“I could not let you kill my sovereign,” said Hadak, the chief leader
to Temudjin, “and I fought long to give Wang Khan and Sengun time to
save themselves. If thou command I shall die, but if thou give life I
will serve thee.” “A man fighting as thou hast to rescue his lord is a
hero,” said Temudjin, “be one among mine and stay with me.” So he made
Hadak a commander of one hundred, and bestowed him on Huildar’s widow.
Since Huildar had planted the standard on Gubtan and fought with such
valor his descendants had received for all time rewards assigned widows
and orphans. Temudjin now divided the Keraits among his comrades, and
assistants.
Wang Khan’s brother, Jaganbo, had two daughters, the elder of these was
Ibaha. Temudjin himself took Ibaha, and Sorkaktani, the younger, he
gave to Tului, his son. Because of these daughters, Jaganbo’s
inheritance was not given to other men. To Kishlik and Badai, the two
horseherds who had warned him, he gave Wang Khan’s golden tent with all
the gold dishes set out in it, and the men who had served at the
tables. Kishlik and Badai with their children and grandchildren were to
keep everything won by them in battle, and all the game taken in
hunting.
“These two men,” said Temudjin, as he gave their rights to them, “saved
my life from Sengun and his father, and by Heaven’s help and protection
I have crushed all the Kerait forces and won my dominion. Let my
descendants remember the measure of this service. My enemies, not
knowing Heaven’s will, wished to kill me. Kishlik who brought warning
of their treachery, was in that hour Heaven’s envoy; hence I have given
him Wang Khan’s golden tent with utensils and music, as I might to a
prince of my family.”
Wang Khan and Sengun had fled almost unattended toward the land of the
Naimans. At Didik, a ford on the Naikun, Wang Khan, who was tortured
with thirst, stopped to drink from the river. A Naiman watch, guarding
the passage, seized the old Khan, and killed him (1203). Wang Khan told
who he was, but the guard would not credit his story. He cut his head
off immediately, and sent it to Baibuga. Sengun, being at some
distance, did not rush up to rescue his father, but went with Kokocha,
his attendant, and Kokocha’s wife, farther west past the Naimans. He
stopped to drink somewhat later and seeing a wild horse which flies
were tormenting, he stole up to kill him. Kokocha wished now to desert
and take Sengun’s saddle horse; he intended to tell Temudjin where
Sengun was, but his wife was indignant. “How leave thy master, who gave
thee food and good clothing, how desert him?” She refused to advance
and was very angry. “Thou wilt not go with me? Dost wish to be wife to
Sengun, perhaps?” asked Kokocha. “If thou go, O Kokocha, leave that
gold cup behind. Let Sengun have even something to drink from.” Kokocha
threw down the cup, and hurried off to find Temudjin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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