บท 29: Temporary settlement at Shilka
During the time of migration, Dorj devoted an hour each day to practicing swordsmanship with Zorigt. The thought of nearly losing his life on several occasions due to his lack of skill with a sword was a constant reminder of the urgency of his training.
Dorj's crystal bear amulet has saved his life, but it will make him overly reliant on its power. But that didn't change the fact that it was a useful tool for training. By applying a drop of his blood to the crystal bear amulet, Dorj was able to gain a significant increase in his swordsmanship abilities.
At a plateau in the mountain forest, Dorj and Zorigt are sparring against each other. They have chosen a remote area not far from their temporary stop to spar.
"Zorigt, one more time!" said Dorj with snow on his back and sweat on his forehead. It is evident that Dorj has been defeated multiple times during this spar.
"My lord, your footwork is too slow. To change from defense to attack swiftly, change your feet!" instructed Zorigt as he took a defensive position.
Dorj dashed forward and attacked Zorigt. This time however, his crystal bear amulet waded completely.
"CLANG!" "CLANG!" "CLANG!"
Unlike the first time against Zorigt, Dorj is keeping the pace with little to no aid from his amulet.
"CLANG!" "CLANG!" "CLANG!"
With Dorj attacking and slashing at Zorigt horizontally and vertically, Dorj felt high in enthusiasm.
'At this rate, I might win this time!' thought Dorj as he felt victory is near.
Unfortunately, his hope didn't come true as Zorigt saw an opening at Dorj's left foot. He blocked the incoming attack with his sword and low-kicked at Dorj's left ankle.
'THUD!'
Dorj's lost his balance and fell on the snow by his back again.
"Chnnnnnnnn~" The sharp blade of Zorigt's sword stopped a few millimeters away from Dorj's throat. If he wants to, he can cut his throat and finish him off.
Zorigt took his sword away and sheathed it. Zorigt offers his hand to his lord Dorj. Dorj gripped his hand firmly as he got up.
"My lord, your footwork is getting better, but you still have much to learn." Said Zorigt.
"Ahh, let's call it a day! I feel I am getting better, but don't you think I am learning too slowly?" asked Dorj and gazed at Zorigt.
Zorigt bowed to his master. "My lord, actually you are learning at an incredible speed. If you tell anyone that you studied swordsmanship only for a month, no one will believe you!" replied Zorigt with a grin.
Dorj laughed out loud and replied "Don't put paper hats on me, let's head back. Jegei must have finished the preparations"
Thus concluding their daily training, Dorj and Zorigt headed back to the temporary stop. However, what they did not notice was that Galdan, the first Khongirad small settlement leader was secretly observing them from behind a tree.
The migration to the north continued. Having a world map in his mind is a huge advantage. If he didn't have a map, then they would have lost much of their time, not knowing where to go. Dorj and his people followed the Shilka river basin and reached a place called Shilka in Modern Russia. The place is a beautiful river valley which can settle 2000 people with ease.
Because the Shilka river basin is around 450 kilometers away from Buir lake, they are finally safe from the invasion of Temuujin in the meantime. Temuujin would need to locate the exact position where Dorj escaped first and dispatch his troops. It would be impossible for them to pinpoint the exact location of Dorj because the hoofprints on the snow have already faded away.
Due to the number of gers not being enough for his people, 300 of his troops went to cut down the nearby trees. From the trees that are cut down, Dorj instructed people to build more ger carcasses and make firewood for heating the other gers. The women from Khongirad tribe, Sakha tribe, and Buryat tribes are making the insulation materials out of the surplus wool they have got from their sheep during the last Autumn.
At dusk, Dorj's people finally settled down and summoned the small settlement leaders in his ger. In the middle ger of the new Tengeriin uls settlement, Dorj sat at the north side of the ger. While Jegei and Zorigt were standing next to him.
To ease his dull crotch, Dorj was sitting cross-legged and thinking about the changes he has brought to this world.
'I have killed Tsagadai, the history I know must now have changed. The Tsagadai kingdom would not be established in the future!' thought Dorj.
"Knock!" "Knock!" "Knock!"
A person knocked on the door of the ger and asked "May I come in my lord?"
Not recalling whose voice this was, Dorj answered and asked the person to come in.
Galdan, The Khongirad small settlement leader they have encountered for the first entered the ger and bowed to Dorj. Following him, the ten various small settlements leaders have entered the ger as well.
Dorj looked up at the late arrivals, "You have finally come. So let's start the meeting. Please take a seat!"
Galdan and the small settlement leaders bowed to Dorj as they took a seat in the ger.
"My lord," Galdan began, his voice carrying a stern edge, "we were forced to join you a month ago. And since we arrived at Shilka, you owe us an explanation for why you merged us." As the other tribe leaders whispered and nodded in agreement, a man with a short black beard stood up and bowed to Dorj.
"My name is Bator," he said. "Our Buryat tribe has placed its faith in you, and so we are following you. But we have yet to receive any explanation. If you had not forced us to migrate, we would still be living peacefully in our previous settlement." The small settlement leader's voice was calm, but his eyes burned with a fierce intensity.
"Yes!" "True!" "We need an explanation!" claimed the other leaders in unison.
Dorj raised his hand, indicating for the people to become quiet. Soon the commotion in the ger calmed down and only silence remained. Dorj has gazed at the eyes of the leaders.
"Actually this meeting was for giving you an explanation." Dorj's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
"Since we have already come this far, I will tell you the truth. Temuujin is gathering Mongolian warriors around Lake Buir to campaign against the Khereit tribe. If you had not followed me, you would soon have been forcibly enlisted into the military."
Bator, the Buryat tribe leader, opened his mouth to speak, "But.."
However, Dorj cut him off with a sharp gesture. "There is no 'but'," he declared, his voice rising. "You were supposed to die soon! If I didn't you bring here, when Temuujin loses, your Buryat settlement will become slaves to the Khereit tribe in the future!" Dorj's hand slammed down on the ground, emphasizing his point.
Actually, Dorj knew that Temuujin would be successful against the Khereit Tribe led by Wan Khan and even the Naimans tribe. But by hiding the truth, he could manipulate the others to think that Dorj has saved them from war.
Dorj was gazing at the small settlement leaders. 'It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both' thought Dorj in his mind. It is a famous quote by Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian author who wrote the political treatise The Prince in the 16th century.
The settlement leaders have surprised expressions on their faces. They whispered to each other and try to verify Dorj's statement. They have never seen Dorj be this angry before.
"Is what you're saying true?" asked Galdan, the leader of the small Khongirat settlement. His tone was one of curiosity, but his piercing gaze suggested he is not fully convinced. "And how do you going to prove it?"
Dorj smiled and looked at the small settlement leaders.
"I was actually a minister of Temuujin prior to escaping and founding the Tengeriin Uls. He is planning to gather forces from the Mongolian steppe, and attack the Khereit tribe after this winter. If you don't believe me, ask my troops. They can verify the authenticity of my claim." replied Dorj with confident eyes.
The small settlement leaders didn't find any error in Dorj's words as he looked quite confident in himself.
Some thought it is better to be left alone and avoid battles, while some hot-blooded leaders are feeling frustrated, for not being able to battle with Khereit and gain riches and spoils.
A Khalimag small settlement leader stood up and bowed to Dorj. "Messenger of Tenger, if what you have said is true, can you tell us what you are planning now? We are forced to join you when we were few in number. But considering the growth in our number, if we want to, you can not stop us anymore!" said the Khalimag settlement leader half threatening Dorj.
Jegei got angry and raised his voice. "You ungrateful bastard! My lord saved you from Temuujin. Yet you are threatening him?" he unsheathed his sword.
Dorj raised his hand and spoke. "Jegei, let him say his word. His word has truth in it." as he gazed at the Khalimag small settlement leader.
Dorj slowly got a blueprint out of his robe and he showed it to the leaders. "This is a steel-making furnace called Pear Furnace. I invented this furnace and used it to produce steel for Temuujin."
The small settlement leaders are in awe.
'What? Steel producing steel? Isn't the formula technique used by the Song dynasty to create steel?' though some of the small settlement leaders.
Dorj slowly unrolled another parchment and showed it to the leaders. "This is a blueprint that would bring change to the world. This invention alone can convince you to stay with me."
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