The Huns 2

Modu Shanyu (The Hunnu Shanyu) 

The Hunnic empire (the Xiongnu Empire) was started by Modu's father, Toumen (Touman), who belonged to the Luandi Hun clan/tribe (the paternal Hun dynastic tribe), and the Suibu Uigur/Uryger clan/tribe (a maternal dynastic tribe). Their totem was a bull. [However, it is also stated, in one source, that the Huyan clan was his maternal clan/tribe.] 

Toumen had a son named Modu (Modun/Maodun/Maotun, Baatur/Bator/Baghadur, and Baktur Luandi). Modu was born in 234 BC, and he died in 174 BC. He became known for expanding the Hun Empire, and becoming the Shanyu (Chanyu) of the Xiongnu, which was centered in what is now modern-day Mongolia.

Modu was the eldest son of Toumen. Toumen was the Khan of the Huns, and the ruler (Shanyu) of the Xiongnu. Toumen's favourite wife was E'shi. It is stated that she urged Toumen to make their younger son the future Khan, rather than Modu; so he decided to raise her son to be his successor, rather than Modu. It is further stated that his new wife had wanted to kill Modu, so he adopted a plot to kill Modu. Toumen sent Modu to the Yuezhi, another tribe, to be a hostage. (This was a standard practice, whereby, a peace treaty was ensured with a royal hostage. The hostage was treated well, but he was not allowed to come and go freely.) 

There are two different accounts of what happened next. One source states that Toumen attacked the Yuezhi, after Modu became a Yuezhi hostage. When Toumen attacked them they wanted to kill Modu. Then, when the Yuezhi were about to kill Modu, he managed to steal a fast horse and escape. It is stated that Modu had sensed something suspicious, so he pretended to be sick when he was staying in the Yuezhi camp. Therefore, his guards were slack in guarding him. Then, it is stated that Modu killed the guards, and that he managed to steal a fast horse and escape. Modu disguised himself, in order to avoid pursuit by the Yuezhi tribe, so that he was able to return. (Another source states that Modu figured out that Toumen was probably going to attack the Yuezhi; therefore, he escaped before Toumen could launch a surprise attack on them.)

Upon returning home Modu was praised by the people for his bravery. Therefore, Toumen felt compelled to put him in charge of a tumen (a group of 10,000 warriors). 

Modu had figured out what was going on; so he developed a plan to ensure his survival. Modu trained his warriors every day for battle. In relation to this, he began training his warriors to obey his commands without hesitation. In order to accomplish this, he used whistling arrowheads to train them. (Legends state that he invented the whistling arrowhead.) He commanded every man to shoot and charge in the direction of the sound of a whistling arrow that he shot. Then, Modu put them to the test. He told them that they would be beheaded if they did not shoot at something, that he shot at first, with a whistling arrow. It is stated that he tested his warriors' loyalty, whereby, he would command them to kill his favorite wife (or concubine), or his favorite horse. It is further stated, that he immediately executed those who questioned his orders, or those who hesitated to follow his orders. Later, when Modu and some of his warriors were on a hunting expedition, he saw one of Toumen's horses, and he shot a whistling arrow at it. After he shot a whistling arrow at it, all of his warriors shot at it. Then, Modu knew that his warriors could be used for the task that he had planned for them. 

Later, Modu's father went on a hunting expedition, and Modu went along on the hunt. While on the hunt, Modu shot a whistling arrow at Toumen. Then, all of his warriors (who accompanied him) shot at Toumen, and Toumen was killed in a shower of arrows. Modu then installed himself as the new Khan. Then, he had his stepmother, younger brother (rival heir), and high officials (who refused to take orders from him) executed.

When Modu was crowned the new Xiongnu ruler (the Shanyu), he acquired the leadership of all of the tribes his father had controlled. (It is stated that he disciplined all of the tribes for warfare, and to follow his every command.) With his new combined military force, he successfully unified the tribes of the Mongolian steppes, and he expanded the empire. 

Modu started conquering the tribes around his country one by one. First, he subjugated the Donghu (Mongols). [The Donghu split after submission to Modu. Some joined the Xiongnu federation. However, the free Donghu found refuge in the Xianbei and Wuhuan mountains, and were accordingly called Xianbei and Wuhuan people.] The Linhu and the Loufan also joined Modu, and they swept Westward. Then, Modu conquered the Yuezhi. (His son, Jishu, made a cup out of the Yuezhi king's skull.) Then, he led his troops to the East, and defeated the states of Yan and Dai. Modu conquered a number of nomadic peoples, which included the Dingling. It is stated that 26 tribes submitted to him. They became a part of the Xiongnu. [The Xiongnu was a federation of mercenaries.]

Modu became strong and powerful. His army contained over 300,000 archers. Modu expanded his country to become a powerful empire. Under Modu's leadership, the Xiongnu threatened the Han Dynasty. 

The Chinese wrote that the Xiongnu were never very numerous. It was stated, that there was not as many of them, combined, as there were inhabitants in a single Chinese province. "Their advantage was in their strength.," they wrote. Their favorite strategy was the use of swift raids. Then, they would withdraw to the steppe before a military force could be assembled against them. The Chinese built walls and dykes on their Northern borders (in order to prevent the Huns and the Xiongnu from accessing their territory), but with little success. Later, the Qin linked these walls together, forming the Great Wall of China.

J.L.