When Arkai Kassar returned he told everything. Temudjin went to the
lake called Baljuna where many of the Kurulats came to him. Juchi
Kassar had disobeyed Temudjin his elder brother, he had in fact been
disloyal and had tampered with the enemy. Not present at the great
Kalanchin battle he had either favored Wang Khan, or been captured with
his children, his wife and his followers. After that he escaped with
two servants and searched in hardship and hunger for Temudjin till
finally he found him at Lake Tunga. Kassar turned now to his brother’s
side thoroughly, and the two men examined how best they might fall on
Wang Khan unexpectedly. They worked out their stratagem and sent
Haliutar and Chaurhan as if going to Wang Khan with this message from
Kassar: “I have seen not a shadow of my brother; I have gone over all
roads without finding him; I called him, but he heard me not. I sleep
at night with my face toward the stars and my head on a hillock. My
children and wife are with thee, O Khan, my father. If thou send a
trusty person I will go to thee. I will return and be faithful.” “Go,”
said Temudjin to the messengers, “we will leave this place straightway,
when ye return come to Arhalgougi on the Kerulon.” Temudjin then
commanded Churchadai and Arkai Kassar to lead the vanguard.
Kassar’s two servants appeared before Wang Khan and gave him the
message as if coming from their master. Wang Khan had set up a golden
tent and arranged a great feast in it. When he heard the words, he
said: “If that is true, let Kassar come to us.” He sent with the two
messengers Iturgyan, a trusted warrior. When not far from Arhalgougi
Iturgyan judged by various signs that a camp must be near them, so he
turned and rushed away. Haliutar, whose horse was far swifter, spurred
on ahead of him, but not venturing to seize the man, blocked the road
to his stallion. Chaurhan, who followed, struck Iturgyan’s horse in the
spine with an arrow, brought him down to his haunches, and stopped him.
They seized Iturgyan then and took him to Temudjin, who sent him to
Kassar, who killed him.
The two messengers then said: “Wang Khan has made a rich golden tent;
he is careless and is feasting. This is the time to attack him.” “Very
well,” said Temudjin, “let us hasten.” When they arrived at the place
they surrounded Wang Khan, and a fierce battle followed. On the third
day of this battle the Keraits had not strength to fight longer. Wang
Khan and Sengun had both vanished, no one knew by what road they had
saved themselves, or when they had fled from the battle-ground.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account