Episode 113
“Mongolia has issued an ultimatum. They demand we hand over Kuchlug and his followers immediately, or they’ll consider us their enemies.”
“I told you, Kuchlug is dead!”
“That’s what we said, but they’re arguing that his followers are still around.”
“Are they insane? Do they expect us to send them the heads of every last straggler?”
Yelü Zhiluguo, the self-proclaimed emperor and ruler of Western Liao, was genuinely baffled by the situation. At just 23, he was brimming with confidence and ambition. Some might belittle them as Western Liao, but Yelü Zhiluguo never forgot he was the emperor of the Liao dynasty.
Though they were in a period of turmoil, the Liao had once defeated the mighty Seljuks of the Islamic Empire. Western Christian nations even believed the laughable legend of a king named Prester John who supposedly established a kingdom in the East to stop Islam.
Recently, they had successfully thwarted Kuchlug’s plot to seize the throne. Yelü Zhiluguo saw this as a sign that the Liao dynasty was poised for a resurgence. This wasn’t just blind faith.
The nation they were most concerned about was Khwarezm, which was expanding at a terrifying pace. It was only a matter of time before Khwarezm would border Liao, inevitably leading to conflict. The young emperor was ready to fight Khwarezm if necessary, but his ministers thought differently.
Then, unexpectedly, the Sultan of Khwarezm changed his stance. Perhaps he recognized the latent power of the Liao dynasty or simply made a strategic error. He decided to expand north and west instead, which was a welcome relief for Liao.
“Sultan Tekish warned that the barbaric Mongols would surely provoke a fight… and it seems he was right again.”
“The Sultan’s desire to strengthen ties with Your Majesty seems genuine.”
“He proved it by warning us of Kuchlug’s betrayal and even relocating his capital to show he had no intention of opposing us.”
At this point, it would be unreasonable not to trust them. With Khwarezm, their biggest worry, out of the picture, Yelü Zhiluguo felt everything was falling into place. But then, the Mongols sent what was essentially an ultimatum.
“Those ragged nomads who used to wander the steppes while we built an empire dare to…”
“Your Majesty, according to the envoy, they have united and now call themselves the Mongol Empire. Their leader, Temujin Khan, has taken the name Genghis Khan.”
“Empire, my foot. These days, everyone and their dog claims to be an empire. Only those who have ruled the Central Plains can truly call themselves an empire.”
From Yelü Zhiluguo’s perspective, the only true empire was the Jin dynasty. Khwarezm? Song? They had their strengths, but they paled in comparison to Jin. Liao had once been an empire, and though its glory had faded, its legacy remained.
But now, a third-rate nomadic tribe that had always struggled on the steppes dared to call themselves an empire. To Yelü Zhiluguo, who had the blood of a true imperial lineage, the Mongols’ arrogance was laughable.
“I’d love to behead that insolent envoy, but as an emperor, I mustn’t stoop to their level. Just tell them to stop spouting nonsense and go wash their feet and sleep.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
The Mongols had threatened war if their demands weren’t met. The emperor’s attitude was clear: let them try if they dared. When no news came from the Mongols for days after their envoy left, Yelü Zhiluguo smirked.
“Just as I thought, all bark and no bite. Foolish dogs.”
“Reports indicate that Mongol raiders are making hit-and-run attacks near the border.”
“Are they trying to provoke us? Ridiculous. How is our army’s morale?”
“High, Your Majesty. We’ve also repositioned troops from the Khwarezm border to the east, just in case.”
His confidence grew. Even if the Mongols dared to invade, with Liao’s forces concentrated, there was no chance of an upset. In fact, he almost wished they would attack, so he could use them as a stepping stone to announce Liao’s revival.
“General, if the Mongols do send a large force, don’t hesitate to lead our cavalry out to meet them.”
“Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to fight from the fortress?”
“Ah, but then other nations might think our cavalry is inferior to the Mongols’. We must achieve an overwhelming victory to show that Liao has regained its former glory.”
“Khwarezm warned that the Mongols are formidable, so we should be cautious…”
“That’s why we’re concentrating our forces and securing the border. Do you doubt my army’s ability to defeat those second-rate nomads?”
“Of course not, Your Majesty. We will crush the enemy and proclaim Liao’s resurgence to the world.”
As the rightful heirs of the Liao Empire, they couldn’t possibly be defeated by a ragtag group. The emperor’s confidence was so natural that his generals couldn’t argue. They felt the same way.
While Western Liao was blooming with confidence, the Mongols remained cold and calculating.
“Jelme, what’s the enemy’s status?”
“They don’t see us as a serious threat. My brother is still making provocative moves at the border, so we’ll get a signal soon.”
“You can trust Subutai. Having such a clever and brave brother must be reassuring.”
“Indeed, but the greatest joy is serving the Great Khan together.”
Their loyalty was unmatched, and their resolve for this war was stronger than ever. This was a chance given by Genghis Khan himself. Failing would not only dampen the rising momentum of the Mongol Empire but also distract the Great Khan from his focus on the Jin.
They had to subdue Western Liao and secure the western border at all costs. Fortunately, the two commanders, both born warriors, were in complete agreement. Everything was for the glory of the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan.
Jelme willingly accepted Jebe’s command for this reason alone. Of course, Jebe’s reputation as a divine warrior and the fact that his brother Subutai was learning from Jebe also played a part.
Jelme knew he was different from the likes of Muqali and Jebe, who were both favored by the Khan for their bravery and intelligence. Muqali, at just thirty, had been appointed a commander of ten thousand and tasked with attacking Jin, a testament to the Khan’s trust.
Jebe was equally renowned. His archery skills were legendary among the Mongols, and his intuitive command of troops was exceptional. Though Jelme was no slouch, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being a step behind.
But his brother Subutai was a different breed—a genius with both Muqali’s intellect and Jebe’s tactical acumen. It wasn’t just familial bias. In Jelme’s eyes, Subutai possessed a talent that might never be seen again in Mongol history.
If he gained experience in this war, surely… no, even in this war, his genius was already beginning to show.
“Before heading out to provoke, my brother suggested that if we want a swift victory, engaging Western Liao in open battle might not be a bad idea.”
“That would be ideal for us, but will they take the bait? If they lock themselves in like the Xi Xia, we’ll have a problem.”
“True, we’re not great at sieges. But Western Liao is quite proud of their cavalry. If we exploit that, an opportunity will arise, according to my brother’s analysis.”
“That’s a very favorable assumption for us…”
The Mongols had learned through countless trials during the Xi Xia campaign that they were not adept at siege warfare.
If they could later acquire the superior technology of the Jin or Song, it might be a different story. But for now, the best strategy they could muster was to lay siege to the fortress and starve the enemy out.
However, the Mongol forces didn’t have the numbers to effectively execute such a strategy. A hasty siege could leave them vulnerable to a counterattack, potentially trapping them in a pincer movement.
Thus, if possible, it was best to follow Subutai’s suggestion: lure the enemy out into the open plains and settle the matter there. Of course, the enemy was likely aware of this tactic and wouldn’t easily take the bait.
“My brother has gone to gauge the enemy’s movements. Once he returns, we can hear what he has to say and make a decision.”
“For now, that’s our best option.”
Even if the enemy refused to engage in open battle, there were still alternatives. They could feign a weak spot in their siege, drawing the enemy out and then ambushing them, picking them off one by one. But this carried more risk than a straightforward battle on the plains.
Ideally, they would meet on the vast, open grasslands where both sides could clearly see each other. There, the cavalry forces, the pride of both armies, could clash head-on, and the stronger side would quickly become apparent.
The outcome of the battle itself was hardly worth worrying about.
“If we engage directly, what will our losses be? We need to preserve enough strength to march on the capital. If we can break through not just Western Xia but also Khwarazm, it would be an unparalleled gift to the Great Khan in his war against the Jin.”
The Mongol army, eyeing their plump prey, was already looking beyond the Silk Road, toward the distant lands of Persia.
And this was all before the main Mongol forces had even arrived.