Chapter 169: The Khorchin Oba Rises Up

Among the Mongols — or to speak plainly, the Khorchin tribe — Taiji Oba was not exactly overjoyed either.

Originally, Taiji Oba had been thoroughly delighted. His own tribe was a force to be reckoned with: Jere, daughter of Manggus of the Borjigin clan, and Bumbutai, daughter of Jaisang, Manggus's son, had both married the Great Khan of the Great Jin, Hong Taiji, one after the other.

Aunt and niece serving one husband together — that was a tale to be celebrated.

Now, when his tribesmen walked these white mountains and black waters of Liaodong, who didn't look upon them with extra respect?

And yet, some blind fool just had to come and disgust him. It was no one else but that old neighbor, those damned savages of the Xibe tribe — Wanyan Hong.

Word from the grapevine said that not only had this savage accepted a title from the Ming, he was even willing to be the hawk and hound of that little Ming Emperor, actively helping that little Ming Emperor search Liaodong for the remnants of tribes like Yehe, Hada, Ula, Hoifa, Jusheri, Nayin, and Feng'ercha, all to stir up trouble for the Great Jin.

This would not do. Who was the Great Jin? They were his own father-in-law's people, and he himself had been personally enfeoffed by the Great Jin's old khan as a Prince Consort of the Standard. That's right — he was not only the Oba Taiji of the Khorchin, but also the Tüsheetu Khan of the Great Jin.

Since that Wanyan Hong of the Xibe tribe had no interest in living a quiet life, then he himself had no need to turn a blind eye anymore for the sake of their old shared ties as the Yehe Nine Tribes.

Even if it were just for the sake of the seventeen-year-old Princess of the Standard, Zhunzhe, he would still have to crush him to death.

The moment he thought of Zhunzhe's soft, tender body, Oba's heart blazed with heat. He barked in rapid succession, "Someone! Prepare wine and food, and summon Jasagtu Duleng Budaqi to see this khan."

Once Budaqi arrived, Oba came straight to the point: "Come, sit and talk. This khan intends to personally campaign against those bastards of the Xibe tribe. We must make thorough preparations."

Budaqi and Oba were blood brothers; their glory and ruin were shared. And since Budaqi was no fool himself, how could he not know exactly why Oba wanted to personally campaign against the Xibe tribe?

It was just that, thinking of the Xibe tribe's cavalry, and the recent news spreading from outside that the Xibe had already reassembled the Yehe, Hada, Ula, Hoifa, Jusheri, Nayin, and Feng'ercha tribes from the original Yehe Nine Tribes — excluding only their own Khorchin tribe — it looked as if the old Yehe Nine Tribes were about to reappear in the world, perhaps under a new name: the Xibe Eight Tribes.

Deeply troubled by this, Budaqi placed a hand over his chest, bowed, and said, "Great Khan, if we attack the Xibe tribe now, won't we make ourselves a laughingstock before the other tribes? After all, we were once all part of the Yehe Nine Tribes together."

Oba, however, glared and said, "Once we slaughter every man in those tribes taller than a cart wheel, who would dare laugh? What Yehe Nine Tribes, Eight Tribes — none of them will exist anymore! Only our Khorchin tribe will remain!"

Having said this, he switched to a tone of earnest gravity and said to Budaqi, "The steppe is vast, but it cannot hold two heroes. What kind of hero was our late grand-uncle Temüjin back then?

On the steppe, who dared harbor disloyalty toward Genghis Khan? Now look at the steppe — does it still bear any resemblance to a proper steppe?

It's a sheer disgrace to the name 'descendants of the Blue Wolf and the White Deer'!"

Yes, yes, yes — whatever you say. Budaqi was utterly speechless at this brother of his.

Every day, he went on about Genghis Khan of old. The problem was, just like himself, you are only a descendant of Qasar Jochi, Genghis Khan's younger brother.

The true descendant of Genghis Khan is that Ligdan Khan, who has now run off to the west to consolidate the various Mongol tribes — not the two of us brothers!

And besides, how awe-inspiring was Temüjin back then? Even their own ancestor Jochi had followed Genghis Khan on his eastern campaigns, earning immortal merit in the founding of the Great Mongol Empire.

Now look at you — all you think about day in and day out is how to replace Ligdan Khan, and you won't even mention the matter of your own father, Onggodai, being defeated by the Great Jin, as if receiving a title from the Great Jin were some great honor.

You're just like Senggüm, who incited Wang Khan to launch the Battle of Qalaqaljid Sands — both of you, once you got a title from the Great Jin, were perfectly content to be their running dogs. Or rather, you, Oba, aren't even as good as Senggüm.

Though he was grumbling furiously in his heart, Budaqi's outward expression remained utterly respectful as he said, "Great Khan, when the Great Jin's Khan, Hong Taiji, marched south to campaign against Joseon and Dongjiang, he instructed us to guard the gateway of Shenyang well.

If we now take it upon ourselves to attack the Xibe tribe, I fear that when the Great Khan Hong Taiji returns, he will hold us to account."

Oba picked up the wine that had just been brought in, took a sip, and said, "So what? If Great Khan Hong Taiji and I were to reckon our relations, he is still this khan's father-in-law. It's merely an attack on an ungrateful Xibe tribe; I expect the Great Khan will not hold it against us."

Seeing that his attempts at persuasion were futile, Budaqi knew Oba's mind was made up, so he said, "If that is the case, why not summon the other noyans to come and discuss it together?"

Oba nodded and said, "Mm. Hö'elün once taught Temüjin: a single arrow is easily broken, a lone tree cannot block the wind; when brothers unite their hearts, their strength is boundless.

We brothers must also be like the brothers of Genghis Khan Temüjin — united as one. That way, no one will ever be able to defeat us brothers!"

Although Budaqi found Oba highly unreliable, he still agreed with this particular statement of Oba's. He immediately raised his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and said, "Rest assured, Great Khan: day and night follow their order, and light illuminates the universe.

Your younger brother shall forever be your most loyal hawk and hound!"

Oba roared with laughter and clapped Budaqi on the shoulder, saying, "Good! Now that's my good younger brother!

In a moment, we shall summon the other noyans and discuss together this matter of attacking those Xibe bastards. This time, we might as well teach the other disobedient ones a thorough lesson — slaughter their men taller than a cart wheel, violate their wives.

That is the greatest joy in life!"

Although he had always treated Oba's words as so much hot air, Budaqi expressed absolute agreement with the teaching of Hö'elün and that famous saying of Temüjin just now. He promptly joined Oba in roaring with laughter.

After the two brothers finished their wine, Oba could not wait to order men to summon the other noyans to come and discuss how to attack the Xibe tribe.

Once the chieftains of the Gorlos, Jalait, Dorbet, and other tribes had all arrived at Oba's khan's tent, Oba still came straight to the point: "This khan intends to attack the Xibe tribe.

When the time comes, the seized pastures and livestock will be distributed according to the rules of the Great Khan Temüjin of old: this khan shall take only two-tenths, and after you return, each of you shall take another two-tenths.

The remainder shall be distributed according to battle merit — whether noyan or slave, all shall be apportioned by battle merit."

Seeing the eyes of the many chieftains darting about evasively, Oba suddenly bellowed, "Should this khan discover that anyone has disobeyed orders, do not blame this khan for executing those who dare to privately withhold the spoils of the warriors, just as the Great Khan Temüjin executed Jamukha back then!"

When the chieftains heard Oba speak in this manner, their hearts all tightened. They knew Oba's decision could not be altered.

Though they all harbored considerable private objections, under the weight of Oba's power, each placed a hand over his chest, bowed, and said, "We strictly obey the Great Khan's command; we dare not disobey in the slightest!"

After a round of discussion, Oba finally drew his saber and hacked off a corner of the table, shouting, "Prepare today, march tomorrow! This khan shall present the heads of the Xibe tribe as tribute to the Great Khan of the Great Jin!"

(End of Chapter)