Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 1 The Lowest Point in Life: Temujin, Zhao Shuo of Mongolia!

1203 AD.

This is a turbulent era.

The entire Eurasian continent is in the midst of conflict and war.

Far away in Europe, the Fourth Crusade was in full swing. Their targets were the Caliph of Baghdad and the decadent sultans of Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor. The Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire envisioned a bright future after the Crusades' victory.

In Central Asia, Khwarezm was gradually breaking away from the control of Western Liao and showing the embryonic form of a Central Asian overlord.

In East Asia, the Southern Song Dynasty, under the leadership of the powerful Prime Minister Han Tuozhou, was planning a war against its northern enemy, the Jin Dynasty.

Xixia was affiliated with Jin and Song, emphasizing culture over military power. There was peace for nearly a hundred years, and the whole country was immersed in a false sense of security.

However, no one could have imagined that in the northern grasslands of East Asia, a player was in the darkest moment of his life.

As long as he passes this hurdle, he will be able to soar to the sky. Not only will he have enough capital to sit at the table, but he will also be able to turn the entire game upside down!

……

Mobei grassland, banks of the Banzhuni River.

The river is almost dry, with only a few muddy puddles. No animals would use this place as a water source.

The shore is all salt marshes, hard as iron and bare as stone, where no plants can grow.

Dry, cold, and desolate.

There was silence between heaven and earth.

suddenly!

Da da da~~
The sound of hurried horse hooves interrupted the eternal tranquility along the Banjuni River. A group of nineteen defeated soldiers were galloping towards them from afar.

Yes, defeated soldiers!
Their skilled horsemanship, sharp swords, and deerskin quivers demonstrate their identity as grassland warriors.

The blood-stained armor, the dusty faces, the chapped lips, and the alert expressions proved the fact that they were defeated.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa~~”

Seeing the dry river ahead, the leader finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He pulled the reins and said, "We've finally reached the Banjuni River! My companions, dismount and take a rest!"

"Yes, Khan." Everyone dismounted.

"Khan, have some mare's milk!"

A knight bent over, holding a shriveled leather bag in both hands, and came to the front of the leader.

The leader waved his hand and said, "No need! You all don't have kumis, why should I be special?"

He was probably between forty and fifty years old, and stood a full head taller than the other knights. Surrounded by them, he stood out like a crane among chickens. His gray-blue eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, filled with courage and determination. Every gesture and movement exuded a strangely captivating charm.

Even in the face of such a difficult situation, the knights remained loyal to him and naturally gave him the little kumis they had to quench his thirst.

Like all great heroes in history, he chose to refuse without hesitation.

In fact, he is indeed one of the heroes in history - Temujin.

According to historical records, it was Temujin who unified the tribes of the steppes and established the Mongol Empire! It was Temujin who conquered most of the world and made all of Europe tremble!

Genghis Khan, Temujin!

Of course, Temujin had not yet earned the title of Genghis Khan, and was far from achieving the tremendous achievements recorded in history.

Five days ago, Temujin was the Khan of the entire Mongol tribe, commanding 30,000 households and 36,000 elite soldiers. Temujin's power was second only to the aging and frail Kerait Khan, Wang Han, and the Naiman Khan, Taiyang Khan, to the west, who commanded nearly 100,000 men, making him the third most powerful force on the grasslands.

However, that same day, Temujin's forces suffered a surprise attack from Wang Han's forces. This crushing defeat brought the vast grassland empire that Temujin had painstakingly built over a period of twenty-five years since he launched his rebellion at the age of eighteen to the brink of collapse.

Now there are only eighteen people following Temujin, and almost everyone is injured!
He is facing the last darkest moment of his life!

"Sit down and rest for two quarters of an hour. Then, Jochi, Tahai Batu, Subutai, and Jebe, stay here to protect me. Botu, Suara, Dashiman, Yelu Ahai, Tuhua, and Xuelijian, go hunting, go find water and food. Remember, the radius is twenty miles and you must not go beyond that. Haban, Muqali, Huluhun, Asulu, Zhenhai, Shaogur, Zhabarhuozhe, and Jochitai, the eight of you will split into eight directions and search forward for fifty miles to gather up the scattered soldiers. Regardless of whether you gain anything, you must return after searching for fifty miles!"

"As you command, Great Khan."

After resting for a while, everyone acted according to Temujin's orders.

Then, Temujin gave a wink, and a large banner made of nine black horsehair strands stood up high.

This large banner represents that the Mongolian Khan is here, and Temujin is waiting for the return of the defeated soldiers.

This move was of course extremely dangerous. If the fleeing soldiers could see the Mongol Khan's black banner, the enemy might also see it.

However, if Temujin wanted to gather as many of his remaining troops as possible and make a comeback, he had to take this risk, so he had to leave a certain number of guards around him.

"Khan, drink some water."

Jebe came to Temujin with a bowl of turbid and bitter river water.

There was no other way. If he didn't want to kill the precious warhorse and drink its blood, nor did he want to drink the remaining kumis, he could only let Temujin drink the turbid and bitter water of the Banjuni River.

"Well."

Temujin nodded slightly, took a sip of the muddy water, frowned slightly, and asked thoughtfully: "Zhebie, how many troops do you think we can gather in the end?"

"Um... four or five thousand men, there must be at least that many, right?" Zhebei consoled him, "Don't worry too much, Khan. Sheep pens built early won't freeze, and herders who get up early won't starve. The old camp has already made preparations. The Queen Mother and the Grand Concubine will surely be able to escape once they hear of our defeat."

The Grand Concubine was Temujin's wife, Borte, and the Queen Mother was Temujin's mother, Hoelun.

It has to be said that Temujin suffered a terrible defeat this time. Only his eldest son Jochi, generals Jebe and Muqali, and fifteen personal guards were left by his side.

His mother Hoelun, wife Borte, three sons Chagatai, Ogedei, and Tolui and his beloved daughter Huazheng, brother Hasar, generals Borchu, Borchu, and Chilaowen... all are missing.

It was hard to say how many defeated soldiers could be gathered in the end. Saying four or five thousand was already an overestimation.

Jebe guessed that Temujin was most worried about the safety of his wife or mother, which was why he spoke so comfortingly.

Temujin shook his head slightly and said, "The old camp has already made preparations for retreat. I am not worried about my mother and Borte now."

Shuchi on the side consoled him, "Second brother, third brother, fourth brother, and eldest sister, with the blessing of the Eternal Heaven, they should be... also be fine."

"Are they..."

The images of several of his sons and his favorite daughter Huazheng flashed through Temujin's mind. He couldn't help but sigh and his face darkened.

Especially his favorite daughter Hua Zheng!
Hua Zheng did not wait for the battle report from the front with the other women in the old camp, but took the initiative to follow Temujin to the battlefield. It was easy to imagine what kind of misfortune she would have encountered if she had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

"actually……"

After all, Temujin was Temujin, and he quickly controlled his emotions and said, "My main concern is not your brothers and sisters, but Zhao Shuo."

"What does Zhao Shuo say..."

When Zhao Shuo was mentioned, Subuchi's eyes suddenly turned red.

Zhao Shuo is Subutai's brother!

The only Anda!
A sworn brother who is closer than his biological brothers Chagatai, Ogedei, and Tolui!
And now, in order to save him and everyone present including Temujin, Zhao Shuo might have met with an accident!
(Hua Zheng is the historical Princess Huozhenbieji, the eldest daughter of Temujin. She is also the prototype of the character "Hua Zheng" in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. In this book, because the protagonist often calls her Hua Zheng, Temujin, Jochi and others are also used to calling her by this syllable. This book has nothing to do with The Legend of the Condor Heroes, it is purely historical text!)

(End of this chapter)