"The morning sun rises from the East Sea, the lotus supports the treasured saber. Ten thousand lotus flowers, the glow holding up the spring tide. The heavenly wind gathers all sounds, the rainbow carries banners. The great horses scatter hoof prints, each one like a delicate flower. Suddenly the golden steps are before me, I dare not breathe loudly. If the Khan has not spoken, how can a hero be bold?".
The five thousand hui te warriors turned north and crossed the Ili River.
The reason was simple, their Great Taiji, Sultan, had not plundered enough.
This young man was very ambitious, although he had already seized the Tusi Pool basin and subdued the Taragarsk Otok with over a thousand households and over five thousand herdsmen;
Although he had gained immense wealth from the two Gelug religious gatherings, Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng, he was still not satisfied.
To fill the stomach of this fourteen-year-old young man, the Huit warriors had to continue searching for prey, heading north to the upper reaches of the Ili River.
"Great Taiji, after crossing this river, it will be Sarato Hai.
The grassland here is fertile and beautiful, with herds of cattle and sheep, it is the pasturing ground of Baibagas Khan's second son Abalai. His Otok has about two thousand households and ten thousand herdsmen, and can mobilize up to three thousand soldiers," Nasutu galloped to his side and reported softly.
Ever since witnessing the Great Taiji's audacity, daring even to plunder Gelug religious gatherings, this old minister had become much more ruthless in his actions. When mentioning "fertile and beautiful grassland, with herds of cattle and sheep," the fire of desire blazed in his eyes.
"Baibagas Khan's second son?"
Sultan's gaze fixed, and he asked puzzledly, "Since this Abalai is the great Khan's second son, he should have a large following. How is it only two thousand households and ten thousand people?"
Nasutu scratched his head, "This Your servant is not very clear either, I only heard that Baibagas Khan's Khatun, Saihanzhu, was very domineering and gave all of Baibagas's inheritance to her own son Oqiertu, not giving any to Abalai. This Otok of Abalai was granted by Baibagas Khan when he was alive."
"So that's how it is!"
A smile appeared on Sultan's lips. Now that the great Khan of the Khoshut had just died, a new Khan had not been established, and the brothers Oqiertu and Abalai were estranged, wasn't this heaven helping him succeed?
"Order the soldiers to secretly surround Abalai's Otok and capture all the herdsmen and livestock they encounter, lest they escape," he ordered indifferently.
"Great Taiji, rest assured, they cannot escape.
Today is the Lighting Festival, and the Heshuote people of Sarato Hai are all gathered inside the Otok to celebrate. As long as we surround them, not a single one will escape," Nasutu reported.
"It seems chang sheng tian no longer protects the Heshuote people!" Sultan laughed heartily and ordered his subordinates to act immediately.
"Da~ da~ da~"
Five thousand cavalry galloped swiftly, and soon surrounded the Khoshut's Otok in Sarato Hai.
Lighting Festival, Sarato Hai was very lively!
There was a sea of people, and people were gathered around piles of bonfires.
The aroma of wine was everywhere, and people were dancing and singing with abandon.
Inside the largest felt tent, Biji Gaoyun stood desolate, a white robe unable to conceal her alluring grace, her face like a silver basin, her eyes like watery almonds, her lips red without makeup, her eyebrows green without drawing, that pool of brimming gaze stirred the soul.
Oirat people like white, white symbolizes purity and nobility, and Gaoyun especially liked to wear white.
At the age of twenty-two, she lost her husband. This snowy white also reflected her mood, cold as ice and snow.
"Biji, the Ucha banquet is ready, please take your seat," Zaisang Keliemier reported respectfully.
This Ucha banquet is a grand feast for Oirat festivals, with many dishes, mainly roasted whole lamb, tasted from outside to inside, in the order of skin, meat, and bone.
A grand feast that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to imagine, yet Gaoyun had no appetite.
Baibagas Khan died, and she lost her support.
Saihanzhu, relying on her identity as Khatun, actually refused to give any inheritance to her son Abalai.
How would the orphan and widow live in the future?
Although her heart was desolate, her face was calm as water. Her son was only five years old, she absolutely must not panic!
If she panicked, the morale of the Sarato Hai Otok would collapse!
Bringing her five-year-old son Abalai, she took the main seat at the Ucha banquet, with Zaisang, Demuqi, Shouleng'e, and other officials gathered together.
"Today is the Lighting Festival, everyone, helping us two, mother and son, has been truly hard work!
I toast everyone," she said with a sweet smile.
"Your servants toast Biji and the young master," the officials hurriedly raised their wine bowls.
"Biji, this is bad, the Huit Tribe's army has surrounded us," just as the atmosphere was building up, an Arban Aha (thousand-household) stumbled in.
Clang, the wine cup in Gaoyun Biji's hand fell to the ground.
Men roared and horses neighed, the Huit warriors displayed their might below the Khoshut people's stockade walls.
They were the Great Taiji's "Kheshig", ten men forming a shi, three shi forming a team, and three teams forming a sentry, their formation neat, their armor bright.
Looking at these wolf-like and tiger-like enemies, Gaoyun Biji's beautiful face changed color. She had never been on a battlefield before, and she didn't know why chang sheng tian would play such a joke!
She glanced again at the tribal soldiers who had been urgently summoned beside her, they were in disarray, their discipline loose, and many still reeked of alcohol.
She couldn't help but sigh, "How can we fight them?"
When the master worries, the minister is disgraced. Zaisang Keliemier angrily drew his curved saber, "Your servant is willing to die for Biji and the young master!"
"Mm," Gaoyun looked gratefully at Keliemier, her eyes like a pool of autumn water, making one feel pity upon seeing them.
Yet there was someone who didn't understand how to cherish beauty. Below the stockade walls, the young man Sultan, spat out two words coldly from his wolf-like mouth: "Fire!"
Twelve bronze cannons mounted on carts began to display their might. The sound of thunder continuously echoed on the stockade walls. Although these cannons were not large in caliber, the stockade of Sarato Hai Otok was made of wood and could not withstand these cannonballs. With one shot, wood splinters flew everywhere, and some even caught fire.
Gaoyun Biji was frightened, especially after witnessing with her own eyes the tragic sight of a soldier being riddled with holes by grapeshot. Her beautiful face changed color even more, and her whole body trembled.
"Stop!"
Below the stockade walls, Sultan ordered his men to stop the bombardment and shouted triumphantly, "Shout into the stockade.
Surrenderers will be spared death!"
"The Great Taiji has ordered, surrenderers will be spared death!"
"The Great Taiji has ordered, surrenderers will be spared death!"
"The Great Taiji has ordered, surrenderers will be spared death!"
The Huit warriors' calls for surrender echoed across the Sarato Hai grassland.
Keliemier's right hand gripping the saber was clenched red.
He knew that after the call for surrender, there would be a fierce siege battle, either you die or I die!
He walked up to Gaoyun and slowly advised, "A son of a thousand pieces of gold does not sit under the eaves.
Please, Biji, retreat inside the stockade to command. Leave this place to Your servant!"
The strong wind reveals the sturdy grass, upheaval reveals the loyal minister!
Gaoyun was deeply moved and tearfully said to Keliemier, "Your loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. However, the enemy is strong and we are weak, the general trend is gone. Why bother sacrificing the lives of the common people for me and my son?
Pass down the order to open the gates and surrender."
"No, Biji, the great Khan ordered Your servant to protect Biji and the young master before he died. How can Your servant face the great Khan if we surrender without a fight?"
Keliemier was in tears.
"Alas!
If we surrender, my son and I still have a slim chance of survival. If we resist, we will surely die.
Please don't persuade me anymore, open the gates and surrender!"
Gaoyun stopped her tears, sighed deeply, her voice soft, yet allowing no refusal.
