Ch.88Internal Affairs (7)

There is a secret of Damascus Steel in India.

With this thought, there were many obstacles to immediately setting out to conquer India.

First, it was extremely far away, and there were numerous small Tibetan states in between.

Even if we broke through all these small states, India wasn’t waiting right on the other side.

The Himalayan mountain range, called the roof of the world, stood firmly in the way.

Leading an army through these numerous challenges to reach India was practically impossible.

So I had only one choice.

“I’ll send merchants to India… or rather, to Tianzhu.”

If I couldn’t take it by force, I needed to persuade through dialogue.

The method of dialogue was, naturally, offering money.

“But what if they refuse to trade?”

I shook my head at Elunka’s question.

If money wasn’t enough to buy the steel, I would simply offer more.

“If they refuse, it means we haven’t offered enough money. If we give them more, they won’t be able to refuse.”

“Th-that’s true. But where would we get that money…”

“Don’t we have silk and porcelain sent from the Song Dynasty?”

“Ah…!”

The Song Dynasty’s silk and porcelain were essentially as good as currency.

That’s why I planned to take these items to exchange for steel.

“I will follow the Khagan’s orders.”

After saying this, Elunka left the ger.

As soon as Elunka left, Munglig entered as if he had been waiting.

“Is the steel that Hassan showed us that important, brother?”

“Of course.”

It wasn’t just any steel, but Damascus steel.

While it couldn’t compare to modern spring steel, for this era it was an ultra-alloy, a steel so hard the term wasn’t an exaggeration.

If Mongol cavalry wore armor and wielded weapons made from this steel… conquering beyond Eastern Europe all the way to Western Europe wouldn’t just be a dream.

“With this steel, dealing with the Jin Dynasty will be much easier.”

Despite this explanation, Munglig’s expression showed he was still half-convinced.

I wanted to demonstrate its excellence rather than just explain it, but there was only one prototype that Hassan and Zhang Yong had made, so it was difficult to show him.

This prototype needed to be well-preserved so similar items could be made in the future.

Therefore, I could only explain it to Munglig in words.

“Well, when have your words ever been wrong, brother? Ah… except that one time I got badly burned because of that hemisphere…”

“…”

“Haha! I’m just joking. Can’t a brother joke with his brother? Haha!”

“I suddenly feel like exercising with you.”

“Ex-exercise? I… I already did this morning…”

“Do you object?”

At my words, Munglig shook his head as if asking if he had any objections.

My mind was already filled with thoughts of making Munglig pay for his insolence toward me.

* * *

“Finally, I’ll see my husband again.”

Three women and soldiers arrived before Xingqing.

As soon as they stood before the city gate, four strong men leading soldiers appeared as if they had been waiting for them.

“You’ve arrived, Mother, and Stepmothers.”

“You’ve come a long way.”

“We should have come to visit you ourselves…”

“That’s right. My brothers are always so slow…”

At Khasar’s final remark, Temujin, Bekhter, and Belgutei glared at him.

In response, Khasar cleared his throat and pretended not to notice.

“Everyone is the same as always. That’s good.”

At Ho’elun’s words, her sons smiled and responded.

Khasar, on behalf of his brothers, dismounted and took the reins of Ho’elun’s horse.

“By the way, Mother.”

“What is it, my son?”

“Father has been missing you too, so why did you come in secret without telling him?”

At the youngest son Khasar’s question, Temujin gave him a look that said to be more tactful.

But Khasar maintained a firm expression, looking at Ho’elun as if he wanted to hear the answer.

“Hoho. My youngest son has grown more curious while I was away. It seems Temujin hasn’t been answering your questions well…”

With those words, Ho’elun’s gaze sharpened.

Feeling uncomfortable, Temujin could only pretend not to notice.

It made sense, as Ho’elun was brave enough to lead soldiers into battle herself.

Being what people would call a heroine, her aura was different from that of ordinary Mongol women.

“I have no reason to hide anything from my son. I wanted to surprise your father. That’s why I only told you children and came. Isn’t that right, sisters?”

At Ho’elun’s words, Sochigel and Chechek behind her nodded.

“He’ll be delighted by the surprise, sister.”

“I think so too.”

At their answers, Ho’elun smiled.

In truth, there was a reason she had come secretly without telling Yesugei.

“The youngest said she feels very lonely without children yet.”

At those words, Chechek blushed and nodded strongly.

The reason they appeared so secretly was partly to move Yesugei, but also to prevent him from escaping like last time.

Before Yesugei left for the Western Xia campaign, the three women had spent intimate time with him.

This time had been so happy that Sochigel had demanded additional time(?) as soon as Yesugei woke up.

At this, Yesugei had fled in a hurry.

Given this history with their husband, they planned to make sure he couldn’t escape this time.

“Sister. All preparations are complete.”

At Abd Chechek’s words, Ho’elun smiled.

Seeing that smile, Temujin shuddered as if remembering something.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Did you eat something bad?”

At Bekhter and Khasar’s questions, Temujin quickly waved his hands.

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Currently, Temujin was the only one among Yesugei’s children who was married.

Having two wives, Temujin instinctively understood what Abd Chechek’s smile meant.

But he couldn’t reveal this in front of his mother and stepmothers.

So Bekhter, Belgutei, and Khasar could only tilt their heads at Temujin’s strange reaction.

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m really fine. It’s just hard to explain right now.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all.”

“You’ll understand when you get married.”

Saying this, Temujin made the sign of the cross and silently prayed for his father’s future well-being(?).

Temujin had come to believe in Nestorianism following his father-in-law Toghrul. Because of this, he was very familiar with making the sign of the cross.

Anyway, they led their mother and the soldiers who had suddenly arrived toward the center of Western Xia.

And they headed to an open space near the imperial palace.

“That’s just like my husband.”

A single ger stood conspicuously inside the magnificent main palace of Western Xia.

Knowing well who the owner of that ger was, Ho’elun wore an expression that said “of course.”

“Father remains the same as always.”

“Indeed.”

Saying this, they headed toward the ger.

As they approached, strange sounds began to be heard.

“Hup! Huuup! Put more strength into it!”

“I-it’s hard, brother!”

“You can’t weaken here!”

Hearing Yesugei’s voice and Munglig’s voice clearly, Ho’elun couldn’t help but pause.

This was because the rough breathing sounds were very easy to misunderstand.

At this, Ho’elun didn’t hesitate and immediately opened the ger door and went inside.

Once inside, Ho’elun couldn’t help but open her eyes wide.

“Wh-what is this…”

Munglig was sweating profusely with his legs raised.

And in front of him, Yesugei was holding Munglig’s legs while breathing heavily.

This was simply one of the basic abdominal exercises known as leg raises.

So if viewed from the side, there would be no misunderstanding at all.

Of course, this was only true if viewed from the side.

Unfortunately, Ho’elun had seen it from behind.

* * *

I didn’t know what to do in the awkward atmosphere flowing through the ger.

The misunderstanding was cleared up, but Ho’elun in front of me seemed to have received a great shock from what she had just seen.

“D-don’t misunderstand. That position just now was to build abdominal muscles…”

“You don’t need to explain further. I understand perfectly.”

“…”

Though she said she understood, there was still displeasure remaining on Ho’elun’s face.

Of course, it could be my imagination, but from my experience living with three married women, this was something I absolutely had to resolve.

“I understand that you were very surprised.”

“I’m really fine.”

“No. I’m sorry.”

I said this and embraced Ho’elun from behind.

Then Ho’elun stopped speaking and looked at me.

“Look. My heart is beating for you.”

This might not be the right thing to say now, but what was important wasn’t arguing about such things.

What mattered was the atmosphere.

“M-my husband, really…”

“Feeling my wife’s skin after so long…”

Saying this, I carefully pressed my body against hers.

Then Ho’elun’s eyes, which were looking back at me, widened slightly.

“Oh my…♡”

“Do you believe me now?”

“O-of course. M-my husband.”

Ho’elun was a famous female warrior, recorded even in Mongol history.

But before me, she was just a lovely woman.

“Would you like to lie down for a moment?”

“Y-you mean now?”

“Yes.”

At my words, Ho’elun smiled broadly and lay down slightly.

As soon as she lay down, I approached her side.

“Even during the battle with Western Xia, I kept thinking of you.”

“My husband, really…♡”

Seeing her ears turn red, I could once again feel that such cheesy lines worked well.

Thinking that Ho’elun’s heart had softened a bit, I inwardly sighed with relief.

“But… I wish you would do more…♡”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on…♡”

Ho’elun said this and slightly lowered her pants.

Then I saw what appeared to be fancy silk underwear, though I wasn’t sure where she had gotten it.

“…”

“These are silk undergarments I got from the Song Dynasty…♡ I hoped you would like them…”

“Haha… f-first, you’ve come a long way, so you should rest and wash up first, then…”

While I was saying this, the door of the ger opened.

The ones who opened the door were none other than Chechek and Sochigel.

Seeing the two looking all fresh and clean, I couldn’t help but feel that I had been set up.

“Hehe…♡ I thought you might say that, so I had my sisters wash up first…♡”

Ho’elun’s expression said there was no escape.

At her terrifying look, I couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Whether she knew my feelings or not, Ho’elun came closer to me and whispered in my ear.

“This time… you must make my sister pregnant too…♡”