There were many distinguished guests from the Ob River, and security issues were unavoidable.
The resourceful Dalai Taishi naturally anticipated this and not only dispatched elite cavalry to patrol and police illegal activities but also provided special protection for some important guests.
At one encampment, he arranged a thousand cavalry for protection, showing the importance of the person inside!
In a large tent, two guests were talking.
With blue eyes, white skin, sunken eye sockets, large noses, fierce and strong builds, and long beards, they were clearly "Oros People".
Oros is the Mongol term for Russians; because the Mongol sound "O" is relatively light, when translated to the Great Ming Dynasty, it became "Luosi", and was further translated as "Rakshasa".
At this time, the Great Ming Dynasty was still a vast nation claiming to rule over all lands, and deep down, it looked down on these barbarians, simply referring to them as Rakshasa Ghost.
However, these two were not ordinary Rakshasa Ghost, but envoys sent by the Russia Tobolsk military and political Governor N·C·Kulagin, one named Tomilo Petrov and the other named Ivan Kunijin.
The purpose of the mission was simple: three years prior, representatives of the nobility, merchants, clergy, and the Cossack upper class, at the Zemsky Sobor, elected Mikhail Romanov, son of Metropolitan Filaret and Archbishop of Rostov, as Tsar, thus beginning the rule of the Romanov Dynasty.
To curry favor with Mikhail Tsar, Governor N sent the two of them to persuade the Kalmyk Khan to swear allegiance to the Czar, hoping to please the Great Emperor.
In this era, Russia had only recently entered Siberia.
Tyumen was established in 1586; Tobolsk and Tara in 1594; and Tomsk in 1604.
Currently, they only possessed these four colonies in Siberia.
They knew nothing about the situation of the Oirat Alliance, not knowing that the leader of the Oirat was Baibagas Khan of the Khoshut, but instead considered the Dörbet Great Taiji Dalai Taishi to be the leader of the entire Oirat, calling him the Kalmyk Khan.
Intriguingly, the usually low-key Dalai Taishi did not correct them, letting them call him that.
"Lord Tomilo, we have been here for over half a month, and the Kalmyk Khan has consistently refused to see us, what do you think his attitude is?" Ivan asked anxiously.
Tomilo chuckled, "My dear Ivan, it seems you don't understand these Kalmyks yet.
They are just barbarians who only know how to fight fiercely with bows and arrows; to make them submit, we must show strength.
Before we departed, I asked the Governor of Tomsk to conduct a military exercise and invited their representatives to observe; it should have an effect."
Tomsk is a fortress built by the Oros People on the middle reaches of the Ob River, very close to the royal court of the Dörbet.
A few days ago, to pressure them into submission, the Governor of Tomsk dispatched two hundred Cossack, conducted a military exercise under the guise of "hunting".
To achieve the desired effect, they specifically invited Dalai Taishi's envoy to participate.
"Bang, bang, bang," the simultaneous firing of two hundred muskets was indeed spectacular, startling a flock of wild ducks into flight.
At that time, the envoy's face turned rosy, and when he got up to leave, he even said a polite remark, saying that he "hoped to have the opportunity for your envoys to experience the Mongols' hunting."
In Tomilo's view, this was a sign of flattery, and he believed that it would not be long before the Kalmyks became subjects of the Czar.
"You are absolutely right, my lord, if the Kalmyks refuse to surrender, they can only be hunted," Ivan said with a fawning smile.
As the two were indulging in fantasy, a message from Dalai Taishi arrived; the Great Taiji finally had time to see them.
The two exchanged smiles and proudly walked into the Dörbet's large tent.
Upon entering the tent, they immediately sensed the heavy atmosphere; everywhere were burly warriors with tiger backs and bear waists, gripping their sword hilts and emanating killing intent.
To the west of the large tent (Mongols consider west the most esteemed direction), sat a middle-aged man dressed in a white robe, refined and elegant, with a fair complexion, a short beard, and deep eyes;
Beside the middle-aged man in the white robe sat a middle-aged man in a brown robe, with dark skin, sharp eyes, clearly not someone to be trifled with;
In addition, there were dozens of other people in the large tent, with the leading dozen or so individuals all having fierce eyes and malicious intentions.
The two men's imposing manner deflated, and they bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Kalmyk Khan."
"Honored envoys, dispense with the formalities," with a gentle voice and a warm smile, Dalai Taishi was a refined gentleman, as warm and smooth as jade.
"Thank you, Kalmyk Khan, we have brought the goodwill of the Czar and the greetings of Governor N·C·Kulagin to you.
The Governor hopes that you and your tribe will swear allegiance to the Czar and convert to Orthodox Christianity."
"What! Swear allegiance to the Czar?
Why should the children of chang sheng tian be at the mercy of others?"
"We all believe in Gelug, why should we convert to your Orthodox Christianity?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the large tent immediately erupted into a cacophony of voices.
"Cough," Dalai Taishi coughed sternly, and the noise immediately subsided into silence.
He introduced with a smile, "Honored envoys, you probably don't recognize the heroes in this Taiji's tent.
This is Khuntaiji and Oerleke of the Torghut;
This is Jorightu;
This is Chu Hu'er Wubashi Taiji of the Dzungar;
This is Kundulun Ubashi Taiji of the Khoshut;
These are my brothers: Erkeyiledeng, Galdan, Boyile Deng, Ileden Ubashen;
These are my adult sons: Minzhu, Chu, Omobu Daiqing Heshuoqi, Gumu Bu."
He listed the names of the more than ten leaders sitting in the front row in one breath, not mentioning Nomudalai who was sitting in the back row at all.
Nomudalai, however, looked unperturbed.
The leaders of the Huit Tribe, Nogai, Kazakh Senior Zhuz, and Kyrgyz Zhuz, who were sitting in the back row, were all vassals of the Dörbet.
The Great Taiji was very fair; none of the vassal tribes were named, so naturally, there was no psychological imbalance.
"I am honored to meet all the heroes.
Please, Kalmyk Khan, bring all the heroes and swear allegiance to the Czar before the Bible.
This way, you can receive the protection of the Great Emperor," Tomilo Petrov said, taking out a Bible.
"Oh, is your Great Emperor an immortal from the heavens?
Why should the descendants of the Blue Wolf and White Doe submit to him?" Dalai Taishi suddenly sneered, looking at his nephew Elinqin Batur.
Elinqin Batur understood, drew his steel saber, stepped forward proudly, and shouted, "We Mongols only believe in Buddha, why should we believe in your Lord?"
"General, that's not right.
As far as I know, your tribe believed in Saman a few years ago, and believing in Buddha is only a recent thing.
Our Lord is merciful and infinitely powerful, caring for all sentient beings; please convert with me, and you will surely enjoy blessings," Tomilo Petrov was not afraid in the least and spoke with conviction.
"You, envoy, know quite a lot about the affairs of us Mongols, and you are brave, you are a good hero," Dalai Taishi smiled slightly, "A few days ago, thanks to the kindness of your Governor, this Taiji's envoy was invited to appreciate your Oros People's hunting.
Mongols value gratitude and righteousness the most; it is impolite not to reciprocate.
Today, please, honored envoys, appreciate our hunting."
