Ch.235The Fire of Urus (5)

In the original history, Yesugei and Ho’elun had a child named Temuge. However, due to some distortion in history, Temuge no longer exists.

The reason for mentioning this story was because he was planning to adopt Yoshitsune.

In Mongolia, it was common to adopt people who weren’t blood relatives into the family. One way to make a clan prosper was to bring in capable descendants.

For this reason, Borokh, one of the Four Dogs, was also adopted by Ho’elun and raised like a son. This allowed Temujin to freely employ Borokh and keep him by his side.

“Become my adopted son.”

When Yoshitsune heard my condition, he looked quite surprised. Not just Yoshitsune, but Elunka who was traveling with him also showed a surprised expression.

The reason I wanted to adopt Yoshitsune wasn’t because he was an outstanding commander. While it was true that he was capable, what mattered now wasn’t that, but rather the clan he belonged to.

It was because he belonged to the Genji clan, which was a family name given by the Japanese imperial family to their branch families. This was important because using family connections was essential for governing Japan effectively.

It was certainly possible to subjugate them through overwhelming force. However, if this method was used, it would be difficult to control rebellions across Japan.

“Great Khan, may I ask why you suddenly want to adopt an enemy general?”

I nodded at Elunka’s question.

“To suppress rebellions and completely control the islands, this method is necessary.”

Western Xia, Western Liao, Iran, and several other regions could be ruled by force without major issues. This was because these places were connected by land.

But Japan was different. Japan was an island nation. This meant that even if I established the Yus Gurun to govern all of Japan, there would be clear limitations.

“Ah… so that’s why…”

There were two ways to solve this problem.

One was to win over the Tenno (Emperor). The other was to absorb a family connected to the Tenno.

The first method was impossible to implement. This was because my son Khasar was going to become the future Tenno of Japan.

Therefore, the structure of having the current Tenno serve my son couldn’t work. Additionally, I had no intention of letting the current Tenno live. He had a high potential to become an obstacle to governance.

So I had to win over one of the four great clans connected to the imperial family: Genpei Tokitsu, excluding Fujiwara.

Among these, Tachibana was weak in power, and the Heike had been nearly wiped out after being defeated by the Minamoto clan.

This left me with only the Minamoto clan as an option.

“Yes. That’s why I want to adopt Yoshitsune. This way, while Khasar serves as Tenno, as a member of the Borjigin clan, Yoshitsune can reclaim all the governing authority and influence he possesses.”

In truth, I didn’t necessarily have to adopt Yoshitsune. I could have simply accepted his surrender and had him serve as an ordinary general.

But there was a slight problem with this approach. The fact that Khasar couldn’t stay in Japan continuously was what made me want to adopt Yoshitsune.

Currently, the Ulus was on a European expedition. Therefore, Khasar had to stay in the Great Capital instead of me and handle the internal affairs of the empire.

This meant that Khasar would have very little time to stay in Japan as Tenno. So I had no choice but to use Japan’s shogunate system.

Of course, there were other methods available. But this approach was the most effective way to prevent clan division.

“If we think about the future… this is the best choice.”

I muttered to myself in a low voice.

The biggest reason for using this complicated method was the problem of family discord that would arise when Khasar established a royal family. There likely wouldn’t be any issues for Khasar and his son, up to the second generation. But by the time of Khasar’s grandson or great-grandson, there was a high possibility they would desire to break free from the Ulus’s control.

In other regions, I could deploy troops to suppress them, but Japan required the inconvenience of using ships. So I intended to deliberately adopt Yoshitsune to keep this in check.

I planned to make Yoshitsune the Shogun of the bakufu. I wanted him to effectively govern while ensuring that when he died, his authority would naturally revert to my family.

However, this could lead to hostility between Khasar’s descendants and Yoshitsune’s descendants. This rivalry could cause the islands to split.

From the perspective of Temujin’s descendants, it might actually be better if the Japanese islands were divided. If they were split and growling at each other, the descendants could exploit the gap to resolve the issue.

If Japan could be directly ruled like China, or if armies could be easily sent without ships, there would be no need for such concerns. But Japan was an island nation, and there weren’t many good options, which is why I made this choice.

I didn’t know what the outcome would be in the future, but this was the best option given my current situation.

Anyway, with these thoughts in mind, I looked at Yoshitsune. All that remained was his choice.

* * *

“Something is strange.”

Minamoto Yoritomo wore a puzzled expression as he heard the messenger’s report. This was because Yoshitsune had stopped his return to Miyako and made contact with the Mongol army.

And now he was coming back to Miyako, which was perplexing.

“I think he might have surrendered to the Mongols.”

“Yes, and it seems he’s coming to overthrow Miyako.”

The officials expressed their fears with such words.

“Yoshitsune surrendered…?”

He had faced the Mongol army, but no battle had occurred. Yet he wasn’t coming to the capital with the Mongol forces either.

So there was a high possibility that he had surrendered, as the officials suggested. But Yoritomo found it hard to accept the fact that Yoshitsune had surrendered.

Betraying the Minamoto clan? It could only be seen as a disgrace to the family.

Of course, if Yoshitsune had heard this, he would have found it absurd.

After all, Yoritomo had openly tried to eliminate him. On top of that, he had ordered a retreat while facing the Mongol army, so it was only natural.

But the Shogun himself didn’t think that way. He simply considered Yoshitsune a traitor.

“This is serious, Shogun. At this rate, the bakufu is in danger.”

“Do we have any good options?”

The advisors couldn’t answer the Shogun’s question. Naturally, the Shogun let out a long sigh and picked up his sword.

The advisors were greatly startled when he suddenly drew his sword.

“G-General?”

“Why the sword all of a sudden…?”

“To change Yoshitsune’s mind, we need something equivalent. This strategy was first suggested by you, so you also bear responsibility. So lend me your head.”

The officials turned pale at the Shogun’s outrageous words. It was absurd that Yoritomo, the final decision-maker, was suddenly looking for someone to blame, a scapegoat.

“Who will lend me their head? If you lend me your head, I will favor your family and use them greatly for generations to come.”

Yoritomo’s promise was empty. Even if a family was favored, it would be of little use when the bakufu was on the verge of collapse.

Moreover, the action itself was meaningless. This was because Yoshitsune was not a foolish person.

This meant that sending a head to appease Yoshitsune wouldn’t solve the problem.

“I asked who will give me their head!”

Yoritomo shouted loudly. Everyone bowed their heads and said nothing.

“I will choose.”

At the Shogun’s words, the eldest advisor finally stood up. He looked at the Shogun and answered in a polite tone.

“I will give you my head.”

“Your head?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I will take your head. In return, I will take care of your family and…”

“It’s fine, General. I am simply honored to have been of help to you.”

“Hahaha! A loyal subject indeed. I will have a statue made for you so that many will remember your loyalty.”

The elderly advisor inwardly clicked his tongue. He doubted whether someone who didn’t even know his name and called him “you” would keep his promise.

Of course, he didn’t show this outwardly.

“Thank you, Shogun. However, there is something I must do before I give you my head.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a simple matter. I need to inform Yoshitsune that I was the one who suggested this strategy to you.”

“Inform him?”

“Yes. If I don’t properly inform him, Lord Yoshitsune won’t know it was me and will continue to harbor resentment toward you. So I believe I should inform him first, as everything has its proper order.”

The Shogun nodded at the elderly advisor’s logical words.

“Very well. If that’s your intention, I’ll give you time. How much do you need?”

“It takes five days from here to where Lord Yoshitsune is. Round trip would be ten days, so I believe I need ten days.”

“Ten days, then. I will wait.”

“Thank you, General. Before that… I think my head alone won’t be enough to quell Lord Yoshitsune’s anger. May I take a few more people with me?”

It might have seemed like he was dragging others down with him while following an absurd order to lend his head. But the advisors immediately realized this was the way to survive.

“Of course. More is better than one. But there are no loyal subjects like you in this place.”

“Don’t worry. Some of these people owe me debts, so they will have to follow.”

The elderly advisor said this while looking at the other advisors. They all hastily mentioned their debts to the elderly advisor.

The elderly advisor nodded and selected a few from among them. The chosen advisors and the elderly advisor bowed to the Shogun and left.

Ten days later, Yoritomo realized he had been deceived. But by then, all his advisors had already fled.