Ch.113Qara-Ordo (6)
by fnovelpia
# The Conquest of Western Liao
Temujin and Yelu Zhilugu had conquered the imperial palace.
It had been only half a shichen since I killed Kuchlug.
The rapid conquest of the imperial palace was entirely thanks to the crown prince.
According to reports, the crown prince personally led the vanguard and cleared the path to the imperial palace.
Thanks to him, the Mongol forces were able to reach the imperial palace without any resistance.
“Of course, it also helped that infantry infiltrated through the passage Yelu Zhilugu used to escape, causing confusion inside the palace.”
Temujin had become very cautious since the battle of Khara-Khoto.
Therefore, even when he had a reliable method, he always employed two approaches simultaneously.
Like testing a stone bridge before crossing it.
Anyway, thanks to these careful choices, we were able to conquer the imperial palace with minimal casualties.
“Let’s head to the imperial palace then.”
At my words, Elunka nodded.
Then he extended his hand, ordering the Kheshig and Tamma to escort me.
Thus, I headed toward the imperial palace with soldiers escorting me, using the center of the main imperial avenue.
Originally, the imperial avenue was a road reserved for the emperor, difficult for ordinary people to use.
As I, the conqueror, walked on this road, the Western Liao people around me prostrated themselves, seemingly sensing Mongol dominance.
I had no intention of harming them.
That’s why I instructed the soldiers not to harm the civilians.
Anyway, thanks to this, I was able to quickly arrive at the imperial palace using the imperial avenue.
“Gurkhan, we have been waiting for you.”
At the end of the imperial avenue stood my son Temujin.
Beside him stood Jebe and a man who appeared to be a merchant.
The three of them bowed to me.
I dismounted and helped them rise.
“You’ve worked hard conquering the capital of Western Liao. You’ve achieved the greatest military accomplishment in this war.”
At my words, Temujin maintained a humble posture with a bow.
In contrast, Dei-Sechen and Toghrul Khan beside me had excited expressions.
“You’ve achieved something magnificent.”
“I agree. To conquer even Western Liao. This achievement rivals that of the Gurkhan himself.”
Dei-Sechen and Toghrul didn’t hold back their praise for Temujin’s accomplishments.
Temujin bowed to his two fathers-in-law in gratitude, then credited those standing behind him for his success.
“The greatest achievements in this war belong to Jebe, Bo’orchu, and Yelu Chucai who helped me.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised by the names that came from my son’s mouth.
While Jebe was someone I had sent, Bo’orchu and Yelu Chucai were not.
This meant they were talents my son had acquired himself.
Genghis Khan is revered as a great man even in modern Mongolia.
Next to this Genghis Khan stood statues of two of his Four Stalwarts who supported him.
On the left was the statue of the King of Lu, Muqali, who conquered the Jin Dynasty and was appointed king of the North China region.
And on the right stood the statue of Bo’orchu, who helped Temujin by lending him a horse when he was wandering after losing his father as a child.
Bo’orchu was one of the Four Stalwarts, a strategist who made the greatest contributions when Genghis Khan unified the steppes.
In other words, Bo’orchu’s contribution to Genghis Khan’s achievements was immeasurably great.
To gain such a Bo’orchu during the war made me think that fate truly existed.
“To gain talent even during war. Truly my son.”
At this, Temujin blushed and maintained a humble posture as if I were exaggerating.
I addressed Jebe and Bo’orchu standing behind my son.
“I will reward you both. This is not a reward for following Temujin, but for your dedication to the Ulus. Do not refuse.”
“We will obey the Gurkhan’s command.”
“It is an honor for my family, Gurkhan.”
Thus, the two expressed their gratitude to me.
Then I turned my gaze back to my son.
“But as you mentioned earlier, three people helped you, yet I don’t see the one called Yelu Chucai.”
“Yelu Chucai is currently in the imperial palace. I had an agreement with him and handed over Yelu Pusuwan and Xiao Apgang to him. I apologize for not informing the Gurkhan in advance.”
“No need. You conquered the capital, so their heads are rightfully yours. But handing over the empress Yelu Pusuwan and Xiao Apgang means…”
“Yes. Yelu Chucai is Yelu Zhilugu. Though still a child, he is brilliant, so I gave him a new name and kept him by my side.”
“I see.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised inwardly.
This was because Yelu Chucai was Genghis Khan’s advisor and made significant contributions to the fall of the Jin Dynasty.
He even submitted reform proposals arguing that the Mongols, who showed no mercy to resisters, needed to change.
His reform proposals included establishing laws and clarifying the relationship between ruler and subject, promoting Confucianism and employing scholars to govern the country, and refraining from massacres to protect the people and their property—reforms significant enough to be recorded in the Yuan Dynasty’s official history.
Of course, Ögedei Khan, who employed him at the time, didn’t accept all these reforms.
But it was true that these reforms prevented the situation where all farmland in North China might have been converted to pastures.
Additionally, thanks to the tax system he created, Mongolia was able to emerge as a true nation.
This was because, until then, Mongolia had not collected taxes from occupied territories.
Of course, there was no guarantee that Yelu Zhilugu would act like the historical Yelu Chucai.
It could just be a name change.
However, being only 7 years old, his potential for development was limitless.
Anyway, I was inwardly amazed at Temujin’s luck in gaining such excellent generals, strategists, and administrators.
Temujin was definitely a person sent by God.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for such talented people to gather around him.
“Then, Gurkhan.”
With these words, Temujin guided me to the stairs used by the emperor.
I followed Temujin up the stairs called “danchi,” which only the Western Liao emperor could use, and proceeded to the Western Liao imperial palace.
Upon arrival, a 7-year-old child holding a sword stood there.
The sword was stained with dark red blood.
And before him lay the bodies of a dead man and woman.
The woman’s face showed disbelief,
while the man’s expression seemed as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
“You’ve taken your revenge.”
Though I didn’t know the details, judging from the atmosphere surrounding the child, Yelu Zhilugu, or rather Yelu Chucai, seemed to have taken his revenge.
At my words, the child came to his senses, placed the sword on the ground, and bowed to me.
“I greet the Gurkhan, the rightful ruler of the steppes.”
“Are you Yelu Zhilugu, the former crown prince of Western Liao?”
“Yes, Gurkhan. But now I am merely an advisor serving Lord Temujin.”
There was sincerity in Yelu Chucai’s words.
I nodded and looked at him.
“Raise your head.”
Yelu Chucai raised his head.
I examined the young child’s face.
There was no trace of childishness on his face.
This child was an adult. And a wolf.
“You are a wolf.”
“…”
“Temujin said that three people made the greatest contributions to conquering Western Liao. Your name was among them.”
At this, Yelu Chucai slightly raised his head to look at Temujin.
Seeing this, Temujin raised his hand to indicate there was nothing to worry about.
“I will reward you. What do you desire?”
“I have already received a valuable reward from my lord—the heads of two people. I desire nothing more.”
“That is a reward from Temujin, not from me. So my reward is separate.”
At my words, Yelu Chucai showed great surprise.
After thinking for a moment, he bowed and carefully addressed me.
“Abamama… no, the former emperor’s body is in the eastern palace. Please allow me to collect his body and place it in the imperial tomb.”
“Is that all?”
When I asked again, Yelu Chucai showed a deeply troubled expression.
Then he bowed again and exclaimed loudly.
“Though I am no longer the crown prince, I beg the Gurkhan to show mercy to this place where I was born and raised.”
“Mercy? What kind of mercy do you want?”
“Please spare the officials in the imperial palace. If you show mercy and save them, they will be grateful for the Ulus’s kindness and contribute to the Ulus.”
Yelu Chucai’s words made sense.
None other than Yelu Zhilugu, the former crown prince, had surrendered. So from their perspective, there was no reason not to follow the Ulus.
“Very well. I accept your request to collect the Western Liao emperor’s body and place it in the imperial tomb according to Western Liao tradition. And I will spare the officials.”
“I am grateful for the Gurkhan’s ocean-like mercy.”
“However, those who cooperated with Kuchlug, Xiao Apgang, and Yelu Pusuwan cannot be spared. They will be punished.”
At my words, Yelu Chucai nodded as if he had no objections.
* * *
“…Therefore, I, the last emperor of Western Liao, accept the rule of the Ulus and swear in the name of God, Tengri, and our ancestors that I will become their subject.”
Yelu Chucai was wearing the imperial robes of the Western Liao emperor.
Dressed in these robes, he acknowledged the rule of the Ulus in front of everyone and then descended from the throne.
He approached me, bowed three times, and presented me with the crown of the Western Liao emperor.
“Gurkhan blessed by God, please accept the surrender of Western Liao.”
In response, instead of answering, I accepted the crown he offered.
And I placed it on my head.
“Long live the Emperor of Western Liao!”
“Long live the Khan of the Ulus!”
“May the rule of the Ulus be eternal!”
The officials of Western Liao and the Ulus pledged their loyalty to me with loud voices.
I slowly approached the throne, receiving their blessings.
Seated on the throne, I looked at everyone and proclaimed loudly.
“In the days when the Xiongnu and Xianbei ruled the world, the Khitan and the Ulus were one nation. Now these two divided countries have become one again. It is natural for what was divided to become one again.”
The officials nodded and responded to my words as translated by the merchant.
I continued, looking at them.
“Since the Ulus and the Khitan were one, those who lived there are naturally our brethren. Therefore, we will treat the Khitan without discrimination.”
At the mention of no discrimination, the eyes of the Liao officials widened.
In medieval times, it was common to discriminate against and exploit occupied territories.
But I had no such intention.
And as I mentioned earlier, having people who share the same culture would strengthen the Ulus’s rule.
For these reasons, I declared that there would be no discrimination against the occupied Liao Dynasty.
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