Ch.217Return (3)

I immediately approached my son and told him to become a king.

And Khasar replied.

He said he would.

“Good.”

“…Is that all, Father?”

“What more needs to be said?”

“Ah… no… it’s just… I still don’t know where I’m supposed to be king of…”

“Don’t you already know?”

“…”

Khasar was speechless at my words, like someone who had swallowed honey.

“You will rule the archipelago.”

“…Do you mean Japan?”

“Yes. Subduing the Song Dynasty is still premature.”

Just because the Song Dynasty was working with Japan and showing hostility toward us didn’t mean we needed to completely antagonize them.

To be precise, it wasn’t yet time to fully turn them into an enemy state.

Of course, if the Ulus used its full strength, subduing the Song Dynasty would be no challenge.

But if we committed all our forces to subdue the Song, the Ulus might have to spend nearly a century fully absorbing them.

At this time, the Southern Song population was 76.8 million.

Conquering them would mean having more potential rebels with anti-government sentiments than our own population.

If we couldn’t suppress the vast number of Han Chinese, incomparably larger than when we conquered the Jin Dynasty, we would have no choice but to spit the Song back out.

Additionally, the Ulus hadn’t completely resolved the western front.

At minimum, we needed to conquer the Cumans and secure the steppe routes they controlled before we could manage an expanded front.

“Above all, they’re still useful.”

“What do you mean by ‘useful’?”

“Do you remember what Japan and the Song Dynasty demanded?”

“They demanded… the withdrawal of the Mongol Pirates.”

“Yes. They only demanded the withdrawal of the Mongol Pirates from Japan.”

Khasar looked puzzled at my words.

I continued with a smile.

“The Mongol Pirates have become a navy specialized in coastal raids and local plundering, raiding the Japanese archipelago.”

They were closer to privateers, if compared to Europe.

Moreover, they had continuously recruited from the places they plundered, evolving into a multinational privateer group that now included Mongols, Japanese, Goryeo people, Jin people, Song people, and even people from Dai Viet.

Having become an enormous pirate group, Japan wanted to repel them through diplomatic means if necessary.

Though various diplomatic issues were intertwined, simply put, from Japan’s perspective, the Mongol Pirates could be considered a threat to national security.

A modern person might ask how a mere pirate group could shake an entire nation.

But considering the original history where Korea suffered greatly from Japanese pirates during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods, pirates of this era shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Anyway, Japan’s diplomatic position was simple.

The withdrawal of the Mongol Pirates. This meant the pirates had grown to a level that threatened Japan’s national defense.

“Though diplomatic aspects are intertwined, it’s also evidence that Japan is struggling to handle them.”

“Is that important?”

“The Song Dynasty is located south of the Yangtze River. And most of their cities are near the coast or rivers.”

“Ah…!”

The Song Dynasty, specifically the Southern Song, was a country located south of the Yangtze River.

Because the mountainous terrain south of the Yangtze made it difficult, most of the population had to live near the coast.

This meant they were within range of the Mongol Pirates’ coastal raids.

“Father, you intend to force plundering against the Song Dynasty.”

The Ulus was in a state of massive expenditure due to the Crusade expedition.

In such a situation, the Song Dynasty applying diplomatic pressure on their own was welcome from our perspective.

After all, we could use the Mongol Pirates to plunder the Song Dynasty, the wealthiest country in this period.

“But nothing is decided yet. So we’ll meet with the envoys tomorrow and make a decision.”

Khasar bowed at my words.

That was enough political talk.

“That’s enough about politics and diplomacy. Let’s talk about something else now.”

“Something… else, you say?”

“Yes. I was talking with your mother, Ho’elun, and the topic of marriage came up.”

“…”

“Aren’t you about the right age to get married now? As it happens, there’s a suitable woman…”

Even in modern times, questions about marriage were almost taboo.

No wonder Khasar’s face grew increasingly pale.

* * *

Seated on his throne, Yesugei gestured to his guard.

The guard then permitted the Song Dynasty envoy, who had been waiting, to approach.

“Great Khan Yasokhai, I express gratitude on behalf of the Emperor of the Great Song for your personal reception.”

“Excessive diplomatic rhetoric is unnecessary.”

Gurkhan replied with an indifferent expression.

This made the Song envoy feel inwardly displeased.

“I am aware that Gurkhan has just returned from an expedition. However, I am an envoy granted full diplomatic authority by the Emperor. Therefore, I implore you to treat me with proper courtesy.”

“Are you being insolent, relying on the Song Emperor’s authority?”

“Not at all. I merely meant that Mongolia, as a tributary state of the Great Song, should respect the Emperor’s authority.”

“It’s absurd that you omit how you failed to observe proper etiquette first.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Yesugei adjusted his posture and exuded an imposing aura.

“The Yeke Mongol Ulus conquered the Jin Dynasty and occupied the Great Capital. Afterward, I personally climbed Mount Tai and declared through the Feng Shan ceremony that I had become the Emperor of the Central Plains. Therefore, I am equal to the Song Emperor, yet you treat me like a mere vassal of an ordinary feudal state?”

The envoy looked troubled.

The mention of the Feng Shan ceremony at Mount Tai meant, as Yesugei claimed, that he was the Emperor of the Central Plains.

According to Central Plains etiquette, even if Mongolia was a tributary state of the Song, he had the right to receive the same respect as an emperor.

“How…however, Mongolia is a vassal of the Great Song…”

“The Song Dynasty, once the hegemon of the Central Plains, has grown dull since retreating south of the Yangtze. Have you forgotten the etiquette of the Central Plains created by your ancestors?”

The envoy’s face turned bright red at Gurkhan’s rebuke.

If he argued back now, it would be like admitting that the Song Dynasty lacked the dignity of an imperial state.

As Yasokhai said, the act of being recognized as emperor through the Feng Shan ceremony at Mount Tai was Han culture.

If the Song Dynasty, as the main lineage and Central Empire of the Han people, ignored such a ceremony, it would show a double standard by disregarding their own traditions.

So the envoy had no choice but to grit his teeth.

He looked at Yasokhai and performed the proper etiquette for an emperor.

Yesugei nodded with satisfaction upon receiving this.

“I accept the respect shown to an emperor. Now, state your reason for seeking an audience with me, the Emperor of the Central Plains.”

The envoy ground his teeth at Yasokhai’s statement.

From the Han perspective, it was natural to be angry at suffering such humiliation from inferior barbarians.

But he was a capable diplomat.

So after swallowing his feelings, he got to the point.

“Japan is a tributary state of the Song Dynasty. We know that Mongolia is behind the Mongol Pirates attacking them. We ask you to stop attacking our tributary state.”

“You ask. Is this a request? Or a recommendation?”

“It is a recommendation from the Emperor.”

Yasokhai frowned at this.

The envoy continued without backing down.

“If you refuse, the Great Song will have no choice but to use military force to stop Mongolia’s military actions to protect our tributary state.”

The envoy answered with a stern expression.

Suddenly, Yesugei struck his throne and burst into laughter.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“…”

“It seems a nation that once submitted to the Jin Dynasty has forgotten its place now that it has somewhat regained its former power.”

“Diplomatically speaking, that statement is…”

“Silence. Before I cut off your head and hang it on the Great Capital’s gate.”

Yesugei stared at the envoy with a cold expression.

Faced with such an overwhelming presence, the envoy froze like prey before a predator.

“The Ulus defeated the Jin Dynasty that once crushed the Song Dynasty. Do you think we would fear the Song’s army?”

“This…this goes against the Mandate of Heaven…”

At this, Gurkhan rose to his feet.

He spread his arms wide and shouted loudly.

“I am the hegemon of the steppe, Emperor of the Central Plains, Basileus of the Byzantine Empire, and Shahanshah of Iran! I am the ruler of the four seas and the master of this world!”

After saying this, Yesugei pointed at the envoy.

The envoy’s face turned pale under his tremendous pressure.

“We have the power to trample Song territory. We considered the Song Dynasty an ally who joined hands with us to attack our common enemy, the Jin Dynasty. So we did not crush you with the law of power but respected you according to Central Plains etiquette. But now!”

Gurkhan struck his throne with an anger-filled fist.

The throne split in half like bamboo.

“I, the Ulus, cannot contain my outrage at this betrayal of alliance!”

The Song envoy tried to argue immediately.

Because at this rate, the Song Dynasty would be portrayed as an ungrateful nation that betrayed an alliance formed against a common enemy for selfish gain.

“That…that is not what we meant. Great Khan, I…I beg you to calm your anger.”

The envoy bowed, trying to pacify Gurkhan’s anger.

Yesugei pretended to show mercy, temporarily calming his anger to look at the envoy.

“Not what you meant? Then what does the Song Dynasty want?”

“We…we only desire peace as an imperial state. Therefore, if you withdraw only the Mongol Pirates from Japan as requested, the Song Dynasty promises not to interfere in any future disputes between Mongolia and Japan.”

“…If that is the Song Dynasty’s wish…I will respect it, considering our past relationship.”

Yesugei answered as if bestowing a favor.

The envoy repeatedly bowed in gratitude.

“Th…thank you. Thank you, Great Khan.”

“According to the Song Dynasty’s request, I will withdraw the Mongol Pirates from Japan. However, they are pirates. So after their withdrawal, we may find it difficult to control where they operate.”

It was nearly sophistry.

But the envoy, already overwhelmed by Yesugei’s presence, couldn’t say to his face that his words were sophistry.

“I…I understand. Just please withdraw them from Japan. After that, the Great Song will no longer comment on the Mongol Pirates’ activities.”

“Very well. However, the Song Dynasty might say otherwise later, so I want to formalize this in writing. If you agree, I will withdraw the Mongol Pirates immediately.”

The envoy nodded at Yesugei’s words.

Using the full diplomatic authority granted by the emperor, he made this an official diplomatic document.

The Khan looked at the document with satisfaction.

The envoy, relieved at completing his assigned mission, had no idea what turmoil this document would cause.