Boom! Boom! Boom! Cannon fire roared, but it wasn't war; it was the Kheshig soldiers training.
Great Taiji Sultan had acquired twelve bronze cannons for his beloved guard army. These cannons were two to three feet long, with a diameter of five to six inches. They were transported by gun carriage and fired from wooden frames, mostly purchased from the Bukhara Khanate.
Currently, the Huit Tribe, and even the entire Oirat, lacked the capability to cast cannons. Cannon casting was a technical skill, and even as a time-traveler, he couldn't just make cannons. The craftsmen of Yingsuo River had exerted great effort and could only produce short blunderbusses for cavalry. They couldn't even make the large bird guns used by infantry, let alone cannons. However, he wasn't discouraged. He gathered skilled craftsmen from Yule Duosi, Chalish, and Kucha to imitate the Great Ming cavalry's three-eyed blunderbusses, the Ottoman Empire infantry's falconets, and light, portable cannons that could be carried by camels: the “Tuotuo Cannon.” He had already made some progress.
Da! Da! Da!
The guard cavalry, in neat square formations, charged forward. They worked hard to control their warhorses, charging together with synchronized steps. In fact, in this era, except for a very few cataphracts (heavy cavalry), almost no army could achieve this. The Five Thousand Hui Te Warriors could only try their best to keep their formations neat.
In cavalry battles, the side with a neat formation had a greater advantage than the side with a disordered formation, as they could simultaneously use several blades or spears against a single enemy.
Charge - Break Through - Wheel - Charge Again.
The cavalry practiced tactics in formation. On the temporarily erected high platform, Sultan nodded continuously. Yes, worthy of being an old general who followed his father in campaigns across the north and south, Tuoli's cavalry is well-trained!
As if sensing that the Great Taiji was watching him, Du Qianhu Tuoli suddenly shouted an order, "Turn, shoot!"
The three thousand warriors of one banner wheeled their horses around and unleashed a rain of arrows from horseback.
Good!
Sultan couldn't help but cheer loudly.
Another old general from Nomudalai's era, Du Qianhu Ba'er Si, led three thousand cavalry of one banner to flank the enemy. His tactics were cunning; he constantly approached and harassed, coordinating with Tuoli's charge.
Following closely behind Tuoli was an entire banner of three thousand infantry. Unlike other tribal leaders, Sultan placed special emphasis on infantry, forming dedicated infantry units. Among them were even one thousand heavy infantry, with his trusted confidantes Narisong and Suhe as Du Qianhu and Deputy Metropolitan Military Commissioner.
Narisong drew his scimitar and led two thousand light infantry forward, pushing Shield Carts. These Shield Carts were made of thick wooden boards covered with cowhide and iron plates, compounded together. "Small stones hitting them do not move them, large stones cause them to roll off, and firewood thrown at them does not burn them." Ordinary muskets could not penetrate the thick wooden boards in front of the carts, and each cart could cover twenty infantrymen attacking.
Behind the light infantry were Suhe's one thousand heavy infantry, each fully armored, with even their faces covered.
Aow!
Suhe roared, making a hacking motion with his large axe. His subordinates charged with him, using heavy weapons like spiked clubs and iron hammers one after another. The heavy infantry were all strongmen, mostly using heavy weapons.
When the infantry swarmed into the enemy formation through the gap created by the cavalry charge, and when the tied-up straw men were cut into straw bits, the military exercise ended victoriously.
Exhilarating!
Sultan let out a long cry, repeatedly exclaiming how exhilarating it was. This feeling of commanding thousands of soldiers was excellent! With a powerful army in hand, everywhere on the horizon is my pasture!
Just as he was in high spirits, his mother, Subude, sent someone to summon him.
The young man happily withdrew his troops and returned to Yingsuo River City. He came to his mother's large tent and said, "Ehe (ancient Mongol word for mother), are you looking for your son?"
A son is a mother's flesh and blood. As soon as she saw him, a smile appeared at the corner of Subude's eyebrows. "Son, back then your father had a marriage agreement with Dörbet's Minzhu Taiji, promising his youngest daughter, Ulji Bayar, to you as Biji. Today, I received a letter from Minzhu Taiji saying that Ulji Bayar is eleven years old this year, and she has grown up beautifully, more beautiful than a swan, and purer than a snow lotus. He said that May 18th is a good day and asked us to go to Tarbahatai to welcome the bride. Prepare yourself, and bring your daughter-in-law back for your mother."
What!
Sultan was stunned. As a time-traveler, marrying an eleven-year-old loli was difficult for him to accept. Too young, really too young!
"Ehe, Ulji Bayar is still young. How about waiting a few more years?"
"Still young? Not small. I was only twelve when I married your father. Besides, I dreamt of your father last night, and he told me that we must bring auspicious happiness home. Doesn't Ulji Bayar mean 'auspicious happiness' in our Mongol language?" Mentioning Nomudalai, Subude's eyes couldn't help but turn red.
His mother brought up his deceased father, and Sultan's head ached. But coming from a later era, he still couldn't shake off the guilt of marrying a young girl. He stammered and continued to decline, "Ehe, your son only wants to revitalize the Huit Tribe and has been busy training soldiers recently. I really don't have the energy to marry a wife."
"Enough," Subude snapped sternly. "As the Great Taiji, you must consider the tribe in everything you do. Do you think your marriage is something you can decide on your own? That Minzhu is the eldest son of Dörbet's Great Taiji Dalai Taishi. His letter at this time must be Dalai Taishi's intention. It is a gesture of goodwill and also a test. If you agree, our Huit Tribe's north frontier will be stable, and we can focus on expanding south. If you refuse, conflict will inevitably arise, the north frontier will be unstable, and how will you advance south?"
Sultan was stunned. He had actually forgotten about Dalai Taishi! His mother was right; Minzhu's letter at this time was actually the intention of that formidable hero. Since he is a formidable hero, this olive branch must be accepted, otherwise, there will be a war. He had indeed been training soldiers daily with the intention of expanding territory, but not by squeezing the soft persimmons of the Yarkand people to the south, but by heading west to touch the tiger's whiskers of the Khoshut people.
Back then, his Master Liu Haogu had advised him to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, saying that when the Khoshut people were greatly weakened by their civil war, he should raise an army to seize their pastures in Tara Ga'er and Sarato Hai. Now, the Khoshut people have been fighting a civil war for over four years and are greatly weakened. It is a good opportunity to seize the pastures. As for that Baibagas Khan, who shook the Oirat, humph, he is merely a skeleton in a tomb, nothing to be afraid of!
A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. This is the youthful spirit! He vowed to step on the senior heroes like Baibagas, Dalai Taishi, and Khara Khula!
His mother was right. If he wanted to draw his sword against Baibagas Khan, he must stabilize Dalai Taishi. If the two families were to marry, they might even be able to attack the Khoshut people together!
A mother knows her son best. Seeing her son's expression, Subude knew he was somewhat moved. Her demeanor softened, and she smiled, saying, "Son, if you truly want to revitalize the Huit Tribe, training soldiers alone is not enough. You also have to learn to form alliances through marriage and borrow strength. Marry Ulji Bayar and marry several other noblewomen from other tribes. The more wives you marry, the greater your power will be. One day, the vast Oirat will be your world."
These words completely moved Sultan. What benevolence, righteousness, and morality could compare to the importance of the world!
"Ehe, your son will go to Tarbahatai immediately and bring your daughter-in-law back for you," he said, still with a childlike heart, making a face at Subude.
