Page "Xianbei" Paragraph 4

Tanshihuai was born in 141.

According to the Hou Hanshu his father Touluhou had been serving in the Southern Xiongnu army for three years.

Returning from his military duties Touluhou was furious to discover that his wife had become pregnant and given birth to a son.

He ordered the child put to death.

His wife replied: “ When I was walking through the open steppe a huge storm developed with much lightning and thunder.

As I was looking upward a piece of hail fell into my mouth, which I unknowingly swallowed.

I soon found out I had gotten pregnant.

After 10 months this son was born.

This must be a child of wonder.

It is better to wait and see what happens .” Touluhou did not heed her words, so Tanshihuai was brought up secretly in the ger ( yurt ) of relatives.

When Tanshihuai was around 14 or 15 years old he had become brave and sturdy with talent and ability.

Once people from another tribe robbed his maternal grandparent ’ s herds.

Tanshihuai pursued them alone, fought the robbers and managed to retrieve all the lost herds.

His fame spread rapidly among the Xianbei tribes and many came to respect and trust him.

He then put some laws and regulations in force and decided between litigants.

Nobody dared to violate those laws and regulations.

Because of this, he was elected supreme leader of the Xianbei tribes at the age of 15 and established his ordo ( palace ) at Mount Darkhan.

He defeated the Dingling to the north ( around Lake Baikal ), Buyeo to the east ( north of Korea ) and the Wusun to the west ( Xinjiang and Ili River ).

His empire stretched 7000 km and included all the lands of the former Xiongnu.