Bab 13: Strategy and Helplessness
Dorj stepped inside General Subeedei's ger, outfitted with elegant furniture. At the center of the room, a blaze burned brightly.
"Do make yourself comfortable. Here, have some milk tea," the General offered.
Dorj looked around the interior of the ger and accepted the silver cup with milk tea with gratitude.
"General Subeedei, I'm very grateful for your hospitality. Is there anything you'd like to ask of me?" Dorj inquired.
General Subeedei cut straight to the point. "I was at Khuraldai when you initially suggested that strategy be used against Wan Khan. Your plan was instantly successful. Consequently, I figured that as a messenger of Tenger, you may possess a method to outwit Wan Khan, is that correct?" His face was stern when he posed the inquiry.
Dorj struggled to think of a way to respond to General Subeedei, who had been considering a wise strategy to defeat Wan Khan with a small number of forces.
What could he do? The last time he had suggested a plan, it had been pure luck. He raced his mind with ideas, while the General didn't break eye contact.
'Teslabot, search for some war tactics!' he thought.
'Ding! Zero results found.' Teslabot replied in a flat voice.
'I should have downloaded more books except for Engineering books when I was back in modern times.' felt helpless Dorj in his mind.
After a few moment of silence, General Subeedei sighed and opened his mouth "Minister Dorj, if you don't have any way to defeat Wan Khan at the moment. It is fine. I have been thinking about how to defeat Wan Khan for a while but couldn't come up with a concrete strategy yet. Let's finish this cup of tea. I believe there are sure a way to defeat Wan Khan with our number of troops" he said while shaking his head.
'I was just lucky to find a strategy to defeat Wan Khan once before and to find the missing Khasar and his son Tohui while sightseeing. To be lucky three.times in a row has a very slim probability' thought Dorj in his mind feeling dejected.
When General Subeedei lost his initial enthusiasm where the messenger of Tenger may be able to find a solution, Dorj got an sudden flash of an idea where his eyes got widened.
"There may be a solution." he said while organizing his previous thoughts.
General Subeedei who has lost his enthusiasm become surprised after hearing about a potential way and looked at Minister Dorj with hope.
Dorj had a thought: what if Khasar or his son Tohui, who is with us at the present, were to go to Wan Khan and pose as spies, pretending to be longing for their family that are taken as hostage.
If we could do this, we may be able to acquire critical information to land a devastating blow to Wan Khan!
General Subeedei urged to hear the answer. "Minister Dorj, don't let me wait for the entire day! If you have a way, please say so!" he said.
"Khasar's family is taken hostage at Khereit tribe, if we send Khasar or Tohui as a spy to them, we would know what is happening inside Khereit tribe and would gain a critical information from them." replied Dorj with a bit of hesitation and worry.
After hearing Dorj's reasoning, General Subeedei's eyes widened.
'Sending a royal family member as a spy? Who would dare to say these words without being beheaded except the messenger of Tenger?' thought General Subeedei inwardly and contemplated the implications of this plan.
"Minister Dorj, it is a feasible plan. But how do we ensure that Khasar or Tohui would be able to deliver us news while being taken as hostage?" asked General Subeedei looking at Dorj.
'Yes. Delivering the news is a bit difficult for a hostage. But considering the fact that espionage is still under development in the medieval age, may I be able to find a solution to this issue' thought Dorj.
"General Subeedei, there is a saying Where there's a will, there's a way. We can find a way to deliver the news without being caught," said Dorj recalling a famous proverb from the modern days.
"Wise word indeed!" said General Subeedei while brainstorming on ways how to let lord Temuujin accept this proposal.
'Minister Dorj is a wise man indeed' thought General Subeedei.
After General Subeedei and Minister Dorj exchanged few ideas on how to deliver the news, they have headed to prepare Khasar's new ger alltogether.
The ger was constructed just about a few hours later with the help of General Subeedei's ten troops under his command. After lighting a fire in the middle of the ger and preparing some basic furnitures, General Subeedei sent a troop to notify lord Khasar and his son Tohui to come and have a rest. The sun has already set early because it is the winter and you could see the dusk with remnant ray of white hue shade in the west sky.
When Khasar and his son Tohui has entered the Ger with full stomach, they have laid down to their respective beds and took a deep breath.
'Aaah.'
"General Subeetei. I apologize troubling you for building a ger for me! But you know living in the wild for few months has tolled a great for my body!" said Khasar while leaning on his bed.
Since Khasar is a royal family member, he has a carefree behaviour in front of his brother Temuujin's servants.
"Yes uncle Subeedei, thank you for finding us. If it were not for you, we would have to sleep in the wild again this night." said Khasar's son Tohui with gratitude.
"Ah, it is not my merit at all. Here is Minister of Ministry of Military Inventions Dorj who found you and notified me. If you want to express your gratitude, you must say it to him" replied General Subeedei.
Dorj has placed his right hand on his chest and said "Hello, Nice to meet you. I am Minister Dorj."
Khasar's eye has widened and looked surprised. "Oh. I couldn't see your face when I was eating while we are at the brother Temuujin's ger. You are so young, you must be no older than my son Tohui. Yet you are appointed as a minister, you must be a very skilled individual" said Khasar.
Dorj made a fake smile and replied. "Thank you for your compliment. Lord Khasar. You must be tired, can we continue our introduction tomorrow after you sleep well?"
Lord Khasar nodded towards Minister Dorj and General Subeedei. "Ah, yes let's meet tomorrow and continue our conversation. Laying on a comfortable bed after few months made me quite sleepy. You may leave now" replied Lord Khasar.
Dorj's eyes become gentle and he faked his smile.
'I have made a good first impression. If General Subeedei and I propose Khasar or Tohui to go to Wan Khan's settlement after they get enough rest, they may accept the idea to go as a spy.' thought Dorj inwardly.
Dorj and General Subeedei has left the ger and looked at each other.
"Thank you Minister Dorj for your effort and aid. Let's meet here tomorrow at Horse hour." said General Subeedei patting on Dorj' shoulder. /Horse hour:11:00AM to 1:00PM/
"See you then" replied Dorj and left General Subeedei.
When Dorj has arrived at his ger, Zuchi khankhuu was inside the ger waiting for him.
"Oh you have arrived. If you didn't come in few minutes, I would have already go back" said Zuchi khankhuu with a smile.
Dorj is surprised to see Zuchi khankhuu inside his ger waiting for him. If it were an urgent matter, Zuchi.khankhuu would have sent his guard to summon him.
"Zuchi khankhuu, did you waited me for a long time?" asked Dorj.
"No, I was just passing by and wanted to discuss a miscalleanous matter with you." replied Zuchi khankhuu.
Dorj has took a seat in front of Zuchi khankhuu and asked.
"What would be the matter?" asked Minister Dorj with a curious eyes.
"Actually Dorj, you have already reached 18 years old and you are not married. So I wanted to ask whether you want to meet with a woman, or to be precise I want you to marry my wife princess Ukhaa's younger sister Mandukhai." said Zuchi khankhuu to Minister Dorj.
"Oh khankhuu. I am still young. You don't have to trouble yourself for me." replied Dorj in a hurry.
Marry a medieval woman? Oh no. I don't even know who this Mandukhai.is and how she look. Without any feeling how am I supposed to marry someone.
"Dorj. To tell you the truth. If you don't marry princess Ukhaa's younger sister Mandukhai and become his husband, she is going to be bethrothed to a Western Xia city governor. Few days ago a Western Xia city governor named Yeru Bukai has sent us a letter to join Mongolians. He is going to take 3000 of his citizens and wants to become a minister under my father Temuujin.
Father has summoned my wife princess Ukhaa and decreed to bethrode her sister Mandukhai as the bride of Western Xia Governor Yelu Bukai." said Zuchi khankhuu with helplessness.
Even though he the eldest son of Temuujin, he can't change the decree of his father. But unfortunately for Mandukhai who is just 16 years d marrying a 50 year old Khitai (Liao) person would be end for her. Therefore princess Ukhaa has insisted Zuchi khankhuu to find a way to save Mandukhai from marrying Yelu Bukai.
Dorj after hearing tbe reasoning of Zuchi khankhuu couldn't help but feel sympathy.
"Dorj, please help my wife's sister. I know that you are good person. And you are not much older than Mandukhai, I believe you two can be a good husband and wife as well." pleaded Zuchi khankhuu.
Marrying someone to save her from marrying an old man? If lord Temuujin don't think me as a messenger of the Tenger, may this idea not be successful. In this dire situation the person who gets near to Mandukhai would be punished severely.
Dorj has thought for a while and replied.
"Khankhuu, it is not a matter to be decided in a hurry. I haven't seen Mandukhai yet, and to marry someone I never see, how do you expect me to accept this?" said Dorj trying to find a way to reject.
"Mandukhai, are you out there. Please come inside the ger." shouted Zuchi khankhuu.
The door of the entrance to the ger has opened and a silhouette of a woman could be faintly seen.
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