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

Chapter 264 The Mongol princes panicked, Kublai Khan's choice!
Husihan's ears are much closer to Samarkand than to Khorchin.

The news of the flight of Yalawachi, the prime minister of the Ögedei Khanate, and his entire family had not yet reached Karakorum when it reached Chagatai's ears.

In the original history, Chagatai also returned to the embrace of the Eternal Heaven three months after Ögedei's death.

Thanks to Zhao Shuo's butterfly effect, Ögedei Khan died seven years earlier, and Chagatai Khan's current health condition is relatively good.

Of course, it's only passable.

Like Ögedei Khan, he was fond of both wine and cesium. How healthy could he possibly be?
After hearing that Genghis Khan's most beloved granddaughter had been killed, and then hearing that Zhenhai had fled to Zhao Shuo, and that Henian Chongshan had resigned, and then hearing that Ya Laowachi's whole family had fled, he could no longer bear it.

"This woman is digging up the very roots of Mongolia!"

Chagatai slammed his fist on the table and shouted.

He felt his head buzzing and stars flashing before his eyes. He quickly grabbed the imperial desk and barely managed to avoid fainting on the spot.

"Father, how are you? Should we call a doctor?"

The one who came to report this news to Chagatai was his fifth son, Yesu, who quickly stepped forward to help him up.

Chagatai now has seven sons.

The eldest son, Mu'atugan, participated in the eldest son's western expedition and is currently fighting against Guyuk on the Arabian Peninsula.

Chagatai's second son, Mujiyeye, was born to Chagatai and a maid. One day, Chagatai's wife went out for a while, and Chagatai saw that the maid, who was making the bed, was quite attractive, so he got her pregnant, and she later gave birth to Mujiyeye. Because Mujiyeye's mother was of lowly birth, she was never valued by Chagatai.

The third son, Belgesh, was Chagatai's favorite, but unfortunately, he died of a serious illness at the age of thirteen.

The fourth son, Saban, was born timid and mediocre. He dared not offend anyone and was practically invisible.

Liu Zibaidar was born short and was really not presentable.

The seven sons, including He Dahai, were still minors.

Only the fifth son, Yesu, although also an alcoholic, was indeed the most capable besides the eldest son, Mu'a Tugan.

After Mu'atugan's western expedition, Yesu, together with Mashushibo, the prime minister of the Chagatai Khanate, assisted Chagatai in military and political affairs.

"It's okay, I'm fine!"
Chagatai tried to calm himself down for a while, then waved his hand, ordering the servants in the main hall to leave.

Seeing that only the father and son remained in the hall, Chagatai said bitterly, "I really regret it! Back then, I only wanted to join forces with Ögedei to prevent that bastard Jochi from ascending to the throne. Even if Ögedei had taken the throne, I would not have hesitated to give up being the Great Khan myself."

"However, I really didn't expect that Ögedei would disregard brotherly affection and turn against Tolui. I also didn't expect that his sixth empress, Ma Naizhen, would be so stupid! Where did all that cleverness and shrewdness she had in Ögedei's harem go? Once she gained control of the court, she became as stupid as a pig! We are really going to be killed by this stupid woman!"

Chagatai originally thought that Naimajin was, after all, the biological mother of princes such as Güyük, Köden, and Köchü. Moreover, as the "Sixth Empress," she had suppressed several of Ögedei's empresses for so many years, so she must be quite capable. Letting her oversee the country was only reasonable.

However, he never expected that the palace intrigues between women and the political struggles in the imperial court were completely different.

Naimazhen's rule lasted less than three months, but he turned the Mongol court into a complete mess.

Chagatai is now filled with deep regret!

Yesu said, "I just don't understand. Since we have no hope of vying for the Khanate, why should we keep getting involved in this mess? Among the five factions, we are the weakest. If we continue to remain neutral, how can we possibly protect our Khanate?"

"It's too late."

Chagatai explained, “If Ögedei hadn’t killed Tolui, and we had remained neutral, our country would have been secure for at least several decades. But now, the Tolui lineage and the Ögedei lineage have become sworn enemies.”

"As you know, Mongolia is now divided into two major forces. On one side is the line of Ögedei and us, and on the other side is the line of Jochi, Zhao Shuo and Tolui. If Güyük cannot ascend to the throne this time, then Möngke will be the one to take the throne."

Yesu nodded and said, "The bloodline of the Jochi lineage is questionable. Zhao Shuo doesn't even have the surname Borjigin. Indeed, if the Nayans don't choose Güyük, they can only choose Möngke. But what does that have to do with us?"

Chagatai glanced at his second most outstanding son with disappointment, but still helplessly continued to explain.

He said, "When Ögedei was in power, most of the steppe warriors were both Ögedei's troops and Tolui's troops. With Tolui's faction hindering them, Ögedei was unable to fully exercise the power of the Great Khan of the Mongols. However, when Möngke ascended to the throne, most of the steppe warriors obeyed only Möngke."

"so what?"

"By then, although Möngke still couldn't do anything to Zhao Shuo, he would have an absolute advantage over us and the Ögedei lineage. He would also have a considerable advantage over the Jochi Khanate."

Yesu said, "Could he possibly defy the world and start a civil war in Mongolia?"

"There's no need for a civil war. Your elder brother, Mu'atugan, is more fierce than cautious. Möngke only needs to incite you brothers to fight each other, and your elder brother might die under mysterious circumstances. Then, who succeeds to the Khanate will be up to Möngke. In time, our Khanate will fall into his hands sooner or later."

Chagatai's words hit a crucial point.

The Chagatai Khanate was too close to the Mongol heartland, and Chagatai was too old. If he died, a new Mongol Khan could easily stir up trouble if he so desired.

Möngke always believed that Chagatai and Ögedei were in cahoots, so how could he not take the opportunity to seek revenge?
Even setting aside past grievances, could Möngke resist the temptation to bring the Chagatai Khanate under his control?

Yesu was startled and said, "In fact, Möngke could easily instigate a civil war between us brothers. He could lead the Mongol army into the Khanate to quell the rebellion and take the opportunity to annex our Khanate."

"That's the truth."

Chagatai said, "Therefore, in this struggle for the Khanate, we can only let Güyük, who is inclined to support us, ascend to the throne, not Möngke!"

"So what exactly do we do?"

"Of all my sons, you and Guyuk are the closest. You shall set off today for the Arabian Peninsula and make Guyuk and Mu'atugan withdraw their troops back to the steppe at all costs. We must not allow Naimajin to continue his perverse actions and damage Guyuk's reputation!"

Yesu asked, "Even so, can Guyuk smoothly inherit the Khanate?" "Of course not. However, Möngke and Zhao Shuo's faction, as well as Jochi's faction, are not of one mind. Zhao Shuo doesn't want to see a Khan who commands most of the steppe warriors on the throne, does he? This is our opportunity."

"And then what? Zhao Shuo's faction is still the most powerful of the five factions, and Jochi's faction is still eyeing us covetously. Our Khanate is still not out of danger."

Chagatai sighed and said, "Let's take it one step at a time. When Genghis Khan was alive, how powerful was the Mongol court? In less than twenty years, it has fallen to such a state. Time is the fairest and the cruelest thing. Only the Eternal Heaven knows what will happen in the future."

What if Zhao Shuo and Zhao He both suddenly die?

What if Zhao Shuo's sons, in their struggle for the legacy he left behind, commit massacres and bloodshed?

As long as we get through this hurdle, there is still hope.

"Alright, I'll grab something to eat, then we'll set off with the men!"

Yesu understood Chagatai's intentions, ate a little food hastily, and set off from Samarkand with five hundred elite cavalrymen for the Arabian Peninsula.

……

……

One month later, in Huining City, Northeast China.

"Haha! Great! Empress Bolahjin was also killed by that vile woman Naimajin. Our chance has come!" Ariq Böke said happily.

Although the Tuolei faction had been keeping a low profile, their spies had been closely monitoring every move in Helin City.

Zhenhai fled, and Ya Laowachi also fled. Empress Naimazhen realized that the power she possessed was not as secure as she had imagined.

However, instead of restraining herself, she became even more enraged and depraved.

On the very night that she learned of Ya Laowachi's escape, Naima Zhen ordered Fatima to poison Bolahzhen.
Although Naimajin publicly claimed that Bolakhchin died from excessive grief over missing Ögedei, it was impossible for Tolui's spies to infiltrate Wan'an Palace and uncover the true cause of Bolakhchin's death. But what evidence would be needed for such a matter?
For the Torei faction, this is exactly what Naima really did!

Even if it wasn't Naima who did it, it had to be Naima who did it!

Kublai Khan, Hulagu, Ariq Böke, Bochok, and Mogök, the five sons of Tolui, gathered before Sorghaghtani Beki to discuss important matters.

Mo Ge, only fourteen years old this year, was full of youthful passion and excitement: "Let's send troops! We'll send troops now, attack Karakorum, capture that bitch Naimazhen, and make her confess to killing the Great Queen. I'll see then, what face will Gyu, as Naimazhen's son, have to contend for the Khanate?"

"Yes! Send troops! If Naima really acts so perversely, no one will be willing to protect her! Besides, these grassland warriors are originally our soldiers."

"The throne of the Great Khan of Mongolia should be returned to our hands!"

Hulagu and Bochok also chimed in.

Sorghaghtani Beki, however, did not share the joy of her brothers. She looked at Kublai Khan, who had remained silent, and said, "Kublai Khan, what do you say?"

I think it's inappropriate.

Kublai Khan was only nineteen years old, but he had a composure beyond his years. He shook his head and said, "How did Ögedei die? Ibaha is a strong suspect. Some people say that she was instructed by her mother to avenge her father."

Sorghaghtani said solemnly, "I can tell you clearly that no matter how Ögedei died, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me."

"Even so, Yibahe is my mother's own sister, and others will still be skeptical. If we were to send troops to occupy Karakorum now, even more people would probably believe that Ögedei's death was related to us. The son of the one who murdered the Great Queen is not worthy of the throne. Then is the nephew of the one who murdered the Great Khan worthy of the throne?"

Ali Buge said anxiously, "Then what do you suggest we do? We can't just watch such a good opportunity slip away, can we?"

Kublai Khan spoke slowly and deliberately, saying, "Ariq Böke, think carefully, what is the key to our reclaiming of the Khanate? Is it that Naima really acted against the tide? No! It is Uncle Zhao Shuo!"

"Zhao Shuo's uncle and the Jochi lineage have formed a close alliance. Their combined strength is something that even if we, the Chagatai and Ögedei lineages, combined, could not contend with."

“If Uncle Zhao Shuo is willing to support us, even if Naimazhen is just and wise, can Guyuk secure his position as Khan? Conversely, if Uncle Zhao Shuo supports Guyuk, even if Naimazhen acts ten times more perversely, what can we do?”

Sorghaghtani looked at Kublai Khan with satisfaction and said, "Very good, Kublai Khan, you have not been blinded by power and have seen the true nature of the matter. Whether we can regain the Khanate depends not on Sorghaghtani, but on Zhao Shuo."

"How could Uncle Zhao Shuo not support us?" Mo Ge asked, puzzled. "Hasn't he been protecting us all along, and even forced Ögedei to issue an edict of self-reproach?"

Kublai Khan shook his head and said, "The reason why Uncle Zhao Shuo was willing to support us in the first place was because of Genghis Khan and Aunt Hua Zheng, and he didn't want to see us end up in a bad situation. Another reason was that after Ögedei Khan annexed us, his strength became too great, which was not in his interest."

"However, if Möngke were to ascend to the throne of the Great Khan of the Mongols, and most of the steppe warriors were to obey his orders, his power would surpass that of Ögedei. Zhao Shuo's uncle would probably not want to see that either."

Ariq Böke frowned slightly and said, "However, the relationship between Ögedei's faction and Zhao Shuo's uncle has never been good. He might not want to see Güyük ascend the throne, right?"

Kublai Khan said, “This is the crux of the matter. Zhao Shuo’s uncle does not have the surname Borjigin, so it is impossible for him to become the Great Khan of the Mongols. Although Zhao He was granted the surname Borjigin by Genghis Khan, there are still so many members of the Golden Family, so it would be too difficult to convince the masses to choose him. Therefore, even if Zhao Shuo’s uncle does not want to choose, he must choose between Möngke and Güyük.”

Hulagu's heart stirred, and he said, "Back then, we gave the Persian region to Zhao Shuo's uncle in exchange for their protection. This time, why not give Iraq to him? After all, he helped us reclaim Iraq anyway."

Sorghaghtani shook his head and said, "Although Iraq has fertile land, it has suffered from repeated wars and is in dire need of reconstruction. How could it possibly be worthy of a Khanate?"

Ariq Böke gritted his teeth slightly and said, "If all else fails, we can add our fiefdoms in the Northeast! The world is so vast. As long as we seize the Khanate, we will have the right to rule and a large army. How can we not seize enough territory for our fiefdoms?"

Kublai Khan added, "We can also add the former Western Xia region. It is also part of the ancient Chinese land, but now it is the territory of our Mongol homeland. We can promise Zhao Shuo's uncle that as long as he supports us in regaining the Khanate, we will hand over the former Western Xia territory to him to rule, so that he can truly unify China."

It must be said that Tolui's faction went to great lengths to reclaim the Khanate.

Kublai Khan even volunteered to come to Zhongdu.

(End of this chapter)