women also go to war. That is also the same as the Xiongnu. However, under their current king, their power might be greater than that of the Xiongnu. Like the Xiongnu of old, the Wusun still retain discipline hardened by iron laws... That is why we do not want to encounter the Wusun.”
“...”
“In the area west of Lake Issyk-Kul, which the Wusun control, many Sogdians live. It is called Sogdiana. That must be where you say you want to go.”
“The Ili River basin and Sogdiana to its west... Joseph, who lives by the sea in Fuyo, also told me about Sogdiana. It is a place I would like to visit at least once.”
“I hear there are many inland lakes in the Ili region. Because of the abundance of water in the rivers that flow into those lakes, the harvests of the surrounding countries and the taxes collected from them are high. The Wusun now rule over the place where such wealthy small nations are gathered.
It is too far to reach Ili, but Hami, where we are heading now, is close to Ili. It is a town that cannot be avoided when going to Sogdiana beyond that.”
Hearing for the first time that they were heading to Hami, Naoto showed an expression as if to say “Why?”, and then unintentionally said “Thank you” in the Hidaka language.
To Section 9, Episode 3 [153]
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