Ch.6Buh (2)

“That’s right.”

The man stroked his chin.

With thick eyebrows and piercing eyes, a figure emanating wisdom as if seeing through all the principles of the world sat on an ornate throne.

The only Khan of Liaodong, ruler of the steppes, and Emperor of Northern China.

Known in Chinese as Emperor Renzong.

His true identity was Wanyan Olog, descendant of the Wanyan clan who overthrew the Liao Dynasty and drove the Song Dynasty south of the Yellow River.

He was the man who had ousted the tyrant Hailing Wang and made peace with the Southern Song after years of fighting.

Since then, he had been promoting Jurchen script, successfully implementing cultural and economic policies, and ruling so admirably that his era was considered a golden age—truly the greatest of rulers.

This impressive figure was now receiving a serious report from Chancellor Zhang Hao.

“It seems there is growing discontent within the Tatars, with some refusing to accept Ambaghai Alchun’s rule.”

Emperor Renzong fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.

After taking a deep breath, he nodded.

“It’s time to put a yoke on the Tatars.”

The Jurchen people had been living a semi-agricultural, semi-nomadic life in Liaodong.

In the past, they had been trapped under the divide-and-rule tactics of the Liao Dynasty and Goryeo.

Then came discord among the Yarud clan, the rulers of Liao Dynasty.

The nation began to decline under the powerful minister Yarud Horodo, known in Song language as Yelu Lushin, allowing the Jurchen to break free from Liao oppression.

The Jin Dynasty subsequently allied with the Song Dynasty to destroy the Liao.

Then, betraying the Song, they occupied the North China Plain, acquiring their current vast territory.

With this background, the Jin Dynasty understood the divide-and-rule strategy better than anyone.

Thus, Emperor Renzong instinctively knew it was time to put a yoke on the unruly “wild horses”—the Tatars.

“Who do you think is suitable to put a yoke on the Tatars?”

The Emperor turned to look at the man sitting on his left.

There stood a man with black hair wearing traditional Jurchen clothing, also of the Wanyan clan.

“Following the teachings of previous emperors, might I suggest using those who show the greatest hostility toward the Tatars?”

Wanyan Yang, the Imperial Chancellor and Right Chancellor, immediately answered the Emperor’s question.

“Are you suggesting we use the tribes from Mongol territory, Right Chancellor?”

The Chancellor’s question.

Wanyan Yang nodded in response.

“Yes. As you know, the Tatar chieftains, under our instigation, have attacked many tribes of the Mongol Ulus.”

The Tatars had grown by raiding other tribes at the Jin Dynasty’s behest.

As a result, their relationships with other tribes were not merely poor but completely broken.

“Therefore, I believe using the Mongol tribes to punish Megujin-se’uldu, who dared to rebel against Your Majesty—the Emperor of Central Plains and Khagan of the Great Steppe—would be the most proper way to honor our ancestors’ wishes and strengthen Ambaghai Alchun’s position.”

At Wanyan Liang’s words, Emperor Renzong nodded in agreement.

“The Right Chancellor’s suggestion seems most reasonable.”

As he spoke, the Emperor observed Zhang Hao’s expression, who had opposed the idea.

Noticing Zhang Hao’s troubled look, the Emperor addressed him.

“Your expression seems troubled. Tell me why.”

Zhang Hao immediately showed proper respect.

Lowering his body, he answered the Emperor’s question.

“While the Right Chancellor’s suggestion is very reasonable, something troubles me.”

“Something troubles you…?”

“I hesitate to mention this, but…”

“It’s fine. I won’t take offense.”

“Do you remember the unforgivable act that Hailing Wang committed against the Taichud clan of the Khamag Mongol?”

At the mention of Hailing Wang, the Emperor gritted his teeth.

This was understandable, as Hailing Wang had once taken away Emperor Renzong’s beloved wife, Lady Olindap.

Hailing Wang had attempted to rape Lady Olindap, who was his sister-in-law.

As a result, Lady Olindap chose to end her life rather than be violated by him.

Emperor Renzong, suppressed by the tyrannical Hailing Wang, had been unable to do anything when his wife was taken.

Even after his wife’s death, he had barely survived by offering treasures to Hailing Wang, which explained why he gritted his teeth at the mere mention of Hailing Wang’s name.

“…I remember. Hailing Wang did things that should never be done to those different from us or to those who rule the same steppes.”

The notorious womanizer who stole other men’s wives didn’t limit his madness to the Jin Dynasty but extended it to neighboring Mongolia.

One such act was nailing Ambaghai Khan, the second Khan of the Khamag Mongol, to a wooden donkey—an atrocity that should never be committed among nomads.

This was beyond insulting—it was humiliating for nomads.

The nomads who believed in Tengri believed that after death, they ascended to heaven through the wind to be with Tengri.

This was why they practiced sky burial or cremation.

Hailing Wang had nailed the ruler of such a land to a wooden donkey and left him to die.

For nomads, this meant being unable to return to heaven even after death, condemned to remain bound to the earth as a wandering ghost forever.

“The Khamag Mongol will never forget this and will always remember it.”

At Zhang Hao’s words, the Emperor turned to ask the Right Chancellor.

“The Chancellor’s point is valid. What do you think, Right Chancellor?”

“As the Chancellor says, as nomads, they will never forget their revenge. However, the current Khamag Mongol has suffered greatly from continuous Tatar attacks, and I’ve heard that the chieftain of the Borjigin Obokh Kiyat has been poisoned and is critically ill. It’s clear their mortal enemy is no longer the Jin Dynasty but the Tatars.”

“Right Chancellor! Do you really intend to support them?”

Wanyan Liang nodded.

He continued with a smile.

“Yes. We will support them to fight against the rebellious Megujin-se’uldu.”

“Chancellor!”

“Currently, the Khamag Mongol is weaker than the Tatars. Therefore, they must depend on our support.”

“…”

Zhang Hao stared at Wanyan Liang like a dumbfounded mute.

He had finally understood what Wanyan Liang was getting at.

“Could it be that you…”

“Exactly. Why should we save those who harbor revenge against us? When both the Tatars and Khamag Mongol are weakened from fighting each other, we can simply absorb them.”

“If the Khamag Mongol defeats the Tatars, it will pose a great crisis for the Jin Dynasty.”

Zhang Hao argued that nurturing a potential enemy was like tightening a noose around one’s own neck.

In contrast, Wanyan Liang confidently continued his argument, suggesting they could control these tribes.

“Even if the Khamag Mongol wins, they pose absolutely no threat to us.”

Hearing Wanyan Liang’s confident answer, Emperor Renzong, who had been silently listening to their conversation, asked him:

“Why do you say they pose absolutely no threat to us?”

“Because while we will support them, it will be indirect support, not direct.”

Wanyan Liang answered with a smile.

His unexpected answer immediately convinced both the Emperor and Zhang Hao, who had been opposing his view.

* * *

Toghrul Khan sat in his ger.

He looked at the envoy before him with an expression of disbelief.

“So… if we eliminate Megujin-se’uldu, who has rebelled against the Khagan of Jurchen Gurun, we will be rewarded with treasures, land, and a royal title?”

“That is correct, Toghrul Khan.”

“…”

Toghrul was considerably taken aback.

It was understandable, as the envoy had been sent directly by the Jin Emperor himself.

Moreover, Emperor Renzong had made an offer that Toghrul could hardly refuse.

While gold, silver, and land were important, the royal title was even more significant to Toghrul.

This was because his ancestor was not originally from the steppe but from Central Plains.

In other words, his lineage was closer to the “black bone” clans rather than the “white bone” clans like the Borjigin family, who could become Khans.

Of course, this was an issue so old that it was no longer discussed.

After all, his family had ruled the Kerait land as Khans for generations, so no one in Kerait territory would dare question the legitimacy of Toghrul’s family.

Such was the absolute dominance of Toghrul’s family in the Kerait tribe.

Therefore, Toghrul never anticipated that this legitimacy issue could become a fatal problem threatening his political life.

But someone had indeed created this problem—his uncle Gurkhan, who had rebelled against Toghrul when he was proclaimed Khan of the Kerait.

Gurkhan had sought help from the Naiman tribe to overthrow Toghrul.

At that time, Toghrul, who was on the defensive and in mortal danger, was saved by his anda, Yesugei.

In any case, Toghrul had come to realize that this legitimacy issue could potentially end his political career.

Therefore, he desperately wanted to resolve this problem.

In this situation, a royal title bestowed by Emperor Renzong, who was respected as the Khagan of the steppe, was like a key that could instantly solve his legitimacy problem.

That’s why Toghrul couldn’t help but be interested in the Jin Emperor’s proposal.

“However, I find it difficult to accept this proposal.”

“Why is that?”

The Jin envoy was surprised.

Looking at him, Toghrul answered firmly.

“My anda Yesugei’s distant ancestor suffered cruel torture at the hands of Hailing Wang, and his body could not return to God. Knowing his sorrow, I must refuse the Khagan’s offer.”

From Yesugei’s perspective, Ambaghai Khan was an eighth cousin—practically a stranger.

Still, sharing the same surname made it difficult to completely ignore the death of a distant ancestor.

Having chosen loyalty over self-interest, Toghrul received an immediate response from the Jin envoy, who seemed to have anticipated this answer.

“You need not worry about that matter.”

“Need not worry?”

“The merciful Khagan has already retrieved Ambaghai Khan’s body and conducted a funeral according to steppe law to rectify Hailing Wang’s tyranny. Furthermore, if the Kiyat Khan, a distant relative of Ambaghai Khan, helps eliminate Megujin-se’uldu, he too will be granted a royal title.”

The Jin envoy’s tempting proposal.

Moreover, since Ambaghai Khan’s body had been retrieved and properly buried, there was some possibility of convincing Yesugei.

Toghrul fell into thought for a moment.

He sighed deeply and then carefully addressed the Jin envoy.

“If my anda accepts this proposal, I will accept the Khagan’s offer. Is that acceptable?”

At Toghrul’s response, the Jin envoy nodded with a pleased expression, as if he had achieved his goal.