Ch.30Kagan (3)

An unexpected statement from Toghrul’s mouth.

Temujin couldn’t readily answer to those words.

But Temujin was also an adult, so he immediately understood that what Toghrul was talking about was a marriage alliance.

However, it was a difficult matter to decide on his own.

So he looked at me as if asking for my help.

“I will respect your choice, my son.”

By the standards of that time, this was an impossible statement to make.

Because strategic marriages were commonplace in that era.

Therefore, there was no reason to reject the hand extended first by Toghrul Khan, the powerful leader of the Kerait tribe.

Of course, this was only my opinion.

Since I wanted to know what Temujin, the person getting married, thought about it, I planned to step back and observe what decision my son would make.

In a way, it was an action bordering on arrogance.

But I could act this way because there was little chance that this matter would strain my relationship with Toghrul.

Anyway, with these thoughts in mind, I expressed my position to completely follow my son’s decision.

“B-But. Isn’t this for the future of the Khamag Mongol?”

“That’s right. However, you are my successor and the eldest son of our family. When the time comes for you to become independent and make your own decisions, will you still send someone to ask for my opinion?”

“…”

Temujin silently looked at me.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded and then addressed Toghrul.

“Ong Khan, I first want to express my sincere gratitude for the good proposal you have offered me.”

Toghrul nodded at Temujin’s polite words.

And he looked at my son with an expression of anticipation about what decision he would make.

“Before that, may I have your permission to say something to the Khan of the Kerait?”

“Of course. Speak freely.”

At Toghrul’s words, Temujin took a deep breath and then began to get to the point while looking at Toghrul.

“Next year, I will leave my father’s embrace, like Burkhan Khaldun, and become independent as a warrior and adult of the steppe.”

“I know.”

Again, in the Mongolian steppe, when becoming independent, it was common to settle far away from one’s parents’ land.

So if Temujin were to become independent next year, it meant he would have to leave my territory, which had become my ulus.

“I intend to go west. Following the voice of the stars whispered by the Oghuz and Sogdian people, I will advance westward to subjugate the Cumans and make the steppe lands they rule my territory.”

It was too grand a dream for a child to utter.

But Toghrul, who was listening to Temujin’s words, admired rather than mocked such a grand dream.

“Indeed, you are the son of my anda. A dream so great and grand that even the heavens would find it insufficient to contain.”

Then Toghrul took a moment to catch his breath.

He looked at Temujin and carefully spoke.

“But I worry if this might be a child’s rashness. Is your dream brighter than the sun in the sky, firmer than the mountains on the earth, and as unchanging as a lake?”

“Of course. My dream will not change. I will go west with the wind. There I will build military achievements so that all future generations will honor me, born and crushed on horseback. And I will make my name unforgettable for thousands of years.”

“Good. Then this is what you desire.”

Toghrul took off the necklace that symbolized the Khan of the Kerait tribe and held it in his hand.

Seeing this, Temujin shook his head and refused the necklace Toghrul was trying to offer.

“No. I do not wish for the Kerait tribe to be subjugated to me.”

“Then what do you desire?”

In response to Toghrul’s question, Temujin extended his hand instead of answering.

Looking at that hand, Toghrul understood what Temujin meant to say and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! Yes! You want to form an alliance with me as an equal! May God illuminate the high heavens and embrace you! How brave you are! Temujin!”

Toghrul, who had been laughing heartily, soon composed his expression and grasped Temujin’s extended hand.

Then he turned his head to look at me.

“Don’t be sad even if I leave the steppe, my anda.”

“The lake will cry for me in your absence, my friend.”

“Haha! I didn’t know my anda was such a sentimental friend.”

Toghrul approached me.

Then he knelt on one knee and spoke to me in a respectful voice.

“O God! Bless Ulaanbaatar, my anda who has become the Khagan of the steppe!”

Toghrul made the sign of the cross.

I too made the sign of the cross like him, humbly accepting his blessing.

* * *

The numerous people gathered before me.

The warriors who had achieved the unification of the Yeke Mongol Ulus began to chant my name.

“Ulaanbaatar! Ulaanbaatar!”

“Yesugei! Yesugei!”

“Gurkhan! Gurkhan!”

At the people’s cries, I stood before them and spread both arms.

And I responded to their cheers.

“People of the steppe! We who rode horses under the river of flowing stars have been divided into many pieces since Tengri-Godoseonwu.”

The warriors nodded at this.

Beside them, the khans leading each tribe looked at me with reverent gazes.

“Behind this division were evil, demon-like groups, and we had to take up swords against those who were once friends and comrades.”

After pausing briefly, I continued.

“But just as the sun brightens the day and the moon embraces the night, the ulus is an unchanging entity, and we who live on that land have become one again.”

“Yeke Mongol Ulus!”

“The ulus is eternal!”

“O Tengri!”

The atmosphere reached its peak.

Looking at them, I shouted in a loud voice.

“O Xiongnu nation, answer our call!”

At my words, the warriors began to take positions with their arms spread.

And with their legs apart, they stamped their feet.

Thump, thump, thump.

With that sound, the khans and Tengri shamans joined their hands and shouted loudly.

“Hangarad! Hangarad!”

“O legendary bird, answer the call of the ulus.”

“The Khagan of the ulus is calling you.”

The massive wingbeat enveloping Mongolia.

Eyes shining like the moon.

Hangarad.

As the sound of stamping feet and the shamans’ incantations combined, it felt as if a giant bird had arrived on the land.

And I stood at the center of it all.

* * *

At this historic moment when the order of the steppe was being established.

The Western Naiman, seeing Mongolia united again since the Xiongnu and Xianbei, couldn’t help but worry.

“What should we do about this?”

Buiruq posed a question to the advisor on his right.

Unfortunately, the advisor couldn’t readily answer the Khan’s question.

“Does no one have any good ideas?”

“…”

“…”

“How sad that there is such a lack of talent within the tribe.”

Buiruq expressed his disappointment with these words.

At that moment, a man who had been quietly listening in the corner answered the Khan’s question.

“I have a solution.”

A man with an appearance quite different from the Naiman tribe.

This was because he had Cuman blood, making him stand out within the Naiman tribe.

As a result, he could only occupy the lowest seat in the Khan’s ger.

“This is not your place to step forward.”

“Step back.”

Despite the elders’ warnings, the man looked at Buiruq Khan with a dignified face.

Finding this interesting, the Khan raised his hand to stop the elders’ restraint.

“Idi Tuqluk. Speak your opinion.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Khan. But first, I have something to say to the Khan.”

“What is it?”

“Can the Khan abandon his blood relatives to ensure the survival of the Naiman tribe?”

At Idi Tuqluk’s words, the elders rose up.

“How dare he be disrespectful to the Khan!”

“His only suggestion is to send a hostage to the Gurkhan!”

“Enough. I demanded silence from you. Do not test my patience any further.”

At Buiruq Khan’s stern command, the elders retreated again.

After calming them, Buiruq looked at Idi Tuqluk and spoke.

“If it means the Naiman tribe survives, what wouldn’t I do?”

“If that is the Khan’s will, I shall speak directly.”

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Idi Tuqluk continued.

“Capture Kuchlug and send him to the Gurkhan. If you do so, the Gurkhan will spare the Naiman tribe.”

Kuchlug, who had surrendered with his soldiers after Tayang Khan’s death.

Though they had a poor relationship due to succession issues, Buiruq couldn’t refuse his nephew’s request for help and accepted him into the tribe.

But now being told to bind him and send him to Yesugei, Buiruq couldn’t help but be considerably perplexed.

“…You’re saying I should send my nephew?”

“Yes. If you do not send Prince Kuchlug, the Gurkhan who has unified the ulus will personally lead his soldiers here.”

“…”

At Idi Tuqluk’s explanation, which made perfect sense, Buiruq couldn’t say anything for a long time.

It was a situation where he had to deliberate between the future of his family and his tribe.

After deep contemplation, Buiruq ended his long silence as if he had made a decision. Then he called for Qorchi Sabraq, one of his trusted men.

“You called for me, Khan? *cough*”

Qorchi Sabraq.

It meant “the asthmatic from the Sabraq region.”

Although he was an asthmatic, he was one of Buiruq’s trusted men and a capable individual who had led numerous battles to victory, making him the perfect person for this task.

“Capture Kuchlug and bring him before me.”

“I receive your command.”

Qorchi Sabraq bowed and then rose.

* * *

“…Father…”

Kuchlug was looking at the sword left by Tayang Khan inside the ger.

A man approached from behind him.

“My Khan, I hear that the Gurkhan has recovered Tayang Khan’s body and given him a Christian burial.”

The Naiman tribe believed in Nestorian Christianity.

So the fact that the Gurkhan respected this Naiman tradition and gave a Christian burial could be considered the highest respect for an enemy.

“…The Gurkhan knows honor. Unlike Chilger and Tagar…grr…”

Kuchlug gritted his teeth.

This was because if the Merkit tribe had provided support in time, Tayang Khan wouldn’t have died.

Of course, it was the Gurkhan’s sons who had directly killed Tayang Khan.

But Kuchlug’s anger was greater towards Chilger and Tagar, who were supposed to be allies.

“Both Chilger and Tagar have probably fallen to hell. So it would be best to calm your mind now.”

“…I understand.”

As Kuchlug was suppressing his anger, a strange coughing sound began to be heard behind him.

“That cough…could it be…”

Though it was a common cough, this deflating sound was not common, so Kuchlug immediately recognized who the owner of this cough was.

“This is bad. My uncle’s trusted man is coming here.”

“At this late hour?”

“Yes, at this late hour.”

Kuchlug raised his hand to signal the man to be quiet.

Then he lowered his body and began to move carefully.

He moved so quietly that the ger soon became as silent as if no one had ever been there.

A ger without its owner.

The late visitor to that ger muttered in a low voice with a dejected expression.

“Kuchlug has caught on.”

But Qorchi Sabraq had no intention of letting Kuchlug go so easily.