Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 283 Side Story: Awakening Fragrance Five

On the dog-eat-dog grasslands, countless ambitious men rose and fell, almost all of them dreaming of establishing a great khanate like the Xiongnu, Turks, or Uyghurs.

The crushing defeat at the Battle of Dingxiang made Bodonchar so angry that the inner corner of his eye twitched incessantly, and he was heartbroken by the loss of his troops.

Bodonchar was born into a small tribe among the Mongol-Shiwei tribes. He was thirty-one years old this year, in the prime of his life. On the grasslands, where it was rare for men to live past forty, this was the best age for him to do things.

He had a broad face and a short, stocky build, but his strong, muscular fingers held an explosive power.

As a child, Bodonchar was known for his taciturn nature and was once considered mentally challenged. After he gained power, this silence became a manifestation of his deep cunning.

After their parents died, the brothers divided the tribe's people and livestock equally. They believed that Bodonchar did not look like them and might be an illegitimate child, so they did not treat him as family and refused to give him any property.

Bodonchar rode away on a white horse, saying, "Poverty and wealth are all predestined; what does family wealth amount to?"

So they tamed eagles to hunt rabbits and birds for food.

Several months later, dozens of herding families migrated from the fields of Tongjilihulu in search of water and pasture. Seeing that Bodonchar was all alone, they gave him mare's milk and mutton, which finally freed him from a life of irregular hunger. At this time, his third brother had a change of heart and said, "Bodonchar left on his own and has no money. Has he been living well lately?"

So they led their men to him.

Bodonchar immediately told his brother, "These dozens of herding families have no leader. If we send troops to attack them, we can make them submit."

This means capturing them and making them subjects and slaves.

After a quick discussion, the brothers decided to act immediately, seizing the group of civilians and dividing the spoils among themselves.

Through ingratitude, Bodonchar acquired his first fortune.

Bodonchar, who has now led his people to migrate among the thirty Tatar clans, is now a tribal leader with 20,000 people and more than 2,000 archers.

This is far from the limit of Bodonchar's ambition.

He resolved to establish a new clan, and his descendants would all bear the surname derived from his name—Borjigin.

He further planned to integrate the thirty Tatar clans, the nine Shiwei tribes, and even the remnants of the Uyghurs and Turks, as well as the Khitans and Xi people, to establish a vast khanate encompassing both the southern and northern deserts.

He had already decided on the title of Khan: Bogda, meaning deity or holy spirit. If translated into Chinese, it would be "Great Khan of Gods and Demons".

Inciting various tribes to invade the Tang border and besiege Dingxiang City was precisely Bodonchar's means of seizing prestige. If successful, his position as the leader of the various tribes would be rock-solid, and he could then gradually annex and assimilate the tribes.

This steppe wolf, who called himself the "Great Khan of Gods and Demons," was defeated and his followers were scattered, fleeing in disarray like stray dogs.

The Zhenwu cavalry split into several groups and launched a carpet hunt across the grasslands. The Tatars became like frightened birds, seeing danger everywhere. It took Bodonchar half a month to gather eight hundred warriors.

"Ah!"

Bodonchar suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, sneezed violently, and tightened his sheepskin robe.

Looking up, I saw snowflakes falling from the sky.

Bodonchar's eyes suddenly brightened, and a smug grin appeared on his lips. He said to his attendant, "This is Tengri the God helping me!"

The servant, puzzled, respectfully inquired of his master what ingenious plan he had devised.

“The enemy, having won, will surely be arrogant. And the approaching heavy snow will only make them more eager to return home due to the cold.” Bodonchar squinted and sneered, “This is precisely our chance to turn the tide.” His companion exclaimed in surprise, “But the other tribes have already fled, and our tribe only has eight hundred men gathered…”

Bodonchar said sternly, "The most loyal and brave guards have returned to the ranks, that's enough! War is all about surprise, and besides, when it comes to resisting the cold, can the Tang people compare to us Tatars?"

There were actually quite a few non-Han people in the Zhenwu Army, including Commander Feng and his son, who were from the Shatuo, a branch of the Turkic people. However, having lived in the city within the Great Wall for a long time, their ability to withstand the cold had deteriorated.

While his attendant was still hesitating, he saw the fierce glint in Bodonchar's eyes and immediately knelt on one knee, saying, "I will obey the leader's orders without question, whether it means life or death!"

Bodonchar stroked his beard with satisfaction and smiled.

Once he's made up his mind, he acts on it without hesitation—that's his usual style. As for those who dare to voice their opposition, they're simply killed.

……

After successfully rescuing Dingxiang, Li Keyong did not return immediately, but ordered his men to escort the prisoners and spoils of war back to Zhenwu City.

Besides pursuing and killing fleeing enemies to expand the gains, the severely damaged city walls need to be repaired, the supplies inside the city need to be replenished, and the fallen soldiers need to be buried. These are not things that can be done in a day or two.

When the entire army finally embarked on its return journey, two thousand men remained—one thousand of whom had already escorted prisoners and spoils back.

Because of the great victory, the soldiers cheered loudly and sang at the top of their lungs, and the whole team was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Although the sudden drop in temperature turned everyone's cheeks red from the cold, this was expected for an autumn expedition, and the soldiers had all donned fur robes, so they could withstand it.

As the heavy snow began to fall, Li Keyong's expression finally changed.

He saw the soldiers galloping away on their horses, eager to return to Zhenwu City and to their warm, cozy beds.

Being complacent and negligent after a victory is a major taboo in military operations.

But when Li Keyong said this to them, the generals all looked like they didn't take it seriously.

"Oh, young master, the Tatars have all vanished without a trace. Why would they come back to attack? You're overthinking it."

The speaker, Xue Atan, was a tall, thin man with a sallow complexion. During the Battle of Dingxiang, it was he who led his cavalry to outflank the enemy and, together with Shi Jingsi, the defending general of Dingxiang, led his troops in a pincer attack, which resulted in a great victory.

This once-stellar cavalry commander now seems to take the enemy completely lightly.

The generals laughed heartily, raising their wine flasks. They were drinking spirits they had seized from the Tatars, supposedly from the Western Regions. The taste wasn't great, but it was hot and spicy, perfect for warming up on a snowy day.

Xingxiang keenly identified the problem.

This emergency required expediency, marking the first time Li Keyong had led troops independently. Previously, his father, Li Guochang, had never entrusted him with such a task.

Li Keyong could only inspire his soldiers with kindness and loyalty, but he could not subdue them with authority. In the eyes of his generals, the prince was still a pretty boy who looked like a girl.

Cavalrymen were treated well, and their training should theoretically be more rigorous than that of infantrymen. However, cavalrymen were more likely to become arrogant after winning battles.

Because if they suffer a defeat, they can escape on horseback and not be at the mercy of the enemy.

Li Keyong's concerns were entirely justified, but he was not his father Li Guochang, and his authority was insufficient to subdue the generals.

(End of this chapter)