Chapter 94: Open Strategy

"Great Khan, although their short clubs are formidable, if we believe that is all they have to offer, we are gravely mistaken. Great Khan, do not forget that the twelve thousand soldiers who fought today were their enemies just one month ago."

"What does this prove? It proves that in only one month, they made those who opposed them accept them and fight to the death for them. After one month, with a single command, they can move an entire tribe, families and all, behind the Great Wall. What powerful organizational ability! Even without those terrifying short clubs today, a coalition of one hundred thousand would not necessarily be their match." Mu Hua Li said with absolute conviction.

Temujin nodded and said, "Facing such a powerful opponent, what reason do we have for arrogance? What qualification do we have for arrogance? Since they could, after killing the Tatar leader, still win over the hearts of the Tatars in a brief month, then they can certainly make the other tribes on the steppe serve them."

"Mu Hua Li, where do you think the Tatars will move next?"

Mu Hua Li, deep in thought, said, "After this great battle, all tribes on the steppe except ours have suffered heavy blows, though the degree of damage varies. The Wang Gubu was hit first; they not only fell into a Tatar ambush, but their leader, Jamukha, also died on the battlefield. At this moment, the Wang Gubu is a disorganized mess."

"After wiping out the Wang Gubu, it will be the Taichiwu tribe, which is not strong and was struck by them earlier."

"Oh, why?" Temujin asked, puzzled. "Why would they not come to destroy us? Nowadays, we are the only tribe on the steppe that has preserved our strength intact. If they destroy us, their process of unifying the steppe will be unopposed. Moreover, we are the initiators of the steppe coalition."

"They will not." Mu Hua Li stated emphatically, "Their strategic intent is clear: to constantly develop their comrades during the battle, establish revolutionary base areas, let countless people benefit from them, and finally cause the enemy to be submerged in the Wang Yangdahai of a people's war."

After Mu Hua Li finished speaking these words, everyone present scratched their heads, unable to understand his meaning. Chilaun stepped forward and shouted, "Mu Hua Li, can you speak more clearly? Do not say things we do not understand."

"Very well, I will speak more clearly. The Tatars distributed the nobles' grasslands and cattle to the herdsmen and slaves. After we defeat the Tatars, will we not take the grasslands and cattle into our own hands? Will those slaves and herdsmen not fight us? If the Tatars promise the slaves and herdsmen here that if they kill us, our cattle and grasslands will be distributed to them, will our people not develop other thoughts? Will they not rebel against us?"

"When all our herdsmen and slaves rebel against us together, that is when we are submerged in the Wang Yangdahai of a people's war. Do you understand now?" After Mu Hua Li finished speaking, the great tent fell silent; everyone inside involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.

An image involuntarily arose in their minds: those slaves who had always been submissive before them and the herdsmen who hid whenever they saw them joined hands and stared at them, their eyes burning with the fire of revenge. One by one, they picked up weapons and rushed toward them recklessly, drowning them in a sea of hatred.

As steppe people who always preferred to solve problems with knives, they hated schemes and tricks, because these schemes and tricks always caused them losses.

Yet today, they would rather face those schemes and tricks, because once schemes and tricks are known, one will not be deceived. But this strategy, even if someone tells them clearly, they still cannot decipher it.

Compared to this open strategy that skillfully utilizes the great trend of the world, the schemes and tricks of the past are simply not worth mentioning.

Once the great trend is formed, no matter how they struggle, it will be of no avail.

They were terrified. Many of them had experienced the miserable life of slaves; to climb to their current position as nobles, they did not know how much they had sacrificed, so they were even more terrified of falling from the clouds.

"Great Khan, their intent is not simply to destroy the steppe. After eliminating all the nobles on the steppe, they will eliminate the nobles, the Emperor, and the landlords on the territory of the Great Jin, in Western Xia, and in the Great Song. They have none of these. The Tatar leader said that once a class war begins, it must be fought to complete victory."

"I think we should let the high officials of the Jin know about this. After finding a way to obtain their firearms, we should send them to the Jin, stating clearly that these are Tatar weapons. They will surely force the Tatars to hand over the weapons. At that time, both sides will inevitably fight a fierce great battle." After Mu Hua Li analyzed the situation layer by layer, he put forward his suggestion.

"But what if the Jin people do not believe us?" Borqul asked.

"They will not. If we possessed such weapons and equipment, we would have already destroyed the Tatars. Moreover, the Tatars have defeated a coalition of over a hundred thousand on the steppe, and their momentum to unify the steppe is irresistible. The Jin people will surely do everything possible to weaken the Tatars." Mu Hua Li refuted.

"Good. Since that is the case, then we will infiltrate the Wang Gubu as captives, accept reorganization, and become Tatar troops. In this way, we can secretly smuggle the guns out." Temujin immediately made the decision.

Hearing Temujin's proposal, the generals immediately knelt and begged Temujin to revoke his order.

"Impossible, Great Khan. You bear the responsibility of the entire tribe. If anything goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable." Everyone said in unison.

Temujin waved his hand, unconcerned, and said, "Since I was nine years old, when my father was poisoned to death by the Tatars, the tribe drove my mother and me away. At that time, I faced not only the pursuit of enemy tribes but also the pursuit of my own uncle. Yet I ultimately survived and established the current Kiyat tribe. My life is very tough."

"Of course, if it were just about getting a few weapons, I would not need to risk my life personally. However, we face a problem: our opponent is different from the steppe tribes of the past. This opponent is unprecedentedly powerful, and we, on the other hand, know too little about this opponent. If we continue like this, we will suffer more and more losses."

"Regarding this powerful opponent, we must understand him, understand the reason for his strength, so that we can become strong ourselves."

Temujin's expression at this moment was incredibly firm. When his father named him Temujin, it was his hope that he would be as hard as iron.

The people in the tent were inevitably moved by Temujin's firmness.

Borjigudai knelt down first and said, "Great Khan, since I saw you draw your bow and repel the enemy when I was young, I vowed to share life and death with the Khan. If the Great Khan is going, please take me."

"Khan, your Batul will always charge ahead for you, cutting down the enemies before you and blocking the arrows shot at you." Subutai said in a deep voice.

"Khan, Kubilai will follow the Khan's footsteps and never lag behind others."

"Khan, Mu Hua Li wants to..."

"Khan, Jebe is willing."

Many generals in the tent pleaded one after another. Temujin said helplessly, "If you all leave, what will happen to the tribe? We cannot just rely on Jochi and those few young men."

"Very well. Mu Hua Li, you have already been there; this time you do not need to go. Stay behind to assist Jochi and the others. Subutai, Kubilai, Chilaun, Borjigudai, Jebe, you will go with me."