Chapter 2 two

In March 1220, Samarkand, the new capital of Khwarazmo, fell under the fierce offensive of the Mongolian army.Genghis Khan divided 50,000 troops from Samarkand and handed them over to his eldest son Shuchi, second son Chagatai, and third son Wokuotai to attack the old capital Yulong Jiechi.Genghis Khan's arrangement did have his painstaking efforts. Jochi was born in the most difficult stage at the beginning of Genghis Khan's business.In a war, Genghis Khan's new wife, Borte, was robbed by the Merki tribe who had been enemies for generations. When Genghis Khan gathered all his troops to rescue his wife, Borte had already given birth to Jochi.Since then, the mystery of Jochi's life experience has become the suspense of his life. Although Genghis Khan himself never minded it, those relatives and generals were different. contempt.

Before the expedition to Khwarazmo this time, in order to determine the succession of the Khan throne, Chagatai even spoke harshly to Jochi, and even openly implied that Jochi was a wild species, not considered the eldest son, and unworthy of inheriting the Khan throne.Jochi was extremely angry, if the guards hadn't pulled him away, the two brothers would have almost scuffled in front of their father Khan.Genghis Khan did not stop it at the time, but he was extremely painful deep in his heart.Although after discussion, it was finally determined that the stable and resourceful third son Okuotai was the heir to the Khan throne, the rift between Jochi and Chagatai was still Genghis Khan's biggest concern.Strictly speaking, sending Shuchi, Chagatai, and Okuotai to share military power was not out of the consideration of the commander-in-chief of the three armies, but out of his father's consideration. Genghis Khan hoped that through the close cooperation of the three, and coordinated operations, the three of them would be able to make Jochi, The Chagatai brothers put aside their past feuds and reunited.

The three brothers each returned to the headquarters.With his father's consent, Batu stayed in Samarkand for one more day.He wants to accompany Zuhan.Genghis Khan was very happy to see his grandson came to visit him specially, and ordered the chef to prepare a pot of kumiss and two plates of cold mutton.During the war, Genghis Khan's diet was always relatively simple. Today, he doesn't want anyone to bother him, and he just wants to have a good talk with his beloved grandson without restraint. Batu Shili met Zu Khan, and then he sat beside Zu Khan as usual, with little restraint.

"Batu, you came just in time. I haven't seen you for almost three months. I heard that you have performed pretty well along the way. You are the leader of the black city of Sygna, the city of Zhan, and the city of Huzhi. It was captured. I have been hearing your victory report, and I am still a little worried, afraid that you will be proud of it—but, looking at you now, is my worry a little unnecessary?" Batu smiled, innocent and straightforward. Genghis Khan gazed deeply at his grandson's young and handsome face.This face looked somewhat like his father, and also somewhat like his fourth uncle.Among Genghis Khan's four legitimate sons and two concubine sons, the eldest son, Shuchi, was most like his mother, Borte, with a handsome appearance, while the fourth son, Tuolei, resembled Genghis Khan himself.Among the grandsons, apart from Tuo Lei's fourth son, Kublai Khan, and his Zu Khan, who seemed to be carved out of the same mold, and their temperaments were very similar, only Batu had many similarities with Zu Khan.Batu seems to have inherited the advantages of everyone, which makes him a unique charm that is dignified and heroic, intelligent and gentle.Of course, Genghis Khan loved Batu not only because of these reasons, but also because of Batu's outstanding military talents honed in years of battle.

The chef quickly delivered mellow kumiss and two plates of cold mutton.Batu first filled a cup for Zuhan, and then poured it for himself. "Zu Khan, I respect you!" Genghis Khan drank the kumiss in his glass with a smile. "Zuhan, I have a request, can you agree to me?" Batu looked at Zuhan with a smile while pouring the second glass of wine for Zuhan. "tell me the story." "I want to stay by your side after capturing Yulong Jiechi. I am used to being with you, so that no matter what I do, I will feel that I have the backbone in my heart." "So that's why? What am I supposed to do! Eagles who can't leave the eagle's nest can never fly in the blue sky. When you grow up, you have to fly by yourself. Facts have proved that you can fly very well, and you can fly even higher Farther away. Besides, I know that your father cannot do without you, and Yulong Jiechi will become part of your father's fief in the future. He has not been in good health since he was a child, and you have to help him manage his fief."

Batu was silent for a moment, and accepted Zuhan's entrustment. "Has your father been taking medicine recently? I saw that his complexion was very bad. When I asked him, he said that it was all right. You sons are always by his side, so you must take good care of him. Alas, my six Among the four sons, the one I am most worried about is your father." Batu felt sour, and hurriedly sipped the kumiss in his glass.Who said that Zu Khan was just a horseback hero who galloped thousands of miles?For his children and grandchildren, he also has a meticulous and gentle heart. "Zuhan, don't worry too much, I will take good care of my father. But you, you are old, no longer than before, don't always fight in person. Don't you think it's time for you to let us go It's time for the young eagle to fly by itself." Batu controlled his sentimental emotions and comforted Zuhan gracefully.

Genghis Khan cut off a tendon with a knife and put it on Batu's plate. "Of course I hope that each of you can become an eagle fighting the sky, but this does not mean that my eagle is useless. Eat more, I remember that you have loved tendons since you were a child. Once in order to fight for food The tendons I cut for you, you, Erduo, and Nantu Gan, you three almost got into a fight. Later, you proposed wrestling, whoever wins will eat, and you won, but you still gave up the tendons to Nantu Gan ate it. You were only six years old that year, and I never asked you what you thought at the time, why did you stop eating tendons in the end?"

Batu blinked, recalling the fun stories of his childhood, and unconsciously showed a happy smile. "Does Zu Khan remember this? If Zu Khan doesn't tell me, I almost forgot. I think maybe it's because I won that I didn't eat tendons! Nantu Gan is younger than me, he's only five years old." Nantu Gan is the eldest son of Chagatai, Batu and Nantu Gan grew up together, unlike their fathers who were indifferent, Batu and Nantu Gan have always gotten along well. "You have indeed been special since you were a child. It was also when you were six years old. Once I asked you and those children of your age, what do you want to do when you grow up? Some said to be a general, and some said to be a general. To be a luthier, some said to be a rich man... I can't remember the various answers, but you said that you want to carry a bow and arrow, ride a BMW, go to many places, and make many achievements. Since then, I I just thought, if one day my children and grandchildren can carry forward my career, then this person must be you."

"It's a pity that my grandson hasn't done enough." "You can. As long as you persevere, you can." "Yes, Zuhan. I will work hard to live up to your expectations." "I believe in you. I've finished eating, do you want to play polo with Zuhan?" "Zuhan and I want to get together. Tonight, I want to give Zuhan the night." "Tomorrow you are going to fight Jade Dragon Jiechi, you should go back and sleep well. Or, if you don't want to go back to the camp, you can sleep with Zuhan." "That's great! Anyway, let your grandson stay with you tonight."

"Little thing! Let's go, play polo, and see if Zuhan's treasured sword is old!" Batu played polo with Zuhan until the evening. His team lost, but he was in a particularly happy mood.For this kind of game or competition, Batu never cared about winning or losing, especially when he was with Zu Khan, he just hoped to make Zu Khan happy.Like all Mongols, Batu deeply loved and worshiped Zu Khan, and this kind of love and worship even surpassed kinship. The grandparents and grandchildren stood in front of the palace and enjoyed the night view of Samarkand.In the falling sky, the gunpowder smoke cleared away, the air was as smooth as rain, and the cold stars and bright moon were almost transparent.A long-lost feeling of emptiness that can only be felt in the grassland overflowed Batu's heart. He closed his eyes slightly, letting his homesickness drift away in the cool night wind.

When Batu opened his eyes, he saw Zuhan looking at him. "Are you homesick?" Genghis Khan asked his grandson softly. Batu nodded, then shook his head: "What are you thinking?" Genghis Khan was indeed thinking about one thing, which was related to the attack on Yulong Jiechi.For some reason, he really didn't have any idea about letting his three sons share the military power. He really wanted to hear his grandson's opinion. "Batu, I heard that after the capture of the black city of Shinag, your father appointed a local administrator to continue to manage the city, and the effect is very good. Is this true?" "Yes. The hostility in the city has eased, and the city has returned to calm. My father always said that the conquered city should be appeased. City management should be people-oriented, and there should be no indiscriminate killing. Otherwise, when the city becomes ruins, we Holding such ruins makes conquest meaningless." "What about you? What do you think?" "I think everything should be treated in two. Our army is too small. If the large-scale riots cannot be suppressed, a crazy counterattack will not be far away. What's more, the army in many cities in Khwarezm Composed of mercenaries, we must not be merciful to these mercenaries. Severe punishment is necessary, so that the countries that provide mercenaries can be restrained. In a word, no matter what we do, we must obey the principle of 'victory' premise." Genghis Khan smiled gratifiedly.He never thought that the young grandson would have such extraordinary insight.The eldest son, Jochi, yearned for a leisurely life of riding a BMW and being famous as an eagle since he was a child, but Batu was different. This young man's mind, heart, ambition and acumen were simply Genghis Khan himself. "One more thing, I also want to hear your opinion. You said that Zuhan sent your father, your second uncle, and your third uncle to jointly take charge of the military power to attack Jade Dragon Jiechi. Is it ill-considered?" Batu didn't seem to expect Zuhan to ask him such a question, and he was stunned for a long while without answering. "What's the matter? You can speak up." "yes……" "Yes? What is it?" "Yes...it's not right." "why?" "Second uncle and father are very separated...well, there is a gap. Yulong Jiechi is a city with strong defenses. If the military order cannot be unified and the whole team is united, it may be difficult to attack..." Ba Duzhi was straightforward and said Confidentially express my inner concerns. Genghis Khan's face darkened, and he looked at the boundless starry sky and fell silent. Ba didn't dare to say anything anymore, and he even regretted that he had spoken so freely.Since the Western Expedition, he had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet Zu Khan, and Zu Khan's aging face made him feel a dull pain in his heart.Zu Khan fought all his life, and never flinched or frowned in the face of any hardships, but he was helpless in the disputes between his children and grandchildren.Of course, with the presence of Zu Khan, the absolute authority he has established cannot be shaken. Even so, he still cannot ensure the harmonious coexistence of his children and grandchildren.For Zu Khan, the helplessness of being a father is probably better than the hard work of being a great Khan? "Zuhan, you...I..." Batu murmured uneasily. Genghis Khan came to his senses and sighed silently. "To tell you the truth, this is what worries me the most. However, I still stick to my decision." "The grandson understands." "Can you really understand?" "Yes. Even if Zu Khan can't do what Zu Khan wished, after all the fighting side by side, the father and the second uncle will eventually realize something from it. This is Zu Khan's good intentions." "I didn't expect that the one who understands me the most is not my sons, but you, Batu. In short, I hope they will live up to my great trust." Batu changed the topic at the right time, and only talked about his own childhood fun with Zu Khan, and Genghis Khan's mood improved a little.The grandfather and grandson returned to the main hall and talked all night long until dawn.Although Batu did not close his eyes all night, he was still full of energy. Genghis Khan was envious of his inexhaustible energy. The sky was just turning white, and Batu was about to bid farewell to Zu Khan, when the guards came to report: Mrs. Su Ru sent two sets of velvet war robes and two pairs of riding boots.Genghis Khan heard that the visitor was Abduhe, the son of Zhenhai.Zhenhai was born in an Uyghur noble, knowledgeable, and deeply favored by Genghis Khan. After the founding of Mongolia, he was named prime minister.A Duhe is the youngest son of Zhenhai, he is twelve years old, and has obvious Central Asian features in his appearance, with a high nose, deep eyes, and fair complexion.He followed Mrs. Su Ru since he was a child, and was trained by Mrs. Su Ru to be eloquent, smart and well-behaved. "Aduhe, what message does your wife want you to bring?" "Report to the Great Khan: Mrs. Linlai specially confessed that of the two sets of clothes and boots, the one embroidered with white clouds and the sun was dedicated to the Great Khan, and the one embroidered with an eagle and a horse was for the little prince Batu. The lady also said, At noon, she will personally invite Da Khan to taste the candied deer and yogurt soup, and I implore Da Khan to appreciate it. It is a pity that the little prince is going to go to war soon, and she has no time to see him off, so please send the eldest prince hello." Jochi's wife, Charu'er, and Tuo Lei's wife, Su Ru, are cousins ​​who are more affectionate than their compatriots. Batu grew up beside Charu'er since childhood.Probably because of this double kinship, the sons and daughters of Jochi and Tuolei have always maintained very close contacts.Among the daughters-in-law of Genghis Khan, Su Ru has always been favored by Genghis Khan and Empress Boertie.This lady of noble birth is virtuous and gentle, well-versed in dealing with affairs, fair and wise.According to the Mongolian tradition of young sons keeping their property, Tuo Lei will inherit most of his father's inheritance in the future. To be honest, if he didn't appreciate Su Ru's foresight and brains, Genghis Khan would be really sorry for handing over his huge family business to Tuo Lei. I'm a little worried. "How does your wife know that Batu is with me?" "Madam guessed it. Madam said that the expedition is imminent, and the young prince will definitely come to bid farewell to the Khan. This is the habit of the young prince for many years." Genghis Khan and Batu looked at each other and smiled. "Fourth Aunt is really careful. Ah Duhe, thank Fourth Aunt for me. When Yulong Jiechi is captured, I will definitely visit her and Fourth Uncle." "Cha." Abduhe saluted respectfully and withdrew. "Zu Khan," Batu turned to Zu Khan, "the grandson is leaving." "Did you have breakfast with Zuhan?" "It's too late. Zuhan, I will come to visit you after victory. There are frequent battles, so you must take care." "It doesn't matter. Batu, remember not to be greedy for meritorious service. A general who can defeat the enemy and protect himself is a qualified general." "Grandson, remember. Zuhan, I will temporarily put the clothes and boots sent by my fourth aunt with you, and I will put them on when Zuhan celebrates for us." "Alright. Go ahead, I'll wait for your good news."