Ch.9Gur Khan (1)

The red cloak wrapped around my neck.

It felt redder than usual because this cloak was dyed not with dye but with the blood drawn from Juchi’s body.

He had been hung upside down with cuts made all over his body to drain his blood.

Juchi died from shock due to excessive blood loss.

Crows circled around his corpse.

A modern person would likely vomit at the sight of such a scene.

But whether I had adapted to Mongolian life or to Yesugei’s body, I didn’t find this horrific sight disgusting at all.

This wasn’t just me—the Mongolian tribespeople who had come to watch the bokh felt the same way.

No one sympathized with Juchi, who had not only violated the laws of the steppe but also insulted the sacred bokh.

Instead, people were chanting my name and cheering enthusiastically.

It felt like being at a concert.

I spread my arms in response to their cheers.

“I wear the cloak of Daichi Tengri!”

“Batur! Batur!”

“Yesugei! Yesugei!”

“Khamag Mongol! Respect the great Khan according to the laws of the steppe!”

Once again, Yesugei was speaking through my body, saying whatever he wanted.

I had been the one wrestling at a disadvantage of 2 against 1, yet he was acting as if he had done it himself in front of the Mongolian people, which made my blood pressure rise.

Fortunately, Yesugei seemed to have some tact, as he handed control back to me after saying this.

While this internal situation was happening, Bulqa Khan approached me.

As the judge of this bokh match, he had already brought my horse Eger to my side.

“Great Khan of Khamag Mongol, I shall escort you as you requested.”

Bulqa lowered his body.

Then other tribal khans approached and knelt beside him.

The chieftains of the Oroods, Mangods, and Erchens.

Chalukhab of the Oroods, Hulitu of the Mangods, and Ardan of the Erchens all assumed the same posture as Bulqa Khan.

“Great Khan!”

“Rightful master of Khamag Mongol!”

From the tribal leaders’ perspective, it was beneficial to support me, who had already risen to prominence, as the new Khan of Khamag Mongol.

Of the four major tribes of Khamag Mongol, Ambaghai of the Taichigud and Juchi of the Jalairs had died in the bokh.

Moreover, since they had died committing fouls in the sacred bokh, the tribes they led were essentially destined to be absorbed into Yesugei’s Kiyat.

In other words, two of the four major Mongol tribes would disappear.

Sensing the power vacuum this would create, Chalukhab, Hulitu, and Ardan sought to fill it by supporting me as Khan of Khamag Mongol.

This situation wasn’t bad for me either, having become the leader of Khamag Mongol.

So I decided to accept their support.

“I, Yesugei Batur, descendant of Bodonchar and nephew of Kutula Khan, have defeated the challenger in the sacred bokh. I will now claim my rightful authority.”

Bulqa Khan nodded at my words.

Then, while kneeling on one knee in the nomadic tradition of showing submission, he handed me Eger’s reins.

Normally, handing over a horse’s reins was an act performed by those of the same arbat or by servants of lower status.

Therefore, Bulqa Khan, who held the same khan status, was acknowledging my rights and publicly recognizing me as his superior.

As I reached to take the reins from Bulqa, my horse Eger suddenly folded his front legs and knelt down in an unusual display.

It was as if he had lowered himself to make it easier for me to mount him. This sight surprised not only me but all the Mongolians watching.

“My goodness…”

“A horse kneeling on its own…”

Mongolian horses that gallop across the steppe never lower themselves like this.

They might lower their heads to graze, but they never kneel on their own.

Even Mongolians who had lived their entire lives with horses had never seen such a thing.

So these exclamations of amazement were only natural.

While the Mongolian people were marveling, I found myself in an awkward situation.

This was because Eger had caused another “incident” before we came here.

“This one’s doing it again.”

Eger didn’t move an inch even when I tugged on the reins.

He seemed determined not to rise until I mounted him.

“Well…”

I couldn’t just stand there forever.

I did as Eger wanted and climbed onto his back.

Only then did he straighten his knees and stand up.

The people began to cheer.

“Lord of the Four Seas!”

“Only you can lead Khamag Mongol!”

The Mongolian people cheered.

The tribal leaders who had been kneeling before me rose and bowed.

“Gurkhan! Please lead Khamag Mongol!”

Gurkhan.

It was a noble title referring to a khan elected by other khans, one of the most distinguished rulers of the steppe.

Gurkhan was also another title for the Jin Emperor.

It was a title equivalent to the ancient Khagan used by the Xianbei and Wuhuan.

It meant ruler of the earth or ruler of the four seas.

Thus, before many Mongolian people, I was elected by four khans as the legitimate ruler of Khamag Mongol, the Gurkhan.

* * *

I had become the Gurkhan of Khamag Mongol.

Having been elected by other khans, my authority was absolute.

Additionally, being a direct descendant of Bodonchar, a member of the black bone tribe Kiyat, no one could deny my legitimacy.

“So what do you wish to do?”

Bulqa Khan stepped forward at my question.

After bowing, he addressed me.

“Since Batur has become the rightful Khan of Khamag Mongol, the Gurkhan, we must punish the Tatars who harmed the Khan.”

Bulqa was proposing to attack the Tatars.

I could hardly believe this was the same person who had advocated neutrality when Juchi had called for peace.

“I remember you taking a skeptical stance on attacking the Tatars. Why have you suddenly changed your opinion?”

Bulqa immediately lowered himself at my words.

Then he began to explain his reasoning.

“I thought attacking the Tatar tribe in winter would not be wise. But now it’s spring, so we can ride across the vast steppe without any hindrance, which is why I make this proposal.”

“I see.”

“If my previous words and actions troubled you…”

Bulqa Khan was watching my reaction carefully.

I shook my head immediately to reassure him.

“I haven’t taken your words to heart, so don’t worry.”

“I am grateful for the Gurkhan’s ocean-like generosity.”

Bulqa said this and stepped back.

From his position, he had no choice but to be cautious around me.

He had witnessed with his own eyes what I had done to the tribes of Juchi and Ambaghai Khan, who had tried to stab me with a poisoned dagger.

Not only had I enslaved all the men of the Taichigud and Jalair tribes, but I had also given their wives as concubines to the men of the Kiyat tribe.

And by adopting their children as illegitimate sons of the Kiyat tribe, the two tribes had essentially ceased to exist.

By modern standards, this was an extremely harsh punishment.

But by the standards of that time, it was a somewhat “reasonable” measure.

Again, the population of the Mongolian steppe was very small at this time.

Without people, one couldn’t mobilize an army, so rather than annihilating tribes that committed crimes, it was necessary to enslave the men and take the women as concubines to increase the population.

Therefore, for Mongolians living in harsh environments, this was a rational punishment.

However, even if it was a rational punishment, those who witnessed it couldn’t help but be afraid.

This was because they had seen firsthand that they too could fall like this.

“They seem to fear me.”

This was separate from their earlier election of me as Gurkhan.

Therefore, it was natural for them to feel fear toward me, regardless of their support.

Two of the four major Mongol tribes had just collapsed.

Having witnessed this process up close, Bulqa had no choice but to be careful not to offend me.

The same was true for the other tribal leaders.

In a way, this was an ideal situation for me to lead Khamag Mongol, but maintaining such tension for too long would only create resentment, so proper moderation was necessary.

“I fully understand your concerns.”

“…”

“…”

“However, you know better than anyone that the two tribes were punished for their disrespectful actions in the sacred bokh.”

The chieftains nodded in response.

As the atmosphere relaxed slightly, I spread my arms and proclaimed loudly:

“Therefore, do not fear. I swear before you that I will not act like a tyrant who punishes the innocent.”

“Is…is that true?”

Bulqa Khan’s question.

I nodded and delivered my prepared speech.

“My Kiyat tribe and I sought compensation for the harm done when I was poisoned by the Tatars, and I believe this compensation is sufficient.”

“…”

“You mean…”

“What remains of the Taichigud and Jalair tribes belongs to all of Khamag Mongol and should be distributed fairly among each tribe.”

The tribal leaders’ eyes immediately lit up at my words.

As two of the four major Mongol tribes, the Taichigud and Jalair had accumulated considerable wealth.

Horses, gers, and silk clothes.

In the resource-scarce steppe, these things were enough to stimulate the tribal leaders’ desires.

There was no better way to make others my allies than sharing benefits.

And it was even more effective since I was doing so not from my own pocket but from someone else’s.

As evidence, the fear in their eyes had disappeared, replaced by gleaming greed.

“Additionally, all future battles will be executed in the name of Khamag Mongol. Those who participate in battle will receive spoils and glory fairly based solely on their contribution to the battle, regardless of their background or status.”

Of course, Khamag Mongol already had a tradition of distributing spoils according to contribution.

However, since the share varied according to rank, fair distribution of spoils was rare.

But when I announced before everyone that I would distribute spoils solely based on performance, regardless of background or status, they couldn’t help but be excited.

“Of course, remember that only those who submit to me, the rightful Khan of Khamag Mongol, can enjoy this right.”

In short, I was saying that I would share rather than monopolize future benefits.

The tribal leaders approached me as if they were about to kneel before me and kiss my hand.