Ch.98Western Liao (7)

# Four Steeds and Four Hounds

The Four Steeds and Four Hounds (dörben külü’üd, dörben noγas) referred to the four swift horses and four loyal dogs.

They were Temujin’s faithful servants who achieved great merit during Chinggis Khan’s campaigns.

Temujin, who lost his father at a young age and suffered hardships including being sold into slavery, was able to unite the ulus by sharing life’s joys and sorrows with these men.

After this unification, he established the achievement of ruling the four seas through foreign expeditions, and the status of the Four Steeds and Four Hounds was second only to Temujin himself.

Among these prestigious Four Steeds and Four Hounds, Jebe was the best archer.

Jebe was a figure whose fame had spread widely not only throughout Mongolia but also Europe.

He was such a skilled archer that Europeans called him the “Arrow Count.”

In fact, he was a field commander who, along with Subutai, another member of the Four Steeds and Four Hounds, crossed the Caucasus Mountains and led the invasion of Russia.

“To think that Jebe would appear just as we’re attacking Western Liao…”

It felt almost as if God’s blessing was truly protecting me. This was especially significant because Jebe was the one who had brought down Western Liao and executed its last emperor.

That such a person would come seeking to join the Kheshig just as we were about to attack Western Liao made me start believing in superstition.

“Does the Borjigin clan truly have a heavenly mandate to conquer this world?”

Others might call this nonsense if they heard it. But thinking objectively, many events had unfolded that made it hard not to believe in their divine right to rule.

Starting with Yesugei surviving what should have been fatal poisoning—this was astonishing to those around him. I’m not dismissing the medical techniques of the time, but generally, poison victims would waste away until death.

Even in the rare cases where someone survived, they typically became disabled or invalid, but Yesugei was different.

He became smarter than before and physically stronger. He even became powerful enough to overpower the renowned warriors of the Khamag Mongol through sheer strength.

After this, he unified the entire ulus and used that power to conquer Western Xia, making it impossible not to think that the Borjigin clan had been chosen by the gods.

Of course, this was all coincidence. More precisely, it was thanks to the future knowledge possessed by me, who had possessed Yesugei’s body.

“Right. Don’t get overconfident. Just because I’ve gained Jebe doesn’t guarantee he’ll become the great figure he was in the original history.”

Temujin was able to become Chinggis Khan, the conqueror of the world, partly because of the hardships he endured in his youth. Similarly, it wasn’t yet certain whether Jebe, before meeting Temujin, was truly an outstanding general.

Still, judging by his archery skills that I witnessed today, his martial prowess seemed undeniable.

“For now, I’ll keep Jebe in the Kheshig, train him well, and later make him Temujin’s aide.”

Currently, Temujin was gaining experience as a commander with the help of Toghrul and Dei-Sechen Khan. After growing through this experience, when Temujin would eventually lead the western expedition alone, he would need a capable warrior to coordinate with him.

For that role, Jebe was the most suitable person.

“I must prepare for the future early.”

So that my sons can expand further. So that the roots my children plant can establish themselves firmly.

I will become the solid, fertile soil where my children’s grand ambitions can spread freely.

* * *

“…What did you say?”

“My father told me to repay the kindness that Gurkhan bestowed upon us.”

“…Huh.”

A scruffy-looking child said this while looking at me. Confused about what was happening, I turned to Elunka.

“I apologize, Gurkhan. But this child has your mark…”

“My mark?”

I had never given anyone a mark with a promise in my life. So I tilted my head and looked at the child.

Then the boy, who appeared to be around Temujin’s age, proudly handed me something.

“This is…”

“The moon and crescent, sir.”

It was the symbol of the Xiongnu and the Khamag Mongol. I was the only one in this land who used this symbol.

This meant the child’s words were true. However, I swear to heaven that I had never given this to anyone.

So I called out to Yesugei internally, wondering if the original owner of this body might know something.

But Yesugei showed no intention of responding to my call and gave no answer.

It seemed that even the original owner of the body either didn’t know or had forgotten.

“Gurkhan! As promised, I have returned after coming of age! I beg you to accept me!”

“Returned after coming of age…?”

I wondered what he meant. While I was thinking, the boy revealed his father’s name.

“My father is Jarchiudai, the blacksmith of the Uriankhai tribe. Out of gratitude for when Gurkhan saved our village from a Tatar raid, he instructed me to serve you.”

“Wait… Uriankhai?”

Uriankhai was a tribal name. Anyone who knew history couldn’t possibly be unfamiliar with the name Uriankhai.

This was because the Uriankhai tribe had produced two of the Mongol Empire’s greatest generals.

One was Subutai, who struck terror into Europe. The other was his older brother…

“Then your name is Jelme?”

“That’s right! Gurkhan! It’s an honor that the ruler of the steppe remembers my name!”

It truly seemed that the Borjigin clan, or rather Yesugei, was blessed by divine grace. This was evident because Jelme, another member of the Four Steeds and Four Hounds, had appeared before me.

Even in reality, it was rare for talent to come seeking you like this. I never expected that two of the historically renowned Four Steeds and Four Hounds would come to me like this.

This made me wonder if the baptism ceremony had actually been effective. Such consecutive strokes of luck had been coming my way since receiving the baptism.

While I was thinking this, Munglig approached me. Upon seeing Elunka and the boy in front of me, he showed a surprised expression.

“Little one?”

“Uncle Munglig!”

“Boy! You’ve grown up!”

Munglig and Jelme embraced each other as if they were familiar faces. Then Munglig continued speaking while looking at Jelme.

“It seems like just yesterday when you were following Jarchiudai around causing trouble, and now you’ve grown so much.”

“How can you say that? That was ages ago. I’m an adult now. That’s why I’ve come to find Gurkhan to fulfill my promise.”

“How is your brother?”

“Subutai has just started walking.”

“He must be at his cutest age. Anyway, seeing you here today… is it because of the debt from when the Tatars raided your village?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Didn’t my brother… I mean, didn’t Gurkhan repeatedly say you didn’t need to repay it?”

I looked at Munglig, wondering what this was all about. Munglig immediately answered with an expression that suggested I had forgotten.

“Brother, have you forgotten that you sent him back telling him to repay when he grew up because you were busy raising Temujin?”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten because of what the Tatars did?”

Judging by Munglig’s expression, it seemed I shouldn’t admit to forgetting. So I answered based on what I could gather.

“I was pretending to have forgotten. That way, the Uriankhai tribe wouldn’t feel indebted to me.”

“That’s just like you, brother. Even when the Uriankhai blacksmiths tried to offer weapons and armor, you refused…”

At Munglig’s words, I internally scolded Yesugei. Why didn’t he accept those offerings?

The response I got from Yesugei was ridiculous:

It lacked style.

Moments like these made me feel that Yesugei truly deserved to be poisoned.

Nevertheless, thanks to his chivalrous action, I had gained such talented individuals. As I thought this and looked at Jelme… his expression showed he was deeply moved.

“Indeed… just as my father said, Gurkhan is a righteous hero. From the light in your eyes and hands, to shoulders as massive as Burkhan Khaldun, and your majestic body blessed by Tengri…”

Jelme’s praise began to grow longer. I raised my hand to calm him.

“Calm yourself.”

“I desperately wish to serve you, Gurkhan! Even if it means cleaning animal dung, I would gladly do it to serve you!”

Internally, I thought I wouldn’t assign him such tasks. After taking a deep breath to suppress these thoughts, I calmly reassured Jelme.

“I will take you in.”

“Thank you! Thank you, Khan!”

Jelme bowed before me to express his gratitude. I extended both hands to stop him.

“Munglig.”

“Command me, Gurkhan.”

“Show him where he will stay. And ensure that Jelme can participate in training whenever he wishes.”

Jelme was a general proven by history. Though a renowned general, he was still Temujin’s age, meaning he lacked experience.

So I planned to train him to become a commander.

While I was thinking this, Elunka, who was beside me, stepped forward. After bowing to me, he began to plead.

“Gurkhan, I beg you to entrust the education of that boy Jelme to me.”

“You want to take charge of Jelme’s education?”

“Yes. In my view, that boy has the potential to become an outstanding field commander. Such talent requires Tamma training, I believe.”

“Are you disparaging the Kheshig training?”

“Not at all, Lord Munglig. As you can see, this boy…”

Elunka said this while pointing at Jelme’s legs. Munglig looked at Jelme with great surprise.

“Sturdy lower body…!”

“Indeed. This boy is destined to receive Tamma training.”

“…”

The reason Elunka wanted Jelme was simple. Jelme had the qualities of a leg-focused warrior.