Ch.22The Yeke Mongol Ulus (1)

Mounted on a horse was a man with a thick beard. With piercing eyes, he gazed at the distant Kerait tribe and murmured softly.

“Finally, I can honor my father’s spirit.”

The invasion of the Naiman and Merkit.

At its center was Tagar, son of Gurkhan.

Tagar had gathered forces to avenge his father Gurkhan.

The reason Tagar, who had essentially fallen from power, could gather forces again was due to the complicated circumstances within the Naiman tribe.

“I have arrived here as you requested, Tagar Khan.”

A single statement from Tayang Khan.

In response, Tagar welcomed Tayang Khan with steppe etiquette.

“You’ve come a long way, Tayang Khan.”

Tayang Khan nodded in response to Tagar’s words.

The Khan of the Naiman, Inancha Bilge Khan.

He had several sons under him.

Among them was one who desired to become the next Khan.

That was Tayang Khan.

When Inancha Bilge Khan died, the Naiman tribe fell into chaos.

In that chaos, to become Khan himself, Tayang killed Kuchlug, who was beloved by Inancha Bilge Khan and essentially his successor, and took the position of Naiman Khan.

Thus, Tayang Khan came to rule the Naiman.

While most tribe members followed Tayang Khan out of fear, there was one who refused.

None other than Kuchlug’s half-brother, Buiruq.

He led his brother’s forces and his own across the Altai Mountains, establishing power in the west of Naiman territory.

In this newly formed power base, Buiruq called himself Khan.

The Naiman tribe had split in two.

Tayang Khan wanted to reunite the Naiman tribe.

Lacking legitimacy, Tayang Khan had insufficient justification to attack Western Naiman.

This is when Tagar appeared.

Since Tagar’s mother was the sister of Inancha Bilge Khan, he could provide Tayang, who lacked legitimacy, with a justification for unifying the Naiman tribe.

Tagar used this to promise that if Tayang helped him reclaim the position of Khan of the Kerait, he would help Tayang attack Western Naiman.

Additionally, he promised to cede some Kerait territory, to which Tayang readily agreed.

“I trust without doubt that when you become Khan of the Kerait as promised, you will keep your promise to attack Western Naiman together and cede the promised land. If you break your promise, I will punish you according to steppe law.”

“Of course.”

A confident statement from Tagar.

Then he turned his head to look at the man on his left.

“If I fail to keep my promise, I ask that you behead me on the spot, Chiledü Khan.”

“If you break your promise, I will kill you in the most dishonorable way on the steppe, with blood flowing from your entire body, Tagar Khan.”

The man who responded to Tagar’s words with a cold voice.

His identity was none other than Chiledü, Khan of the Merkit.

Tagar, with diplomatic skills strong enough to make Eastern Naiman his ally with just words.

He went to the Merkit tribe, which had poor relations with the Khamag Mongol, and made a similar proposal.

The Merkit accepted Tagar’s proposal.

This was because the Khamag Mongol had been rapidly gaining power under an exceptional talent named Yesugei.

The Khamag Mongol had even used this power to completely destroy their old enemy, the Tatars.

The Merkit, sharing a border with them, couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Additionally, there was a personal grudge.

Chiledü, the current Khan of the Merkit, had once had his bride-to-be, Ho’elun, taken by Yesugei.

Because of this, Chiledü’s prestige had hit rock bottom.

He nearly fell from power, but thanks to Tengri’s blessing, Chiledü’s elder brothers died of disease, allowing him, as the only remaining son, to become Khan of the Merkit.

Anyway, even after becoming Khan of the Merkit, Chiledü was constantly looking for an opportunity to take revenge on Yesugei.

Tagar was well aware of this bad blood between Chiledü and Yesugei.

Tagar pointed out that attacking the Kerait could draw his enemy Yesugei to the battlefield.

And he argued that if they left the Khamag Mongol alone, the entire ulus would fall into Yesugei’s hands.

Convinced by this, Chiledü accepted Tagar’s request and led the Merkit tribe to participate in the war.

“But I have something to ask Tagar Khan.”

“Please ask anything, Chiledü Khan.”

“I don’t see the forces of the Khongirad and Oirat tribes…”

The Khongirad and Oirat tribes, minor tribes not among the five major Mongol tribes.

However, they were located in the center of the steppe, and if they joined the army, it would provide a great geographical advantage.

“It seems they wish to observe this battle, which will determine the ruler of the steppe, from afar. They intend to follow whoever survives this battle.”

“Ha! So they plan to profit while sitting idle!”

A statement from Tayang Khan.

In response to his words, which naturally conveyed anger, Tagar nodded.

“They will pay in blood for rejecting our alliance request.”

The Kerait and Khamag Mongol versus the Naiman and Merkit.

Chiledü had no intention of tolerating wolf-like behavior where they would intervene when both forces were devastated by war and take advantage.

“But provoking them and causing them to side with the Kerait and Khamag Mongol would not be a good move.”

Chiledü’s sharp observation.

To this, Tagar nodded and offered a solution.

“I plan to destroy the tribes located on the outskirts of Kerait territory, behead the men, and send them to the Khongirad and Oirat.”

“You mean to kill Kerait tribespeople? Aren’t they to become your subjects?”

To Chiledü’s surprised words, Tagar shook his head.

“They are the ones who stood by and watched when my father died. I will make them feel my anger on their skin.”

Tagar’s anger.

Neither Chiledü nor Tayang could say anything in response to that anger.

They knew that if he took such actions, even if he became Khan of the Kerait, the likelihood of the tribespeople following him was low.

But this was ultimately a Kerait matter.

Since they were allies now but could become enemies later, Chiledü and Tayang did not stop Tagar from essentially eating his own flesh.

“I will follow your decision.”

“I also have no objection as long as I receive the justification and promised land.”

“Good.”

Having obtained permission from the two leaders, Tagar turned his head and raised his hand high.

“Be angry! Warriors of the steppe! We go to reclaim what was taken from us!”

“Uwaaaaaa!”

“Long live Tagar Khan!”

Tagar’s cry.

Numerous soldiers began to chant his name.

* * *

A splendid ger bestowed by the Jin Dynasty Khagan.

As I arrived in front of it, soldiers recognized me and paid their respects.

“Ulaanbaatar, Ong Khan is waiting for you inside.”

Soldiers calling me the Red Warrior.

It seems my red cloak after winning the previous bokh match made quite an impression.

Originally, since my name was Yesugei Batur, the nickname Ulaanbaatar, meaning warrior with a red cloak, wasn’t incorrect.

Anyway, receiving such a welcome, I entered the ger.

There was Toghrul, with a serious expression, talking with his adjutant.

“Anda! Thank you so much for coming!”

Toghrul welcomed me with open arms.

I also opened my arms to receive his greeting.

“I thought I should come since it was my anda’s request.”

Originally, the Khamag Mongol had planned to attack the Naiman and Merkit tribes.

Since Toghrul already knew this, there was no need to mention it and spoil the warm atmosphere.

“Thank you. Please, sit here.”

Toghrul guided me to a seat.

A man with exotic features sitting there looked at me, made the sign of the cross, and greeted me.

“May God’s grace be with Gurkhan. It is an honor to meet Ulaanbaatar, whose name resounds across the steppe.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Ibuka, a servant of God who advises Ong Khan.”

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a bishop of the Kerait tribe.

At that time, clergy were the intellectual class, so they often served as advisors to rulers.

In other words, he could be seen as a strategic advisor.

“Nice to meet you, Ibuka.”

With introductions complete.

I turned my head and immediately asked about the enemy.

“According to scout reports, Tagar has already arrived at the edge of Kerait territory, leading the forces of the Merkit and Naiman tribes. Is this information true?”

“Yes. I’ve had nearby tribespeople gather here and prepare for battle.”

Toghrul had taken the fastest possible action as Khan of the Kerait.

“How many enemies are there?”

“About 5,000, they say.”

The Merkit-Naiman allied forces.

Their numbers exceeded those of the Kerait-Khamag Mongol alliance.

Our allied forces numbered about 3,500.

Originally, we could have mobilized about 4,000 troops, but we hadn’t fully recovered from the damage of the battle with the Tatars.

5,000 versus 3,500.

The enemy had about 1,500 more soldiers than we did.

“The difference in forces is a problem. Is there a way to resolve this?”

“If we could make the Khongirad and Oirat tribes our allies, we could solve it, but…”

Toghrul’s voice trailed off.

From his words, I could immediately tell that the two forces were claiming neutrality and observing the situation.

While thinking about this, screams could be heard from afar.

At the sound, Toghrul rose to assess the situation.

“What’s happening?”

“It’s… it’s terrible, Ong Khan. The enemy is massacring the tribespeople on the outskirts.”

“Massacre? Such atrocity…”

Although he had been expelled from the tribe, Tagar was originally from the Kerait tribe.

Therefore, Tagar’s actions of massacring his own tribe, essentially his family, were a clear violation of steppe law.

“Prepare the horses at once! We will attack the enemy!”

A battle that began with the enemy’s sudden attack.

An indescribable ominous feeling began to overwhelm me.