Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

"What brings you all to my tent?" Orros asked politely, looking at the six chieftains. Although his words were courteous, his arrogance was impossible to conceal. This arrogance was a natural expression of the strong towards the weak. These chieftains didn't even have decent armor, and most of their men were still using wooden bows and bone arrows, which naturally gave him a sense of superiority.

“We have come here to form an alliance with you to jointly attack the Rus’ people at Anadersk,” the Izermen chief, Kuić, replied. His words were immediately echoed by the Even chief, Xiongtuku; the Aleutian chief, Abso; the Klek chief, Greg; and the Koryak chief, Lorawit. These tribes, located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, were later collectively known as the Kamchatka people. Ancient Chinese texts refer to them as the “Land of the Flowing Ghosts,” stating, “North of the North Sea lies the Land of the Flowing Ghosts, fifteen thousand li from Chang’an.”

“I want to trade you for muskets with deer hides and walrus tusks,” said Juminze, the Chukchi leader.

"An alliance is naturally welcome. But to obtain muskets, one must pledge allegiance to our Great Khan. The Kingdom of David only provides firearms to its own subjects," Orros's eyes gleamed. "Each tribe that is willing to pledge allegiance will receive one hundred muskets, and will also be able to trade with merchants of the Kingdom of David in Lower Koremske Fortress, exchanging your furs and fish for iron and cotton."

"How many fish teeth and sable furs do you need to pay annually to pledge allegiance to your Khan?" Jiuming sneered. The Rus' had used the surrender tactic many times, but the taxes they collected were extremely heavy, as if they wanted to kill every walrus in the Chukotka region for its tusks. The Khan of Wei was probably no different from the Rus' emperor. If that was the case, then only bows and arrows and hunting knives would greet these wolves!

"The Great Khan is the most benevolent ruler in the world. His virtue and reputation are known throughout the land. Why would he want your fish teeth and sable furs? After submitting to David, the court will only collect commercial taxes during trade, and will not levy any other taxes. Moreover, you will all be appointed as hereditary centurions and chiliarchs, and your descendants will be granted this position indefinitely," Orros said with a smile. This answer greatly surprised the tribal leaders. Not only would they receive so many benefits after submission, but they would also not have to hand over fish teeth and sable furs. From this perspective, submitting to David did not seem like a bad thing.

When Orros ordered cartloads of muskets, armor, swords, spears, bows, and arrows to be brought before them, the chieftains wavered and expressed their willingness to become subjects of the Kingdom of David. They not only provided a thousand tribal warriors but also supplied the Guards with a large amount of food. Logistics were a major challenge for ten thousand men advancing into the frozen tundra. In fact, the Guards' rations were running low, and Orros had originally planned to withdraw if he couldn't capture Anadersk Fortress within five days. Now, with ample supplies, the battle could be fought more slowly.

With the support of the indigenous tribes, the Guards not only relieved their logistical burden but also gained a large number of guides familiar with the terrain, easily avoiding several ambushes by the Russian army and heading straight for the walls of Anadersk.

"Sir, I haven't seen Captain Rakimi. Middle Koremsk is practically a ghost town. According to the remaining people in the city, Captain Rakimi led the Cossacks to Upper Koremsk," the messenger sent to ask for help returned with disheartening news.

"That coward! How dare he so easily abandon Russian territory! His Majesty the Tsar will not let him off easily!" Vladimir Atlasov, the governor of Anadyrsk Fortress, roared in anger upon hearing this. But despite his rage, the Imperial Guard was already at the city gates; escape was impossible. The only option was to hold out for reinforcements and fight to the death!
Faced with overwhelming power, mere determination to fight to the death is far from enough. Atlasov, with six hundred Cossacks, held out for fifteen days against a siege by nearly ten thousand guards and a thousand native soldiers, until finally, exhausted, he was captured.

"General, please hand this man over to me for disposal," Jiu Ming knelt down and pleaded with Orlos.

Orlos, naturally, would not offend a minister for the sake of a mere prisoner, and readily agreed with a smile.

"What...what do you want to do?" Atlasov asked in terror as he stared at Jiuming, whose face was filled with murderous intent as he slowly approached.

“My father taught me from a young age that the warriors of the Loraweti (the Chukchi people's self-designation) never fear death, and if that day ever comes, they must face it with equanimity. Five years ago, he was captured by your people, and you locked him in an aranga (tent), surrounded him with firewood, and burned him, hoping to hear his screams and pleas for mercy. But my father didn't utter a sound until he was reduced to charred bones. Heh heh heh~” Jumin sneered at Atlasov repeatedly, “I wonder if the chief of the Rus's chieftain cried out when he was burned to death.”

Having said this, he ordered several burly Chukotka warriors to tie Atlasov up, stuff him into a tent, and set him on fire. Flames roared, and cries of agony echoed across the wilderness.    
After successfully capturing Anadyrsk Fortress, the Chukotka and six other tribal warriors, unwilling to leave their ancestral lands, led their troops back to their own territories. Orros left several hundred warriors to garrison Anadyrsk, and led nine thousand troops westward from the north to continue the campaign against other Russian strongholds in the permafrost region. Upon reaching Middle Kolymsk Fortress, they found only a few dozen native inhabitants remaining. Inquiring, they learned that the garrison and Cossacks had fled to Upper Kolymsk. Therefore, he left a hundred men to guard the fortress and led the main force directly to Upper Kolymsk Fortress.

With a formidable enemy at hand, the Cossacks inside the fortress were thrown into turmoil. Some wanted to flee to Zashivirsk Fortress, while others wanted to hold the city and defend it to the death.

"Bang!" The Cossack captain of Upper Koremske Fortress, Bugor, decisively shot and killed the Cossack captain Rakimi, who was leading the escape, thus ending the civil war.

“Rakimi’s abandonment of Middle Koremsk is already a serious crime, and now he wants to lead you to escape without a fight. I have already dealt with him according to the law. Those who do not want to die, go up to the city wall,” he roared at the Cossacks.

When the guards arrived at Upper Koremske Fortress, they unexpectedly encountered fierce resistance. Bougor led more than 300 Cossacks to hold out for three whole days, killing and wounding 400 guards before finally dying on the city walls.

"Issue my order: slaughter all the Russians in Upper Kolymsk Fortress. After two days of rest, proceed to Zashivirsk!" Enraged by the casualty figures, Orros issued the order, determined to show the Russians what would happen if they dared to resist.

He left 300 men to garrison Upper Kolymsk Fortress and arrived at Zahivirsk Fortress on March 29, 1674, with 8,200 warriors.

This was originally a fortified castle, but most of the garrison had been transferred to Yakutsk, leaving only fifty Cossacks standing on the empty walls.

"Open the city gates and surrender!" Commander Dmitry of fifty decisively gave the order.

“How can you surrender to infidels?” someone objected.

“Life is precious. Do you want Zashivirsk to become the second Upper Kolymsk?” Dmitry glared at the opponent.

(End of this chapter)