Kaidu’s second son took his eldest brother’s widow, and from her had a
son, Baisutai, from whom came the Baisuts. Kaidu’s third son had six
sons, who were the founders of six clans among Mongols. Tumbinai, son
of Boshin, Kaidu’s eldest son, had two sons, Kabul and Sinsaichilai.
Kabul had seven sons; the second of these, Bartan, had four sons; the
third of these four sons was Yessugai.
Kabul was made khan, and though he had seven sons he did not wish to
give rule to any one of them. So he gave it to Sengun Bilghe, the
father of Ambagai. Kabul the Khan, son of Tumbinai, was renouned for
great courage. His fame reached the Emperor of China, who had such
regard for this chief that he sent envoys inviting him to the court as
an evidence of friendship, and with the concealed hope of making a
treaty through which the Mongols might act with North China. Kabul made
the journey. The Emperor received him with honor, and entertained him
with the best food and drink in the country. But, since the Chinese
were given to deceit very greatly, as Kabul thought, and attacked each
opponent from an ambush, he feared wiles and most of all poison; hence
he avoided food and drink and withdrew from a feast under pretexts, but
returned later on when relieved of suspicion, and fell to eating and
drinking with very great relish. The Chinese were astounded at sight of
his thirst and his hunger. “High Heaven must have made him to rule,”
exclaimed they, “else how could he drink and eat so enormously, and
still have an appetite and be sober.” But after a time he seemed tipsy,
clapped his hands, reeled toward the Emperor, seized his beard and
stroked his ear, to the horror of ministers, who cried out at once, and
were ready to rush at the Mongol.
The Khan turned then to the Emperor and smiled very coolly. “If the
Golden Khan holds me guilty,” said he, “let him know that the will of
my hand is to blame, not my own will. My hand has done that which
displeases my own will and I condemn my hand’s action.”
The Emperor was calm and deliberate; at that time he wished above all
things to wheedle his visitor, so he reasoned in his mind as follows:
“If I punish this man his adherents, who are many, may rise and begin a
long war with me.” Hence he kept down his anger, and commanded to bring
from his treasure house silken robes, embroidered in gold, of right
size for the Mongol. A crown and a gold girdle were brought with them.
He put these on Kabul, and showing marks of high honor dismissed him
with friendship when the time came for parting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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