Ch.36The Hui People (5)

When the Hui people ate the food I offered, they were genuinely delighted.

Perhaps because it was easier on their stomachs than Chinese food, which contains many meat dishes difficult for Muslims to eat, they quickly emptied their bowls.

They had expressions suggesting they’d enjoyed a proper meal after a long time.

“Thank you for the Khan’s grace.”

Hassan expressed his gratitude to me in Mongolian that was awkward but clearly audible.

Though it had been a short time, he seemed to have learned to speak some Mongolian.

“There’s no need to call it grace. More importantly, does it suit your taste?”

At my words, Hassan stood straight and nodded.

“Yes, Khan. This food fills the soul and allows one to catch their breath.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by filling the soul and allowing one to catch their breath,

but he seemed to want to say that it filled their stomachs.

Although he had learned to speak Mongolian, there still appeared to be confusion in his word usage.

“I’m glad.”

At my words, Hassan expressed his gratitude once more and adjusted his posture.

Then, looking at me, he carefully spoke.

“We know we came here as slaves. Though it is difficult to speak as a slave, could you accept us as members of your tribe?”

At Hassan’s very careful words, I looked at him and fell into thought.

Again, this era was a world where status and class were clearly divided, unlike the modern age.

King and subject.

Noble and commoner.

Landowner and farmer.

Ruler and ruled.

In such a world, Hassan’s statement could be considered very dangerous.

Modern thinking might question what’s dangerous about this, but accommodating such requests from slaves could create resentment among others.

However.

“Very well. But there is one condition—that you follow the steppe laws and the tribe’s orders. If you follow these, I will accept you as free people and members of our tribe.”

As the Khan of the steppe, I had the power to suppress such complaints.

Therefore, I readily accepted Hassan’s proposal.

“Thank you. Thank you, my lord.”

“Before you thank me, there are steppe laws you should know.”

“By laws, do you mean commandments?”

Being Muslim, he seemed to think of steppe laws as similar to following the Quran.

I don’t know much about religion, but having attended Bible school as a child, I understood this subtle difference.

Commandments were to be followed,

while laws had to be obeyed unconditionally, so I looked at Hassan and shook my head.

“They are to be followed like the will of Allah.”

When the word Allah came from my mouth, Hassan showed a greatly surprised expression.

This was understandable since Islam had not yet entered Mongolia.

Of course, Islam was entering the Cuman tribe and neighboring tribes.

However, it had not yet influenced this distant Mongolian steppe.

“First, on the steppe, all religions are equal. Second, on the steppe, you must cherish the tribe as your own life. Third…”

Thus I began explaining the laws of the steppe.

Hassan thought for a moment, then carefully asked me a question.

“My lord, I have something I wish to ask.”

“Speak freely.”

“You said all religious teachings are equal on the steppe—does this mean freedom of religion?”

“Yes. On the steppe, everything deserves respect. However, more important than this value are family, tribe, and comrades.”

I informed Hassan of the core of steppe law: respect religion, but religion cannot guide everything.

This had been mentioned even during the era of my son, Genghis Khan.

Thanks to this, the Mongol Empire could employ local talent regardless of religion to operate the empire.

Therefore, I wasn’t creating new steppe laws but simply following the regulations created by ancestors.

“If you cherish your family, tribe, and comrades, your right to believe in your religion will be guaranteed.”

At my words, Hassan showed a greatly surprised expression, then asked my permission to speak with the Hui technicians.

After their conversation ended, Hassan prostrated himself before me and shouted loudly.

“My lord! I, a mere speck of dust in the universe, dare to follow the Prophet. I earnestly, earnestly beg you to accept this.”

“I permit it.”

Hassan’s earnest request.

And so the Hui technicians joined the tribe.

* * *

“Wouldn’t it have been better to use the Hui technicians as slaves rather than accepting them as tribe members, brother?”

Munglig looked at me and asked this question.

To this, I shook my head and answered.

“They are not expendable. Could you find anyone on the steppe who could replace the knowledge they possess?”

“That would be difficult, I suppose.”

“That’s why they deserve respect.”

To speak coldly, if they hadn’t been technicians, there would have been no reason to persuade them or accept them as tribe members.

This was because the steppe did not respect humans who couldn’t prove their worth.

To be precise, to survive on the steppe, one had to prove their value.

Warriors had to go hunting to bring back food,

and craftsmen had to help the hunting warriors by making weapons.

Those who lacked both the strength to hunt and the skill to make weapons were ultimately just consuming food.

Such beings were appropriately used as slaves, placed at the front during battle to serve as arrow shields.

Life on the steppe operated in this way.

“By the way, what about the order to send women of marriageable age to them?”

“I’ve informed each tribe to select unmarried daughters and send them.”

Munglig immediately answered my question.

Marriage was the most commonly used method for accepting new tribe members on the steppe.

To be precise, it was the method of marrying the tribe’s daughters to newly incoming tribe members.

The reason for using this method was obvious—they had not yet adapted to the tribe’s culture.

In such a situation, if left among themselves, they would inevitably remain separated within the tribe.

This could lead to accumulated dissatisfaction or a high possibility of them forming a new faction within the tribe.

For this reason, they needed to be married to women who had lost their husbands in battle or unmarried women to integrate them into Mongolian culture.

“You handled this quickly this time.”

“Ha…haha. Of course, it’s your order, brother.”

It seemed the punishment I gave for training the young Kheshig too harshly had been quite effective.

Because of this, Munglig, who was usually mischievous, was listening well, making me wonder if it was really him.

“By the way, brother.”

“What is it?”

“When carrying out your orders this time, didn’t I visit the Khongirad tribe?”

The Khongirad tribe was where my wife, Ho’elun, was born.

Therefore, I listened with interest to Munglig’s words.

“I heard that the Khan of the Olkhunut tribe has been newly appointed as Khan in place of the Khongirad Khan.”

In this steppe unification war, the Khongirad tribe had performed great service as an ally.

The reason these originally neutral people became allies was not only due to Munglig’s persuasion but also because of the connection between my wife Ho’elun and the Olkhunut tribe.

Without this connection, exaggerating somewhat, the Olkhunut Khan might not have actively persuaded the Khongirad Khan.

Given this relationship, I thought I should send something to congratulate the Olkhunut Khan who would now lead the Khongirad tribe in place of the elderly Khongirad Khan.

“That’s cause for celebration. My sons and I should go to congratulate them.”

I felt like visiting the Khongirad tribe, partly to visit my wife’s hometown.

I was thinking of taking Temujin and Khasar, born between Ho’elun and me, along.

“I knew you would say that, brother. Then while you’re away, I’ll diligently train…”

“What are you saying?”

Seeing Munglig trying to escape, I smiled and shook my head.

“When the Khan of the steppe goes to meet another tribe’s Khan, shouldn’t the captain of the guard move with him?”

Though true, in reality, he didn’t need to come along.

This was because there was no one in the Khongirad tribe who would harm me.

Of course, if there was even the slightest possibility, I should be careful,

but since my sons were also coming, there was no particular need for Munglig to accompany us.

Nevertheless, the reason for bringing Munglig was simple.

“You’re my only workout partner, aren’t you? What if I lose muscle while going to the Khongirad tribe?”

“…What is muscle loss?”

“It’s when your muscles decrease.”

At this, Munglig showed a surprised expression as if he had gained a great realization.

Having developed a certain fear of losing muscle since exercising with me, Munglig immediately understood what I meant.

“So you need to come along too.”

* * *

The sound of leather flutes and elaborate dance movements.

As it was the occasion of a new Khan’s birth, the atmosphere inside the Khongirad tribe was like a festival.

“So this is mother’s hometown?”

Temujin asked Khasar.

Khasar shrugged and replied to Temujin.

“It would be our maternal grandparents’ home, brother.”

“Are you talking back to your older brother right now?”

At Khasar’s answer, Temujin hit Khasar on the head.

To this, Khasar looked at Temujin with an expression of injustice.

“Hmph. I was just answering what you asked…”

Khasar glared at Temujin, feeling the sorrow of being the youngest.

However, Temujin had no intention of responding to Khasar’s sorrow.

“By the way, I wonder what’s delicious in the Khongirad tribe.”

“Now you’re not even responding.”

“Of course. Father gave us free time to enjoy ourselves, so we should have fun.”

Temujin and Khasar were visiting their mother’s hometown for the first time in their lives.

Because of this, Yesugei had given his children free time to enjoy the festival freely.

“I bet the khorkhog is delicious here too.”

“I think they’re making khorkhog over there.”

Khorkhog was a dish where lamb, vegetables, and cooking stones were placed together in a pot and steamed.

It contained vegetables that were difficult to obtain on the steppe, seasoned deliciously with lamb fat, making khorkhog, along with buuz, a rather precious food eaten on festival days.

“Mmm, delicious smell…”

“Good. Let’s start with khorkhog.”

Since their hands were cold, Temujin and Khasar were thinking of warming their hands with the stones placed in the khorkhog while eating.

Temujin and Khasar were about to move to eat khorkhog.

At that moment, a woman brushed past Temujin.

“Brother? What are you doing? Aren’t you coming to eat khorkhog?”

“J…just a moment.”

“Did you see something?”

“Go ahead. I’ll catch up soon.”

Though it was just a glimpse as she passed by,

the image of the young woman began to fill Temujin’s mind.

At this, Temujin began running in the direction where the woman had disappeared, with an expression as if entranced, wanting to see her again.