Outside Xuanfu Town, on the Tumed Plain, outside the Chahar khan's tent, a dadu was fixed on a toad-shaped stone base, resembling an ancient weapon—a spear. The base of the spear shaft formed a circular disk, with eighty-one holes around the edge, tied with horsehair as a fringe.
The wind blew gently, and the fringe swayed, as if recounting the desolation of history.
This was the "suld" used by Genghis Khan.
Although the war flags of various Mongol tribes were printed with the "suld" pattern, and some ambitious individuals who proclaimed themselves Khan had also imitated many "sulds", the only one that could truly represent the entire Mongol people was this single standard, passed down through generations to the direct descendants of the Golden Family, the Chahar.
The charcoal fire made the khan's tent warm like spring, but Lindan Khan, who had just passed forty, felt a chill in his heart.
He was engrossed in reviewing official documents, all of which were memorials complaining of hardship and exhaustion.
After migrating west to the Right Wing, due to "early frost outside the pass, no harvest, and severe epidemic," the tribe suffered significant personnel reduction.
To resolve the economic crisis, this Great Khan twice invaded the Ming Dynasty border in 1631 and 1632, plundering much-needed supplies for the tribes.
In November 1631, he led his army east to the Xilamulun River, raided the grazing lands of Dalai Chuur of Aru Korqin, who had already surrendered to the Jin Dynasty, and took away the people of Saileng Bahai.
By the time Huang Taiji personally led two thousand elite cavalry to arrive, the Chahar army had already withdrawn.
Furthermore, he also killed the Envoys sent by the Khalkha tribes of Outer Mongolia to the Right Wing, causing panic among the tribes of Outer Mongolia.
Although partial military victories helped alleviate economic difficulties, they offended most Mongol feudal lords, leading to political isolation and making the dream of unifying the Mongol people increasingly distant.
To escape his predicament, he planned to form an "Anti-Yellow Sect Alliance" with Choktu Khong Tayiji (Qietu Khan) of Qinghai Province, Tsangpa Khan of Later Tibet, and Baili Tusi of Kang District.
"Alas! A few days ago, Choktu wrote to Your Majesty, saying that he has basically controlled Qinghai Province and is preparing to march towards Lhasa.
This Choktu is quite loyal to Your Majesty, saying that after capturing Lhasa, he is willing to dedicate all of Lhasa's produce to Your Majesty.
The area controlled by the Yellow Sect is very wealthy; if acquired, it could become the foundation for a great power.
It's just, should I contact Tsangpa Khan and Baili Tusi to send troops together?"
He thought carefully.
If this Choktu could occupy Lhasa with his own troops alone, then he would have a large rear base to resist the Later Jin.
Thinking of this, he took up his brush and issued an imperial decree to Choktu, allowing him free action against Lhasa.
By the shores of Qinghai Lake, there were vast pastures with lush water and grass.
Occupying this fertile land, there was no worry about lacking cattle and sheep.
After many bloody battles, Choktu Khong Tayiji occupied this place.
His tribe was a major Northern Yuan tribe that moved into Qinghai Province after the Tumed, Dolot Tumed, and Yongshebu.
As a Taiji of a large tribe, he always harbored a fervent ambition in his chest.
In those years, he wanted to become the leader of the Khalkha Mongol, but being unable to defeat other large tribes, he had no choice but to move south to Qinghai Province.
Fortunately, he had Lindan Khan as his backer.
Although this Mongol Khan's power was now weak, he was after all the nominal co-ruler of the Mongol people, and using his banner helped gain the support of the lower-class herdsmen.
Therefore, he paid tribute to Lindan Khan every year, frequently sought instructions and reported, and acted submissively, but in his heart, he always dreamed of conquering the world!
To conquer the world, the most important thing was territory.
Only with territory could one collect taxes, expand the army, and wage war.
Therefore, like gaining Long and looking towards Sichuan, expanding territory was essential.
This hero's gaze went south, south, and further south, leaping over thousands of miles of grassland, landing on the Snowy Plateau.
Lhasa was indeed a good place!
It was the fertile land of the Tubo Kingdom in those years.
It is said that the Three Great Monasteries of the Yellow Sect accumulated countless riches; plundering them would provide the military funds for expanding the army.
One needed a justification for the expedition, and there was no better justification than "acting under the Great Khan's command to protect the faith."
As a loyal follower of Lindan Khan, his tribe also believed in the "Sakya School" (Flower Sect).
Currently, the Snowy Plateau was truly a riot of colors, with various schools flourishing, mainly the Yellow Sect (Gelug Sect), the Flower Sect (Sakya School), the White Sect (Kagyu), and the Red Sect (Nyingma Sect).
Broadly speaking, the Sakya School, Kagyu, and Nyingma Sect all belonged to the Red Sect.
Adding the indigenous religion "Bon" of Kang District, they formed a grand alliance against the Yellow Sect.
Thus, Choktu Khong Tayiji submitted a memorial to the great Lindan Khan, requesting to send troops to Lhasa to protect the Red Sect.
Lindan Khan's Envoy, Kunga Odeser, arrived by the shores of Qinghai Lake, bringing the Great Khan's decree.
Choktu Khong Tayiji dared not be negligent.
He burned incense, bowed, and received the decree, performing all the rituals as in the time of the Northern Yuan.
Upon hearing the decree, he was extremely excited and shouted, "Please report back to the Great Khan, Your servant will definitely make Lhasa the Great Khan's pasture!"
Even though his status was noble, he still referred to himself as Your servant before the Mongol Khan, a testament to his remarkable patience.
Kunga Odeser was a famous scholar from Chahar, who participated in the translation of the 108 volumes of the Kangyur, and was very refined and elegant.
Hearing this, he stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "Zhang Jiyuan will definitely report your loyalty to the Great Khan."
The Later Jin Emperor, Heavenly Cong Khan Huang Taiji, secretly arrived at the banks of the Xilamulun River, not alone, but with a large army.
Last year, he had wanted to gather troops here and then launch a decisive battle against Lindan Khan to completely conquer Southern Mongolia.
But his in-laws, the Khorchin, said that the Chahar still retained strength and that a long expedition might not necessarily lead to victory, so they persuaded him against it.
This year, the scouts he sent reported the news that the Chahar had suffered natural disasters and their people were exhausted, and Huang Taiji felt that the opportunity to completely eliminate Lindan Khan had arrived.
Strike while the iron is hot!
The wise and cunning Huang Taiji led fifty thousand Eight Banners troops to secretly sneak to the banks of the Xilamulun River, ordering the Mongol tribes who had submitted to the Later Jin to quickly bring their armies to meet him.
Fast horses, carrying the Khan's orders from Heavenly Cong Khan, galloped towards the various tribes of Southern Mongolia.
First to arrive were the five thousand cavalry of the Khorchin, the in-laws of the Manchu.
Then the Taijis of tribes such as Zalute, Bairin, Naiman, Aohan, Aru Korqin, Ongniud Banner, and Asut also arrived with their troops.
"Have the armies of the Karaqin and Tumed arrived?"
Inside the great tent, Huang Taiji stared at the military map and slowly asked.
These two tribes were major tribes of Southern Mongolia.
They had not submitted to the Later Jin for long, and he was somewhat concerned about their loyalty.
"The scouts Your servant sent out have spotted the cavalry of the Karaqin and Tumed not far away.
They should arrive soon," reported Sony, the personal guard serving beside him.
"Hmm, in that case, Your Majesty is relieved," Huang Taiji let out a sigh of relief.
In April 1632, Huang Taiji met with the Taijis of tribes such as the Khorchin, Zalute, Bairin, Naiman, Aohan, Karaqin (Kharachin), Tumed, Aru Korqin, Ongniud Banner, and Asut on the banks of the Xilamulun River.
Their total military strength reached one hundred thousand, preparing for the second campaign against Lindan Khan.
"Issue the order!
Reward the entire army; we march tomorrow!" the jubilant Huang Taiji issued the military command.
Now he had a hundred thousand soldiers, while his opponent was "extremely tired, extremely hungry, and extremely poor," with "only about forty thousand horses and less than fifty thousand people."
The time to achieve great feats was now!
