I see. I didn't realize the POD was Ferghana-centric. For some reason, I thought events might move Southwards.
Looking forward to what you do with this...
That was my mistake. I did think Bactria but went for Fergana, believing it's a more realistic goal for an small-sized invading horde of at most twenty-five thousand Xiongnu and Chinese exiles to seize a new homeland from the steppe nomadic tribe occupying it. Bactria's a much tougher nut to crack, having more cities that would resist the Xiongnu and a larger population to lord over instead of Ferghana's smaller population.
Its a fantastic idea! I've pushed Chinese civilization into Central Asia before and even into a blending with India, but I never once thought about mixing Sinic culture and Hellenistic culture.
I'm curious to see where you go with this.
You know. I would love to read that myself. Would you mind sharing the link with me? I could use something to entertain me while I'm doing design work. I am also grateful for your kind words.
I imagine that Dayuan people mixed chitons with Hanfu as their clothing...
All the more reason to start sketching as soon as time allows. I do like the idea that you suggest. The chiton for me looks a wee bit too long to combine it with hanfu. The exomis would be a better fit, given the climate of Ferghana, and hanfu clothing would need to be looser and smaller for comfort. It'd vary depending on the social class of the individual in question. But I like it!
What would be interesting would be how they form the military.
A Hellenistic core of heavy infantry mixed with steppe-style cavalry with some Chinese trappings, perhaps?
Holy crap. I just had a vision of a Hellenistic phalanx together with horse archers and primitive grenades. God, it's beautiful.
The Dayuan would have an interesting situation for themselves. Upon the migration and conquest by the Xiongnu of the Fergana valley, the Xiongnu and Chinese exile elite would be outnumbered many times by the Greeks and Macedonian settlers, to say nothing of the natives. It's not as bad as if they're ruling over China as they were ITTL. On the other hand, they're not handicapped by their exclusivity in hiring just Xiongnu like the Successor Kingdoms were hampered with the need to keep bringing Greco-Macedonians from Greece proper to replenish their manpower. As they would conquer Fergana from steppe nomads, the Greeks would see them as liberators.
Even if they didn't, manpower would not be an issue. The Dayuan are sitting at the Silk Road. With the riches they'll earn from traders passing by from both east and west, they can pay for the service of mercenaries to come serve in the Dayuan armies for a select period of time. Those who lived and decided to stay can be given a plot of land to settle in exchange for swearing loyalty to the Dayuan monarch and future military service when demanded.
The old Xiongnu equestrian tradition, like lots of steppe nomads, is mainly focused on horse archers to spam the enemy hard and light cavalry to sweep up the remainder of the weakened enemy. Being allies with the Parthians would introduce to Dayuan the important role of cataphracts as shock cavalry. Even though chariots have become not as effective in the age of standard cavalry units, horse archers and crossbow than before, Dayuan scythed chariots are still effective at breaking tight infantry formations and are the preferred choice for commanders to position themselves and move around. Combine that with the crossbow and well things will be bad if you're fighting the Dayuan.
Almost little to no pikemen in the Dayuan army. Phalanx warfare is stiff, immobile and unsuitable to the mountainous landscape of Central Asia.
