Ch.99Western Liao (8)

# While preparing for the Western Liao expedition, I gained two talented individuals.

Jebe and Jelme.

Acquiring these members of the Four Stalwarts was truly a stroke of fortune.

As if good luck comes in pairs, we received positive news regarding our expedition preparations.

Since we would need to be on the battlefield for a long time, I expected it would take longer than the Western Xia campaign.

The previous Western Xia expedition took roughly half a year to prepare, so I estimated this campaign would require over a year.

Contrary to that prediction, we managed to prepare all supplies and materials for a large-scale expedition in just half a year.

For this era, such rapid war preparation was unthinkable.

Behind this seemingly impossible achievement were the Western Xia people.

“The Mongol warriors are true heroes. They seek to punish Western Liao on our behalf!”

“The Khagan of the Ulus truly cares for us.”

“Ulanbator, Gurkhan is truly a warrior sent by heaven!”

The Western Xia people spoke such words and responded enthusiastically to the general mobilization.

This made sense, as Western Liao had repeatedly invaded Western Xia whenever opportunity arose.

The original reason Western Xia allied with the Jin Dynasty was largely to counter the Liao Dynasty, or more precisely, Western Liao.

When the Liao Dynasty ruled the steppe, Manchuria, and northern China, Western Xia was forced to pay tribute under Western Liao’s pressure.

Additionally, they had to offer women from the Western Xia royal family and other women as tribute, making Western Xia’s resentment toward the Liao Dynasty beyond words.

Later, when the Jin Dynasty seized power on the steppe and pushed back the Liao Dynasty, Western Xia immediately allied with Jin.

Of course, even after this, Western Liao continuously plundered Western Xia and tried to keep them under their influence.

With this background, the Western Xia people had no choice but to actively support the Ulus expedition against Western Liao.

“If you need anything, just say the word. We’ll provide whatever you require.”

“You’re attacking Western Liao, our enemy? We’ll make weapons and armor right away.”

“Western Liao killed my grandfather. I want revenge. Please allow me to enlist.”

The Western Xia people offered enthusiastic support in various fields.

Thanks to this, the Ulus was able to complete preparations for the large-scale expedition very quickly.

“Now that expedition preparations are complete so quickly, all that’s left is to attack Western Liao.”

I said this while gathering my bow and arrows.

I planned to personally lead this war as well.

Unlike typical settled states, in nomadic nations, it was common for national leaders to personally lead military campaigns.

In truth, I didn’t have to go myself, but unlike Chinese or Korean states where officials would discourage the ruler from personally leading troops, this wasn’t the case here.

Anyway, for these reasons, I would be leading the campaign again.

Of course, this time I planned to direct strategy and tactics from the command post rather than engaging in battle directly.

“If we attack haphazardly like we did with Western Xia, we’ll be vulnerable to counterattacks.”

As I mentioned before, Western Liao was a massive state.

Therefore, this war would follow a different trajectory than the Western Xia campaign, where we needed to capture key strongholds.

For this reason, I intended to entrust field combat to battlefield commanders like Temujin, Khasar, Belgutei, Munglig, Elunka, and Bulqa Khan.

“They gained much experience in the Western Xia campaign, so they should be capable of commanding an army now.”

Among the gains from the Western Xia campaign, combat experience was undoubtedly the greatest.

While we had accumulated field combat experience through tribal battles, these were little more than child’s play compared to state-level warfare.

In contrast, the Western Xia campaign was clearly a state-versus-state war fought for survival.

My sons and officers who participated directly in this valuable battle risked their lives to achieve victory, and as a result, they became more seasoned generals than anyone.

While I was thinking this, Elunka opened the ger and entered.

Upon his visit, I internally assumed he was coming to report that all expedition preparations were complete.

Contrary to my expectation, what came from Elunka’s mouth was unexpected news.

“Khagan! The Tamma we sent to Western Liao has sent information.”

“What information?”

“Kuchlug, prince of the Naiman tribe, has started a rebellion with the help of Western Liao general Xiao Apgang!”

God has chosen the Borjigin.

To conquer this world.

* * *

“It truly seems that God is watching over us.”

“Indeed. God and Tengri are proving that the Khagan’s rule is a heaven-bestowed right!”

The commanders were speaking with excited voices.

This was understandable because, as mentioned earlier, as soon as our expedition preparations were complete, news of Kuchlug’s rebellion arrived, as if God had blessed the Mongols.

With such seemingly orchestrated good fortune, the commanders were rejoicing as if they had already won the war.

“God and Tengri are watching over the Ulus.”

I said this while making the sign of the cross.

Following me, some darughachi who had converted to Nestorianism also made the sign of the cross.

“God desires this.”

“Indeed. God, Tengri, and our ancestors are protecting us.”

“The Western Xia people also support the Ulus.”

I felt slightly afraid at their frenzied appearance.

They looked like what one might expect from crusaders.

Of course, it was natural for their faith to soar due to the series of coincidences that had occurred.

However, since this could negatively affect the overall battle, I felt I needed to calm the commanders.

“The whole world knows that this war is desired by God, Tengri, our ancestors, and the people of the Ulus, especially the Western Xia people. However, God and Tengri only show us the path; the battle itself is our responsibility. So make thorough preparations to ensure we don’t waste divine providence.”

At my words, the darughachi seemed to come to their senses and nodded.

Once the atmosphere had calmed somewhat, I turned my head to look at Elunka, who was serving as the strategist for this war.

“Where has the vanguard arrived?”

“They are currently in Qiemo, a city near the territory of the Liao Dynasty.”

Qiemo was a city in Tibetan territory where many Uyghurs lived.

It was part of a small Tibetan state now subject to us, and through Qiemo, we could head toward Kucha, a major city of Western Liao.

“It seems Borjigin Toghrul Darughachi plans to capture the key military city of Kucha before attacking Qara-Ordo, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.”

At Elunka’s explanation, the other darughachi nodded.

Kucha was a military city that defended Qara-Ordo, the enemy capital.

Of course, it was quite distant, so much so that looking at a map, one might question whether it was truly a strategic point.

“Why must we attack Kucha first?”

At the darughachi’s question, Elunka immediately explained while pointing at the map.

“As you can see, Qara-Ordo is completely surrounded by mountains. Due to the rugged mountain ranges, to attack the Western Liao capital, we would need to attack from the plains area above. But then the entire army would have to cross through Western Liao, inevitably facing enemy interference.”

After this lengthy explanation, Elunka pointed to Kucha.

“As you can see, Kucha is at the entrance to the mountain range leading to Qara-Ordo. If we conquer this place, we can directly intercept Qara-Ordo by following the gorge.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Indeed…”

“It would save us the trouble of going around.”

At Elunka’s explanation, the darughachi nodded.

As he said, Qara-Ordo was a natural fortress surrounded by mountains, much like Seoul in our country.

Additionally, it had an inexhaustible water supply from rivers formed by the surrounding mountains.

If such a city decided to deploy troops around it and hold out, there would be no way to breach it.

Unlike walls, mountains don’t collapse when hit by trebuchets.

Therefore, we absolutely had to capture Kucha.

“Under normal circumstances, capturing Kucha would be difficult… but with God and Tengri’s blessing, internal strife has broken out in Western Liao, so capturing this place shouldn’t be a major problem.”

If Kuchlug hadn’t rebelled, capturing Kucha itself might have been difficult.

Fortunately, thanks to Kuchlug’s rebellion, our chances of easily capturing this military stronghold had increased.

“Of course, we shouldn’t become complacent.”

With these final words, Elunka stepped back.

In response, I looked at everyone and spoke.

“The strategist is right. We are under divine protection, but we must not be careless.”

Though this was common knowledge, as the Khagan leading the Ulus, I had to mention it.

Anyway, after firmly stating this, I turned to look at Munglig.

“Munglig.”

“Command me, Khagan.”

“It will take time for the vanguard to capture Kucha. Do you have any good suggestions regarding this?”

In truth, there were several options available.

Among them, attacking surrounding cities to overburden the capital, as we did when conquering Western Xia, was the easiest method.

But this time, it was unlikely to work.

This was because Kuchlug, who had started the rebellion, was an outsider.

Such an outsider was very unlikely to accept Western Liao refugees.

Therefore, we needed to use a different approach this time.

This question was essentially a moment to check if Munglig had the qualities of a commander.

If he simply followed a tactical approach with known flaws, it would mean he lacked the qualities of a commander.

Internally, I hoped Munglig would make a good proposal that would convince me and everyone else.

“I have a good strategy.”

“What is it?”

“Currently, the basic composition of the expedition force consists of units of ten thousand.”

“That’s correct.”

“I propose splitting those units of ten thousand into units of one thousand and having them attack cities within Western Liao.”

Munglig ultimately provided an answer that fell short of my expectations.

“Lord Munglig. Are you proposing this tactic with the intention of overburdening the Western Liao capital?”

At Elunka’s question, Munglig immediately shook his head.

And confidently answered.

“Of course not. I propose this tactic to govern these places immediately after capturing them.”

“Govern…? Governing immediately after capture seems hardly… Ah!”

Western Liao was in a state of civil war.

As a result, Western Liao’s cities were essentially in a semi-independent state.

Which meant:

“I intend to divide and conquer the vast Western Liao.”