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

Chapter 263 Mongolian Civil War: If this place won't keep me, I'll go join Zhao Shuo!

It must be said that Yibahe underestimated Empress Naimazhen's vengeful nature.

On the very night after Ögedei Khan's death, she ordered the execution of a member of the Golden Family—Tregne.

Telegni was the daughter of Chaghur, the youngest son of Genghis Khan.

In the original history, Genghis Khan's youngest son was named Shurche, and he was born to Temujin and Aliya.

In the history altered by Zhao Shuo, Aliya was given to Zhao Shuo by Genghis Khan.

Temujin's youngest son became Chaghur, the son he had with Queen Yesugan.

Chaghur was in poor health from a young age, and before Temujin's death, he passed away, leaving behind only his infant daughter, Telegni.

Before his death, Temujin remembered this poor granddaughter and asked Ögedei to take good care of her.

To be fair, Ögedei was very good at acting, and he loved to portray an image of benevolence and generosity.

He raised Tregny in the palace and treated her very well, even more so than his own daughter.

Unfortunately, Empress Naimajin had a terrible temper and often seized upon the smallest mistakes to severely punish the palace servants. Even if these servants hadn't done anything wrong, couldn't Empress Naimajin still vent her anger?

The servants had no choice but to plead with the gentle and kind Tregney.

Teregni dared not plead with Empress Naimajin, so she went to Ögedei Khan. Ögedei Khan then had an opportunity to demonstrate his mercy and pardoned the servants.

But at the same time, Naima really felt like he had lost face.

When Ögedei was in a coma, she didn't dare do anything to Teregni. But now, isn't Ögedei dead?

Who can control Naimajin now?
She couldn't even wait a day, so she ordered her men to put Tregney in a sack and trample her to death.

Then, Naima waited for a month.

During this month, Naimajin sent envoys to the Mongol princes and noyans to inform them that Ögedei had submitted to the Eternal Heaven. The most important envoys went to the west to demand an end to the western campaign and that the eldest sons of all the khans return to the steppe to convene a Kurultai to determine the new khan.

Even if everything goes smoothly, it will be a year before the Mongol nobles gather in Karakorum. Of course, Ögedei's body cannot remain rotting in Wan'an Palace indefinitely.

Under the supervision of Empress Naimajin, Ögedei's body was buried in the Qilian Valley.

With the arrival of Chagatai's envoy, it was clear that Chagatai supported Naimajin's claim to power and was willing to support Guyuk as Khan at the future Kurultai. Naimajin became even more arrogant.

At night.

"Tregni is dead. Do you know how many enemies I still have in this world?"

Naima looked toward his two trusted confidants.

The first confidante was named Fatima, a Persian Tuss, who was a female slave captured by the Mongols during their conquest of Khwarazm.

This woman was quite cunning. After being captured and taken to Karakorum, she frequently used various pretexts to get close to Naimajin's ordo (a type of female servant). Finally, one day, Naimajin noticed her.

With her various skills in Western mysticism, she gradually gained Naima Zhen's favor and became his personal maid, often offering him advice and strategies.

The second confidant was named Aodu Laheman, a Uyghur from the Western Regions who believed in the True God religion.

This man was originally a merchant from the Western Regions. He first bribed An Tianhe, a translator in Mongolia, and was then recommended to Yu Zhenhai by An Tianhe.

Seeing that he had some financial skills, Zhenhai actually gave him an official position, in charge of the national silver mine tax.

However, Aodu Laheman was not satisfied with this. In the dispute between Zhenhai and Empress Naimazhen, he sided entirely with Empress Naimazhen.

Zhenhai's honest advice was, of course, not as powerful as Empress Naimazhen's pillow talk. Ögedei also liked this Odulahaman very much and appointed him as the official in charge of tax collection in various regions.

Although this official position was very lucrative, Aodu Lahe Manyu was not satisfied.

He had always wanted to change the Mongol court's tax system from a property-based system to a purchase system.

In other words, since the Mongols didn't understand tax collection anyway, they decided not to bother. They simply auctioned off the tax revenue from various regions, and whoever promised to hand over the most money became the tax collector.

They collected the people's money, gave the Khan enough, and kept the rest for themselves.

Ögedei was a pleasure-seeking man, and he was indeed somewhat tempted.

However, both the Left Chancellor Zhenhai and the Right Chancellor Henchuan Chongshan strongly opposed it, so it was not implemented.

Now that Ögedei is finally dead and Naimazhen has taken over the reins, Aodulahhaman feels that his time to make a fortune has come!
"Suppress the sea and bind together the mountains!"

Upon hearing Naima's question, Aodu Laheman blurted out.

While Ögedei was alive, Naimazhen already held some political power and clashed with Zhenhai and Henchuan Chongshan on several occasions.

“Borahma!” Fatima also mentioned a name.

Although Naimajin ruled as regent, her title was "Sixth Empress." Meanwhile, Bolahjin held the title of "Grand Empress," which undoubtedly displeased Empress Naimajin greatly.

“Ya Lao Wa Chi!” Ao Du La He Man said another name.

Yalaowachi was the prime minister of the Ögedei Khanate.

The grasslands are the very foundation of Mongolia, so it's understandable that Ögedei Khan didn't want to cause trouble. But what about the former Western Liao region?
Aodulahaman and Naimazhen repeatedly suggested that the tax collection system be piloted in the Khanate of Ögedei, but this was met with strong opposition from Yalaowachi.

Naimazhen nodded slightly and said, "That's right, it's these four people. No matter what, Bolakhan is Ögedei's Great Empress. If she dies now, it won't be easy to explain to the princes. Let her live for another three months. Three months later, Fatima."

"exist."

"You do it. Make it clean, so no one can tell anything's wrong."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Actually, Ögedei was dead, and Naima should truly be called Empress Dowager. However, the title of "Empress Dowager" had to be bestowed by the new Great Khan. Since Güyük hadn't yet ascended the throne, whose Empress Dowager was Naima really?

Therefore, people still refer to Naimajin as the Empress.

Empress Naizhen continued, "Yalao Wachi is far away in Husi Ordos. We'll send someone to capture him tomorrow. Now, only Zhenhai and Henian Chongshan remain. It's not good to deal with the two prime ministers at the same time. Let's deal with Zhenhai tonight. Aodulaheman!"

"exist!"

"Today you will take five hundred Kheshig soldiers and imprison Zhenhai."

"Ah I?"

Aodu Laheman was somewhat ambiguous at the time.

Zhenhai not only served as the Left Chancellor under Ögedei for many years, accumulating deep power, but he was also a hereditary centurion with troops under his command!

Naima said unhappily, "What? You're afraid to go? Then I'll find someone else."

"dare!"

Now that things had come to this, Aodu Laheman was going all out; fortune favors the bold. If he backed down today, he could forget about regaining Empress Naimazhen's trust, and all his previous efforts would have been in vain.

Besides, how many soldiers does Zhenhai have under his command?

Could they possibly be a match for five hundred Kheshig soldiers?

Not only did he dare not refuse, but he also explained, "The main reason is that I was recommended for office by Zhenhai, and I feel somewhat guilty about taking action against him now. However, I have now realized that I will only be loyal to Your Majesty in this life. Even if the whole world condemns me for being ungrateful, I will still capture that villain Zhenhai for Your Majesty!"

"That's pretty much it."

Naimazhen said happily, "If you do this job well, I will allow you to purchase taxes from the Ögedei Khanate. If you do it well, you will also be allowed to purchase taxes from the entire steppe."

"Thank you Queen!"

With 100% profit, a businessman might risk the gallows. With 300% profit, a businessman might dare to trample on all human laws.

Moreover, what's more, contracting out a country's tax revenue?

Aodu Laheman grew bolder and, with a dozen or so trusted men and five hundred Kheshig soldiers, headed straight for Zhenhai's residence.

"Open the door! Open the door now!"

"Zhenhai, come out quickly to receive the imperial decree!" "The Empress's decree has arrived!"

……

Aodu Laheman's followers pounded on the gates of Zhenhai with tremendous force.

Zhiwuwu~~
The gates of Zhenhai have been opened.

The old prime minister walked out of the door, escorted by a hundred armored soldiers.

He knelt down and said, "Zhenhai, the Left Prime Minister of the Great Mongol Empire, respectfully awaits the Empress's decree!"

Aodu Laheman unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and said loudly, "The Empress decrees: Zhenhai repeatedly disobeyed me during the reign of the Great Khan, but I considered him a virtuous minister and did not hold it against him. Now, someone has accused Zhenhai of embezzlement, bribery, selling official positions, and colluding with foreign vassals in an attempt to manipulate the succession of the Khanate. This has truly shocked me. I hereby order Aodu Laheman to arrest Zhenhai and imprison him for a thorough interrogation."

Then, Aodu Laheman put away Empress Naimazhen's decree, waved his right hand, and said, "Take it down!"

"Let's see who dares to make a move!"

Zhenhai suddenly stood up, his face full of cold laughter, and said, "So, I thought there really was an imperial decree, which is why I knelt down to receive it. But the Empress is wise; how could she issue such a chaotic order?"

Immediately afterwards, he pointed his right index finger sharply at Aodu Laheman and said, "Aodu Laheman, you dare to falsely convey the Empress's decree, your crime is not small!"

"How could this be fake?"

Aodu Laheman said, "I saw this imperial edict with my own eyes. It was written by the Empress and sealed with her seal. How could it be fake?"

"Hmph, you say you saw it with your own eyes, and that's it? Who can testify?"

"That's completely sophistry!"

Aodu Laheman understood that Zhenhai was just being unreasonable. Even if the imperial edict were given to Zhenhai for verification, he would still say that the handwriting and seal were fake.

Without further ado, he said, "Tas! Quickly obey the Empress's decree and capture Zhenhai!"

Zhenhai frowned and looked at Tas, asking sternly, "Tas, your grandfather Muqali and I once drank from the Banzhuni River together. We even joined Genghis Khan in establishing the Great Mongol Empire. Now, do you intend to join forces with Odulahaman to harm the loyal officials of the Great Mongol Empire and destroy its foundation?"

"That's impossible! That's impossible!"

Tass took a step back, showing goodwill towards Zhenhai.

He was Muqali's grandson and Bolu's eldest son.

If history had unfolded as it should have, Boru would have been wounded in the war against the Jin dynasty and, preoccupied with the death of Genghis Khan, would have died young. Thus, Tas, at the tender age of eighteen, would have succeeded Muqali to the throne.

However, Zhao Shuo changed history, and Bo Lu is still alive and kicking.

Tas replaced Muqali's nephew, Zatar, and served as a commander of a thousand in the Kheshig army.

Tas knew, of course, that the decree in Audurahman's hands was genuine.

But what about that?
Who is Zhenhai? And who are Naimazhen and even Aodulaheman? Who in the Kheshig army doesn't know?

Who would be willing to help Naima Zhen go against the tide?

And most importantly, even if Naima is dissatisfied with Tass's performance, so what?
If we want to deal with Tas, we have to ask Bolu and one of his steppe commanders if they agree!

Ultimately, Naimajin's rule was merely nominal; he possessed the power to rule Mongolia but lacked sufficient authority and could not be compared to the legitimate Great Khan of Mongolia elected at the Kurultai.

Tas disobeyed her orders, and so he did not.

It wasn't that Aodu Laheman was incapable of selecting men. But theoretically, the commanders of the Kheshig army were on par with the commanders of the outer steppes. Which one of them didn't have a distinguished background? Which one didn't have intricate connections with Zhenhai?
Of course, Tass wouldn't completely disregard Naima's feelings.

He asked Zhenhai, "When Aodulaheman brought this decree to me, I genuinely believed it was the Empress's. But now, Zhenhai, you say it's a forgery, and I don't know if it's true or false. What do you suggest we do?"

Zhenhai said, "That's simple. I'll take this decree with me and go see the Empress. We'll hear from her whether the decree is real or fake. Anyway, my family is in this mansion, so you don't need to worry about me running away."

Tas looked at Audurahman and said, "What do you think?"

“Fine, I’ll go! Then I’ll punish Zhenhai for disobeying orders!” Aodu Laheman said angrily. “However, Tas, you must take the Kheshig army and surround Zhenhai’s residence. Don’t let anyone escape.”

Zhenhai's family is in the mansion; he can't just run away alone, can he?

Aodu Laheman thought that Zhenhai wanted to take this opportunity to explain himself to Empress Naimazhen and persuade her to retract her decision.

However, he seriously underestimated the ruthlessness of this veteran general who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood alongside Genghis Khan.

After Tas nodded in agreement, Aodu Laheman, along with a dozen followers, Zhenhai, and Zhenhai's armored soldiers, headed towards the palace.

Just as they were out of sight of the Kheshig army, Zhenhai and his armored soldiers made their move!
Puff puff!
On one side are the iron-blooded warriors of the grasslands, and on the other side are the greedy Semu servants. What suspense is there?
In addition, with the enemy caught off guard, seven or eight people killed one person, and in an instant, Aodu Laheman's confidants lay dead on the ground, without even having time to utter a scream.

"you you……"

Aodu Laheman was a smart man, and he dared not shout loudly, fearing that Zhenhai would also kill him.

He said tremblingly, "Are you rebelling? Don't you care about your family?"

"Hmph, I knew that bitch would make a move against me, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. Let me tell you, my family was sent away from Helin three days ago. I was originally planning to resign in a few days, but that bitch couldn't even wait a few days!"

"Then where do you want to go?"

"Go back and tell Naimazhen that I, Zhenhai, have gone to serve Zhao Shuohan! We're all from the same Banzhuni River, he'll take me in. If she's so capable, she should go and ask Zhao Shuohan for me!"

In the original history, Naima Zhen became emperor and sent people to arrest Zhenhai. After Zhenhai escaped, he went to join Kuoduan.

There was nothing they could do. At that time, the authority of the Mongol court was still strong. Where could Zhenhai possibly escape to?

Now, Zhenhai has a new option.

After ordering his men to knock out Aodu Laheman, he used the prestige of the Left Chancellor to order the gates of Karakorum to be opened and went south to join Zhao Shuo.

In fact, Zhenhai was not the only one who defected to Zhao Shuo.
A month later, outside Husihan's Ear City.

"Father, where are we going?" Ya Laowachi's son, Ma Suhu, asked.

When Aodu Laheman failed to capture Zhenhai, Empress Naimazhen was furious and ordered a commander named Yimadumuleke from the Kheshig army to go to Husihan's ears to capture Ya Laowachi.

Although Yimadumulek did not have the power behind Tas, he still had some connections and was an upright man who was unwilling to carry out the task. After meeting Ya Laowachi, he first gave some hints.

Ya Laowachi understood and immediately suggested, "Let's not talk about the imperial decree today. Let's have a good drink first. After we've properly welcomed you and washed away the dust of your journey, we'll read out the Empress's decree."

After Yimadumulek got completely drunk, Yalaowachi took the opportunity to escape from Husihan's ears with his family.

Yalaowachi said, “When Ögedei Khan was in power, he was very kind to me. Although the Queen treated me so well, I cannot betray the Khan. Therefore, I plan to go to Kashgar and seek refuge with King Köden.”

Although the capital of the Ögedei Khanate was Khussin-du-duk.

However, the most prosperous place in the Ögedei Khanate was Kashgar.

Kuoduan, indulging in pleasure, is no longer in Husihan's ears, but in Kashgar.

Masuhu said worriedly, "King Kuoduan is, after all, the Queen's son. If we offend the Queen, can he protect us?"

"It's not 'we,' but me. I'm going to seek refuge with King Khoduan, and whether he takes me in or not, I have no complaints. But you and the others... go south and seek refuge with Zhao Shuo Khan! No matter how domineering the Empress is, she can't get anyone from Zhao Shuo Khan."

Even if it meant his own death, Yalaowachi was determined to remain loyal to Ögedei.

However, that does not include his family!

If his family had also sought refuge with the Khoduan, or gone to the west to seek refuge with the Chagatai Khanate, they might have suffered at the hands of Naimazhen.

The only way to ensure the safety of his family is to seek refuge with Zhao Shuo.

……

……

Thus, less than three months after Empress Nomajin took power.

Genghis Khan's most cherished granddaughter was executed; Zhenhai and Masuhu fled to Zhao Shuo; and Yalaowachi also escaped and sought refuge with Kuoduan. Furthermore, the Right Chancellor, Hencheng Chongshan, was terrified and voluntarily resigned from all his posts to retire at home.

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