Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Ma Kuo first filled out three edicts, respectively conferring titles upon the leaders of the three major tribes, naming them King Zhongshun, King Yishun, and King Xiaoshun.

He then wrote six more edicts, bestowing the title of duke upon the leaders of six small tribes.

There was no investiture ceremony, and he didn't even personally visit the six small tribes.

He fled immediately after issuing the edict to prevent anyone from reporting it to the Jin state.

They quickly crossed the hilly area and arrived at the grassland on the northern foothills of Daqingshan Mountain.

Ma Kuo was about to continue filling out the investiture edict when he learned that the White Tatar tribes were at war.

He and the Mongol envoy Khutula hurried northward, when they suddenly encountered a defeated army.

"I am the son of Khabul Khan, where is your leader?" Khutula shouted as he stepped forward.

A young man covered in blood ran up, crying, "We've lost! We've lost! The Kereit tribe has taken over all the pastures to the north!"

"Many of our people and livestock were also robbed!"

The White Tatars, who last year were clamoring to join forces with the Mongols to resist the Jin dynasty and dominate the northern deserts, have now become homeless dogs.

Hutula asked, "Why would the Kereit tribe attack you?"

The young man said, "Last year, three of the nine Tatar tribes (the northern Zubu tribes) were conquered by the Kereit tribe."

"This year, Hurjahus suddenly convened an alliance, and the nine Tatar clans supported him as their common leader."

“He even declared himself Khan, calling himself ‘Beiluk Khan,’ and attacked us as soon as the alliance ended.”

Ma Kuo remained silent, planning to find time that evening to burn the edict bestowing titles upon the White Tatars.

The northern Zubu tribes were very powerful thirty years ago, and their rebellion caused the Liao Dynasty a great deal of trouble.

After being suppressed by the Liao Dynasty, the leader died and the kingdom was subsequently fragmented.

The leader of the Kereit tribe who declared himself the Beilu Khan was named Hurjahus, who was the son of the former leader of the Northern Zubu tribe.

He actively supported Yelü Dashi and took the opportunity to expand his power.

After Yelü Dashi's western expedition, this man immediately occupied Yelü Dashi's core territory in the northern desert.

This year, through an alliance meeting, the Northern Zubu tribes were unified, and then they marched south to seize the grasslands of the White Tatars.

Zhao Yuan had never even heard of this Beilu Khan Hurjahus, but he certainly knew his son.

He had forty sons, one of whom was named Wang Khan, Genghis Khan's adoptive father.

In other words, this Beilu Khan was Genghis Khan's godfather.

……

Khutula left that very day to rush back to Mongolia to deliver the message.

Ma Kuo continued north, having met Beilu Khan and wanting to observe his attitude first.

Two days later, Ma Kuo was surrounded by a group of Kereit cavalry.

“I am an envoy of the Great Ming,” Ma Kuo said, raising his staff to the cavalrymen. “I am a friend of your Khan. Quickly escort me there.”

These cavalrymen dared not delay and escorted Ma Kuo northward.

Soon they encountered a cavalry force of over a thousand men, along with a large number of prisoners and livestock, indicating that the Kereit tribe was retreating.

The next day, Ma Kuo met with Beilu Khan.

"Haha, Brother Ma, long time no see!"

Beilu Khan immediately gave him a hug.

Ma Kuo laughed and said, "Hur Zha, when we parted last time, you were still under Yelü Dashi's command."

"When we meet again, you have become the Great Khan. You are truly a hero comparable to Yelü Dashi."

These words made Beilu Khan feel like he was floating on air; what he feared most was Yelü Dashi.

If Yelü Dashi had not left the northern desert, Beilu Khan would not have dared to move an inch.

Ma Kuo continued his flattery, "Hurzha, you are already the overlord of the grasslands."

Chapter 3384 The Khan's Position is Unstable

Beilu Khan shook his head and pointed to the east, saying, "There are also Mongols."

"They have arrived, intending to rescue the White Tatars."

Beilu Khan dispatched a small force to escort prisoners and livestock away, and then led the main force eastward.

Another day later, the Kereit army met the Mongol army.

The former leader was Genghis Khan's godfather.

The latter's leader was Genghis Khan's great-grandfather.

The two sides did not engage in direct combat. After sending out their soldiers to make contact, their respective commanders rode out alone to meet.

Without hesitation, Ma Kuo spurred his horse and galloped off.

When Khabul Khan saw Ma Kuo, he immediately smiled and said, "Brother Ma, we meet again."

"Did my son come back with you?"

Ma Kuo said, "Khutula parted ways with me a few days ago."

"It seems to have gone very smoothly; he has already met the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

Khabul Khan said happily.

Beilu Khan questioned, "Why did you lead your troops to attack?"

Khabul Khan said, "I am an ally of the White Tatars, and we have agreed to fight against the Jin together."

“Your attack on the White Tatars is tantamount to declaring war on the Mongols.”

Beilu Khan sneered: "The White Tatars are dogs raised by the Jin Dynasty."

"You want to resist the Jin, yet you've allied yourself with the Jin dogs?"

Khabul Khan said, "That was in the past. The White Tatars rebelled against the Jin long ago."

“Even in the past, the White Tatars were forced to surrender to the Jin.”

“Give me some face, take the prisoners and livestock away, and return the White Tatar pastures to them.”

"Why should I listen to you?" Beilu Khan asked.

Khabul Khan said, "If you agree, we can be friends, and the Mongols and the Kereit tribe will not fight each other."

"You attack to the west, I'll attack to the south."

Ma Kuo didn't want the White Tatars to suffer too heavy losses, otherwise Beilu Khan could lead his troops to attack the southern steppes.

Ma Kuo laughed and said, "Both of you are great heroes of the grasslands, why make things so tense?"

“I will be the witness, and we will swear an oath of blood right here. From now on, the Mongol tribe will fight against the Jin in the south, while the Kereit tribe will conquer in the west.”

Beilu Khan remained silent and began to weigh the pros and cons.

His expansion has been too rapid in the past two years, especially this year's alliance meeting, where most tribes only submitted because of his power.

To put it simply, it's because the sweating position is unstable.

If we were to engage in a major battle with the Mongols today, even the slightest mishap could lead to our collapse.

Mongolia did not want to fight the Kereit tribe either. If the losses were too great, how could they resist the Jin?

Ma Kuo continued, "His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, even from a thousand miles away, has heard of the fame of these two grassland heroes."

"Therefore, His Majesty sent me as an envoy to the northern desert to recognize the Khanates of the two, to confer upon Khabul Khan the title of King of the Mongols, and upon Bilge Khan the title of King of the Kereit."

Since Beilu Khan's territory did not border the Jin Dynasty, there was no need for him to ally with the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, he said rather arrogantly, "The Ming Dynasty is far away in the desert and grasslands. He is the emperor of the Han Dynasty, and I am the Khan of the grasslands."

"Why should I ask him to bestow the title upon me?"

Ma Kuo pointed to the grass beneath his feet: "Hundreds of years ago, this was the territory of the Tang Dynasty."

"Now that the Ming Dynasty has been restored and the southern kingdoms have submitted, the restoration of the Tang Dynasty's golden age is just around the corner."

"How dare you disrespect the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? Do you want to be attacked by a coalition of nations?"

Beilu Khan sneered: "Then I'll wait for the Ming Dynasty to send troops from a thousand miles away."

Khabul Khan said, "All of us Mongols follow the Ming Emperor."

"If you disrespect the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I will also help the Ming Dynasty fight you!"

Chapter 3385 Guarding the Camp

"Who do you think you are?"

"Even when the Great Khan (Yelü Dashi) was alive, he said that the Zhao Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was a hero."

Ma Kuo then said, "The emperor has already ascended the throne and become emperor."

Khabul Khan didn't think much of it and continued to threaten, "A man respected even by the Great Khan, do you think you can resist him?"

Beilu Khan was certainly not afraid of the Ming Dynasty, but he dared not fight against the Mongols for the time being and had to consolidate the power of the tribes he had just subdued.

"Alright, I'll give you face!" Beilu Khan said.

So both sides began preparing the altar and cattle and horses, while Ma Kuo slipped aside to fill out the imperial edict.

The next day, a white horse and a blue ox were killed to swear an oath, with Ma Kuo serving as the witness.

Both sides agreed not to attack each other, and the Kereit tribe returned the pastures to the White Tatars.

But he was only willing to return a portion, otherwise he would lose face.

After the oath was taken, Ma Kuo read out the imperial edict of investiture.

Since the golden seal of the Kereit King was never made, he simply refused to give him the golden seal of the Mongol King, planning to make it up later.

Thus, the Ming Dynasty gained two vassal states in the northern desert.

But none of them are easy to deal with; once they've grown powerful enough, they're bound to cause all sorts of trouble.

"Let's go drink!"

The two Khans, who almost went to war yesterday, suddenly put their arms around each other's shoulders and dragged Ma Kuo out for drinks to celebrate.

Although Beilu Khan disregarded the Ming emperor, he had an excellent personal relationship with Ma Kuo.

In the midst of their drinking and revelry, Beilu Khan asked, "I've heard about the Liangshan Emperor..."

Ma Kuo corrected, "It is His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Beilu Khan changed his tune, saying, "I heard that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty personally led the army and defeated the Jin army head-on?"

Ma Kuo said mysteriously, "Do you know how His Majesty fights battles?"

"Tell me, tell me!"

Genghis Khan's great-grandfather and godfather urged him on.

Ma Kuo smiled as he recounted, "At that time, the Jin army occupied the fortified city, which was not only high and deep, but also backed by rivers on two sides."

"On the other side, tens of thousands of Jin troops were also providing support."

"His Majesty took the initiative to divide his troops to garrison the city, and set up camp outside the city with a small number of soldiers."

"Then, defend the camp while attacking the city!"

Both Khans were dumbfounded.

Khabul Khan said, "Although I have never attacked a city, I know that doing so would definitely result in a loss."

Why did the emperor do this?

Ma Kuo said, half-truthfully, "Because the Jin cavalry has more troops and keeps changing battlefields, they want to exhaust our forces and divide our army."

"His Majesty defended the camp with 10,000 elite troops, and even with tens of thousands of Jin soldiers besieging it with all their might, they could not break in."

"The emperor's personal guards then attacked the city, each one fighting like ten men, and forcibly captured the city walls."