"The Great Taiji was poisoned with aconite," the accompanying Langzhong (Doctor) said after examining the illness. "It is said that during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, a Han general named Guan Yu was poisoned by this, and a Langzhong (Doctor) scraped the bone to remove the poison, only then resolving it."
"Then what are we waiting for? Quickly scrape the bone to remove the poison for the Great Taiji!" the generals Batu and Tan, Nasutu, Tuoli, and Xi Rimo urged anxiously.
"But the Great Taiji has an old illness of tuberculosis, his body is weak, and he cannot withstand the pain of scraping the bone. The current plan is to only use a mixture of hen's droppings, minced garlic, ducklings, saltpeter, and other ingredients to form pills to induce vomiting and apply them to the wound. It's just that this poison may not be completely removed."
Batu and Tan sighed, "Just treat him, you must save the Great Taiji."
"Yes!"
After the Langzhong (Doctor)'s rescue, the next day, Nomudalai woke up and slowly asked, "Has the investigation been completed? What is the origin of that assassin?"
"Great Taiji, Your servant carefully investigated and found that the female assassin was given to Abu Hadi by a Hotan merchant, and she had been in the governor's mansion for two years. The sleeve arrows and dagger she used were produced in Yarkand's capital, Shache. It is said that Yarkand's Black Mountain Sect Khoja Shadi keeps many assassins skilled in assassination under his command. Your servant suspects this woman is a spy sent by Shadi to be beside Abu Hadi, but I don't know why she assassinated you instead."
"Black Mountain Sect Khoja Shadi?"
Nomudalai's eyes narrowed. He had originally thought that the officials of Yarkand were all incompetent, but he didn't expect there to be such a ruthless character. That Shadi had been planning in Kucha two years ago, his scheme was significant, and he was definitely not an ordinary person. He sent people to assassinate him, which showed that he had already seen the Mongol threat to Yarkand. The enemy was already on guard, continuing the southern campaign might not succeed, it would be better to stop while ahead and move the army back to the grassland."
"Cough~ Cough~ Cough~"
Although most of the poison had been removed, the remaining poison still injured his internal organs, causing him to cough incessantly.
"Issue my order, slaughter Abu Hadi's entire family, and confiscate their property," a cruel order was spat out from Nomudalai's mouth.
In fact, he knew in his heart that this assassin was definitely not sent by Abu Hadi. If this person had the guts to assassinate, why would he have surrendered in the first place? It was just that, after all, he had been the governor of Kucha, and although his army was reorganized, he still had great influence among the surrendered troops and local officials. This person being alive was disadvantageous to his annexation of Kucha! He might as well seize the opportunity to remove this thorn!
There was an unexpected gain! When the Mongol Army inventoried Abu Hadi's property, they found more money than in the Kucha Kuli treasury. Nomudalai was overjoyed and ordered rewards for the three armies. Once the rewards were distributed, everyone in the three armies was happy, and even the morale of the surrendered troops stabilized significantly.
That year, he followed his son Sultan's suggestion to establish counties in Da Yu Leidus and Xiao Yule Duosi, build cities, cultivate land, and manage according to the Great Ming official system, which had very good results. Now, he did the same, establishing prefectures and counties in Chalish and Kucha.
Under the Chalish Prefecture, Chalish and Iron Gate Pass were established as counties, with the prefectural seat in Chalish, plus six nomadic hundred-households. The Mongol Sai Han was appointed as the Prefect, with officials like Tongzhi, Tongpan, Magistrate, and County Assistant under him. He also ordered the Mongol Qianhu Chief Erdun to lead one thousand Mongol Army and three thousand surrendered troops to guard the Chalish Prefecture.
Under the Kucha Prefecture, Kucha, Luntai, and Bicheng were established as counties, with the prefectural seat in Kucha, plus five nomadic hundred-households. The Mongol Sude was appointed as the Prefect, with various levels of subordinate officials under him. He also ordered the Mongol Qianhu Chief Mandulatu to lead one thousand Mongol Army and four thousand surrendered troops to guard the Kucha Prefecture.
At the same time, he also ordered the merger of Da Yu Leidus County and Xiao Yule Duosi County into Yule Duosi Prefecture, with the Mongol Murin as the Prefect.
This method of separating military and political power and having civil and military officials check each other was repeatedly advised by his son Sultan and his son's teacher Liu Haogu. It is said that the Han dynasties in the Central Plains used this method to effectively strengthen imperial power, suppress the fragmentation by regional military governors, and also made the lifespan of the Han dynasties often last for hundreds of years, far exceeding that of the Mongol.
Nomudalai strongly agreed and had always wanted to implement it, but the Noyan system, which combined military and political power, had been practiced in Mongol for hundreds of years. How easy was it to reform? It could only be promoted slowly.
After consolidating his rule in the two prefectures of Chalish and Kucha, he rested for a few more days until he felt his body had recovered before returning to the grassland with four thousand Mongol Army and two thousand surrendered troops. A year of expedition, starting from a place with only tens of thousands of people, conquered a vast territory with over two hundred thousand people. The gains were immense!
A long convoy, laden with plundered gold, silver, jewels, and some craftsmen, returned to Yule Duosi. This group of craftsmen would greatly enhance Yule Duosi's smelting and manufacturing capabilities. In fact, with the fifteen thousand people looted from the three cities of Kunmishi, Subashi, and Tuokesun in Turpan a few months ago, the population of Da Yu Leidus and Xiao Yule Duosi counties doubled, and agriculture and handicrafts became increasingly prosperous.
Hearing that his father was returning in triumph, twelve-year-old Sultan led Tiemuer, Ba'er Si, and other civil and military officials to greet him outside the Great Yulduz River Valley.
Not having seen his father for a year, the young man's heart was excited. He stood on his tiptoes, gazing into the distance.
A long torrent appeared before his eyes, the Mongol cavalry was coming home! The person leading was majestic and powerful, carrying the aura of a king, it was precisely the Huit Tribe Great Taiji Nomudalai.
"E Qi Ge!" Sultan shouted excitedly, he really missed his father.
"My son, come to my side, let E Qi Ge see you," Nomudalai laughed happily, "Hmm, you've grown taller and stronger!"
"E Qi Ge, how is your health? Has your old illness not recurred?" Sultan asked his father with concern.
"I'm fine, our Mongol men are all made of iron, what's a little minor illness?" Nomudalai said with a relaxed expression, even straightening his back to show off his strong physique.
The father and son entered the city talking and laughing, followed by the triumphant army.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, Nomudalai fell heavily from his horse without any warning, frightening everyone.
"E Qi Ge," Sultan quickly supported his father and roared, "Quick, quickly go find a Langzhong (Doctor)!"
The Langzhong (Doctor) did his best to rescue him, but the old father remained unconscious. Sultan summoned Batu and Tan, Nasutu, Tuoli, Xi Rimo, and others and asked, "What happened? Why is my father like this?"
"Young Taiji, the Great Taiji was assassinated while attending a banquet in Kucha, he was injured, and the dagger had poison on it. The wound hadn't fully healed, coupled with his old illness, that's why this happened!" the ministers explained.
"Assassination? Who is so bold as to dare to injure my father?"
"We suspect it is the work of Yarkand's Black Mountain Sect Khoja Shadi."
"Shadi? If I catch you one day, I will surely tear you into ten thousand pieces," Sultan was furious.
As a son, he should fulfill his filial duty. He attended to his father without taking off his clothes, refusing to rest.
After a long time, Nomudalai woke up, "Water, give me water."
"E Qi Ge, the water is here," Sultan handed him a cup of water.
"You haven't slept yet?" Nomudalai was very moved. He coughed a few times and ordered someone to bring out a knife. "My son, this is the knife your grandfather Eselei Beiqia used. That year, Eastern Mongol invaded our Oirat. Your grandfather used this knife to cut off the head of Ordos Huntaiji Buyan Batur."
Mentioning his father, Nomudalai's face was filled with admiration, "My son, do you know how your grandfather killed Buyan Batur that year?"
Sultan had heard this story countless times from his father since childhood. He opened his mouth and replied, "That year, grandfather pretended to surrender to Eastern Mongol, sending out 2500 camels, each carrying 2 boxes hidden with soldiers, under the guise of offering tribute. He launched a surprise attack on Buyan Batur's camp and killed that villain."
"Hmm, you must remember, as a king, you must not only have courage, but also strategy," Nomudalai said with difficulty, breathing heavily, "Your grandfather passed the knife to me back then, and today I will pass this knife to you. From now on, you will be the Great Taiji of the Huit Tribe."
