The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 289 The Battle of Mobei Erupts, the Gray Wolf Falls Dead

That evening, a caravan bearing the wolf flag of the Qiyan tribe arrived at the court of the Kereit Khan.

The leader was named Arachn, a Hui man who was fluent in Chinese and other languages ​​and had traveled between the north and south of the desert to trade livestock.

He later served under Genghis Khan.

After resting for a night, he met Wang Han the next day, whose condition had improved significantly.

"Great Yeke Khan, I heard that you have been unwell this winter. Leader Temujin has been worried about you day and night and has prepared a small gift to present to you."

"The old ginseng from Liaodong can warm the body and replenish qi; and the white fox fur from the northern desert is here to protect you from the cold..."

"May the Eternal Heaven bless you with continued good health," Araqian said respectfully to Wang Han from inside the tent.

The attendants filed in, piling packages into the tent.

The ginseng wrapped in red silk weighed a full seven ounces, its rootlets intact like silver threads; when the white fox fur was unfolded, its fluffy down was so thick it could cover a finger.

There were also whole bolts of silk and silver-inlaid saddles, each item exuding sincerity.

Wang Han's gaze swept over the gifts, and a hint of easing appeared on his face, after all, they were a token of goodwill from the son of the Anda.

Sang Kun stood to the side, a hint of disdain and cunning on his lips.

In his view, Temujin's wolfish ambitions made him the greatest enemy of the Kereit tribe.

Sending these gifts was nothing more than an attempt to lull the Khan into a false sense of security, so as to buy the Qiyan tribe more time to develop.

Once the Qiyan tribe becomes powerful, the first thing they will deal with is the Kereit tribe.

So, that night, Sangkun and Huli had already secretly made an alliance and even orchestrated today's scene.

No matter how cunning Temujin may be, his ambitions will be exposed to the public today.

Meanwhile, inside the tent, Alaqian was secretly observing the movements of Wang Han and Sangkun.

According to Temujin's account, Wang Khan had grown old and lost his former decisiveness and wisdom, so it was necessary to constantly please him and lull him into a false sense of security, and to show the Qiyan tribe's respect in front of Wang Khan.

To secure opportunities for the Qiyan tribe to grow stronger, Temujin would bring back many rare items every year to curry favor with Wang Khan.

This year, they even gave Wang Han a big gift.

As the last sack was carried up, Alaqian's face showed a solemn expression: "This is a rare item that the chief specially sought out, saying that it can ward off evil spirits and impurities for Yeke Khan, and ensure the peace of the Kereit tribe year after year."

Wang Han had already been intrigued by the Liaodong ginseng, and upon hearing this, he sat up straighter. A hint of curiosity flashed in his cloudy eyes as he asked with a smile, "Oh? What is it? How can it be used for such a purpose?"

He had been coughing and wheezing incessantly every winter for several years. The shaman said it was because he was possessed by evil spirits. Hearing the words "exorcise evil and ward off filth" now, he couldn't help but feel a little more hopeful.

Sang Kun sneered from the side: "It's probably just some worthless junk that they're making sound amazing on purpose."

With a smile on her face, Alaqian stepped forward and personally untied the hemp rope.

The moment the knot loosened, he deliberately turned to the side so that Wang Han could see it more clearly.

But the next second, a furry thing rolled to the ground.

Araqian's smile suddenly froze.

Upon closer inspection, everyone realized it was the severed head of a gray wolf.

Its eyes were wide open, its fangs were exposed, and dark red blood ice still clung to the severed wound on its neck. Judging from its withered fur, it was clearly an old wolf that had lived for many years.

In the prophecy of the grasslands, slaying the old wolf signifies the approaching end of an elder in a cursed tribe.

"what?"

The moment Araqian saw the wolf's head, she was completely stunned.

His eyes widened in disbelief, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

He looked anxiously at Wang Han and the Kereit people in the tent, wanting to explain, but his tongue was tied in knots.

"This...this is not..."

Clearly taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, he was speechless and unable to defend himself.

He personally inspected the gift; there should have been a 'sacred stone' in the sack. How did it turn into a wolf's head?
The air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly.

The sparks in the fire crackled and popped, but they couldn't illuminate the sudden change in everyone's expressions.

Wang Han stared at the wolf's head, first blankly, then as if he had been whipped hard.

His face turned from ashen to ashen, and he clutched his chest, letting out a series of gasps: "You...you all..."

The wolf is a totem etched into the bones and blood of the grassland people, and killing an old wolf is already a great disrespect.

The head was placed in front of Wang Han, clearly pointing a finger at him and cursing him as an old man who should be beheaded.

Sang Kun was the first to react, roaring angrily, "Insolence!"

With a kick, the low table was overturned, and the ginseng from Liaodong rolled to the ground. The curved knife was drawn with a clang, and the tip of the knife was pointed directly at Araqian's throat.

What were Temujin's intentions?

"He's tired of living to use Tengri's messenger to curse Father Khan."

The surrounding Kereit generals drew their swords, glaring menacingly at Araqian.

"Slaughter these dogs of the Qiyan tribe!"

"Take their pastures flat"

The roar almost lifted the tent roof off.

Arachne panicked completely, fell to her knees with a thud, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Please spare my life, Your Majesty Sangkun!"

"This is definitely not the leader's intention; someone must have switched the items!"

"We brought the sacred stone from Gaxian Cave, a sacred stone that can ward off evil and impurity!"

But his explanations seemed so pale and powerless in the face of that ferocious wolf's head.

Wang Han was filled with resentment, pointing his finger at Alaqian, trembling like a candle in the wind. Suddenly, everything went black, and he fell backward.

"Father Khan!"

Sang Kun quickly caught Wang Han, only to find that his eyes were closed and he had already fainted.

"Quickly summon the witch doctor!" Sangkun roared.

Enraged, he roared at the guards, "Drag these dogs from the Qiyan tribe out and hack them to death to feed the dogs!"

The guards pounced on her like wolves, while Araqian struggled and cried out, "Innocence! We came to offer gifts with all our hearts..."

……

In the afternoon, Wang Han slowly woke up in his sleeping tent.

He waved his hand, dismissing the witch doctor and maids. When only the father and son remained in the tent, Wang Han slowly spoke: "You were the one who did this today, weren't you?"

It wasn't a question, but a confident statement; his gaze fell on Sangkun's face with a calm that seemed to know everything.

Sangkun's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly shook his head: "Father Khan, why do you say such things? It is clearly that scoundrel Temujin who harbors ill intentions and wants to curse you with a wolf's head!"

Wang Han looked up at him, a sharp glint suddenly appearing in his cloudy eyes, like an eagle locking onto its prey: "Temujin may be ambitious, but he is not a brainless fool."

"Sending a wolf's head will only enrage this Khan and invite an attack from my Kereit tribe."

At first, he was indeed furious with the wolf head.

But after calming down and thinking it over carefully, Temujin realized that he was not such a short-sighted person, and there was no need for him to offend the Kereit tribe.

The most important thing is to develop quietly and diligently, and strengthen the power of the Qiyan tribe.

Wang Han paused, coughed twice, and continued, "Besides, the Qiyan tribe stayed overnight in the post station before coming to deliver the gifts."

"This one night is enough to do a lot of things."

Wang Han was a powerful figure on the grasslands when he was young. How could Sangkun's tricks escape his notice?

Sangkun's face turned bright red. He knew that it was no use hiding it any longer, but he still stubbornly argued.

“Father Khan, even if I was the one who switched places, Temujin should have been eliminated long ago.”

“Look how many tribes he has annexed in the past year. If this continues, the Kereit tribe will be devoured by him sooner or later, leaving not even bones behind.”

He paced back and forth in the tent, his voice urgent: "You are ill, and your son cannot stand by and watch the Kereit tribe be destroyed in his hands."

Wang Han sighed heavily, his aged shoulders slumping.

How could he not know the threat posed by Temujin? He was like an ungrateful wolf cub, who would eventually grow into a greedy and vicious wolf.

But if things really come to a head, the Kreik tribe might not come out on top.

Because to the west of the Kereit tribe, there is an even more powerful tiger.

However, he still took Sangkun's words to heart.

I am already like a candle flickering in the wind, and I don't know how much longer I have to live.

Both Sangkun and Temujin were proud and arrogant. One looked down on the other's impoverished background, while the other hated the other's aggressive nature.

Even without today's wolf head incident, they would have inevitably turned against each other sooner or later.

"You..."

Looking at the stubbornness in his son's eyes, Wang Han suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

A commotion arose outside the tent; it was the nobles of the Kereit tribe clamoring for battle, while the tribesmen, enraged by the wolf's head, also shouted outside the camp.

The momentum has been established, and everyone is waiting for him to give the order to send troops.

Things were no longer something Wang Han could easily control.

What can he do?
Tell everyone that "the wolf head was replaced by Sangkun, and Temujin is truly innocent"?
That would only shake the foundation of the entire Kereit tribe, making him, the Khan, a laughingstock of the steppe.

Sangkun had calculated this precisely, which is why he dared to be so audacious.

He was put on the fire to be roasted by the wrath of the entire tribe.

Wang Han closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, there was no more hesitation in his eyes, only a helpless resolve: "So be it."

He propped himself up, leaning against the soft pillows, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority: "Send the order that in three days, all eligible men of the Kereit tribe shall assemble at the Khan's court."

Sangkun's eyes instantly lit up with wild joy: "Your subject obeys, and will certainly not disappoint Father Khan."

Wang Han didn't look at him, but murmured to himself, "Tengri above, if we can win this battle, let me see the sun of the Kereit tribe for a few more years..."

Wang Han's decision to wage war against the Qiyan tribe was a last resort.

Besides responding to public opinion, the more important reason is that the Kereit tribe suffered a snow disaster last winter, and there was not enough food for their cattle and sheep.

Moreover, they were unable to obtain large quantities of grain from border trade with the Jin, Xia, and Northern Frontier states.

Once the food problem fully erupts, the internal conflicts within the Kereit tribe will intensify, potentially leading to even bigger problems.

Therefore, Wang Han could only use the most primitive methods of the grassland people to solve the problem.

war!

They shifted their internal survival conflicts to external wars.

They raided other tribes to obtain cattle, sheep, and grain.

At the same time, it can also deplete the troops of one's own tribe and save food.

This is how the grasslands have always done things; it's been this way for thousands of years. Wang Han had no other good options.

Soon, the order to conquer the Qiyan tribe spread to every tribe of the Kereit tribe.

When Hu Li found Sang Kun's camp, he was intently studying a map of the grasslands.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on the success of your wish."

Hu Li cupped his hands and smiled, his gaze falling on the territory of the Qiyan tribe marked on the map, his tone full of just the right amount of congratulations.

Sang Kun, however, wore a forced smile: "Hmph, congratulations to Military Advisor Hu too."

"Oh? What brings me such joy?" Hu Li feigned confusion.

"Our Kereit tribe is finally going to war with the Qiyan tribe. I have exceeded my quota in the army. How can I not be rewarded by the Grand Protector after returning to the northern frontier?"

Sang Kun's voice carried a hint of amusement, as if he were weighing the weight of his words.

Hu Li laughed and waved his hand, saying, "However, my joy is nothing compared to Your Highness's."

He took two steps closer, lowering his voice but making each word clear: "Once the Qiyan tribe is wiped out, the Kereit tribe will be the largest tribe on the northern grasslands."

"It wouldn't be unreasonable to call him Khan and establish a state at that time!"

"Perhaps the next time I see Your Highness, I will have to address you as 'Your Majesty'."

Hearing this, Sang Kun's face remained expressionless, but his heart couldn't help but stir.

No one can resist the temptation of power.

Since the fall of the Liao Dynasty, the various tribes in the northern deserts have been embroiled in a century of conflict, with many steppe warlords emerging. Who wouldn't want to end this chaotic world and establish a powerful khanate like the Khitan or the Turks?

As Hu Li said, once Temujin is dealt with, the area east of Yudujin Mountain will fall into the hands of the Kereit tribe.

All tribes had no choice but to submit, and the establishment of a powerful khanate was just around the corner.

But Sang Kun's gaze quickly turned cold. He glanced at Hu Li and thought to himself, "We must be wary of this fierce tiger in the northern frontier."

However, Hu Li had already persuaded him that day.

Northern Xinjiang will not have the energy to look eastward in the short term.

Because the northern frontier had just suffered the Battle of Hexi and needed to recuperate; the Xia Kingdom, unwilling to accept defeat, had invited the Jin Kingdom to prepare for a western expedition the following year to compete with the northern frontier again.

This statement is largely consistent with the intelligence gathered by the Kereit tribe; the Jin state was indeed strengthening its border defenses, appearing as if a major war was imminent.

Moreover, compared to the harsh cold of the northern desert, the northern frontier values ​​the prosperous Central Plains more.

Li Xiao, who possesses pure Han Chinese blood, never forgets his ancestors' goal of returning to the Central Plains and completely disregards the northern grasslands.

Therefore, Hu Li's promise was very tempting: the Central Plains and the Western Regions would belong to the Northern Frontier, and the eastern and central grasslands of the Gobi Desert would belong to the Kereit tribe, thus forging an eternal alliance between the two sides.

Sang Kun naturally didn't believe Hu Li's words completely, but he did figure out Li Xiao's thoughts.

He feared that the Kereit tribe might stab him in the back while he was fighting the Jin-Xia allied forces, so he led the Kereit tribe to fight the Qiyan tribe, keeping them busy and unable to look westward.

Sangkun had the same idea: while the two tigers of the Northern Frontier and the Jin Kingdom were preoccupied, he would first deal with the Qiyan tribe and unify the grasslands east of Yudu Mountain.

"If the grasslands remain a disorganized mess forever, they will surely be defeated one by one by the northern frontier."

"Only by uniting the strength of all tribes can we compete with the Jin Kingdom and the Northern Frontier."

Immediately, Sang Kun looked up at Hu Li, a meaningful smile on his face: "I appreciate Hu's kindness."

"After we deal with Temujin, it will not be too late to discuss the grand plan for the grasslands with the Grand Protector."

Hu Li smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "Your Highness is insightful and far-sighted; I admire you."

"The Northern Frontier will certainly provide all possible assistance to the Kereit tribe and await Your Highness's triumphant return."

According to the official historical timeline, in the 26th year of Tianxi, which was last spring, the Kereit tribe was supposed to launch a surprise attack on the Qiyan tribe.

But Li Xiao's fluttering wings made Wang Han hesitate to make a decision.

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Xiao can no longer contain himself.

The strategic plan for the northern frontier had already been determined: first, to pacify the various tribes of the northern grasslands, and then to march south to conquer the Central Plains.

However, if they rashly advance eastward at this moment, Temujin and Wang Khan will surely put aside their differences and unite to fight against the Northern Frontier Army.

Both of these are overlords of the northern desert, each commanding tens of thousands of troops, and their strength should not be underestimated.

The Northern Frontier Army, having traveled a long distance, was unfamiliar with the terrain and faced two allied forces, making victory by no means easy.

Therefore, Li Xiao devised a plan: first, to sow discord between the Kereit and Qiyan tribes, causing them to fight each other, and then reap the benefits once both sides were severely weakened.

As for the so-called westward expedition of the Jin-Xia allied forces?

That was just a pretense to deceive Sangkun.

With the Song Dynasty about to launch a northern expedition, the Jin Dynasty was preoccupied with its own problems and had no power to intervene in the war on the northern frontier.

The Western Xia was weaker and therefore not a threat.

In this way, the Northern Frontier Army will have ample time and energy to wait for the two forces to fight to the death before calmly entering the fray to reap the rewards.

……

Helanzhen Shatuo.

Inside the large tent, Temujin wore a moon-white brocade robe with simple wolf patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. Although it was not decorated with gold or silver, it exuded a calm and dignified aura.

He sat on the tiger-skin couch at the head of the table, listening with a smile to the story told by the envoy from the Telig tribe.

"No need to be polite."

Seeing the envoy kneeling and performing a grand salute, Temujin raised his hand to signal him to rise, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power.

"The Telig tribe has lived at the foot of the Great Xianbei Mountains (Greater Khingan Mountains) for generations, guarding the eastern gate of the grassland. I had heard of them long ago."

The envoy held the tribe's totem token, his face full of awe: "It is an honor for the Telig tribe to have the favor of Chief Temujin."

"Our tribe is willing to offer up a hundred warhorses and a thousand hides, and from now on we will be at the command of the Great Khan and have no disloyalty."

Temujin accepted the token and casually handed it to Chilaun beside him, his gaze falling on the envoy: "Keep the warhorse and fur for now, as a testament to the alliance between the two sides."

"But what I want is not tribute, but the hearts of the people."

He paused, then said earnestly, "For any sons of the Telig tribe who wish to join the army, I will treat them all equally; if they wish to stay in their homeland, I will send people to help them improve their pastures so that their people will have enough to eat and wear."

Upon hearing this, the envoy's eyes flashed with delight.

He had thought that he would inevitably be exploited after surrendering, but he did not expect Temujin to be so lenient.

He immediately cried out, "Our leader is benevolent!"

After the Battle of Koyitian, Temujin's power expanded to the eastern steppes.

The Hongjila tribe, the Shanjikun tribe, the Taichiwu tribe, and others all joined Temujin's forces, making them increasingly powerful.

The many small tribes on the eastern grasslands had no choice but to pledge their loyalty to Temujin.

The Telig tribe was a small tribe located near the Great Xianbei Mountain.

To avoid being attacked by the Qiyan tribe, they voluntarily came to submit.

Temujin's attitude reassured them.

After the envoy left, the generals in the tent praised, "Our leader's actions will surely win over the tribes of the eastern grasslands."

Temujin, however, was not complacent. He simply looked outside the tent and said, "The grasslands are vast enough to accommodate all the tribes that are willing to submit."

"Only by uniting the strength of all the tribes can we achieve something!"

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent, accompanied by the guards' attempts to stop them: "Lord Hasar, the chief is in a meeting..."

"Let him in." Temujin frowned slightly. Hasar was always calm and composed, so why was he so out of control today?
The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a disheveled man stumbled in.

His leather armor was covered in knife marks, mud, and bloodstains, and his hair was disheveled and stuck to his face. He was none other than Temujin's younger brother, Hasar.

"Brother!"

Hasar fell to his knees with a thud, his voice hoarse and choked with sobs: "We...we were attacked by the Kree tribe."

Temujin's smile froze instantly, and he stood up abruptly: "What did you say?"

"I led my troops to stay in the old camp, and the night before we were suddenly attacked by the Kereit cavalry."

Hasar pounded the ground, tears mingling with blood streaming down his face: "They came so suddenly, we weren't prepared at all."

"The brothers fought desperately, but there were just too many of them... In the end..."

The air inside the tent instantly became as heavy as iron.

The generals drew their swords, their angry shouts rising and falling.

"Is the Kereit tribe going to wipe out our Qiyan tribe?"

"It must be that bastard Sangkun who's behind this."

"Although the Kereit tribe has many people, our Qiyan tribe is not easy to bully."

"Great Khan, let's fight them to the death!"

Listening to the generals' righteous indignation, Temujin stood frozen in place, his body trembling slightly.

He couldn't believe his ears.

Wang Han was his adoptive father. Over the years, he had always been very respectful to the Kereit tribe. Not long ago, he even sent Alaqian with ginseng and other valuable gifts from Liaodong. How could he possibly launch a sudden attack on the Qiyan tribe's old camp?

"Are you sure? Are they really from the Kereit tribe?" Temujin's voice was dry, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Can't be wrong."

Hasar raised his head, his eyes bloodshot: "I saw Sangkun, and the wolf-head banner of the Kereit tribe. They were shouting that they would crush the Qiyan tribe and capture you alive, brother."

Temujin slowly sat down, his teeth clenched, filled with resentment.

Although the Qiyan tribe has now annexed many small tribes and become the overlord of the eastern grasslands.

However, compared to established hegemons like the Kereit tribe, they are still far inferior.

Temujin originally planned to endure for a few years, secretly accumulating strength and expanding the tribe's population.

He planned to turn against Sangkun after Wang Han died, but unexpectedly, Wang Han made the first move.

They even attacked the main camp of the Qiyan tribe.

Helanzhen Shatuo was located in what is now Inner Mongolia, relatively close to the Jin Dynasty.

Originally, the territory belonged to the Tatar tribe, but it was occupied by Temujin in order to further expand eastward.

Temujin led the main force of the Qiyan tribe to Helanzhen Shatuo, leaving only one-third of his troops to garrison the former territory of the Qiyan tribe.

The problem is that many soldiers' families are still in the old camp!
The battle has only just begun, and Temujin has already lost half the battle.

After standing there in a daze for a long time, when he opened his eyes again, there was no longer any confusion in Temujin's eyes, only a chilling coldness.

He slammed his fist on the table and shouted in a deep voice, "Wang Han, Sang Kun, how cruel you are!"

"If you want to destroy my Qiyan tribe, first see if the Eternal Heaven will allow it."

"Order troops!"

"Fight to the death!"

(End of this chapter)