Han Khan

Chapter 64, Jinshan

As the sun sets and night falls, the Zheluo Mountains are shrouded in tranquility.

Somewhere in this mountain range, the felt tents of the Jin Han people stand like stars in the sky, like a small city.

Under the command of their respective centurions, the guards marched in neat steps, shuttled between camps, and patrolled every corner closely.

Surrounded by many felt tents, a bright and eye-catching flag was flying high. The flag was blue in color, inlaid with sacred runes and a soaring eagle, which looked particularly solemn and dignified.

Under this flag stands a magnificent tent. Its appearance is extremely gorgeous, with gold and white colors, like a golden palace.

At this moment, the lights in the big tent were bright, just like daytime.

Zhang Sheng sat upright on a high seat in the tent. His figure was tall and majestic, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

Although he was only sixteen years old, he had been a cavalryman since he was twelve years old, following the emperor into battle. By this time, he had already experienced many battles.

Moreover, he is the leader of the Jinhan tribe and the emperor of the Holy Religion. His unhappiness means the unhappiness of the Holy Religion and Jinhan. How can he not be majestic!
Sitting below were Jin Han's battalion commanders, four guards commanders and six priests. They sat on both sides, looking serious and not saying a word.

The whole tent was filled with a tense and serious atmosphere.

But, in sharp contrast to this tense atmosphere, several Hu girls were dancing gracefully in the tent.

They were dressed in gorgeous costumes, with graceful figures. They spun their bodies lightly and performed the cheerful Hu Xuan dance.

The melody of the Hu Xuan dance is melodious and the rhythm is brisk and powerful, bringing a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere to the entire tent.

The dancing of the Hu Ji was graceful and smooth, which made people intoxicated and moved. Their presence added some vitality and energy to this originally serious occasion.

At this time, Cardinal Zhang Zhongxian said:
"Your Highness, this Zheluo Mountain grassland was once the nomadic place for the Bashimi tribe of the Turkic people.

After the establishment of the Uighur state, they annexed all the Turks and the Tiele tribe called the Black Turks, occupied the north and south of the desert, and all the tribes were willing to submit.

But later, the Khitan people who came from Jianhe River swept across the northern desert like a hurricane. They united with the rebellious Uighur tribes and launched a surprise attack on the Uighur Khan's ordo.

Tens of thousands of elite Uighurs were killed in Ordo, and the blood of the Uighurs dyed the northern steppe red.

The remaining Uighurs fled to the Western Regions, the Pamir Mountains and places further west in search of new pastures and land.

Today, along the Tianshan Mountains, you can see Uighur tribes and towns everywhere, where they have re-established their roots.”

Zhang Sheng nodded upon hearing this. He knew history and knew that the Uighurs were a large tribe among the Tiele tribes, and were even more civilized than the Turks.

But perhaps it was this "civilization" that was defeated by the more ferocious Kyrgyz people, although natural disasters were also the main reason for the demise of the Uighur Khanate.

When Koza heard Zhang Zhongxian mention the history of the Khitan people, a hint of pride suddenly appeared on his face.

After all, he is also a member of the Khitan people, and this pride comes from his Khitan origin.

However, at this moment, he suddenly realized that his identity had changed long ago. He had always regarded himself as Zhang Sheng's slave, and after his master founded the Jinhan tribe, he regarded himself as a Jinhan person.

In this new role, he could no longer lose his position because of his identity as a Khitan.

Koza, who was born in the Khitan tribe, was still a slave of Zhang Sheng according to the traditional law of the grassland. But now, he was the head of the guards in the Jinhan tribe, which was his honor.

Being a slave does not necessarily mean becoming a slave with nothing. Those who have always been dependent on people of a higher class, have a high status and the trust of monarchs and lords are also slaves of their masters.

They gain protection and more development opportunities from their masters.

Koza's status was higher than many others in the Jinhan tribe, so he never felt that being a slave of the emperor and the special forces was a shameful thing. It was an honor to him and also an opportunity for him to get close to the emperor.

Koza lowered his head and said to Zhang Sheng: "Your Highness, we have now swept the Uighur and Turkic tribes in the areas of Zheluoman Mountain, Pulehai and Beita Mountain.

This place is now completely controlled by our Jinhan tribe and is only 400 miles away from the Bulgan River southeast of Jinshan.

If we migrate quickly, the Jinhan tribe can cross the Gobi Desert around Beita Mountain in five days and reach the Bulgan River at the foot of Jinshan Mountain for grazing. The grass and water there are as abundant as here, but because of the frequent attacks and plunder by the Uighurs, there are no powerful tribes. If the Jinhan tribe grazes there, the livestock will definitely become more in the coming year. "Khoza said excitedly.

He had no good feelings towards Dunhuang and Yizhou because when he was there, he was often regarded as a barbarian by the local Tang people except Zhang Sheng and the Jinhan tribe, and there were not enough pastures in these two places to meet the grazing needs of the now large-scale Jinhan tribe.

However, if we go to Jinshan, its rolling hills and slopes, nourished by the meltwater from Jinshan, are all pastures with lush grass and water, enough for the more than 7,500 households of the Jinhan tribe to graze their livestock, and the Jinhan tribe will become prosperous.

At this time, Boniek, the commander of the guards who usually spoke very little, spoke:
"Your Highness, Commander Koza is right. Our Jinhan tribe is already a nomadic nation, but we do not occupy any grassland or land for our people to graze. If this continues for a long time, a large number of livestock will die, our people will starve, and our Jinhan tribe will be in great danger.

Moreover, after crossing Jinshan Mountain, there is a large lake basin on the other side of Jinshan Mountain, where there is abundant water and grass and numerous salt ponds.

The towering Jinshan Mountain blocked the Uighurs in the south and the west, and the Yanran Mountain (now the Hangai Mountain) and the Tannu Mountain (now the Sayan Mountains) in the east blocked the Tatars, Oirat, Bulyat and Uriankhai peoples in the east. The large lake basin between the mountains was indeed a good place for animal husbandry.

Now it is autumn, and we have migrated to the Great Lakes Basin and settled down there to graze. We don’t have to climb up Jinshan Mountain to graze this year.”

Boniek was born into the Tatar tribe, which was a group of thirty Tatars. The Khitan people plundered his tribe, forcing him to migrate westward with his people to Dunhuang.

Many members of the tribe were lost and died on the way. When they arrived in Dunhuang, there were only dozens of families left. They were later taken in by Zhang Sheng and, like Koza, became his slaves.

Now, he has followed Zhang Sheng for five or six years. Like other Hu people, these people who came from the Tatar tribes have now long since integrated into the Jinhan tribe and regard themselves as Jinhan people.

"When I left Dunhuang, I made a solemn promise to you that I would lead everyone to the northern desert to join my uncle, the Khan of the Khitan people.

However, to this day, I know nothing about the current situation of my uncle and the Khitan people! How are they living now?

Moreover, we have a large number of tribesmen under our command. If we really go to the so-called Great Lake Basin as Koza said, won’t we have a conflict with the Khitans?

How will my uncle view me then?" Zhang Sheng said, looking at Koza.

Uh, Koza was also stunned. He didn’t know the answers to these questions!
"Your Highness, I don't know what the current situation of the Khitan tribe is. After all, I have been away from Mobei for sixteen years." Koza said helplessly.

Recalling the arduous journey sixteen years ago, Koza couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

At that time, as the princess's subjects, they escorted and followed the princess, crossing the vast green mountains east of the Gurbantunggut Gobi Desert, crossing the hot and desolate Moheyan Desert, and finally arrived in Dunhuang after going through untold hardships.

"I only remember that at that time, your uncle, Kutlug Yar Khan, led the Khitan tribes and ruled the numerous Uighur tribes on the east side of Jinshan Mountain, and camped and grazed around Jinshan Mountain and the Great Lake Basin."

Then he continued:
"Since arriving in Dunhuang, I have been unable to obtain any news from the Khitans in the northern desert due to the obstruction of the Uighurs.

Although I am from the Khitan tribe, for the past decade or so, I have been a loyal servant of Lord Teqin. Now, with the grace of Your Highness, I have become a Jinhan citizen.

I, your servant, swear here before the Lord of Heaven that if anyone dares to go against you, whether they are Uighurs, Tatars, or Tang people, they will become my enemies.

Your servant, Koza, will fight for you, as my noble special agent, the messenger of the gods, by your side, and fight to the death, even at the cost of my life. Your servant and his descendants will always be your servants. "

Boniek, as well as several other generals who were of Hu origin like Koza, also swore an oath to Zhang Sheng under the gaze of everyone.

At this time, they all thought that the special forces were worried that if they went to Mobei, they would have conflicts with the Tatars, Kyrgyz and other tribes who were nomadic in Mobei, that is, their own people, and His Highness would not know how to deal with it.

But now they are the Jin Han people who have converted to God Haotian, and they are not the cowardly and backward barbarians in Mobei. If those tribes are sensible, they will quickly join the Jin Han tribe. If they are not sensible and dare to be enemies of Jin Han, those rude and unfaithful people will be killed for the palace.

This is what several people thought in their minds at this time.

Zhang Sheng nodded after hearing this. That's right. The Gaochang Uighurs are between the Khitan tribe and Dunhuang. Moreover, the Uighurs and the Khitans have an irreconcilable feud! There is not even a caravan from Jinshan, so where can we get the news from Jinshan?

“Your Highness, my Jinhan tribe currently has more than 40,000 people, and my Jinhan guards are all equipped with iron armor and bows and swords. They are so brave and good at fighting, they can go anywhere in Mobei.

When they encountered the enemy, they would annihilate them, seize their livestock and women, and capture them as slaves.

Moreover, you are the Son of Heaven blessed by God, and God blesses us Jin Han people because of you. Your orders are the direction for us to act. Please speak!" Zhang Xibao knelt on one knee and said.

(End of this chapter)