Most people? I know there were farmers in the Altai before there were nomads. If anything Manchuria would be more temperate. Nomadism is the most modern mode of production. The first true nomads were the Iranians. Before that the steppes were peopled by agro pastoralists, they keep herds yes, but without large enough horses, their herds are limited in size so they have to farm. Also as far as I can remember there are no historical nomads native to Manchuria, they jurchens for example were agro pastoralists.

It's purpule guys that are new here.

So I looked it up, millet agriculture seems to have spread to the Liao and Amur rivers in the 4 th Milenium.

Also, by 500bc iron tools and large horses are widespread, they even have seed drills, there should be no significant difference in productivity when compared to the days of Arthur young. Edit: Aparently I'm wrong and while that is the case for west asia, and Africa the ironage took longer in east asia, 500 bc is still bronze age in Manchuria, the are still millet farmers tho.

The differences are mainly due to local demográfico conditions, state capacity, war making, and so on.