Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 149 Each Conferred a King! News of Triumph Shakes the World
When Zhao Shuo was on his western expedition, he would think about how to ensure the army's water supply when he saw deserts, whether there were ambushes when he saw mountains, how the hills would affect the speed of the cavalry when he saw hills, and whether he should add a few pontoon bridges when he saw rivers... He had little feeling for the scenery along the way.

But this time, on the way back, I was relaxed and the experience was quite different.

Heading east from Kiev, the vast Ukrainian plains stretch to the horizon, with farmland distributed only along the rivers, lush oak forests dotting the landscape, and uncultivated land forming large stretches of grassland.

In the Caucasus Valley, streams meander among pebbles, reflecting the shadows of fir trees on the ochre-red rock walls.

The rolling hills of Azerbaijan are like waves, pomegranate trees burst into deep red buds, and olive groves cast spiderweb-like shadows among the stone terraces.

……

The vast and beautiful landscape had been conquered by him, a feeling that filled Zhao Shuo with immense pleasure.

In fact, not to mention Zhao Shuo, his army, looking at the beautiful scenery along the way and thinking about how they had participated in such an expedition and conquered such a vast and beautiful land, felt that their vision was many times higher than when they were holed up in their hometown. Their past troubles were simply not worth mentioning, and their hearts were filled with pride.

The army continued its advance and entered Khwarezm.

As they marched, they carried away the cloth, copper coins, grain, and private female slaves stored in the major cities.

Private female slaves must be taken back to their hometowns, and high-grade fabrics, which can be used as gold and silver, must also be taken back.

However, copper coins, low-value cloth, and most of the grain would be exchanged with comrades stationed in Zhao Shuo's fiefdom for gold, silver, jewelry, high-grade cloth, and other more portable supplies.

When the army arrived in the Khorasan region, Hairige quickly led the remaining commanders of the various Semu banners and important local officials to pay their respects.

Hassan bin Ramed, the envoy of the Emir of Basra and chief judge of the Basra Spice Guild whom Zhao Shuo had rescued in Kejiyun City, has also arrived, bringing with him eighty Sakrawi horses.

Zhao Shuo first met with Hai Rige and explained in detail his arrangements for the future fiefdom.

The three commanders of the Semu Plain Black Banner, Bordered Black Banner, and Bordered Red Banner remained in Khorasan, and were under the command of Shi Huaide, the commander of the Plain Black Banner.

The three commanders of the Plain Blue Banner, Plain Yellow Banner, and Bordered Blue Banner remained in Afghanistan, and were under the command of Li Quan, the commander of the Plain Blue Banner.

The two commanders of the Plain Red Banner of the Semu people were stationed in the area south of Afghanistan and north of the Indus River, which is the northwestern part of South Asia. Naturally, they were under the jurisdiction of Wu Xian, the banner chief of the Plain Red Banner.

Hairige led the Flying Eagle Army, also stationed in northwestern South Asia, fully responsible for military and political affairs in Khorasan, Afghanistan, and northwestern South Asia. If he felt that northwestern South Asia was too hot for the steppe warriors to adapt to, Hairige could move northward and station troops in the Baluwan steppe of Afghanistan.

Of course, this was just a general plan; the situation in northwestern South Asia still needed to be confirmed by Genghis Khan.

Zhao Shuo will now leave five Semu commanders in Khorasan. Hai Rige and the other Semu commanders will go to Samarkand with Zhao Shuo to join Temujin.

"I am willing to die for your majesty!"

After listening, Hai Rige kowtowed deeply to Zhao Shuo.

He was three years younger than Zhao Shuo, and in terms of military talent, he was no less than that of famous generals of the time such as Muqali and Subutai. It's just that he came to prominence too late; when the Mongols were dividing up the hereditary chiliarchies, he was only an ordinary centurion.

If he were under someone else's command, the position of centurion would be the ceiling for Hairige's entire career, one he could never surpass.

It was under Zhao Shuo's command that Hai Rige had the opportunity to lead the Flying Eagle Army.

The Flying Eagle Army originally had a thousand men, and Hai Rige was equivalent to a commander of a thousand households, which was already quite satisfactory.

Later, the Flying Eagle Army expanded to two thousand men, and Hairig's power far exceeded his original expectations.

Later, Zhao Shuo left Hairige in Khorasan and handed over the military and political power of a province to him, something Hairige never dreamed of.

Now Zhao Shuo has handed over the military and political power of three provinces to him!
Of course, those tribal chiefs were all people who could speak to Zhao Shuo, and Hai Rige couldn't simply order them around like his own limbs. They were all the son-in-law's men, loyal to him; Hai Rige's relationship with them was merely that of a superior and subordinate. If an irreconcilable conflict were to occur, only Zhao Shuo could make the decision; Hai Rige couldn't use his official position to forcefully suppress others.

However, this is, after all, the military and political power of three provinces!
Having reached such a high position, Hai Rige felt that even if he were to die fighting for Zhao Shuo right now, his life would be worthwhile!

“You treat me as a national hero, and I will repay you as a national hero.” Although Hai Rige had never heard this saying from the Han people, a similar feeling had already arisen in his heart.

After meeting with Hairige, Zhao Shuo also met with the local officials of Khorasan.

Zardushte, who had presented the Damascus steel to Zhao Shuo, was among them. He had been appointed as the deputy governor of Barihei City to assist the Han Chinese governor appointed by Zhao Shuo in handling the affairs of Barihei City.

Bariki is both the most prosperous city in Khorasan and the headquarters of Zoroastrianism.

Today, not only has Zardusht's family prospered even more, but Zoroastrianism has also experienced a revival in Persia, almost rivaling the true religion. Zardusht, as a hero of Zoroastrianism, has become one of the twelve most powerful "Magus" in the religion.

Zoroastrianism does not have the position of "leader" or "saint".

All major academic matters are decided by the twelve "Magus" through consultation.

Zardushte felt that going to the Mongolian grasslands and establishing a relationship with the prince consort Zhao Shuo was the best decision he ever made.

In addition, although Zoroastrianism does not have "saintesses," it still has quite a few beautiful women.

When Zardusht came to see Zhao Shuo this time, he specially presented another "Magus" daughter named Nilushan. This girl was only seventeen years old, tall, with snow-white skin, and extremely beautiful. Not only was her beauty famous throughout Bari, but she was also known as "the most beautiful woman in Zoroastrianism".

Zhao Shuo accepted it with a smile, and decided to see tonight whether Nilushan was as good as Zardusht had said.

Other officials also received gifts and beautiful women.

Zhao Shuo accepted everything without question, figuring he would handle all matters officially from now on. These people, however, were mistaken if they thought Zhao Shuo would allow them to embezzle and become corrupt after accepting gifts and women.

Finally, Zhao Shuo met with Ramed, who had presented eighty Sacramento horses.

In addition to requesting Zhao Shuo to open a trade route to Khwarezm, he also requested the elimination of bandits along the way.

After all, if Khwarezm were not peaceful and bandits were rampant, the merchants would still not dare to leave.

……

……

A month later, Zhao Shuo's army finally arrived near Samarkand.

Of his 160,000 troops, 10,000 remained in Ukraine, 45,000 remained in Khorasan, and nearly 50,000 had already returned to the Hulunbuir Grassland via the Kipchak Steppe. His current total strength is slightly over 50,000.

Temujin personally led Jochi, Ögedei, Chagatai, Tolui, as well as Jebe, Subutai, Jochitai, and sixty or seventy other Mongol generals, under the protection of a thousand Kheshig soldiers, out of the city to welcome him.

Clearly, the Mongol nobles who went to Khwarazm have now reunited, except for Zhao Shuo.

There was no way around it; Temujin had already begun his return journey when he sent his envoy. Jochi, after conquering the Kipchak Steppe, established a camp on the banks of the Ob River in the heart of the Kipchak Steppe. Zhao Shuo, in Qiwa City, received the imperial decree the latest, and his return journey was the longest, so he was bound to be the last to arrive.

"A-Shuo! A-Shuo! My chariot shaft, my left and right arms, come quickly! Drink this bowl of dismounting wine, wash away the dust and fatigue of the battlefield!"

Upon hearing Temujin's words, Zhao Shuo smiled; the words seemed somewhat familiar.

He recalled that when Temujin saw him and Huazheng break through the encirclement and return on the banks of the Banzhuni River, he had said that he was "the shaft of the chariot, the left and right arms of the body".

Perhaps, as Temujin grew older and his achievements increased, he often recalled the events at the Banjuni River that changed his destiny, and he increasingly valued those who participated in the oath-taking ceremony at the Banjuni River.

Zhao Shuo immediately dismounted, strode forward, took the cup of mare's milk wine, and said, "Thank you for welcoming me, Father Khan, but how can I let you personally pour the mare's milk wine?"

Temujin, however, said happily, “Why not? This is what you deserve! In this western expedition, I originally planned to destroy Khwarazm and seize enough land for you children to establish your own ulhus (state). I didn’t expect that you, Ashoka, would also destroy the Kipchaks and Rus’, which makes me very happy! I must personally pour you this dismounting wine!”

These are Temujin's true feelings.

Was Jochi truly Genghis Khan's son? Even Genghis Khan himself wasn't sure.

Temujin would certainly not agree to making Jochi the Great Khan of the Mongols.

But Temujin truly couldn't bear to see Jochi wronged.

Zhao Shuo and Jochi annihilated the main forces of the Rus' and Kipchak forces in one battle, and then destroyed the Rus' and Kipchak forces.

Jochi's fiefdom is now very large; the Kipchak Steppe alone is larger than the Mongolian Steppe, and its water and grass are even more abundant.

Temujin felt that even if he didn't make Jochi the Great Khan of the Mongols, it would be enough to do Jochi a favor, and it would be the greatest wish of his life to be fulfilled.

Sure enough, when Temujin saw Jochi again, he felt that the father and son were much closer. Neither he nor Jochi had that awkwardness they had before, where both tried to deny it but it was undeniably there.

As Genghis Khan grew older, he valued family ties more and more, which truly brought him great joy.

He also liked Zhao Shuo very much. Sometimes he thought that Zhao Shuo was indeed sent by the Eternal Heaven to assist him. Otherwise, how could Zhao Shuo have brought three thousand soldiers to the Banzhuni River Alliance at such a perfect time? Otherwise, how could he have come up with the idea of ​​distributing wooden plaques to reduce the Jin Kingdom's resistance when he was conquering it?

Otherwise, how could such a huge pie fall from the sky, allowing the Mongols to occupy the Kipchak Steppe and the Rus' lands?

Therefore, when Zhao Shuo returned to the army, he personally led all the nobles to welcome him.

"Thank you, Father Khan!"

Zhao Shuo drank the whole cup of mare's milk wine in one gulp.

Then, Temujin and the others returned to Samarkand with Zhao Shuo and held a grand banquet to welcome Zhao Shuo back.

Not just that day, but for the next six days, no one discussed official business; they simply rested, feasted, and sometimes went hunting outside the city. Hunting was not only an important way for the Mongols to gather food, but also their most popular form of entertainment.

It wasn't until seven days later that Temujin summoned Zhao Shuo, Jochi, Ögedei, and Chagatai together to discuss important matters.

Temujin looked at Jochi, Ögedei, Chagatai, and Tolui and said, "Since this western expedition, Ashoka has destroyed the Western Liao with Jochi, single-handedly captured Bukhara, joined us in conquering Samarkand, pacified Khorasan, beheaded the Khwarazmian Sultan Muhammad, captured the Caucasus region, annihilated the main forces of the Kipchak, Asud, and Rus', and seized various Rus' territories. His merits are paramount. Do you have anything to say?"

"No."

Zhao Shuo's achievements since the western expedition are obvious. No one, even if they go against their conscience, can say that Zhao Shuo's military exploits are not the greatest.

Temujin said, "We agreed beforehand that the remaining two regions of Khwarezm would be assigned to each other based on merit. Since you, Ashoka, have the highest merit, you can choose one region first."

Without hesitation, Zhao Shuo said, "I will choose the land north of the Indus River and south of the land of Gurkha and Gojinin!"

"Alright, from today onwards, that land belongs to you, Ashu."

Then, Temujin's expression turned solemn, and he stood up, saying, "Zhao Shuo, the commander of ten thousand households, the hereditary head of five thousand households, and the imperial son-in-law, shall be appointed!"

"exist!"

"I hereby appoint you as King of Khorasan, Tochariah, North India, Bagrajionni, and West Rus'."

"Thank you, Father Han!"

Khorasan roughly corresponds to the later Iranian Khorasan province, encompassing southeastern Turkmenistan and northwestern Afghanistan.

Tokharistan was the ancient Chinese name for Afghanistan.

The Bagration Kingdom, later known as Georgia.

West Rus' refers to the three Rus' principalities that Jochi gave to Zhao Shuo, which were equivalent to half of Ukraine.

North India refers to the region north of the Indus River.

Although the Indus River is called the "Indus River," 90% of its basin is what is now Pakistan. This is because in ancient times, India was a geographical concept rather than a country, encompassing what is now Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

Zhao Shuo's North India includes a quarter of Pakistan and a small area in northwestern India.

Jochi had already told Temujin that he would give Zhao Shuo the Kingdom of Bagration, the Terek Valley, and the three Rus' principalities.

The Mongol territory was too vast, and Temujin didn't care about the ownership of such a small piece of land, so he agreed.

Temujin had long anticipated that Zhao Shuo would choose this region in northwestern South Asia.

Today, we are giving Zhao Shuo this title for the final confirmation.

However, Zhao Shuo's territories are all enclaves, making it difficult to find a unified name for them.

In other words, it took Temujin a lot of effort to find the three characters "Tokharistan" in ancient books, so that he could omit some parts of "the land of Gurkhas and Gekinen".

Otherwise, Zhao Shuo's title would have been even longer.

So what if it's a bit long? Zhao Shuo didn't care.

In later generations, the full title of the British monarch was still "King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of other territories and domains, Head of the Commonwealth, Protector of the Faith".

So what if Zhao Shuo's title of king is a little longer?
Well, as Zhao Shuo occupies more and more territory, his title can be reduced to "King of the Sun Never Sets" or "Emperor of the Sun Never Sets".

Of course, Temujin could not understand Zhao Shuo's thoughts, and he continued to bestow titles upon Jochi, the second most meritorious official in this battle.

Jochi conquered the Kipchak Steppe and, together with Zhao Shuo, annihilated the main force of the three-tribe allied forces. His achievements surpassed those of Ögedei, Chagatai, and Tolui.

However, Jochi's main military achievements were not made during the attack on Khwarezm, and his territory was too large, so Temujin did not allow him to choose a new territory.

Jochi had no objection to this.

Now, his relationship with Temujin had truly reached the level of a close father-son bond, and he was content. To put it bluntly, what Jochi cared about most in his life was never territory or the position of Mongol Khan, but whether Temujin truly recognized him as his son.

Genghis Khan bestowed upon Jochi the title of "Khan of the Caucasus, Kipchak and Rus'".

The third most meritorious soldier in this western expedition was, of course, Tolui.

Chagatai and Ögedei's prolonged siege of Ugyenchechi City without success significantly reduced their chances of victory.

Tolui, on the other hand, independently led his troops to pacify most of Persia, which was quite remarkable.

Genghis Khan granted Tolui the Mesopotamian region, including Iraq.

However, this territory has not yet been conquered, so Torei can only fight it slowly later.

Tolui, being the youngest son who "guarded the hearth," was destined to inherit most of Temujin's wealth and army. He was indifferent to the size of his fiefdom and had no objections whatsoever.

Chagatai's fief was in the Transoxiana region, and Temujin appointed him as the King of Transoxiana.

Ögedei Khan's fiefdom was the former territory of the Western Liao Dynasty, and he was granted the title of Kashgar Khan.

The ears of Husihan of the Western Liao were slaughtered by the Mongols, and the most prosperous city now is Kashgar, so Temujin named it that.

In the original history, Temujin only divided up territories for his sons, but did not give them formal titles. The so-called "Golden Horde," "Chagatai Khanate," and "Ögedei Khanate" are all names given to them by later generations.

However, this time, Zhao Shuo changed history. Chagatai and Ögedei clashed greatly over the attack on Urgench. Tolui independently attacked Persia and performed quite well.

This made Temujin wonder if Ögedei was a suitable successor, and whether Tolui was a better fit.
But before this expedition, Temujin had already said that Ögedei would be his successor, so it was difficult to go back on his word.

Therefore, he decided to first grant titles to all four sons, so that they would appear to be completely equal.

Temujin still needed to carefully consider who to appoint as his successor.

Subsequently, Zhao Shuo brought up the matter of opening up the trade route to Khwarezm.

"Trade routes must be kept open, otherwise who will pay taxes? As for suppressing bandits..."

Temujin was too lazy to worry about such trivial matters. He waved his hand and said, "The land of Khwarazm has been divided among you. You can discuss the matter of suppressing the bandits yourselves. There's no need to ask me."

Zhao Shuo said, "There is another matter that cannot be decided without Father Khan's approval. After this massacre, the population of Khwarazm is too small. I plan to carry out immigration from Han areas. Please grant Father Khan's permission."

Temujin said, "Ashuo, aren't you also serving as the Darughachi of the entire land south of the Iron Gate Pass and north of the Yellow River? The soldiers have really suffered during this western expedition against Khwarazm. After returning to Mongolia, we will rest for three years. During this period, you can carry out the immigration and other matters."

Ögedei's heart stirred, and he said, "Then, three years later, shall we attack the Jin Dynasty? Or the Xia Dynasty? Or Goryeo? According to Muqali, Goryeo has been quite restless during the years we were on our campaign against Khwarazm."

"Back then, it was the campaign against Western Xia." Temujin's gaze turned slightly cold. "Before setting out for the campaign against Khwarazm, I issued an edict to the Xia Kingdom, ordering them to send 50,000 troops to cooperate in the battle, but the Xia Kingdom did not send a single soldier! The Xia Kingdom has already forgotten that it is a vassal state of the Mongols, so it is unnecessary for it to continue to exist!"

……

After resting for another ten days, the main force of the Mongol army, numbering over 100,000, left Samarkand, carrying countless treasures of gold and silver, artisans, and beauties, and headed towards the former territory of the Western Liao.

The news of Temujin's triumphant return from his expedition to foreign lands quickly reached the eastern countries.

They had no idea of ​​Temujin's plan to rest for three years before launching a military campaign against Western Xia.

For a moment, the world was shocked!
(End of this chapter)