Ch.219Return (5)

# “Greetings, everyone! Young ones!”

Munglig shouted loudly with his hands on his hips.

In response, the noble children who hadn’t even grown their first facial hair yet—the new Kheshig recruits—carefully watched Munglig’s expression.

Seeing them fidgeting nervously, Munglig laughed heartily and pointed to his quarters.

“From now on, you young ones will grow here as Kheshig serving the Khan.”

The noble children from various regions didn’t understand the current situation.

This was understandable since they weren’t yet linguistically fluent.

“What does it mean to be a Kheshig serving the Khan up close?”

One noble child asked this question.

Munglig smiled with satisfaction and gave a thumbs up.

“Good question, young one.”

After saying this, Munglig pointed to the physical training room where the noble children, including himself, were gathered.

Inside, there were numerous statues of Kheshig warriors positioned to highlight their muscles.

“Do you see these statues?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How do they make you feel?”

“Well… um… a little intimidating… but also big and… impressive.”

Being still children despite their noble status, they couldn’t help but express their emotions honestly.

Hearing the noble children’s words, Munglig nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Correct answer. You will become such impressive and magnificent beings who will guard the Khan at his side.”

“Ah…!”

“This is not only for your own development but also a golden opportunity to bring honor to your families.”

Munglig didn’t bother explaining how honorable it was to serve Gurkhan.

They would naturally feel that while working.

So he explained things that would benefit them directly.

“When you build muscles, your body grows bigger and stronger. Then naturally, you become more handsome and popular with people around you.”

For children, what mattered most was attention.

Whether it was attention from the opposite sex or from those around them.

Children tended to seek validation through such attention.

Munglig understood this better than anyone and used it effectively while training the Kheshig.

“Do you want to receive looks of awe from those around you?”

“Yes!”

“I don’t want anyone to look down on me!”

“Do you want to become someone praised as a hero by everyone?”

“Yes!”

“I want to be the greatest warrior in the ulus!”

“Do you want to reach the pinnacle, receive awe, respect, and praise from everyone, and be remembered by all for generations to come?”

“I do!”

“That’s exactly what I want!”

The noble children weren’t concerned about what they ate or wore.

They were already materially wealthy. That’s why their desire for recognition and honor stood out.

Munglig was targeting this point precisely.

“That’s what being a Kheshig means.”

At Munglig’s words, the young noble children cheered.

The children were all having similar fantasies—saving everyone and being respected as national heroes.

They couldn’t help but be excited at the prospect of making this a reality.

While the noble children were cheering and hoping to become Kheshig, there were people watching them from not too far away.

“…And so more new recruits are fooled into coming here.”

“Yeah, they don’t know the hell that awaits them.”

“What can we do? They’ll have to live like us.”

They were senior Kheshig trainees.

They had grown tired of constantly exercising and living with Buroktan.

And according to their strictly managed schedule, they had to rest immediately after exercise.

In the evenings, they had to study strategy and tactics in preparation for serving as centurions.

Additionally, they had to learn proper etiquette to serve Gurkhan up close.

Monthly tests ranked them by performance.

If someone fell below a certain rank, they would experience the miracle of having their training doubled to meet the standards.

In short, it was a continuous hell of mental and physical suffering.

Of course, it was true that a brilliant future awaited those who became official Kheshig.

However, the path to reach that point was too arduous and difficult.

The senior Kheshig trainees drank Buroktan while discussing these things.

One of them addressed everyone.

“I know you’re all worried about the new recruits, but it’s best not to approach them first and to exercise separately.”

The senior trainees nodded in agreement.

They didn’t want to scare off the new recruits by talking to them and giving unsolicited advice.

“When they approach us, we should treat them well, buy them food, and make them think this place is comfortable.”

“Right, right. That’s how we got hooked too.”

“We need juniors to make our lives a bit easier, don’t we?”

The senior trainees smiled as they said this.

And they raised one corner of their mouths as they looked at the new recruits who would become their juniors.

* * *

Until meeting the envoys, the atmosphere had been so tense that war seemed imminent.

But what actually awaited me was countless documents.

“Even this is reduced because Prince Khasar has already processed some of it.”

I sighed at Elunka’s words.

I was worried I might die from lifestyle diseases like Philip II of Spain, the king of paperwork.

Throughout history, many monarchs had suffered from paperwork.

Most kings grew up as elites and had to help with state affairs and paperwork from childhood.

They also had to study in their spare time to fill in gaps in their knowledge.

Doing this from birth until death would naturally drive anyone mad.

From this perspective, both tyrannical kings who neglected state affairs to indulge in debauchery and wise kings who managed state affairs by squeezing their officials were equally insane.

One was a madman who harmed the country.

The other was a madman who squeezed his officials dry.

Fortunately, the latter helped others, so history praised them as wise rulers and evaluated them highly.

No one knew how twisted they were inside.

“My Khan?”

“Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

I had gotten too distracted while doing paperwork.

That’s why I hadn’t heard Elunka calling me.

“It’s nothing. It seems you haven’t fully recovered from fatigue after the expedition.”

I couldn’t help feeling upset at Elunka’s words.

This was because ever since I returned to the Great Capital, I had been exploited daily by three women.

A ruler’s duty wasn’t just to govern the state.

He also had to produce heirs to ensure political stability.

I already had four sons and one daughter.

Yet I still had to work harder for more heirs.

This was because the territory of the ulus had expanded dramatically after the expedition.

I couldn’t rule all this vast land directly.

So I needed people to act as my hands and feet, and the most trustworthy among them were naturally my relatives.

Of course, I could entrust territories to the Borjigin clan who shared my surname.

But if I did so, the possibility of future rebellion was very high.

So to ensure all territories would return to Temujin, the legitimate heir, I needed more children.

That’s why recovery from fatigue was impossible.

This made me feel upset.

Reading my expression, Elunka gave an awkward smile and spoke to me.

“Would… would you like to take a break? I can handle the remaining documents…”

“Thank you.”

Elunka regretted her words too late, as I had already left my desk immediately after her suggestion.

As I left the palace, the Kheshig followed me.

And I headed straight to the garden.

“Freedom! Freedom!”

I unconsciously clenched my fists.

Nothing could make me happier than being liberated from paperwork.

“I’d rather go to the battlefield than die buried under documents.”

Paperwork felt like an unsolvable knot.

It required careful examination and slowly untangling the complicated parts.

But war was different.

While it also required careful examination, if necessary, I could cut through the complications with a sword.

In other words, war offered more options.

In a way, the results were the same. But by nature, I preferred having more choices.

That’s why the battlefield felt more comfortable.

“I should quickly process the necessary documents and attack Japan.”

I said this while looking toward Japan.

Japan was about to taste my anger, which had inadvertently built up from suffering through paperwork.

While I was talking to myself, a Kheshig approached me.

After bowing, he spoke to me.

“My Khan.”

“What is it?”

“Khatun Ho’elun is looking for you.”

“Tell her I’m not here.”

“She already knows you’re here and is coming with Khatuns Sochigel and Abd Chechek.”

At the news that my three wives were coming, my mind went into emergency mode.

If I met my wives now, I would be dragged away to perform my marital duties with all three.

That was more difficult than the war with the Jin Dynasty.

The attack of three passionate married women could break even the muscular body of Yesugei.

In other words, I could die.

I didn’t want to die yet.

In this situation, there was only one solution.

“I will convene a kurultai.”

“…?”

“Suddenly, my Khan?”

“It’s time to attack Japan. God, Tengri, and our ancestors just informed me.”

I said this with a straight face.

The Kheshig looked troubled at my words.

“Then what about the Khatuns…?”

“Tell them I will meet them separately after the state affairs discussion is over.”

The phrase “state affairs discussion” carried great power.

The Kheshig understood, bowed, and moved to send the Khatuns away.

“I’m saved.”

I unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

Thanks to Japan, my life was extended.

Japan was my benefactor.

Since it helped me survive the attack of three women, I planned to repay that kindness with destruction.

“Thank you, Japan!”

I said this while looking toward Japan.

Japan, unaware that I had hastened the war to avoid my marital duties with three wives, would be quite wronged.