Ch.11Gur Khan (3)

Toghrul suddenly offered to help with revenge.

I looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask what he meant.

“Taking revenge on those who threatened my anda’s life is my duty as a sworn brother.”

“I’m truly grateful for your words. But it seems there’s more you haven’t told me.”

At my words, Toghrul immediately nodded.

“That’s right. There’s something I haven’t been able to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“The Jin Dynasty’s Khagan has sent an envoy to me.”

After hearing Toghrul’s explanation, I looked at him and asked a question.

“Are you saying I should act on behalf of the one who killed my ancestor?”

“Please calm down, anda. I completely understand your anger.”

Toghrul spoke while carefully observing my reaction.

Since he had helped me greatly in many ways until now, I calmed myself and listened to what he had to say.

“Everyone in this world knows that the Tatars are dogs of the Jin Dynasty. However, there’s something that needs to be clarified about this.”

“What is it?”

“The fact that you were nearly killed by the Tatar hounds.”

“What do you mean…”

“I mean we should first punish the Tatars who are causing us great harm right now.”

“…”

At Toghrul’s words, I could only silently nod.

This was because even though I knew the Jin Dynasty was behind the Tatars, I didn’t have the power to confront them directly.

The Jin Dynasty, a superpower.

It was an undeniable fact that they had defeated the Liao Dynasty, the former steppe power, and driven the Song Dynasty, known as the wealthiest country in Chinese history, south of the Yangtze River.

Moreover, they had accomplished all this in just 12 years…

There was no need to elaborate on how excellent their military power was.

“I understand your anger well, but you know better than I that the Khamag Mongol cannot face both the Tatars and the Jin Dynasty.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I’m suggesting we pretend to bow our heads and accept the Jin Dynasty’s proposal for now.”

To take revenge on the Tatars, we had to accept the Jin Dynasty’s proposal.

Of course, we could face the Tatars independently without accepting the proposal, but if we acted alone, there was a possibility the Jin Dynasty would intervene.

In other words, he was suggesting we temporarily show outward compliance while harboring different intentions toward the Jin Dynasty.

“…I understand.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“What did the Jin Dynasty promise in return for accepting this proposal?”

“They promised the Tatars’ land, treasures, and a royal title.”

Royal title.

As soon as I heard this, I immediately understood why Toghrul had accepted the Jin Dynasty Khagan’s proposal.

“A royal title.”

In the Jin Dynasty’s hierarchy, it was close to a vassal king rank.

Emperor Renzong, who currently led the Jin Dynasty, had never granted national king or military king titles to anyone except direct and collateral relatives.

For this reason, the royal title Toghrul was expected to receive would have to be a vassal king title, similar to a feudal lord by settled people’s standards.

However, since Toghrul of the Keraites was the Khan of the Yeke Mongol Ulus, not Jin territory, he could be respected internationally as an independent military king, not under Jin rule.

“Yes. A royal title. You know it’s the title I need most right now. That’s why I came to see you in person.”

“…”

“To obtain this royal title, I desperately need your valor that once led the steppe warriors to crush the Keraite rebels and Naiman dogs.”

At Toghrul’s earnest request, I thought for a moment before carefully speaking to him.

“I have no objection to attacking the Tatars. But accepting the Jin Dynasty’s proposal to attack the Tatars is a somewhat different matter.”

“…You mean we need a justification to convince them.”

Toghrul immediately understood what I meant.

After pondering for a moment, he looked at me with a smile.

“The Tatars, as dogs of the Jin Dynasty, have tormented us for a long time. This is a fact known to everyone who walks on the land of Mother, Yeke Ulus. We can no longer stand by and watch the Tatars’ evil deeds. Therefore, I, Toghrul Khan, have come to find Yesugei Batur, the rightful Khan of the Khamag Mongol and my anda.”

Toghrul paused to catch his breath.

Then he extended his hand to me and continued.

“Warrior who rides horses. One who breathes on horseback. One who draws his last breath on horseback. May you keep the oath of Karatun. May you ride across the steppe like brothers.”

“I’ve been waiting for those words.”

My hand—no, Yesugei’s hand—grasped Toghrul’s, and it was hotter than ever before.

* * *

Thump-thump-thump-thump.

The sound of a rough heartbeat.

Countless hoofbeats pounded across the steppe in rhythm with that sound.

Blue thread decorating the border of a white flag.

Inside it, the sun and moon symbols, revered by all nomads since the Xiongnu, gleamed in the light.

They were like a pack of angry wolves.

I stood at the front of the army, which was surrounded by an aura as if they would tear apart their prey at any moment.

“Halt!”

With those words, I raised my hand high.

As soon as they saw that hand, the wolves of the Borjigin Kiyat slowly began to reduce their speed.

After the cavalry had completely slowed down, Munglig approached me, dismounted, and took the reins of my horse.

As the Khan of the Borjigin Kiyat and Khagan of the Khamag Mongol—in other words, the most respected figure in the Khamag Mongol—I remained mounted.

Under Munglig’s guidance, I arrived at an open space.

There, the khans of the five tribes, who had gathered at my command, were already waiting for me.

“Have you arrived, Gurkhan?”

Bulqa Khan greeted me with the distinctive Mongol custom of placing one arm across his chest while mounted.

Behind him, about 500 men stood in formation.

“Khan of the Jurkin. I express my gratitude to you who have arrived here following my orders.”

I raised my hand to express my gratitude to them. Bulqa and the Jurkin soldiers bowed their heads in respect.

I also extended my greetings of gratitude to Chalukhab of the Oroods, Hulitu of the Mangghud, and Ardan of the Erchen.

Thousands of cavalry gathered here in the Jadaran tribe’s territory.

On one side stood Jadaran Elunka, the master of the Jadaran land, and Jamukha, who appeared to be his son.

In a way, all the soldiers of the Khamag Mongol had gathered here.

This was the first expedition after the Bokh. As a result, the soldiers’ faces seemed filled with thoughts of obtaining spoils from this battle instead of the spring hunt.

“Warriors of the Khamag Mongol. Those who are born on the ground, live their entire lives on horseback, and consider it an honor to die there. Today, we seek revenge against those who have tormented us.”

The warriors nodded at this.

Since the Khamag Mongol’s territory bordered that of the Tatars, many had experienced attacks from the Tatars and lost family, brothers, and friends.

Therefore, when I mentioned that I wanted to take revenge on the Tatars, they responded enthusiastically by raising their weapons.

“Gurkhan!”

“Punishment for the Tatars!”

“God’s iron mace!”

“I, the Gurkhan of the Khamag Mongol, understand your pain better than anyone.”

I myself—or rather, Yesugei himself—had experienced being poisoned by the Tatars.

This fact was known to everyone within the Khamag Mongol.

“The vile Tatars have not only violated the laws of the steppe but also broken the long-standing tradition of hospitality, making them traitors. Therefore, on behalf of our departed brothers, we will make our enemies feel what fear truly is.”

“Right! Right!”

“Those who violate the tradition of hospitality must be governed by law!”

“However, this is difficult to accomplish with the power of the Khamag Mongol alone.”

At my words, Toghrul Khan stepped forward as if he had been waiting.

As the Khan of the Keraites and one of the most valiant warriors in the Yeke Mongol Ulus, when he stood beside me, the Khamag Mongol soldiers cheered as if they had already won.

“Therefore, I, the Gurkhan, will join hands with my sworn brother who shares my intentions, and make the Tatars kneel under our hooves.”

“Woooah!”

“Toghrul! Toghrul!”

“Warriors of the Khamag Mongol. The Keraite tribe will ride across the steppe with you.”

This was because the armor and weapons they were wearing all came from the Keraite tribe.

The Khamag Mongol warriors usually wore light armor made by layering leather with steel plates in between. But now they were all equipped with steel gear.

The fact that they could wear iron armor like Song Dynasty soldiers was entirely thanks to Toghrul’s support.

Therefore, it was natural for them to cheer for Toghrul.

“Warriors!”

At my voice, the soldiers stopped cheering and regained their composure.

Seeing that they had calmed down, I looked at them and shouted loudly.

“This war is a war of the Khamag Mongol, the Keraites, and the Yeke Mongol Ulus, and those who distinguish themselves in this war will fairly take spoils according to their merits.”

The soldiers blinked as if wondering if this was really true.

From their position, where they had received spoils according to fixed status, position, and hierarchy rather than merit, this was surprising.

“Therefore, those who plunder privately will be considered to have disobeyed my orders and will be punished accordingly.”

The Mongol soldiers were excellent warriors.

To survive on the steppe, they had to collect as much loot as possible, so most Mongol soldiers routinely searched for valuable items as soon as battle began.

As a result, they showed tremendous firepower in the initial battle but inevitably lacked organization.

To prevent this, I promised to distribute spoils according to merit and declared that those who disobeyed would be severely punished.

“Follow the new law of the steppe, warriors.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the soldiers immediately placed one hand on their chests.

They showed through their actions that they would follow my orders as if their lives depended on it.

“Dagakh!”

“Noutbuuk!”

The soldiers who had finished preparing for battle.

They responded with words saying they would follow my orders and that it was natural.

Growling wolves.

It was time to lead the blue wolves across the vast steppe.