Ch.153Gigantic Crown (4)

“…I can’t believe it.”

I spoke these words as I gazed at Yaho Pass, filled with corpses.

Of the Jin Dynasty’s 350,000 troops, 300,000 had been stationed at Yaho Pass.

And those 300,000 troops had simply vanished.

Of course, they hadn’t all disappeared in a single battle.

It was a victory achieved by 90,000 Ulus troops who had spread throughout Yaho Pass, intercepting and defeating Jin forces one by one.

However, looking at the overall flow of the battle, those smaller skirmishes were all part of the larger Battle of Yaho Pass.

So, with some exaggeration, one could say that through this battle at Yaho Pass, the Ulus had defeated the Jin’s massive army of 300,000.

And they had done it with just 90,000 troops.

That’s why I could hardly believe what I was seeing with my own eyes.

“A great victory, Khagan!”

Munglig approached me with a joyful expression.

I nodded as I looked at him.

In original history, the Mongol army had also defeated the Jin’s 350,000 troops at Yaho Pass.

So this battle could be seen as following the original historical course.

But there was a difference from the original history—the number of enemy survivors after the battle.

In the original Battle of Yaho Pass, Genghis Khan had won a great victory against Wanyan Husha.

As mentioned earlier, he defeated the 350,000 troops but let the commander escape, necessitating additional battles.

That was the Battle of Huihe Bo.

After being defeated, they regrouped with 50,000 remaining troops at Huihe Bo and continued to resist.

At that time, Genghis Khan personally led 3,000 cavalry to continue the battle at Huihe Bo.

After a battle that lasted three days, Genghis Khan was able to eliminate even those 50,000 troops.

Unlike the original history, we had completely defeated all 350,000 troops at Yaho Pass, or more precisely, in the area called Osa Bo.

Therefore, even if Wanyan Husha was still alive, it would be difficult for him to gather remaining forces to resist us.

“Bulqa Darughachi has also completely annihilated the Jin cavalry.”

“Muqali has reported capturing Juyong Pass with 300 Tamma troops!”

Reports were coming in continuously through messengers.

Hearing these reports, I clenched my fist.

I felt as if the fate of the Jin Dynasty was in my hands.

This wasn’t just an illusion.

With the Jin’s 350,000 troops completely destroyed, I literally held their fate in my hands.

Of course, there were still obstacles to overcome.

We had yet to capture Zhongdu, the Jin capital.

However, I wasn’t particularly worried about the Jin capital.

The Ulus had suffered only 5,000 casualties against the Jin’s massive army.

As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, the Ulus forces, including the Kerik, totaled 110,000.

Not only had we defeated an enemy three times our size in a single battle, but we had suffered only 5,000 casualties—our troops’ morale was soaring.

“God, Tengri, and our ancestors have chosen the Ulus.”

“The Mandate of Heaven belongs to Gur Khagan!”

“The divine has chosen the Golden Clan! And the Ulus as the rulers of the world.”

With morale reaching the heavens, the soldiers were practically worshipping me like a god.

Of course, the greatest credit for this incredible victory belonged to the darughachis and the soldiers.

However, since I was leading them, the achievement naturally became mine.

“Khagan.”

Munglig looked at me and nodded.

It was a signal to respond to this positive atmosphere, so I decided to comply.

“Warriors of the Ulus! Brothers! We have achieved a great victory against the Jin’s 350,000 troops. This victory was granted by heaven, and it is as if God, Tengri, and our ancestors have given the Ulus the right to rule the world!”

“Woooah!”

“Gur Khagan! Gur Khagan!”

“Khagan! Conquer the world!”

Morale was reaching the sky.

I clenched my fist and shouted loudly, looking at everyone.

“Mount your horses, warriors.”

At my words, the Mongol warriors mounted their horses again.

They were ready to charge forward the moment my order fell.

“Brother.”

Munglig brought my horse.

Then he knelt down and assumed a posture as if suggesting I step on his back to mount.

I understood why Munglig was doing this.

Everyone was watching me.

So I followed Munglig’s suggestion and stepped on his back to mount my horse.

Then, pointing my sword to the sky, I shouted loudly.

“Cross Juyong Pass! Wolves of the steppe! What we desire lies beyond!”

Buuuuuuu.

As soon as my order was given, the horn signaling advance echoed.

With that sound, flags moved widely from side to side.

Seeing that signal, the wolves of the Ulus began to run.

* * *

“T-terrible news, Your Majesty!”

The Minister of Justice bowed before the Emperor.

Then he began to report the disaster that had occurred at Juyong Pass.

“Our 350,000 troops have been completely annihilated in the battle at Juyong Pass!”

“Ah…”

The Emperor appeared stunned, his expression blank.

This was understandable—news that the Jin’s 350,000 troops had been annihilated in a single battle was no ordinary report.

“Say that again! Our great army was defeated…?”

At Grand Chancellor Wanyan Liang’s words, the Minister of Justice nodded.

“Yes. It’s reported that we cannot even confirm whether Commander Wanyan Husha is alive or dead.”

“Huh…”

Wanyan Liang’s expression turned despondent at the minister’s words.

This was because he himself had recommended Wanyan Husha.

Of course, he had the support of Chief Secretary Zhang Hao, but it was clearly the Grand Chancellor who had recommended Wanyan Husha.

So Wanyan Liang could say nothing.

As the Jin court fell into shock, Zhang Hao stepped forward.

“Are there no surviving troops?”

“That’s correct. They report that all were annihilated.”

Zhang Hao nodded at this.

Then he addressed the Emperor.

“Your Majesty! Although disaster recovery is not yet complete, stopping the Mongol army is more urgent than disaster recovery. We must issue an imperial edict for conscription throughout all regions.”

The Emperor nodded at Zhang Hao’s words.

Then he looked at the Minister of Justice and issued his command.

“Conscript all men who can bear arms. This is an imperial edict.”

“I will obey Your Majesty’s command.”

The Minister of Justice bowed and quickly left.

After he departed, the Grand Chancellor, who had finally regained his composure, bowed before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I humbly request that you appoint me as commander of the defense forces to stop the Mongol advance.”

“You?”

“Yes. Wanyan Husha, whom I recommended, was defeated at Juyong Pass. Therefore, I believe I should be the one to finish this matter.”

Wanyan Liang’s words made sense.

Additionally, in a situation where morale had hit rock bottom after the defeat of 350,000 troops, the Grand Chancellor was the only one capable of leading the army.

Of course, it would be best if the Emperor personally led the campaign, but if the Emperor were captured by the enemy in a worst-case scenario, the Jin would have no choice but to surrender.

Unable to take such a risk, it was appropriate for Wanyan Liang, the Emperor’s right hand, to step forward.

The Emperor nodded, rose to his feet, and addressed the Grand Chancellor.

“I entrust you with command. Repel the Mongols who have invaded Great Jin territory and quell our nation’s turmoil.”

“Grand Chancellor Wanyan Liang will obey Your Majesty’s command.”

After saying this, Wanyan Liang immediately turned and left.

The situation was urgent, so he had no choice but to move quickly.

With Wanyan Liang also gone, the remaining officials could only look at each other with worried expressions.

At this point, Chief Secretary Zhang Hao stepped forward.

“May I offer advice to Your Majesty?”

The Emperor responded to Zhang Hao’s request by raising his hand rather than speaking.

Zhang Hao bowed and began his counsel.

“Even if the Grand Chancellor leads troops now, the reality is that it will be difficult to stop the Mongol army in its current momentum.”

This was a fact that everyone present had to acknowledge.

After all, a force of just 110,000 had defeated 350,000.

Additionally, the Mongol losses were only 5,000, so the enemy’s momentum was unstoppable.

In other words, facing such an enemy head-on would be suicidal, as they had the momentum to split even bamboo.

“But we cannot simply leave the enemy unchecked.”

“That’s right, Chief Secretary. Shanxi Province is not far from here.”

“If we don’t stop them, Zhongdu, where Your Majesty resides, could be in danger.”

The officials expressed their concerns.

Zhang Hao nodded in understanding.

“Of course, I’m not suggesting we don’t stop them. While the Grand Chancellor uses the military to block them, we must employ additional methods to make the Mongols retreat on their own.”

“Make them retreat on their own?”

“How is that possible?”

Zhang Hao looked at everyone and continued his explanation.

“Although the Mongols and Song Dynasty have joined hands, this alliance exists only because they fear our country. In such a situation, if the Mongols occupy Jin and grow stronger, the Song will be wary of the Mongols rather than Jin.”

Zhang Hao’s words were true.

From the beginning, the alliance between the Mongols and Song was possible only because they had a common enemy in Jin.

But if the Mongols conquered Jin, there would be no reason for the alliance between the two countries to continue.

“What are you trying to say, Chief Secretary?”

At an official’s question, Zhang Hao looked at him.

Then he revealed the core of his argument.

“We will inform the Song of this fact and have them attack the Mongols from behind. Then the Mongols will have no choice but to retreat due to the sudden attack.”

Zhang Hao’s words made sense.

If the Song betrayed the Mongols and attacked from behind, the Mongols would have no choice but to retreat.

“Do you think they will accept our request?”

“Of course they will. If they don’t accept this request, the Song will face the fate of having to serve the Mongols as their new overlords.”

Of course, the possibility of the Mongols forcing a lord-vassal relationship on the Song, as Jin had done, was low.

But the Mongols who had entered the Song court would certainly abolish the existing tributary relationship and reestablish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Whatever direction that took, it would not be welcome from the Song’s perspective.

Zhang Hao was pointing this out.

“Additionally, if we inform Goryeo of this fact, they will help us.”

In reality, there was no guarantee that Goryeo would actually help.

But this was just mentioned to change the current negative atmosphere.

It would be good if they actually helped, and it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t.

What was important was that there were those who would help in the attack against the Mongols invading Jin.

Of course, Zhang Hao’s assertion was merely Jin’s own delusion.