Ch.112Qara-Ordo (5)

I felt that the south gate would be quite thick and difficult to capture.

Still, as a father, it was better to follow my son’s wishes since he was struggling at the east gate.

With these thoughts in mind, I was attacking the south gate of Qara-Ordo.

During this, a messenger suddenly approached me urgently.

“Gurkhan! The south gate is opening.”

“The gate…?”

I asked the messenger again, wondering if I had heard correctly.

The messenger answered my question with an expression that indicated he had seen it clearly with his own eyes.

“Yes, Gurkhan.”

“I’ll check it myself.”

Saying this, I led my Kheshig guard toward the front line.

When we arrived, the gate was indeed opening, just as the messenger had said.

“Could the enemy be surrendering?”

I shook my head at Elunka’s words.

“If that were the case, they would have opened when the outer wall collapsed.”

The timing wasn’t quite right for surrender.

Therefore, this clearly meant they wanted to fight in the field rather than continue the siege.

I could understand this choice.

Although we were the main force, we had transferred most of our troops to Munglig and Bulqa Khan for occupation, so numerically, our unit had fewer soldiers than the vanguard at the east gate.

From the enemy’s perspective, they might choose to open the gates and fight in the field to break out of their defensive position.

With the difference in troop numbers, they could potentially overwhelm us with force.

However, most of our forces were cavalry.

I knew better than anyone how reckless it was to engage in field battle against such mounted units.

That’s why I could only stare at the gate with a surprised expression.

“Finally, I meet you, Yesugei. I’ve been sharpening my blade of vengeance to take your head!”

The man pointed his sword at me while saying these words.

I just looked at him without saying anything.

Because I didn’t know who he was.

“Ha! Looking at you now, I see you’re frightened, Yesugei. My father’s grudge will claim your life.”

“Father… father… Ah!”

Now I finally realized who he was.

The one who usurped the Western Liao throne, Kuchlug.

“So it’s Kuchlug.”

Unlike Kuchlug who was full of anger, I remained calm.

This was because while he had a grudge against me, I had none against him.

He hadn’t caused me any harm, and thanks to him, we were able to invade Western Liao more easily.

Moreover, his usurpation of the Western Liao throne for personal revenge became the catalyst for the Western Liao crown prince, Yelu Zhilugu, to surrender to us, which was nothing but a blessing from our perspective.

So I was rather grateful to Kuchlug.

But contrary to my thoughts, Kuchlug looked like he wanted to tear me apart right then and there.

“Yesugei! False ruler! I will restore justice to the steppe by killing you!”

Saying this, Kuchlug charged at me.

Looking at him, I let out a long sigh.

“Archers.”

At my command, the Kheshig behind me nocked arrows to their bowstrings.

Kuchlug showed a surprised expression.

Judging by his expression, he seemed to think I would face him directly, caught up in the moment.

But I had no such intention.

Although Kuchlug had been a great help to us, he was, coldly speaking, a fugitive, a criminal, and a usurper who had stolen the Western Liao throne.

The reputation of Ulaanbaatar was not cheap enough to personally confront such a dishonorable being.

Therefore, I intended to deal with him according to his level.

“Fire!”

With my command and the lowering of my arm, the Kheshig behind me fired arrows in rapid succession.

Kuchlug and his soldiers, who were charging at me in rage, were instantly met with a rain of arrows.

“Arghhhh!”

“Kuhk!”

Screams echoed everywhere.

Listening to these desperate cries, I raised my hand once more.

“Second row, prepare to fire.”

The first row that had already fired stepped back, and the second row waiting behind moved forward.

After confirming they were ready, I gave the order to fire.

“Fire!”

“Kek!”

“Arghhhh!”

“Kuk.”

The enemy soldiers either died instantly from the arrows or fell from their horses to their deaths.

Despite their deaths, Kuchlug did not stop charging toward me.

Covered in blood and rushing to kill me, he looked like…

“A mayfly.”

He was not a wolf of the steppe.

Kuchlug was merely someone who sacrificed everything for personal glory.

The title of insect suited such a being.

“Disgusting.”

That’s what I think when I see an insect.

With this thought, I let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Elunka who was beside me stepped forward.

He aimed at the space between Kuchlug’s eyebrows as he approached me with bloodshot eyes.

Swoosh.

“Kuhk.”

Elunka’s arrow hit Kuchlug precisely between the eyebrows.

Kuchlug let out a short groan before collapsing from his horse.

It was a pathetic end for someone who had usurped the Western Liao throne.

I could only sigh as I looked at him.

“To think Western Liao was controlled by such a man. Perhaps it was the fate of a nation destined to fall anyway.”

It would sound absurd to others.

After all, Western Liao was one of the great empires of Central Asia, receiving tribute from various countries.

But the Western Liao I saw was a nation in decline.

It had lost its sovereignty to a madman whose sole purpose for usurping the throne was personal revenge.

Whether the Western Liao Emperor was competent or not didn’t particularly matter.

His judgment was flawed from the moment he welcomed such a madman as a guest.

With the Emperor’s judgment being wrong, it was obvious what his ministers would be like.

“We will occupy Western Liao.”

With these words, I gave the order to charge.

The Mongol warriors rushed toward the south gate.

The Western Liao soldiers, having lost their emperor, seemed to have no will to resist.

They merely repeated pleas for their lives.

* * *

“Gurkhan has broken through the south gate.”

“As expected of my father.”

Temujin nodded, clenching his fist.

Gurkhan had broken through the south gate while keeping attention focused on the east gate.

All of this was according to Temujin’s plan.

That’s why Temujin wore such a pleased expression.

“Additionally, he has eliminated the usurper Kuchlug.”

At the messenger’s report, Yelu Chucai, who was right beside him, wept.

He knelt down, looked up at the sky, and cried out.

“Father… Finally… the wicked Kuchlug has received heaven’s punishment.”

Temujin did not reproach Yelu Chucai for his behavior.

After all, the reason Yelu Chucai had surrendered was for revenge.

Therefore, such behavior was quite acceptable.

“So now only Xiao Apgang and Yelu Pusuwan remain inside the imperial palace.”

“That’s correct, my lord.”

Yelu Chucai composed himself and approached Temujin.

He bowed and answered Temujin’s words.

“Are you disappointed that you couldn’t achieve revenge yourself?”

“Not at all, my lord. Gurkhan, who is like heaven’s hammer and God’s messenger, has personally punished Kuchlug, which is like divine punishment from heaven. As a mere mortal, I follow the noble will of heaven.”

Temujin nodded at this.

But seeing that Yelu Chucai still seemed somewhat regretful, Temujin questioned him again.

“But Yelu Pusuwan and Xiao Apgang still remain. You still have a chance for revenge against those two.”

At Temujin’s words, a gleam appeared in Yelu Chucai’s eyes.

His desire for revenge against the two who had betrayed the Emperor was no less intense than his hatred for Kuchlug who had killed the Emperor.

“You wanted revenge in exchange for your loyalty to me. As your lord, I have a duty to fulfill that wish.”

“My lord…!”

Yelu Chucai looked at Temujin with an expression of deep emotion.

Temujin looked at him calmly and replied.

“Follow me. We will capture Qara-Ordo.”

“I… I… acc… kuk… accept your command…!”

Tears like chicken droppings fell from the eyes of the 7-year-old child.

Those tears contained no sadness. Yelu Chucai’s tears contained an indescribable joy.

* * *

When Kuchlug left for the south gate with the nobles’ private armies, control over the interior of the imperial palace was naturally lost.

This allowed Xiao Apgang to quickly occupy the palace interior with the support of the Empress.

“Kuhk.”

“Argh!”

Naturally, the adjutant who was watching the Empress was also executed.

Having completely occupied the palace this way, the Empress wore a pleased expression as if she had gained the whole world.

“Hohoho. Now the throne of Liao belongs to me and you.”

Xiao Apgang said nothing in response to the Empress’s words.

He just looked at her.

Then he took a deep breath and asked the Empress a question.

“Is it true that you were there when the Emperor killed my father, as you told me that day?”

“…Yes. But… why do you ask?”

Having received the answer he wanted from the Empress, Xiao Apgang began to laugh.

The Empress sensed something was wrong.

But there were more important matters, so she didn’t bother to mention it.

“Now if you lead the soldiers to the gate and eliminate Kuchlug, Western Liao will completely…”

“Do you think the Mongol army will withdraw if we eliminate Kuchlug?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you think the Mongols would simply withdraw if we eliminated Kuchlug and offered his head?”

At Xiao Apgang’s words, the Empress glared at him.

It was clearly an annoyed expression, but Xiao Apgang continued speaking as if he had no intention of appeasing her.

“How naive. You thought you could control everything. That’s why you gave yourself to Kuchlug and to me as well. Like a street prostitute.”

“Are you insulting me, the Empress?”

Xiao Apgang shrugged as if he saw no reason to answer the Empress.

Then he continued.

“Did you really think I accepted your proposal because I was blinded by the throne?”

“If you insult me one more time, even if you are the military governor…”

“Would you be able to kill me?”

Saying this, Xiao Apgang looked around.

Adjutants with bloodied swords approached Xiao Apgang’s side.

“…Why… why are you doing this suddenly? We… we were going to share the throne…”

“Yes, the throne. You were so blinded by it that you didn’t even know what was coming from outside.”

After saying this, Xiao Apgang let out a long sigh.

Then he looked up at the sky and shouted loudly.

“Emperor! What you said before you died was true. But unlike your expectations, I don’t plan to die alone.”

“…What… what are you talking about?”

“You still don’t realize it until the end. You carry the seed of a usurper who killed the Emperor and offered the throne to an outsider. Don’t you understand what that means?”

“What… what…”

“It means the Crown Prince can kill you without consequence.”

The Empress looked at Xiao Apgang with a shocked expression.

Xiao Apgang looked at the Empress and laughed loudly.

“Hahahahaha! Emperor! I have achieved my revenge. I killed you, and now your son will kill your sister. So I’ve won. I’ve won, I tell you!”

Xiao Apgang began to laugh like a madman.

The Empress was about to say something, but she couldn’t speak due to a man who suddenly opened the palace door and entered.

“Crown Prince…”

“I heard everything, Aunt… no, Yelu Pusuwan.”

Yelu Chucai looked at Yelu Pusuwan with a menacing aura.

Seeing this, Xiao Apgang just laughed without saying anything.