Spring arrived, and the Great Yulduz River Valley grew green grass, filling the air with a vibrant aura.
However, Yingsuo River City, the political, military, and economic center of the Huit Tribe, was steeped in a faint melancholy.
Baibagas Khan, the Great Khan of the Oirat, issued a Khan's decree, ordering all tribes to gather on the west bank of the Ili River.
He intended to deliver a fatal blow to his cousin, Nuoerwei Zheng Chukur, as a warning to those who dared to disregard the Great Khan's authority.
Sultan, the Great Taiji of the Huit Tribe, was only a thirteen-year-old boy, lacking the courage to defy the Great Khan's command.
He ordered the tribe to assemble to assist in the battle on the west bank of the Ili River.
Six thousand Five Thousand Hui Te Warriors stood ready, their weapons prepared.
With the men going to war, the families were inevitably worried, and a long line of farewell crowds filled the city gates.
Unlike ordinary soldiers equipped with cotton armor and iron scale armor, Sultan wore a phoenix-wing helmet, chainmail, carried a bright silver spear, and had an ancestral 'Khan Sword' treasure sword at his waist.
He looked majestic on his horse.
"Depart!"
He roared dramatically, and his divine steed galloped out.
Six thousand warriors followed the direction of his horsewhip, charging forward like lightning.
The army's lineup was formidable; old ministers from his father's era such as Batu and Tan, Tiemuer, Nasutu, Ba'er Si, Tuoli, and Xi Rimo all accompanied him.
The defense of Yingsuo River City was entrusted to his trusted men, Luo Bu Zang and Narisong.
Almost simultaneously with the army's departure, a secret letter personally written by the Great Saman Daren Tai was delivered to the great tent of the ambitious Taiji Noyan Ubashen in the northern part of the Yule Duosi grassland.
Upon receiving the letter, Noyan Ubashen laughed heartily and sent for his third brother, Buyanbu'erhan.
"Third brother, I just received a secret letter from Daren Tai.
That foolish Nephew of ours has taken six thousand elite soldiers to the west bank of the Ili River.
Now, there are only two thousand soldiers in Yingsuo River City, and he has actually entrusted the important task of defending the city to two inexperienced youngsters.
Is it perhaps heaven's will to bestow this city upon us?"
"Second brother, with the Great Saman as an inside contact in the city, this is an opportunity not to be missed, it won't come again," Buyanbu'erhan was also eager to act.
"Hmm, I will immediately arrange to march with Namu Zhan," Noyan Ubashen made up his mind; he had waited for this day for too long.
As the appointed day approached, the two brothers secretly led four thousand troops towards Yingsuo River City.
"Give the order to the entire army: hide during the day and march at night, return to Yingsuo River, and lie in ambush outside the Great Yulduz River Valley," after several days of marching, Sultan suddenly changed the military order.
The six thousand strong army hid during the day, marched at night, and secretly returned to the Great Yuleidus River Valley, setting up a net outside the valley, quietly waiting for their prey to enter the trap.
A warm breeze blew, and on an unnamed peak in the Great Yuleidus River Valley, a group of people stood facing the wind.
It was Sultan, the Great Taiji of the Huit Tribe, and his trusted subordinates.
"Great Taiji, it has been five days already.
Will Taiji Noyan Ubashen and Buyanbu'erhan come?" Shaobu asked Sultan timidly.
"Haha, they will come.
Besides them, perhaps there will be other demons and monsters," Sultan glanced at him lightly, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "Power is a magical thing.
For wealth and glory, there are always some people who overestimate themselves and lose their lives."
Shaobu felt a chill in his heart after hearing this.
The Great Taiji's words seemed to be a reminder to himself, and he quickly and respectfully expressed his loyalty.
"Your servant does not seek wealth and glory in this life, only to be loyal to the Great Taiji forever."
"Hmm," Sultan nodded slightly, and his expression suddenly became serious.
A large number of cavalry appeared outside the valley, dark and dense, surging forward like a tidal wave, roaring as they approached.
Noyan Ubashen and Buyanbu'erhan did not wait for Namu Zhan at the appointed time, and to avoid exposure, they directly led their forces into the valley entrance.
This was Sultan's first time commanding a battle, and his heart was tense.
He barely managed to suppress his excitement and looked down into the valley, where there were four thousand dense enemies.
"Great Taiji, the rebels have entered the valley.
Please give your order," the old general Ba'er Si stepped forward to request instructions.
Facing this old minister from his father's era, Sultan quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Since the fish have entered the net, let's pull it in."
Ba'er Si secretly admired him.
The Great Taiji was so calm and composed, treating a vast army as nothing; he truly had the demeanor of his father!
Little did he know that the young man's palms were already sweating.
Several strong men pushed down the signal tree on the mountaintop, and the desolate sound of the military horn echoed.
Tiemuer, Tuoli, and Xi Rimo outside the valley; Batu and Tan, Nasutu, Dash, and Alatan Cang inside the valley, all led their troops out.
They charged like fierce tigers pouncing on wolves, their momentum overwhelming.
Looking at Suhe, who was craning his neck and constantly looking down into the valley, Sultan smiled slightly.
"You go down and fight too.
Don't stay by my side, lest you fail to achieve merit and blame me again."
"Yes, Great Taiji," Suhe was overjoyed and rushed down the mountain with his large axe.
His name means "axe" in Mongol, and he wielded the large axe very smoothly, slaughtering the enemy like chopping vegetables.
The sudden attack threw the rebels in the valley into chaos, resulting in heavy casualties.
"Second brother, quickly follow me and fight our way out of the valley!" Buyanbu'erhan protected Noyan Ubashen, his spear flying up and down like a mad tiger.
Their personal guards frantically charged the valley entrance, only to be met with a hail of bullets and arrows.
"Bang!"
Buyanbu'erhan fell heavily from his warhorse, an arrow embedded in his neck.
"Third brother!"
Noyan Ubashen had no time for grief before he was surrounded by ambushing soldiers from all sides.
"Lay down your weapons.
The situation is hopeless.
You all have families; what good is it to die in vain?" He sighed and threw down his long saber.
"They are all good sons of our Huit Tribe; do not slaughter them indiscriminately.
Give the order: except for the main culprits, those who surrender will be spared death," Sultan issued the military order from the mountaintop.
Groups of rebels handed over their weapons, and the bound Noyan Ubashen was brought before him.
Upon seeing this uncle, the young man's eyebrows raised, and anger showed on his face.
"You are my own uncle; why did you betray me?"
"The winner is king, the loser is bandit; there is nothing to say," Noyan Ubashen was unyielding.
"Uncle, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?" Sultan suddenly softened his tone and asked gently.
Noyan Ubashen smiled sadly.
"I am a Mongol noble; please grant me a dignified death."
Mongol Shamanism believed that dying without shedding blood allowed the soul to remain in the blood, which was the most merciful way to die.
That year, Baibagas Khan had gathered the Taijis of the Oirat at the Churgan Conference and sworn an oath that people of noble blood should not shed blood.
Of course, this was just talk; in battle, with swords and spears flying, how could there be no bloodshed?
That year, when the Oirat and the Khalkha fought a great battle, Shulei Ubashi Khuntaiji, a great noble of the Hotogoid tribe, was stabbed to death by Sainser Tengji of the Khoshut Tribe with a spear.
The blood flowed so much that it soaked his battle robe.
"Men, give uncle a dignified send-off," Sultan gritted his teeth.
"Good Nephew! Great Taiji! Hahaha," Noyan Ubashen laughed uncontrollably.
Several strong guards wrapped him in felt and placed him on the ground.
A troop of cavalry lined up in a column and charged towards the felt.
The iron hooves trampled, quickly crushing the person wrapped inside the felt into a pulp.
The blood did not flow onto the ground; this dignified way of death belonged to the nobility.
Watching his uncle become a pulp of flesh, Sultan's heart turned to stone, and he shouted loudly, "Bring him up!"
This time, it was the Great Saman Daren Tai who was brought up.
"Daren Tai, why did you secretly collude with Noyan Ubashen and betray me?" The young man's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Daren Tai had no doubt that he was about to be executed immediately.
He smiled bitterly, but had nothing to say.
"My father was momentarily confused; please spare his life," Shaobu knelt and pleaded tearfully.
"Great Taiji, this is all my fault.
My son was not aware," Daren Tai finally spoke.
"Not aware?" Sultan sneered.
"Do you think I don't know your plan?
You yourself defected to Noyan Ubashen, but you had your son attach himself to me.
This way, no matter who wins or loses, your family can prosper forever."
At this, Daren Tai could no longer bear it, and cold sweat streamed down.
"All the mistakes are Your servant's alone.
The Great Taiji regards Your servant as a trusted subordinate, but Your servant was self-smart and Failure of Grace, truly having no face to live in this world!
Please take care of yourself, and let us part here," saying this, Shaobu drew his sword and was about to commit suicide.
"Bang!"
A saber deflected his sword.
It was the Khan Sword "Ili Te".
Sultan helped him up and cut off a lock of his hair with the ancestral treasure sword.
"The Shaobu of the past is dead.
From now on, I hope to see a loyal Shaobu!
I will not kill your father, but only exile him to Chalish.
From today onwards, you will be the Great Saman of the Huit Tribe."
