Chapter 3: The Threat of Murder in Spring (3)
"Do not kill me, I am not Mongolian!" Zhao Cheng raised his hands, indicating that he was unarmed and posed no threat
Kneel down, kneel down! The other party surrounded and scolded, and even though he was just a boy, they did not let down their guard
What you said is indeed the truth. The Mongols are not only detestable but also deserve to be killed; I have an irreconcilable enmity with them. I have given way time and again, but that old and ugly wolf, Temujin, keeps pressing me. This time, I will make his people bleed and return the suffering he inflicted upon my clan back to the Mongols. Annihilate all Mongol men and women, and honor our ancestors. The leader shouted hysterically, the precious blade that had been pressed against Zhao Cheng's neck was now raised high, slashing through the air as if Temujin were right before him. Annihilate all Mongol men and women, and honor our ancestors. The leader shouted hysterically, the precious blade that had been pressed against Zhao Cheng's neck was now raised high, slashing through the air as if Temujin were right before him
"Qulü, you two brothers take this person back and inform your grandfather and father, instructing them to leave with everyone overnight and take refuge in Mount Alatan. The sooner, the better!" Zhao Cheng said
Not far ahead, there is a camp of Mongolians. The scouts report that only the old, weak, women, and children remain there. We have traveled a long way, crossing mountains and rivers, and both men and horses are exhausted. As night is approaching, we will find a place to set up camp here, regain our strength, and wait until sunrise tomorrow. At that time, we will attack, eliminate all the Mongolian men, seize their women, and share the spoils equally among us. We want Temüjin to know that the descendants of the great Yinchang · Bilge Khan will never submit!" The leader was delivering this speech among the crowd.
"Oh, the clear mirror of the ancient Khan. The detestable Mongols captured me five years ago and made me a slave in a Mongolian pastoral area not far from here, forcing me to serve them like cattle and horses. My Mongolian master enjoys gourmet meals while I stand by, starving, serving water and wine; my Mongolian master rides his horse to hunt, while I run on the ground alongside the hunting dogs, arrows narrowly missing me multiple times; in winter, my Mongolian master sleeps in a warm tent while I endure the cold in a drafty sheep pen, staying up all night, and if a hungry wolf takes one of the sheep, I would be beaten mercilessly; in summer, while my master relaxes, I must fan him, leaving me no time to rest. The detestable Mongols beat and scold me, leaving me without clothing to cover my body and food to fill my stomach. I swear I will not be human until I avenge this grievance!" Zhao Cheng lamented, tears streaming down his face.
Oh? The leader's expression softened slightly, the exquisite jeweled dagger still pressed against Zhao Cheng's throat. "Then how did you come to be here? Looking at your attire, you certainly do not appear to be a slave!"
His hands were scratching chaotically on the ground, smeared with dirt and grass roots, wiping at the corners of his eyes. His eyes were stung by unclean substances, and in an instant, tears streamed down his face
The two brothers of Qu Lü thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, lifted the half-dead stranger, and quickly tied him onto the horse's back, carefully leading the horse through the woods in the opposite direction.
Zhao Cheng and the others felt somewhat anxious, as there were no other Mongolian camps within a hundred miles, only the Mongolian pastoral area they were in. Since Genghis Khan unified the Mongolian steppe, conflicts and wars have become unseen within the Mongolian territory. The system of thousand households has broken the original tribal divisions, and everyone is referred to as Mongolian. Only when meeting strangers do they inquire about each other's surnames to ascertain their origins. This group of people must have come from the west of the Alatan Mountains. It is said that General Bie, under the orders of Genghis Khan, crossed the Alatan Mountains to attack the Khara Khitan, pursuing the ever-elusive former Naimans prince, Quchul. As the leader mentioned, only about two hundred old, weak, women, and children remain in the tribe, while the able-bodied youth are either following General Bie to attack the Khara Khitan or accompanying General Muhuali to assault the Jin state. Additionally, some have not returned since last winter when they followed Genghis Khan to attack the Tangut.
Note 4: "Kara Khitan" means "Black Khitan". In Chinese historical texts, it is referred to as the Western Liao. It was established by the Khitan noble Yelü Dashi, who led a group of people westward during the late period of the Liao Empire, and it became the absolute hegemon in the Central Asian region for nearly a hundred years. He referred to himself as "Gur Khan" according to local customs, and adopted the title "Emperor Tianyou" in accordance with the customs of the Central Plains, effectively becoming the heir to the Liao Empire. After his death at the age of fifty-six, he was posthumously honored with the temple name Dezong. His sinicization was quite significant, and Yelü Dashi himself was one of the few among the last Khitan nobility to have achieved the degree of Jinshi.
Zhao Cheng could only raise his hands in submission, half-kneeling on the ground, treating it as if he were bowing to the dead. As soon as he knelt down, several knives were immediately pressed against his neck, the chill from the blades causing him to shiver involuntarily, making him feel that this spring evening was still quite cold
"And what about you?" Qu Lüy asked.
"Someone must stay behind to monitor. I am small in stature and can hide in this forest, making it difficult to be discovered. Moreover, they are targeting Mongolians; if you fall into their hands, it will only lead to certain death. As a Han person, if they discover me, my chances of survival are somewhat greater." Zhao Cheng said