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

Chapter 166 The world is so vast, I, the King, am willing to share it with you all!

As soon as he finished speaking, Temujin's eyes gradually became unfocused, his head drooped limply, his arms slipped down, and his body went completely limp on the brocade couch, without a sound.

The hall fell silent instantly, as if the air had frozen.

He then rushed to Temujin's side, checked his breath, and then burst into tears, saying in a trembling voice, "Great Khan... has been summoned by the Eternal Heaven!"

"grandfather!"

"Father Khan!"

A chorus of cries of grief erupted within the hall. Ögedei wept the loudest, while Chagatai remained silent, his shoulders trembling slightly as tears streamed down his face. Tolui stood frozen in place, seemingly unable to accept reality. Orda, though still young, was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhao Shuo also sighed deeply, his heart filled with grief.

Although Temujin had been bedridden for more than two months and had just given his last words, Zhao Shuo still felt somewhat melancholy as the time came.

"Zhao Shuo has performed such a great service, I must reward him handsomely! I will bestow upon him my most precious treasure!"

"Ashuo, didn't I appoint you as the Darughachi of the entire territory south of the Iron Gate Pass and north of the Yellow River? All military and political affairs can naturally be decided with a single word. Did that pedantic scholar named Yelü Chucai say something to you? We Mongols don't have as many taboos as the people of the Central Plains."

"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!"

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

……

Temujin was really good to him.

Not only did she marry her most beloved daughter, Hua Zheng, to him, but she also gave him almost unlimited trust and complete autonomy. Otherwise, no matter how capable Zhao Shuo was in combat, would he have had so many opportunities to achieve merit?

When Temujin bestowed titles and rewards upon him, he treated him like his own son. When he first became Genghis Khan, he granted him the hereditary title of five thousand households, a rank comparable to that of his sons. Before his death, he specifically granted him the fiefdoms of Shandong and Hebei.

Whether from the perspective of a monarch or a father-in-law, Temujin treated him with utmost sincerity and without any mistreatment.

For him, Temujin was not only his father-in-law, but also his confidant and partner.

Now that he has passed away, he cannot remain cold-hearted and unmoved.

Of course, the most important thing now is not to weep loudly, but to properly handle Genghis Khan's funeral arrangements.

An hour later, Zhao Shuo, Chagatai, Ögedei, Tolui, Bo'orchu, Temuge, and Yesuiqtun, with heavy hearts, discussed and agreed on the arrangements for Genghis Khan's funeral.

First, the world was informed of Genghis Khan's passing.

Then, carrying out Genghis Khan's dying wish, he killed all the Tangut men.

In the original history, although Genghis Khan issued a dying order to exterminate the Tangut people, it was not fully carried out.

Because many Tangut slaves had already been distributed among the Mongol nobles, Ögedei was unwilling to offend so many Mongol nobles before the Khanate had been confirmed by the Kurultai.

According to later historians, a total of 331 of these Tangut slaves and their descendants held official positions in the Yuan Dynasty. For example, 12 held important positions in the Central Secretariat, 8 served in the Privy Council, 14 served in the Censorate, and 4 served in the Xuanzheng Yuan. For example, Gao Zhiyao's family members, such as Gao Duanzhong and Gao Lian, all served as officials in the Yuan Dynasty.

But now Zhao Shuo is here, isn't he?

Among the current leaders in Mongolia, there are only two who are the most powerful.

One was Tolui. His youngest son was to guard the hearth and would inherit most of the army left by Temujin.

One was Zhao Shuo, who commanded not only a grassland commandery but also the Han Chinese Eight Banners and the Semu Eight Banners.

Ögedei's strength was only roughly the same as Chagatai's.

Ögedei had many ways to deal with Tolui.

As for Zhao Shuo, Ögedei could only follow the rules, and Temujin's dying wish was his greatest reliance.

Otherwise, if he doesn't act according to Temujin's dying wish today, Zhao Shuo might use this as a reason to promote Jochi or Tolui to the throne in the future.

Therefore, Temujin's decree was carried out thoroughly.

Throughout the entire territory of Western Xia, all Tangut men, regardless of their virtue or folly, were slaughtered.

Not only that, all temples and pagodas in the Tangut style were to be demolished. All books written in the Tangut script were to be burned. All surviving Tangut women were forbidden from wearing Tangut-style clothing or speaking the Tangut language.

Even the imperial tombs of the Western Xia dynasty were excavated and their remains scattered.

In short, everything the Tanguts left behind in this world was erased.

Under the guidance of Zhao Shuo, Ögedei, Chagatai, and Tolui, all the Mongols carried out Temujin's dying wish without fail.

Thus, the Tangut people, along with their language and script, were completely submerged in the long river of history.

Only young women and young girls remained, becoming slaves of the Mongols and continuing to endure humiliation and suffering.

After turning over all the earthworms of the Western Xia and splitting them vertically, the Mongol army escorted Genghis Khan's coffin back to the grasslands.

Only then did Jochi return from the Kipchak Steppe and weep bitterly before Genghis Khan's coffin.

Genghis Khan had more than 500 wives and concubines, of whom more than 40 had the title of "Qatun".

With so many wives and concubines, they were divided into four major Han'erduo, each presided over by a "Grand Empress".

The First Empress, Börte, was Genghis Khan's first wife.

The second Khan's first queen was Gurbesuqtun, the former queen of Tayang Khan.

The third queen of Han'erduo was also known as the Queen Mother.

The fourth queen of Han'erduo was Yesui's sister, Yesugan.

Temujin's coffin remained in each Ordo for one day, and the concubines of the Gajhandor mourned for Temujin for one day.

Then, a formal funeral was held for Temujin.

In accordance with the principle of the youngest son inheriting the ancestral temple, the funeral was presided over not by the eldest son Jochi, nor by Ögedei, the heir designated by Temujin, but by Tolui. Those who attended the funeral ceremony were only members of the Golden Family, as well as a few princes-in-law such as Zhao Shuo and Bo Yaohe.

First, Tolui offered wine to Genghis Khan's coffin, and then everyone sang the "Song of Sulude" to send Genghis Khan off.

Finally, the princes led three thousand cavalrymen to escort Genghis Khan's coffin to the Sari River deep in the Burkhan Khaldun Mountains.

This burial site was chosen by Genghis Khan long ago. Back then, when Genghis Khan went hunting, he came to the Sari River and found a lone tree growing there.

He sat under the lone tree, gazing at the beautiful scenery around him with great satisfaction. He then said to those around him, "This place is perfect for my grave; let's mark it here."

Today, the princes will bury Genghis Khan here.

The entire cemetery was not marked with graves; instead, a small camel was killed as a symbol.

After the burial was completed, three thousand cavalrymen trampled the area within a radius of thirty miles flat and then stationed themselves there.

The three thousand cavalrymen will only leave when the vegetation is lush and there is no trace of the cemetery the following summer.

From then on, even if the princes wanted to pay homage to Genghis Khan, they could only do so through the mother of that little camel. The place where that mother camel cried out in sorrow after arriving at the Sari River became the burial place of Genghis Khan.

As time went on, the mother camel passed away, and the kings could no longer find Genghis Khan's tomb.

No one in the world could disturb the peaceful rest of this world conqueror.

In any case, it took more than three months from Genghis Khan's death to the completion of his funeral.

Then, no Kurultai was held.

Because many hereditary Mongol commanders were still stationed abroad, a hasty return might cause instability in the region. It was decided that, more than eight months later, on the first anniversary of Temujin's death, when everyone was gathered, a Kurultai would be held to elect a new Great Khan of the Mongols. During those eight months, Tolui would serve as regent.

After resting for a month on the Hulunbuir Grassland, Zhao Shuo, escorted by three thousand Black Riders, headed towards Zhongdu.

Thirty li outside Zhongdu City.

A platform three zhang high had already been erected.

"Your humble servants respectfully welcome the King of Yan and Zhao, Qi and Lu, Khorasan, Tokharistan, North India, the Kingdom of Bagrajionni, and West Rus'!"

When Zhao Shuo led his army to this place and ascended the high platform, Yelü Chucai, along with nearly a thousand officials and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, welcomed Zhao Shuo's arrival.
With ten thousand people, there is no end in sight. With one hundred thousand people, the land stretches to the horizon.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, civilians and ordinary people knelt down in unison, a vast, dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see!

Zhao Shuo, of course, knew in advance that so many people would come to greet him today.

Firstly, Zhao Shuo was granted the title of "King of Yan and Zhao, Qi and Lu, Khorasan, Tokharistan, North India, Bagrajionni Kingdom, and West Rus'," officially making Shandong and Hebei his fiefdoms. Such a grand welcoming ceremony, in a sense, was tantamount to his enthronement ceremony.

Secondly, these are demands made by local officials in Shandong and Hebei on behalf of the military and civilians.

This is not officials flattering Zhao Shuo, but rather the will of nearly 20 million soldiers and civilians in Hebei and Shandong.

It has been nearly ten years since Zhao Shuo conquered Shandong and Hebei. During these ten years, Zhao Shuo has implemented the imperial examination system, the equal-field system, the militia system, and encouraged industry and commerce. The lives of the people have improved, and their future has become increasingly hopeful.

However, a lingering worry has been weighing on the minds of local officials, soldiers, and civilians.

This is not Zhao Shuo's fiefdom!
After all, Zhao Shuo was only granted the title of "Darughachi of the whole country south of the Iron Gate Pass and north of the Yellow River".

Although this official held significant military and political power in Shandong and Hebei, in reality, he was merely an official of the Mongolian state. Officials, by their very nature, could be demoted or transferred.

If Zhao Shuo were to no longer hold this position, would the officials who succeed him recognize the merits he earned in establishing the imperial examinations?
For ordinary people, will the officials who succeeded Zhao Shuo recognize the land they were allocated?
For businessmen, will the official who succeeds Zhao Shuo adjust the tax rate?
No one said it was bad.

Everyone was afraid that with Zhao Shuo's dismissal and the arrival of new Mongol officials, everything they had would vanish.
Now things are much better. Zhao Shuo has been officially bestowed the title of "King of Yan and Zhao, Qi and Lu, Khorasan, Tokharistan, North India, Bagrajionni Kingdom, and West Rus'".

Shandong and Hebei became Zhao Shuo's fiefdoms!

The relationship between Zhao Shuo and the people of Shandong and Hebei changed.

It turns out that Zhao Shuo was an official of the Great Mongol Empire, who was ordered by Genghis Khan to manage the military and civilians in Shandong and Hebei.

Now, the soldiers, civilians, and people of Shandong and Hebei have become Zhao Shuo's subjects.

Officials can be easily changed, but the monarch remains as firm as a rock.

As long as Zhao Shuo is still alive, his policies can continue, and everyone can continue to enjoy their good life, or even get better and better.

People yearn to confirm their hopes for a better future through such a ceremony.

"I'm free of charge!"

Zhao Shuo proclaimed loudly, "Before Genghis Khan passed away, he granted me the lands of Shandong and Hebei, thus making you my subjects. I hereby declare that not only will all previous decrees remain unchanged, but we will also continue to migrate westward. Once we arrive in our new lands, the people will be divided into four classes, and you and the Mongols will be in the first class!"

"Before the Sui and Tang dynasties, the king and the nobles shared the world. In the Song dynasty, the king and the scholar-officials shared the world. However, their understanding of the world was too limited. They did not know that beyond the ancient land of China, there were countless lands and riches in distant places."

"The world is so vast, I wish to share it with you all!"

boom!
As soon as Zhao Shuo finished speaking, a thunderous response erupted from the crowd: "We are willing to die for the King!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers, civilians and ordinary people cheered in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!

Although the concept of "base support" did not exist in this era, these soldiers and civilians had already understood Zhao Shuo's meaning.

That means Zhao Shuo will use them as his base.

Do we even need to ask how wonderful their lives will be in the future?
When the Song Dynasty made Bianliang its capital, it devoted almost all the resources of the country to supporting the city, making Bianliang a veritable paradise on earth.

Shandong and Hebei may be vast, but the world is much bigger! Now the prince consort is the "King of Yan and Zhao, Qi and Lu, Khorasan, Tochariah, North India, the Kingdom of Bagrajionni, and West Rus'". How much territory will he conquer in the future?
Those who remain in Shandong and Hebei will enjoy a more prosperous and fulfilling life.

Those who leave Shandong and Hebei are even more remarkable; they become superior people wherever they go.

In a sense, we are all the king's "subjects who followed the dragon"!
Yelü Chucai is also very excited now.

At the time, Zhao Shuo risked the lives of the people of Zhongdu to take Yelü Chucai under his command. Yelü Chucai had thought he would simply be a high-ranking advisor to Zhao Shuo.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Shuo's power grew so quickly that after the westward expedition to Khwarazm, he became "King of Khorasan, Tokharistan, North India, the Kingdom of Bagrajionni, and West Rus'".

After destroying the Western Xia, the four characters "Yan, Zhao, Qi, and Lu" were added.

He is no longer Zhao Shuo's advisor, but a high-ranking official in the country.

If Zhao Shuo used Shandong and Hebei as his base, then without a doubt, Yelü Chucai would be the prime minister of the entire country.

Zhao Shuo's country is now more than twice the size of the Jin Dynasty.
How could a lowly official in the Jin Dynasty have imagined such glory?

Yelü Chucai could even imagine that, facing immense military pressure from the Mongols, the Jin dynasty resorted to exorbitant taxes and levies to maintain its massive military strength, leaving the people destitute. Countless people from Shanxi and Henan had previously secretly crossed the border to Shandong and Hebei to make a living.

Now, with Zhao Shuo's declaration, it's likely that countless people will try to illegally cross the border. It's as if "everyone wishes they were from Shandong or Hebei, everyone wishes they were a subject of the king!"
(End of this chapter)