by Boris Zubry
We were on the way to the Karakorum, about a halfway down, when the news of the election was delivered to us by the messenger from one of my cousins who would have supported me. He was a close cousin and very friendly but not that powerful to change the outcome of the kurultai, even if he tried. His Ulus was too small for that. There were more forces at play, more cousins, uncles, and even brothers. I was ready to give the order to go back to the Golden Horde when the messenger said that he saw a large posse of brigands gathering about five miles ahead and it looked like they were planning to attack a caravan. That was a massive violation of laws and especially, on the Silk Road. He, the messenger, passed only one caravan on the way down and that looked like Khazars. It was not a very large caravan with maybe only twenty soldiers. I had many Khazars in my party and could see that they did not take the news lightly. They wanted me to help. That would be just right. I had two hundred bodyguards with me, and the rest of the party were soldiers as well, not counting women and slaves. Thus, it did not take long to decide. Subutai and I took one hundred guards and galloped forward ahead of the rest of the party. I wanted to save the caravan, to help these people, whoever they were, and punish the thieves. After all, was not that my duty? We tried to maintain the order throughout the empire, and crime was severely punished. Yes, these were the troubling times with war going on almost everywhere, so we had to work harder to maintain law and order in our domains. I wanted my empire to follow the rules, as was only possible. In my opinion, it was achievable, and we did a very job so far. We could protect the Silk Road, and we did our best. Yes, I will talk to the right people and suggest that the guards on the roads and, primarily, the Silk Road were increased. If needed, I would send some of my people to help. That was very important for all of us. The Silk Road was our commercial bloodline.
A messenger from the advance guard came back and told us that a band of Bashkirs, close to a hundred horsemen, was getting ready to attack a caravan of about seventy to eighty people that definitely were Khazars. There were only twenty or so soldiers in that caravan, though, and the rest were women and servants. The Bashkirs had not seen us yet and did not know the danger that was coming. The messenger said that the Bashkirs were concentrating on the prey, not paying attention to the surrounding. Thus, they were not professional soldiers or terrible ones. There was a problem with the Bashkirs lately. They were challenging us with every opportunity and without one. I did not like that and was ready to stamp the disobedience out, but it had to be the decision of the new Khan. The Bashkirs were not under my immediate control, so, I could not act just by myself. Yet, this situation was in the open field, and the Bashkirs were acting like the common thieves. I think they tried to exploit the void of the fighting men guarding the Silk Road due to the war. Many were fighting the war here and there, so caravans and the small towns were less guarded. Bashkirs used that situation to attack the weak and to profit from it. That was not right, and they were warned, but there it was again. That was against the law, and I had to punish them following the law. We moved forward faster, ready to fight if necessary.
It did not take long to teach the Bashkirs the lesson they deserved. It was swift. We killed most of them and then, finished the wounded. We did not want any slaves and had enough of prisoners already. There were two dozen or, so prisoners, and we executed the leaders by breaking their necks and leaving the corpses in the open field for the vultures and the animals. That’s what they deserved. Living like dogs deserved to die like dogs, and they were dogs. A few remaining prisoners were let go. I wanted them to go back to their people and tell the story. I wanted the Bashkirs to know me better and stay where they supposed to be. They knew my name and who I was. If they wanted peace, they had to behave peacefully and follow the law, our law. But, if they had a problem with that, we could fight it out.
We would oblige at any time. This round, the enemy lost almost a hundred men, and we had only seven wounded. What do you say, Bashkirs? Would you like to meet the Kalmyks and the Tatars? Would you like to see a Tumen of the purebred Mongols at your steps? It would not take too long for them to arrive if I ordered. They could show you more, and you will feel it more profound. They could go to your Uluses and burn them down. Subutai and I would not mind leading them personally. So, what is it going to be? Stop doing what you are doing and behave. That would be much better for your health. I promise.
The caravan belonged to the Khazar Princess. She was of the royal house but not too close to the throne, and that is why I did not know her. I may have seen her before but did not remember. I knew the royal house of the Khazars quite well, and many of the nobles served in the Golden Horde. Many were very close to me, my brothers and the other relatives. Some of them knew her, the Princes, but some did not. Yet, everyone knew the name and the house she came from. The name was quite famous. The caravan had suffered some minor losses of a few soldiers and slaves, but the Princess and her entourage were fine. We came just in time to save her from any harm. Yet, she was quite shaken and upset. After all, it was a terrible turn of events. I asked where she was going, and she told us a somber story. Subutai was sitting right next to me, and we were surrounded by a few of my guards and all the Khazars in my party. We listened to the story with interest, and the Khazars looked quite tense. They did not like what they heard. They knew something we did not but were about to learn.
“My father is the Bek you probably know well. He is the general that commanded all our armies and is probably the second most powerful man in the country. All Khazars respected him, and you have so many of us around you,” she was smiling drinking cold water flavored with some rose petals. We offered some kumis and even vine, but she said that cold water was her drink. What could be more precious than water? We, people of the steppes, knew it so well. Water – the precious gift of life. We also knew ice and used it even when we traveled.
“My father was also a second cousin of the Khagan – the Khan of the Khans. Growing up, I think I spent more time in the palace than in our home. That was the time of wars, and our family basically lived in the castle because my father was needed all the time. So, it was much easier for him if we were there. All the children were so close, and we still are. We are still one big family. At the time, we were at war with the Bashkirs and the Kyrgyz. They kept sending war parties that would cross our borders and pillage the villages, kill people.
My father would send the soldiers to pay them back, but it was so difficult to catch them. They were always a few days ahead of us. My father tried to improve the border by building more fortifications and increasing the number of border guards. But, most of our troop were with you and the other Mongol Khans. Thus, we did not have enough people to guard everything evenly. We were short of fighting people, and the cost was mounting. The Bashkirs or the Kyrgyz would show up here or there, and no one could predict where and when it would happen. I do not think we had good spies there.
The Khagan was looking for a peaceful solution; maybe because it was less expensive. So, he decided to marry me off to a moderate Bashkir Prince who was first in line to the throne. The agreement was reached, and I went to Bashkortostan for the wedding. I had no choice, and even no say in the matter. Who am I to argue with the Khagan. My country demanded sacrifees, and I had to do it. My country was first. My family was first. My Khagan was first. I was raised that way, and I understood it very well. You know what I mean. When you belong to the leading family, you have many obligations.
My wedding party was quite impressive – over five hundred people, and we carried the gifts fit for the royal wedding. Well, it was almost a royal wedding. The Prince was a nice man, a little shy, quiet but amiable. I think he was somewhat younger than I. He was short and of a slight build and not an attractive man. He was bolding already. That was not his fault, and I could learn to deal with it. It would not be that difficult if there were a big goal to accomplish. He could learn to become more attractive. I thought he would. The purpose of the wedding was much higher than
that, and we were willing to do it right, for our countries, for our people. We wanted a long-lasting peace that could be achieved through this, and that was good for both people. The present Khan was old and getting fragile so, my groom to be could become the Khan and soon. That was the gossip already so, the wedding was almost royal after all. After we arrived and rested, there was a great feast, and the wedding was supposed to be in three days. More nobility had to arrive yet, and they were coming by the minute.
The feast was lavish with mountains of food and vine, dancers, wild animals, fakirs (a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker) and the acrobats. Music was for all tastes. It was fit for a more powerful king than the Bashkirs, but we were there. That was a few hundred people affair, and I understood that it was the cream de la cream of the Bashkir nation and of the neighboring states. I think everyone who was someone in that country was there. About an hour in, right when the dancers became somewhat wild and outgoing, the uncle of my groom to be and his party, arrived. He was surrounded by a few warriors dressed as for a battle that was quite unusual for the feast of this type. Almost without delay, he shot the Khan with an arrow and pierced the groom with a spear that he took from a guard. It was fast and so efficient. It was clear, he’s done it before. None of the people present did anything about it, more, they surrounded him, the uncle, with a sharp display of support. It looked like it was their will, and he was just the messenger. It seemed like everything was prearranged and carried out precisely. It seemed like everyone knew what will happen and was involved. It was well orchestrated, but we were shocked and frozen in place. Then, he killed our ambassador, and looking at me said:
“Take your people and go. We do not want you and, as you can see, there is going to be no wedding. Take your ambassador and go. Tell your uncle to expect us soon. There is no peace, there is war. You, Khazars, owe us and a lot. We are coming to collect that.” He was smiling now, but it was not a welcoming smile of goodwill. That was a smile of a hyena just before it strikes and tears you apart. He looked like a hyena. That was a smile of an open enemy that knew that he had an upper arm. That was the open declaration of war, and we had to carry it to our people. We were free for now, but I had a bad feeling.
We hurried to the caravan stationed just a mile or so away and moved out swiftly. The Bashkirs did not let all of us go. They kept many slaves and most women. They also killed a few soldiers and the noblemen. I was not scared, but my people were. It did not look good. Nothing looked good. The Bashkirs could change their minds and fast, and we could not do anything about it. We were in their capital, and there was so many of them and just a few of us. We could not defend ourselves even if we tried. Two days later, we were here, and you saw what happened. Was it planned as well? It looked that way. They could’ve planned that all along. Why would they let me go? I am expensive. Now, they could claim that the bandits attacked us. They could’ve even asked for ransom. Yes, the uncle looked like a hyena, and he was one. If not for you, we would not survive. Was that another war, only a big one?”
“I liked the Princess right away, from the first time I had laid the eyes on her. She was so beautiful, gentle, so feminine. I may add exotic but in a good way. She was so simple yet, different. Our women were different, the product of the steppes. She was also so bright and educated, and we could talk of nothing and the important things for hours, well into the night. She was so well versed. She knew so much and was interested almost in everything. But, she hated war.
Not that she did not know or understood war, she just hated it to the full depth of her heart. I hate wars as well, but what can do. Too often, it is a necessity. And, those eyes… I don’t think I could describe the depth of these eyes. They were bottomless, and I could see the eternity full of passion there. One of the Khazars, when I mentioned that, said that they called it the “Jewish Eyes.” I liked that. It sounded so true, so descriptive. On many occasions, I found myself drowning in that depth of the exotic beauty and ancient wisdom. And, she was all that. She was everything I always wanted in a woman and could not find anywhere, not in the lands I’ve been. Yes, I was in love and so, was she. How could that be in any other way? I was not going to the Karakorum anyway and going back to the Golden Horde could wait for a while. I was not planning for any new campaigns this year, and the management of our domain was done quite well by my brothers and the cousins. All of them were loyal and the real family. The Golden Horde was getting ready for a new push, and I was not needed for now. Things were just fine, and I could afford to take a break for a few months. I needed it, and there was nothing wrong with that. Even a Khan could use a break. So, I was going to escort the Princess and to visit the Khazar Kingdom. It would be good politically anyway. Just a friendly visit from a good neighbor but it could warn the Bashkirs to stay away. Still, it was not a political visit but a friendly one. Also, I was not going to allow the Bashkirs to attack them, not while I was there. It had to stop, and I was going to see to that. After all, I was the Khan of the Golden Horde and had more soldiers by now than any other Horde. I had more soldiers that the Bashkirs ever had, and my soldiers were better and by much. The Kyrgyz would come to me as soon as they see what side I am on. My army could turn in any direction if I wanted. Maybe we could avoid that war altogether, but our involvement had to be obvious for that. Did I have any other reason for visiting the Khazars? Hm…, maybe. We’ll see, we’ll see. In the worst case, I could always send a Tumen or two to Bashkortostan, and that would be it. Let them feel what the Khazars feel. The Khazars were more important to us, while the Bashkirs needed a lesson, but I needed an excuse for that one. So, with great pleasure, we went to Bukhara where the Princess lived, and I planned to visit Samarkand and a few more cities along the way. I heard it was beautiful this time of the year. It was the time of the fruit. I was really looking forward to the trip and the company.”
“The reception was much more than we expected. It was not just the expected bowing to the visitor who was much stronger than you are. It was not even the respect of the partner that tolerates you when you were too close for comfort. Anyone would bow to us when we knock on your door. It was a big welcome of a friend or even a relative who really loves you. Nothing there looked artificial or even superficial. They wanted you there, and they welcomed you there. Yet, the bad news traveled fast and much quicker than that, in Central Asia. They knew already what happened with the wedding and the Bashkir Prince. They knew it all, and the troops were gathering on the border in anticipation of the Bashkirs and their collaborators coming in force. They did not believe it was avoidable. After all, the Bashkirs killed the emissary, and that was too much to ignore. That was a huge offense that had to be repaid in blood. There would be war, and nothing could be done to avoid it. Thus, if you could not avoid the worst tragedy of war, fight it, and fight to win. They asked us for help, and Subutai gave an order to move one Tumen towards Bashkiria, threatening them from both sides. We did it in the open so, the Bashkirs would not mistake our intentions for anything else. They should know that we chose the side. We wanted to punish the Bashkirs, and we always did what we wanted. That worked for us the best. I informed our Khan of my moves and ordered some soldiers stationed close by to move to Khazaria. The Bashkirs and the Kyrgyz will notice it soon enough. That should be a very clear message.
Shortly, I asked for the hand of the Princess, and she became my wife. I was so happy. I was sure she was the one I was looking for. She became not just my first wife; she became the favorite wife and the loved one. My first wife accepted it without a fight and kept overseeing the house. She was the best person for that and the most trusted at that. She was a good friend if nothing else. Now, when my Khazar wife is dead, I can say openly that I loved her so much and her death was the biggest tragedy I ever experienced. We were together for five years and had four sons. They were Jews by birth and the religion that would become the strongest foundation for the new Mongolian nation that was based on our c
ulture and the Jewish wisdom. If you mix the Mongols and the Jews, would that come out, right? Yes, if you mix it right, it would come out right. Why would not it? We were the two greatest nations in the world. The Jewish Mongolian Nation… So far, it did. It was working just right. Somehow it was a pure unity of two souls and two bodies. Was it God’s design?
Look at my children; look at the other children. I converted to Judaism five years ago, and many of my court did the same thing. Many married the Khazar women, and many of the Khazar men married our women. We were becoming a new nation of the Jews and fast. I liked it, my court liked it, the Golden Horde liked it, and the visitors from other Hordes loved it so much. It was spreading like a disease but a good one that made you better, stronger, smarter. That was a happy time, and we all prospered. It was good for me, my family, and the empire. It was a good all-around and for all. It was the time of peace and prosperity, where we tried to build instead of destroying. We did not fight any big wars but raided some areas just to calm the agitated citizens down. Once in a while, it was necessary. Not everyone believed in the peaceful coexistence as we did. So, we had to enforce the rules even if we did not really want it. I was planning a new campaign in Europe but not before my wife would come back from Khazaria. For now, we were just building up the strength growing more affluent and more comfortable in our domain.”
