Chapter 1724: The Southern Emperor and the Northern Khan Contend with the Eastern Barbarians

With a sharp "whoosh" that split the air, a long feathered arrow flew from the bowstring, swift as lightning, straight at a Mongolian gazelle sprinting along the water's edge at Daigen Tala. In the blink of an eye, the arrowhead drove hard into the gazelle's neck and passed clean through. Mortally wounded, the gazelle bolted a few more steps with its last strength, then toppled over with a thud.

"Long live! Long live! Long live the Emperor!"

As the gazelle fell, the mountain-shaking cry of "Long live!" erupted, rocking heaven and earth.

The archer was, of course, none other than Zhu Youjian, the Ming Son of Heaven whose valor outstripped the three armies. Clad in golden armor and a golden helm, he galloped along the grassy shore of Daigen Tala astride a tall, spirited black horse of considerable Persian blood. He put away his bow and spurred toward the fallen gazelle. Just as warhorse and gazelle crossed paths, he suddenly leaned down, reached out, seized the gazelle by the horn, and with one hand alone lifted the creature, which weighed a good forty or fifty jin!

At the sight of such a vigorous display, not only did all twenty thousand of the Ming iron cavalry watching around them raise their thumbs, but even the two thousand iron-lance riders and three thousand Gorlos riders who had come with the Hutuktu Khan could not help cheering.

They too had to admit that this Southern Emperor's martial prowess had truly reached a miraculous level — no wonder he had slain the foremost warrior of the Mongols, Guiyingqia, in battle!

The moment Guiyingqia came to mind, everyone could not help glancing behind Zhu Youjian. There they saw Guiyingqia's wife — now Zhu Youjian's own Uriankhai Grand Princess — clad in silver armor and mounted on a rare fine steed, following close behind her new master. She sat tall in the saddle, chest out and head high, her face full of pride and satisfaction, plainly very pleased with her new husband, the Ming Emperor. This Grand Princess was no weakling herself: she was expert with bow and horse, skilled with the long spear, and well versed in Mongolian wrestling.

The first time she had been captured by the young Ming Emperor, it was because her horse stumbled — actually, she had been shot from ambush — so she was not entirely convinced.

The second time the young emperor came to seize her, the Grand Princess set up a wrestling ring inside her own great tent and challenged the young Zhu emperor to a match! She lost so thoroughly and convincingly that when she emerged from the tent, she announced she would serve the young emperor like an ox or a horse, to be ridden and driven as he pleased.

The "Northern Khan" Lindan Batur, watching Zhu Youjian's skill, also secretly cheered. With such ability, he could outmatch all comers at the Naadam Festival — no wonder his sister was so smitten with him! Now that the Ming had produced such a Southern Emperor, it seemed they could hold the lands south of the Great Wall after all.

It seemed this standoff between Southern Emperor and Northern Khan would have to continue!

Before this Southern Emperor passed away, no one would be able to break through the Great Wall. To revive the Great Yuan Empire, they would have to wait for the next generation — and the next Southern Emperor might well be a fool!

With that thought, Lindan Batur spurred his horse forward and, under the gaze of the assembled crowd, rode toward Zhu Youjian and Uriankhai. Lindan Batur had gathered the chieftains or envoys of all the right-wing Mongol tribes to come to Daigen Tala and witness the bride-taking. Now those chieftains and envoys were all present, watching this lakeside hunt.

Though it was called a hunt, it was really a "show of horses" — parading one's hard-earned capital for all to see.

Lindan Batur had put five thousand iron cavalry on display: two thousand were iron-lance riders from the central army's chiliarchy, and three thousand were Gorlos riders. In truth, Lindan Batur's capital had been cut in half at the Battle of Baideng Mountain, and he could not originally have produced five thousand iron cavalry for display. It was only because the Uriankhai Grand Princess, on her return from Zhu Youjian, had brought back two thousand sets of cloth-faced iron armor as betrothal gifts that Lindan Batur could scrape together five thousand iron cavalry impressive enough to frighten people.

Zhu Youjian's gesture was even grander — he had produced twenty thousand iron cavalry at once! Not one bit watered down!

Of these, about eleven thousand five hundred were iron cavalry of the Imperial Guard, two thousand were household retainers of the Datong generals, and six thousand five hundred were iron cavalry of the Capital Camps or household retainers of the capital's ennobled families. The quality of these iron cavalrymen was uneven — some could fight, some were just for show. But this was a "show of horses," not a real battle. The twenty thousand iron cavalry spread out along the shore of Daigen Tala, most of them wearing long golden or silver iron armor that blazed dazzlingly under the sun! The sight made onlookers gasp and shiver with dread!

The Southern Emperor's strength was indeed greater than the Northern Khan's — no wonder the Northern Khan's sister was so happy even after being taken. On the steppe, any family whose daughter was taken by a man as powerful as the Southern Emperor would be overjoyed.

Now that the Southern Emperor and Northern Khan were joined by marriage, no one among the right-wing Mongols could make trouble. Even if the Tiancong Khan of the eastern barbarians attacked, he would likely gain nothing.

By this time Zhu Youjian had also noticed Lindan Batur riding toward him, so he tossed the gazelle in his hand to Uriankhai, who had spurred up behind him. And what a toss — forty or fifty jin of gazelle went flying through the air! It was fortunate Uriankhai had the strength: she stretched out both arms and caught the gazelle firmly and steadily.

Zhu Youjian shot the Mongol woman a glance, burst into hearty laughter, and spurred toward Lindan Batur. Just as the two horses were about to pass each other, Southern Emperor and Northern Khan reined in at the same moment. Both warhorses let out shrill neighs, reared up on their hind legs, and then brought their forehooves crashing down.

Having finished their display of horsemanship, Zhu Youjian and Lindan Batur both laughed heartily, looking for all the world like old friends reunited after years apart.

"Emperor anda," Lindan Batur said with a smile, "my sister is wild and hard to tame. From now on I leave her to your discipline. If she disobeys, beat her or scold her as you like — no need to spare her status as Grand Princess."

What a fine brother he was.

Zhu Youjian answered with a laugh in Mongolian: "With the Great Khan anda's word, We are reassured. Our household rules are strict, and We will certainly discipline Uriankhai well!"

Ah! You actually mean to beat and scold her! Lindan Batur was taken aback, and shot a sidelong glance at Uriankhai, who had by now ridden up — this dear sister of his was gazing at the young emperor with tender affection!

Lindan Batur sighed softly, withdrew his gaze, and said to Zhu Youjian: "Emperor anda, since you have snatched away my sister's marriage, you are now my brother-in-law. Our two houses fought for over two hundred years, and now we have become one family — perhaps it is Heaven's will. Better that from this day forward, north and south live in harmony and share in peace."

Zhu Youjian laughed: "North and south should of course live in harmony — but sharing in peace is impossible!"

"How so?" Lindan Batur was startled again.

Zhu Youjian said: "The world today holds not only a Southern Emperor and a Northern Khan, but also the eastern barbarians! Until the eastern barbarians are destroyed, how can there be any peace to share? Great Khan anda, are you truly content to hand over the entire left-wing Mongols to Hong Taiji?"

Lindan Batur's face darkened: "Sooner or later I will march east and exterminate the Jianzhou Jurchen!"

Zhu Youjian smiled and shook his head. "Great Khan anda, the Jianzhou slaves are strong now, and the two of us together cannot uproot them. In my view, we two should support each other and first adopt a defensive posture. My Great Ming must stabilize the three fronts of Liaoxi, Jizhen, and Xuanfu. And on your side, Great Khan anda, you must hold Kuku Hoto firmly — by no means may you move further west!"

What did he mean by that? Lindan Batur was not pleased to hear it! Did this Southern Emperor really take him for a runaway khan?

Zhu Youjian did not look at Lindan Batur's expression, but simply continued: "We know the eastern barbarians are fierce and savage, and that they have subjugated the left-wing Mongol tribes. If they march west, they will come with overwhelming force. Therefore We wish the Uriankhai Grand Princess to establish a chiliarchy ordo, stationed in the Daqing Mountains south of Daigen Tala and Jining Lake. If the eastern barbarians advance west through the grasslands north of the Daqing Mountains, the Uriankhai chiliarchy ordo can strike out from the mountains and attack their rear. Does this seem workable to you?"

Hearing Zhu Youjian's proposal, Lindan Batur's expression darkened slightly. His eldest sister had been given an unfortunate name: Uriankhai was the same name as the Uriankhai chiliarchy, one of the three left-wing Mongol chiliarchies. And that Uriankhai chiliarchy had originated from the three Uriankhai guards — that is, the Duoyan Three Guards. In other words, the Uriankhai chiliarchy had always been an object of contention between the Northern Yuan and the Ming.

In fact, that Uriankhai chiliarchy had long existed in name only, having disintegrated through internal Mongol strife. So now there were Uriankhai Mongols, but no Uriankhai chiliarchy. Zhu Youjian's proposal to establish a chiliarchy ordo under the name of the Uriankhai Grand Princess was plainly aimed at winning over the Uriankhai Mongols.

"Very well then! From now on, let Daigen Tala and Jining Lake be the boundary!"

Although Lindan Batur understood Zhu Youjian's intent, he still nodded. For the Uriankhai Mongols had been conquered by the Tumed tribe in the time of Altan Khan, and Lindan Batur, defeated at Baideng Mountain, had no ability to swallow them all. Giving a share to his sister and brother-in-law could serve as a graceful way out.

(End of Chapter)