"Dayan, how dare you!"
Tulubaihu roared at his son, "General Sainser Tengji is a hero of my Khoshut, and the glory of the entire Oirat! Back then, in the bloody battle against the Khalkha, he charged into the enemy formation regardless of life and death, spearing Shulei Ubashi, which led to that great victory. Where were you then, boy? How dare you be disrespectful to your senior!"
Dayan Oqiertu was known for his martial prowess in the Khoshut, had a violent temper, feared neither heaven nor earth, but only his old father. There was nothing he could do, he had been beaten into submission since he was young. Seeing his father angry, he instantly became a mute gourd, not daring to speak again.
Sainser Tengji's greatest pride in this life was his brave charge and personally killing Shulei Ubashi back then. Seeing Tulubaihu mention his past achievements, even though they were in opposing camps, he couldn't help but feel grateful, and his expression softened considerably.
"Alas!"
Tulubaihu sighed again, facing Sainser Tengji, "I don't know if the General believes it, but I actually have no selfish intentions. I just see the continuous civil wars and the weakening of the tribe, and I want to take on this burden and revitalize the Khoshut, that is all. But if, because of competing for the succession, the Khoshut has to go through another civil war, I would rather yield and assist my great Nephew in ascending the throne."
This tactic of retreating to advance, openly stating that he did not covet power and was willing to give up the position of Khan, moved everyone. Sainser Tengji put down his weapons, bowed to Tulubaihu, and said, "Guoshi Khan is noble, Your servant is ashamed!"
Sometimes, the more you don't want something, the more people want to give it to you. This is politics.
During the discussion just now, Taijis like Hanak Tushetu, Sereng Khatan Batur, and Buyan Hatan Batur all strongly supported Tulubaihu, deeply offending Oqiertu. If Oqiertu were to succeed in the future, how could they have a good life? Thinking of this, they desperately opposed it, insisting that Tulubaihu should be named Khan. These people were all very influential great nobles, holding high positions and power. If they pushed for it, you couldn't refuse even if you didn't want to.
Just like this, Tulubaihu insisted on letting his Nephew Oqiertu do it, while the great nobles insisted on letting Tulubaihu do it. The two sides argued incessantly, making Oqiertu's side spectators, standing there, not knowing what to do.
"If Guoshi Khan does not agree, we will remain kneeling," supporting someone for the throne is a matter of no retreat. Once it fails, the consequences are very serious. The great nobles understood this deeply, went all out, and knelt down in a large crowd.
Gaoyun Biji also came with Abalai. She watched coldly from the side, and the more she watched, the more she felt that her fourth uncle was capable of achieving great things. She gritted her teeth, took Abalai by the hand, and knelt down as well.
"Huh?"
Someone in the crowd was surprised. In the eyes of ordinary people, Abalai was the second son of Baibagas Khan and Oqiertu's own younger brother. He should have supported his older brother Oqiertu, so why was he helping an outsider instead? However, their kneeling made Tulubaihu's succession seem to be the will of the people, and also threw the old officials of the previous Khan's lineage into disarray.
Saihanzhu and Oqiertu glared at the mother and son, their eyes spitting fire; Tulubaihu, however, smiled warmly at Gaoyun, as if telling her that he appreciated her gesture. This was also politics, everything was unspoken.
Seeing that his supporters had seized the initiative and had a clear advantage in numbers, Tulubaihu exerted his strength. He suddenly looked up to the sky and let out a long cry, weeping bitterly: "If you must make me Khan, you must agree to one condition: let my great Nephew and I be named Khan side by side. As for the affairs of the Khoshut, I will manage them for my great Nephew for a few years. When he grows up and his wings are full, I will return the power to him."
"This..." The great nobles were stunned. What did Guoshi Khan mean by this? Two Khans in one tribe?
Inside the great tent, there was silence, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Tulubaihu became anxious. He drew his saber and placed it against his neck, "If you do not agree, I will commit suicide here to show my sincerity!"
Good heavens, this move was incredible. The old generals of Baibagas Khan who had just been clamoring to fight him, including Sainser Tengji, were all moved to tears, feeling extremely ashamed for having misunderstood Guoshi Khan's benevolence and righteousness.
Hanak Tushetu glanced at Sereng Khatan Batur, Buyan Hatan Batur, and others, nodded slightly in agreement, and led the ministers forward to pay homage, saying, "We are willing to follow the commands of Guoshi Khan and Oqiertu Khan, revitalize the Khoshut, serve with all our might, and stop only when we die."
They deliberately called out Tulubaihu's title first, and then Oqiertu Khan's title, which in reality meant that Tulubaihu was the Great Khan and Oqiertu was the Deputy Khan.
The situation was settled. No matter what, the young lord finally had the title of Khan. Sainser Tengji and other old officials of the previous Khan no longer hesitated and stepped forward to pay respects to Tulubaihu and Oqiertu.
A great battle that almost broke out was dissolved into nothing by the highly skilled political maneuvering of Tulubaihu, like spring rain turning into mist.
Gaoyun Biji, who was observing in secret, was filled with admiration. She suddenly stepped forward, knelt down facing Tulubaihu, and cried, "This concubine has been wronged, I beg Guoshi Khan to make a decision!"
This woman had just made an effort for his succession, and her status was noble, being the Biji of Baibagas Khan. Tulubaihu naturally wanted to win her over, and asked gently, "Biji, speak of your grievances freely, this Khan will make a decision for you."
"Thank you, Guoshi Khan," Gaoyun cried as she spoke, weeping so much that everyone felt empathy and their hearts were broken, "My son Abalai, like Oqiertu Khan, is also the flesh and blood of the previous Khan. After the previous Khan passed away, his inheritance should have been jointly inherited by Oqiertu Khan and my son Abalai. However, Oqiertu Khan disregarded family ties and monopolized all the previous Khan's people and pasture lands, not willing to give any to his younger brother. I beg Guoshi Khan to make a decision!"
This woman was very clever. She knew that with two Khans now sharing power, Guoshi Khan had just taken the reins of the Khoshut and desperately needed to suppress Oqiertu and establish his authority, so she chose this moment to make her move. Although this matter was the doing of Khatun Saihanzhu, she deliberately did not mention Saihanzhu, but only Oqiertu Khan.
Tulubaihu was secretly pleased. Oqiertu had inherited most of his elder brother's people and pasture lands, his power was great, and he was a threat to himself. He was just thinking of ways to curb his power, and when he was feeling sleepy, someone sent a pillow!
Being old and cunning, he calmly looked at Oqiertu, "Worthy Nephew, is this true?"
"This..."
Oqiertu's face turned red. He knew about this matter and also felt that his mother had gone too far, not giving any inheritance to his younger brother, but he couldn't make his mother change her mind.
The more speechless he was, the more guilty he appeared. Inside the great tent, there was much discussion, everyone saying that Oqiertu was too greedy and had embezzled his own brother's inheritance. This time, even old officials like Sainser Tengji felt that the Khatun and the young lord had done something wrong.
Saihanzhu became anxious and argued, "The previous Khan had already given Abalai Omuqi when he was alive, so there is no need to divide it again."
"Hmph!"
Tulubaihu snorted, and said coldly, "Second sister-in-law, this is your fault. Inheritance is to be jointly inherited by all sons, which is an ancestral system. Back then, my second brother coveted Qingtaishi's inheritance, leading to a bloody internal conflict in my Khoshut. Isn't that lesson profound enough?"
Civil war was an eternal pain in the hearts of all Khoshut people. Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, all saying that Guoshi Khan's words were reasonable.
Tulubaihu then said to Oqiertu, "Great Nephew, you are now named Khan, and you should follow the ancestral system of the Oirat even more. You must not take the lead in violating it, seizing your brother's inheritance, which will ruin your reputation!"
Oqiertu's cheeks burned red, and he could only nod in agreement.
Seeing that he had softened, Tulubaihu smiled and said to Gaoyun and Oqiertu, "How about this, I will make a decision for you. The great Nephew will give the Otok of two thousand-households to the west of Sarato Hai to the second Nephew. From now on, the two brothers will be like one family, loving each other. Wouldn't that be good?"
What a Guoshi Khan! In a casual conversation, he took away Oqiertu's two thousand-households, ten thousand subjects, and a large amount of pasture land, weakening his opponent unknowingly; it also increased Abalai's people from two thousand-households to four thousand-households, greatly increasing his power and giving him the strength to check Oqiertu; more importantly, through this matter, he told all the nobles and officials who the true ruler of the Khoshut was. Although there were now two Khans, only he alone could make decisions.
Unknowingly, Tulubaihu successfully sidelined his Nephew and established his authority as Khan.
