92 BC, Crossing the Sea of Hidaka [129] The Birthplace of Modu Chanyu
Chapter 6: A Journey Around the Northern Iron Kilns
Section 1: Aiming for Lake Baigal
[129] Episode 3: The Birthplace of Modu Chanyu
As they swayed back and forth on horseback, Eregzen spoke to Naoto, unprompted, about how the Xiongnu clans obtained their daily necessities. Menahem, riding leisurely just behind them, listened without really listening. It was a long, long road, and they were never to be in a hurry. Naoto learned anew how the nomadic Xiongnu people had arrived at this point. "The Han people stay and farm. We Xiongnu herd and follow," Eregzen said. "That is the different way of life of two different tribes that has continued unchanged for the past several hundred years. In the history of our clan, the greatest king is Modu. Modu Chanyu united all the tribes of the Mongolian Plateau, who had been living scattered lives while chasing sheep between summer and winter pastures, and built a great nation. That was nearly a hundred years ago. We call this nation the Xiongnu. It is said that the Sogdian merchants who used to trade with the Sina people often said that Sina calls this nation the Xiongnu and fears them from the bottom of their hearts. A hundred years ago, in the time of Touman Chanyu, there were the Donghu in the east, who constantly pressured us Xiongnu. Also, in the west, there were the Yuezhi, who controlled the vast land from the area the Han people now call Hexi to the Altai Mountains. From Hexi to Dzungaria in the west, it is, as it has always been, a vital hub for East-West trade. The Yuezhi held that land. Looking to the north of the Mongolian Plateau, from the Tannu-Ola Mountains to the Sayan Mountains in the north, and even the Jiankun (Kyrgyz) who lived in the land of Khakassia, further north of the Sayan Mountains, were allied with the Yuezhi. We are now heading toward such a land. The son of Touman Chanyu is Modu. Touman thought to make his son by another wife his successor, and sent Modu, who was in his way, to the Yuezhi as a hostage. However, when the Xiongnu attacked the Yuezhi, Modu, who was supposed to be killed, stole a fine horse and returned. His father, Touman, pleased by this bravery, gave him ten thousand cavalry and made him the Wise King of the Left. He had recognized him as his heir. 'Modu' is a Turkic word meaning 'brave warrior.' This Turkic hero changed the balance of power on the Mongolian Plateau thereafter. Led by Modu, the Xiongnu conquered the Donghu. The subsequent Laoshang Chanyu drove the Yuezhi to the west and monopolized the profits from East-West trade. The goods traded included gold and iron produced in the north. This was before the current king, Liu Che—Emperor Wu of the Former Han—appeared in Sina. Modu was a truly great king of the Xiongnu. Modu Chanyu also obtained the land the Sina people call Hexi. As I mentioned before, the Han now control it. The wonderful winter pastures are in the hands of the Han and those who betrayed us to join them. The current Chanyu says he will take back these Hexi pastures. To do that, we absolutely need steel." "So it is steel after all..." "The Xiongnu are a nation of warriors who ride horses. This Xiongnu includes different tribes such as the Donghu, Loufan, Baiyang, Jiankun (Kyrgyz), and Dingling. There is also the Qiang tribe, which you said your acquaintance belongs to. Each uses a different language. The Chanyu, as king, manages to bind them together. For that reason, the Chanyu gathers the heads of all the tribes at the royal court once a year to discuss matters. My uncle Menahem is also invited to that gathering, called the Longcheng Assembly. The scale of such tribes varies from large to small. Among them, there is a group that looks completely different from the Xiongnu. As you said, they have different facial features. Our clan, which lives far beyond these western mountains, on the plains north of Tannu-Ola, is the same."
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