Murder, arson, and ill-gotten gains—this round of frenzied looting yielded a rich harvest, with over 20,000 head of livestock including cattle, sheep, and camels.
Furthermore, from the Gelug warehouses in Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng, they obtained a large amount of gold, silver, jewelry, silk fabrics, cloth, tea, and over 10,000 strings of copper coins.
The Sultan observed these coins and found that except for a small portion which were various "Tongbao" from the Great Ming Dynasty, most were "pul" from the Yarkand Khanate.
These copper coins were disc-shaped, large, thick, and heavy, and due to the die being larger than the hammered copper blank or insufficient pressure, the inscriptions on the coins were unclear.
He took a great deal of effort to distinguish the inscription "Five pul" engraved on the pomegranate pattern on the obverse, while the inscription on the reverse was engraved with "Zharpul Yarkand", meaning minted in Yarkand.
Besides this thick disc-shaped large coin, there were also thin disc-shaped "pul" with smaller denominations; and cylindrical "pul", also called "chopstick head coins", equivalent to small change.
"Alas, this object, the coin, truly represents national strength! The 'pul' of the Yarkand cannot compare with the 'Tongbao' of the Great Ming!"
The Sultan muttered to himself, playing with the two types of copper coins he had looted.
Indeed, although the national strength of the Great Ming Dynasty was declining at this time, it was still a giant compared to small countries in the Western Regions like Yarkand.
Not to mention the high-end "Yongle Tongbao", even the slightly inferior "Chongzhen Tongbao" had a beauty and exquisiteness that the "pul" coin could not match.
He suddenly remembered that the Oirat Mongol still had no currency and mainly used the "pul" of the Yarkand, and with his heart surging, he looked up to the sky and roared, "One day, my Oirat will also have its own currency!"
On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth lunar month, the Lantern Festival, an important festival for the Oirat Mongol, Sarato Hai on the north bank of the upper reaches of the Ili River was transformed into a sea of joy.
About two hundred paces southeast of the large and small "Ger" (yurts), every household built lampstands with earth piles or stones, and according to custom, at dusk, every household would prepare their own long-burning lamps, light them on the lampstand, and pray to the Buddha for a long life.
Some wealthy families would also offer long-burning lamps to Buddha statues.
One wick represents one year, and every herdsman must make one hundred or more wicks in order to be able to "live a hundred years".
The twenty-year-old Tarbachi was busy making his wicks; he should have prepared them yesterday, but the mare's milk wine was too fragrant, and he drank a few more bowls with some friends yesterday, only waking up this morning.
He skillfully rubbed the Haloxylon ammodendron stalks, wrapped them with cotton, and then soaked them in butter.
Buddha forgive me, I was just drunk, I absolutely did not mean to neglect you!
He silently prayed in his heart.
"Tarbachi, you little rascal, are you ready? Everyone is waiting for you," his elderly Ebug (grandfather) leaned on his cane and cursed with a smile.
"Ebug, your grandson is ready," Tarbachi leaped out of the Ger with his long-burning lamp, suddenly remembered that he hadn't changed into new clothes, and ran back to put on a brand new Labshik (a type of robe), tie a belt, and put on a handsome Torlak (a type of hat).
When he walked out of the Ger again, he looked much more energetic.
Dusk descended, and stars twinkled in the night sky.
Tarbachi's family came to the lampstand with their respective wicks and lamps.
The elderly Ebug led the way by inserting wicks into the lamps; the whole family, in order of seniority and age, inserted wicks.
Then, also in order of seniority, they lit their long-burning lamps one by one, performed the kowtow ceremony, circled the lampstand three times, praying to the Buddha to grant people long lives and make all things endure.
As one long-burning lamp after another was lit, Sarato Hai became a sleepless grassland.
The Lantern Festival officially began, and the Oirat Mongols congratulated each other, hosted each other, sang and laughed, celebrating the festival.
Seeing his grandson's eager look, the old Ebug was amused and said kindly, "Go, go and play to your heart's content!"
"Thank you, Ebug," Tarbachi was overjoyed, taking three steps in two, and quickly ran towards the few Gers to the east.
Old Sangge's family lived there.
However, he wasn't going to see Sangge, but was thinking about Sangge's granddaughter, Chichige.
Chichige means "flower" in Mongol, and she herself was as beautiful as a flower.
At this moment, she was wearing festive attire, including a "Chedek" (a type of long vest), and a Hajil Ga (a type of women's hat).
Perhaps because she had been drinking, her cheeks were rosy, making her appear even more beautiful than a flower.
Tarbachi came before old Sangge, respectfully placed two fingers of his right hand between his eyebrows, bowed his head and kowtowed, then stood up and embraced him; this is the 'embracing greeting' performed by juniors when meeting elders among the Oirat.
Sangge quickly stroked his shoulder to show affection.
Many Great Ming literati thought that the Mongol were a barbarian land, ignorant of etiquette.
In fact, over the long years, the Mongol had already formed their own etiquette, with numerous rules.
Just taking the "embracing greeting" as an example, there are specific ways of performing it for different people: "When all Taiji and those below Tushmer see the Great Taiji, they kneel and respectfully embrace the Great Taiji.
The Great Taiji strokes the shoulders of the kneeling person with both hands; those who are given extra courtesy embrace their shoulders with both hands.
Those under the jurisdiction of each Taiji do the same when they see their lord"; this requires kneeling to embrace.
"When those below Zaisang see a Zaisang, they touch their eyebrows with two fingers of their right hand and scratch them slightly to show respect.
They bow their heads and kowtow, then stand up and embrace.
Juniors also do the same when meeting elders.
After elders embrace juniors, they smell the junior's face or stroke their shoulder to show affection"; this allows standing up to embrace after kowtowing.
"Those who are accustomed to meeting regularly simply bow to each other"; this only requires a bow.
The Oirat Mongols have always been hospitable, and the Lantern Festival has the custom of mutual feasting, so Sangge was very happy to see Tarbachi and laughed heartily, "It's Tarbachi! Good boy, come and sit down, drink and sing with us."
Shyness is not the character of the Mongol; Tarbachi sat down generously, drinking with old Sangge while secretly glancing at Chichige, vowing in his heart that sooner or later he would turn her single braid (hairstyle of an unmarried Mongol girl) into a six-strand braid (hairstyle of a bride-to-be).
Seeing his silly look, Chichige giggled and began to sing a song, "The dark gray Torlak, as round as a ball.
The Tokrlus around it, fluttering on the top of the head.
The Mongol robe with a large collar, is the clothing of our ancestors.
Relatives near and far visit each other, is the custom of our ancestors."
On the surface, she was singing about the Torlak, but because Tarbachi was wearing a dark gray Torlak, this was a hint.
Their families lived close by, and the girl had long since developed feelings for the young man.
Tarbachi understood and was happy in his heart, and he sang loudly, "The dust flying all over the sky, is raised by that dark gray horse.
The way she wears the Hajil Ga hat, is the appearance of my beloved.
The dust flying high, is raised by that jade-topped green horse.
The way she wears the Torlak hat, is the appearance of my beloved."
On the surface, he was also singing about hats, but because Chichige was wearing a Hajil Ga hat, he was actually expressing his love.
Upon hearing this song, Chichige blushed and turned her head away, no longer looking at him.
Sangge, old and experienced, saw the intentions of the two children.
He was satisfied with this marriage.
"Come, child, drink another bowl with me," the old man raised his wine bowl to Tarbachi, but in his heart, he was calculating: This child's family is wealthy, the bride price cannot be small, at least three camels, fifteen cattle, and twenty sheep.
