Chapter 23 6. Ambush on all sides, Abaha defeated Bala Khan

In 1264, the Khan battle between Kublai Khan and Ali Boke finally came to an end. Ali Boke was defeated and became a prisoner.Kublai Khan became the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. However, the title of Great Khan did not come justly, and the three major Khanates conferred by Genghis Khan did not recognize this fact.Since Xu Liewu in the south was Kublai Khan's best younger brother, when Kublai Khan's envoy explained the situation, Xu Liegu immediately recognized Kublai Khan's status as a great khan.Kublai Khan proclaimed Khan, causing the four major Khanates to fall apart, and then Central Asia began years of wars.

In order to express his friendship and gratitude, Kublai Khan dispatched a special envoy as soon as he finished countering the rebellion, and officially conferred the title of "Il Khan" on Hulagu, pointing out that "from the bank of the Zhihun River (that is, the Amu Darya River in Central Asia) to the Mixier (that is, the Egypt), the Mongol army and the great cannibal region, you shall be in charge, Hulagu".Thus, in 1264, the 45-year-old Hulagu finally established his country and became the first "Ilkhan" of the Ilkhanate, with his capital in the city of Miraha (now Malaq).

The four Mongolian Khanates finally appeared on the world map in the 13th century. But a year later, Hulagu, who was only 46 years old, died of illness in the capital city of Miraha, leaving the country to his eldest son Abaha. Abaha is a heroic general. When Xu Liewu went west, he followed his father in the Chinese army. What is rare is that Abaha, like his father, is a person who firmly maintains the authority of the Mongolian Khan and insists that the Ilkhanate is a part of the Mongolian Empire.When Xu Liewu passed away and all the ministers supported him to ascend the throne, Abaha said: "Kublai Khan (Great Khan) is the head of the house, how can he ascend the 'Khan' without his edict? "So, for five years, Abaha only came to the Ilkhanate in the name of "Regent" before he was recognized by Kublai Khan.Ilkhan was thousands of miles away from China, and Kublai Khan was greatly moved by Abaha’s loyalty, so Kublai Khan’s special envoy arrived at Ilkhan’s court, “bringing the decree and crown for Abaha Khan , gift, let him inherit his glorious father as the Khan of the Ilkhan region, and follow the path of his father and grandfather.” In order to facilitate his rule, Abaha Khan moved his capital from Miraha to Tibilis City (now Tabriz, Iran), with Miraha as the accompanying capital.

However, Kublai Khan's close relationship with the Ilkhanate annoyed the other three Khanates. In 1270, as soon as Abaha was conferred by Kublai Khan, Bala Khan of the Chagatai Khanate led an army of 50,000 to attack Khorasan, and the soldiers pointed directly at Maruta Yeke, a territory of the Ilkhanate. It turned out that this Bala Khan was the great-grandson of Chagatai, and in terms of seniority, he was the cousin of Abaha Khan.The Chagatai Khanate was in turmoil after the death of Chagatai Khan. The Baci originally became the Chagatai Khan with the support of Kublai Khan. Continuing to confront Kublai Khan, Hachi followed Kublai Khan's instructions and attacked Haidu.Timur, the busy brother of the Jochi Department, sent 50,000 cavalry to support Haidu, but eight assassinations failed.The Shuchi, Chahatai, and Wokuotai families all wanted to own the area in the middle of the river. In order to reconcile their conflicts, the three parties held a meeting in the Talas grassland east of the Amu Darya River and divided the river into three parts.At the meeting, it was also decided that the kings would unite to oppose Kublai Khan and eliminate Kublai Khan's supporters.So they pointed their spearhead at the Ilkhanate of Abaha of the Towley Department.

Bala Khan kept burning huts along the way, looting people and animals, and destroying farmland and crops.The northeastern frontier of the Ilkhanate was in chaos, with heavy losses, and a great war began. Seeing the ferocity of Hachika's approach, Abaha, who is skilled in military affairs, knows that it is not advisable to fight recklessly.If you want to defeat the enemy, you must use your wisdom and send out surprise soldiers to defeat these arrogant invaders.Therefore, he urgently convened a staff meeting to discuss countermeasures. Zhuoligetu first said: "I received a secret report today that Chabati and Qinchak of the Qincha Khanate have withdrawn from the battle and retreated to the north. Now the enemy camp only has the cavalry of Balahan."

Xurigan said: "After several small-scale battles between our army and the Eighth Argentine Army in the past few days, the soldiers generally believed that the enemy's impact was too strong. Their horses were fast and moved quickly. Frontal attack was not good for our army." Orus said: "I think the enemy's speed is also a weakness. The lone army goes deep and the terrain is unfamiliar. Why don't we make a fuss about it?" Both technically and strategically, he has excellent performance, so Abaha appointed him as the leader of the four fears. "Then how do we make a fuss?" Xuri Gan looked forward to Wulusi's continued talk.

"The enemy will drive straight in, pass through the border, kill generals, burn, kill and loot all the way. They will become arrogant troops. They think that our army is powerless to resist, so they will not defend our army. Our army must show weakness all the way, continue to be arrogant, let them get carried away, and lure them to the pre-selected army. Put it into our encirclement circle and make it difficult for the enemy cavalry to use it, so our army can use artillery to bombard it, and then encircle it on all sides, and we will surely win." "Bala is a tricky old fox, he won't be fooled easily!" Zhuoligetu said.

"I think, no matter how cunning a fox is, there is a time for dozing off. We will take advantage of their successive victories, pretend to negotiate peace, send envoys, cede land and pay compensation, further pamper them, and let them relax their vigilance. This alone will not work, and we will also send death squads Members, pretend to defect to the enemy, show the weakness of our army to the enemy, and continue to paralyze the enemy. I think the enemy is not familiar with the terrain and our real situation. Maybe they will send spies to reconnaissance. Let's do a 'Jiang' Stealing books', just follow the plan, believe it three times, and you will not worry about the fox not being greedy for the meat, and the fish not taking the bait." Wolusi said.

"What is 'Jiang Gan Stealing Books'?" Everyone asked suspiciously. "The Stealing Book by Jiang Gan is a story circulated in the Central Plains under the rule of Kublai Khan. It tells the story of a battle of wits between Cao Cao and Zhou Yu, a general of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period on the eve of the Battle of Chibi. What he tells is..." When all the generals heard this, they suddenly realized, and even called it a good plan, a good plan. "Okay!" Abaha said, "I will choose the land they have already occupied and give it to them, and warn these ignorant boys, let them know that uncle, I am 'scared', haha!"

Let's say that in the Bala camp, the soldiers are dividing up the looted property, cattle and sheep, jewelry, food and even women, all of which must be distributed to everyone.First selected by the Great Ulus Bala, then selected by the generals at all levels, and finally when the soldiers received them, they were all old women and worthless property, but it is better to receive some property than nothing.So the whole camp roared with joy, laughing, cursing, crying, and neighing at the same time. Suddenly, it was reported that the envoy of the Ilkhanate had arrived. In the big tent, Ba Sa majestically sat on the tiger-skin chair. He was not tall, but he had eyes like a falcon.Seeing the envoy entering the big tent, he hoarsely asked with a hoarse voice and a half-smile: "Why, is your Abaha Khan afraid? Do you want to convey his will and surrender?"

The envoy bowed, offered a large amount of gifts, and then humbly said: "Honorable Bara Khan, this is not a surrender, but a peace negotiation!" "Haha, what's the difference?" The generals roared with laughter. The envoy became more humble: "My Ilkhanate is located on a plateau, with poor land and remote land, and the country is weak. There is the Qincha Khanate in the north and the Mamluk Dynasty in the south. In recent years, my Khan has continuously attacked the Mamluks. The use of troops by the dynasty is almost to the point where the country is ruined and the family is destroyed. How dare we resist when the soldiers come from far away today? Therefore, I Khan is willing to establish friendship with Chagatai Khan forever, but the Great Khan will follow suit. Now I offer some jewels and cede to my brother The land of Jining, Qierman and Shenhe is for you, the Great Khan, to hunt." "Haha! Hahaha... The entire Ilkhanate will be mine, and Abaha is still bargaining with me! This old thing really doesn't know how to live or die. I have already occupied these places, so why should he cede them to me? Come on, take these useless guys out and cut them down! No, leave one, let him go back and tell Abaha that Ben Khan will only agree to the cession of the Ilkhanate, haha..." The enemy continued to attack the city and pull out the stronghold, and drove straight in. More and more Ilkhans fled to the Chagatai Army, and they brought information that the Ilkhanate was weak and the people were weak, the political situation was corrupt, and the people were in dire straits.Hearing these news, Bala was even more excited: "Okay, Haidu, I can still destroy the Ilkhanate without you. By then, I won't have to rely on your authority and obey your orders." Thinking of this, he ordered loudly: "Send more reconnaissance teams to scout the terrain and the enemy's situation, and the brigade will make a quick assault to take the city of Tibilis as soon as possible. Destroy the city and leave no one alive!" Seeing that the plan was being carried out step by step by Hachika, Abaha and Ulusi were overjoyed, and started to organize the third step... On this day, the guards caught several suspicious people who were spying in front of the camp gate. They were taken to the camp.Along the way, they saw that the soldiers in Abaha's barracks were weak, all of them were old, weak, sick and disabled, lying or squatting, all of them were greasy and sluggish, and the whole barracks was shrouded in a layer of pessimistic haze. Suspicious people are routinely beheaded. Just as one of the captives was being pulled out, Urus suddenly stopped one of them, looking at each other from left to right, and asked in surprise, "Aren't you Bachar, the son of Hoffmes? I am the son of Jebe." Orus, don’t you know me? Your father is my father Jebe’s bodyguard? Have you forgotten that we secretly pluck my father Jebe’s tail together? Hurry up, hurry up Untie! He's my good friend Bachar." The prisoner first looked at Orus in surprise, and after hearing this, hey!Save your head first!Since I can keep my head from being moved, then I will make mistakes. "Hehe, I remembered, you were so funny back then, hehe..." "Since it's the cowardly Xuechang Wulusi's childhood friend, let's avoid death! Wulusi, you have to ask clearly, don't be a spy of the Chagatai Kingdom." Abaha said seriously. "No, absolutely not, we are ordinary people. When a camel got lost, we searched everywhere, not wanting to be caught by the sergeant. We are authentic herdsmen on the Tegis grassland of the Ilkhanate. Father Huo... Huo After Fumes got old, he left Prince Jebel and came here..." "Yes, Abaha Khan, I can guarantee with my head that this is my childhood friend Bachar, and it has been almost thirty years, but I can recognize his appearance." Orus affirmed Say. "Since this is the case, Orus, you must treat your guests well. Although we are poor, we still have a glass of milk wine and a piece of mutton. Go down! All ministries must strengthen their vigilance to prevent the enemy from sneaking in!" Orus held the arm of "Bachar" and returned to the big tent, and hosted a feast for "Bachar".There are only a few thousand cups of wine with a bosom friend, and they drank happily, and Orus tried hard to lead "Bachal" to recall the good old days, and "Bachar" just answered "hmm", trying to match the memories of Orus.In the drinking place, Wulusi cried bitterly, crying to his good friend about the grievances in his heart, such as Abaha's corruption, incompetence, and excessive licentiousness;Finally got drunk. After the banquet, "Bachar" helped Orus back to the tent, and Orus said, "I haven't slept with my brother for a long time, so I'm going to sleep in the same tent tonight." Saying that, he fell into a drowsy sleep. "Bachar" has something on his mind.Listen to the drum beating outside, where can I sleep?Seeing Orus snoring like thunder, he got up secretly and walked out of the barracks. The guards didn't stop him, so he went straight to the Bala camp. Back at the camp, he immediately told Bala what he had seen and heard, omitting the arrest. Two or three successive investigations and information collection showed that the Ilkhanate that he attacked was a weak country that was dying.This time, he must completely defeat Abaha, occupy his territory, and then attack Hyde... Hehe, thinking about it, Hachi actually laughed out loud. The next day the army continued to hide and kill, and Abahar retreated after a little battle, leading the cavalry of the Ilkhanate to retreat to Yeli desperately. Looking at the steep peaks and cliffs ahead, the rugged mountain roads, and the shadowy woods, how could the murderous Eighth Argentine Army think of deceit?Turning around, gradually lost the target of pursuit, dense trees blocked the way.When Hachi was hesitating, he suddenly heard the sound of a cannon, followed by rolling stones and trees all over the mountains and plains, coupled with the bombardment of the cannon, the flames shot up into the sky, and the arrows and stones rained down, and a large piece of the troops in front fell down all at once.Hachi saw that it was not good, so he hurriedly ordered to retreat.Unexpectedly, there was already a group of people blocking the way, and it turned out that Wulusi led more than 40,000 soldiers to rush forward bravely.How could the eight stabs resist, rushing from left to right, surrounded on all sides.There are dense archers everywhere, shooting one after another in turn. Before rushing to the front, they fell down like hedgehogs; Blockbuster.Seeing this situation, Bala had no choice but to fight his old life and fight his way out. With the best protection of his cronies, he broke out of the siege and escaped from the Iraqi Khanate in one breath.Looking around, the general Ma'er Huli had already died in battle, and there were only a few thousand people around him. In the battle of Yeli, the main force of Bala Khan disappeared, and Bala himself had a stroke because of anger and couldn't manage.So he asked for help from the suzerain Haidu. Haidu led 20,000 Mongolian soldiers to kill him. In 1271, Bala died of heart palpitations the night he arrived in Haidu.The Chagatai Khanate has since become a vassal of the Wokuotai Khanate.It was not until 30 years later that he regained his strength under the rule of Duwa, the son of Balakhan. In this battle, Abaha used the method of showing weakness, luring the enemy to the front, the arrogant soldiers to the rear, ambush on all sides, and defeated Chahetai Jingqi with more than 50,000 horses. It cannot but be said that the strategy was appropriate.However, the two Khanates of Yilkhan and Chagatai suffered great losses due to mutual burning, killing and looting.In the fight for power and profit between cousins ​​and nephews, it is innocent people who suffer.Although Abaha Khan was victorious, he could not smash the military pressure in the northeast, and the situation of being attacked on three sides still could not be changed.