RNP Chapter 43 Commentary on the Four Kings: The Root Causes of the Mongol Division
Chapter 43 Commentary on the Four Kings: The Root Causes of the Mongol Division
The smile on Genghis Khan's face instantly turned into a dark rage.
He angrily returned to his seat, his chest heaving, but he didn't say a word.
This is not the first time that Juchi and Chagatai have clashed in public over this matter.
Everyone knows that the successor to the Khanate cannot be either Jochi or Chagatai.
After Chagatai's successor, Moatugan, Genghis Khan's favorite grandson, died on the battlefield of the western expedition, the disheartened Chagatai became increasingly out of control.
The generals in the tent looked at each other, the awkward scene seemingly frozen in place.
Only Tuolei and Guo Jing secretly shrank back.
Guo Jing adjusted his position, intentionally or unintentionally blocking Genghis Khan's path.
He didn't think Yang Kang was particularly afraid of the Golden Family's authority. If Yang Kang were to be provoked by Chagatai's recklessness, who knew how many people in this tent would survive?
"If you weren't Genghis Khan's son, I would have ripped your head off with my own hands just for saying that."
Yang Kang's figure flickered like a ghost, instantly appearing in front of Chagatai.
His towering figure, a head taller than Chagatai, was like a mountain, and Yang Kang's shadow enveloped Chagatai.
That chilling killing intent instantly awakened Chagatai's primal fear of death.
That fear instantly dissipated his previously out-of-control anger.
He suddenly remembered who this so-called "bastard raised by the Jurchens" in front of him really was.
That was a terrifying monster who nearly killed Genghis Khan in front of all the Mongol generals amidst an army of hundreds of thousands.
Chagatai was merely blinded by rage, not a madman foolish enough to seek death.
He immediately realized that, besides his father, the Khan, Yang Kang, the man in front of him, was someone he absolutely could not provoke.
Even the only one who truly cannot be provoked.
He stood there, stunned, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
Genghis Khan stared coldly at Yang Kang and Chagatai.
For a fleeting moment, even Genghis Khan worried that the enraged Yang Kang might casually crush Chagatai's head.
Yang Kang casually patted Chagatai on the shoulder.
Chagatai's body went limp, and he slumped back into his seat.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, even Genghis Khan secretly relaxed his tense body.
"Great Genghis Khan, do you think that if your sons were all like this, they would be qualified to lead the bravest and most fearless warriors in the world to conquer the world?"
Yang Kang turned his head and calmly asked Genghis Khan.
"Chagatai is indeed not qualified."
"And what about the others? Are my other sons also insignificant in your eyes?"
Genghis Khan's words were clearly tinged with anger. He was furious that Chagatai had repeatedly used the identity of the Jochi to cause trouble regardless of the occasion, and he was also angry at Yang Kang's contempt for their Golden Family.
"On the way here, my master and I passed through a city called Yulongjiechi."
"I heard that a year ago, when the city of Yulongjiechi was captured, Prince Juchi advised Genghis Khan not to massacre the people of Yulongjiechi."
Yang Kang seemed oblivious to the anger in Genghis Khan's eyes, and instead asked Jochi curiously.
"The living are far more useful than the dead. Constant slaughter and plunder will only destroy everything. Trade and taxation are the only ways to maintain lasting rule."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with my thinking."
"That's what I thought in the past, and that's what I'll do in the future."
Shuchi glanced at Chagatai and answered with a cold snort.
Yulongjiechi marked the beginning of his open break with Chagatai. He advocated appeasement, while Chagatai advocated massacre and plunder.
In that ever-expanding dispute, although the ownership of Yulongjiechi was given to Zhuchi, the massacre still proceeded as scheduled.
Following this, both Shuchi and Chagatai were excluded from the options of succession.
Upon hearing this, Yang Kang nodded silently.
His gaze swept over the few Han Chinese people in the tent, Guo Baoyu and Guo Jing, before returning to Genghis Khan's face.
"In the history of the Han people, there is often a peculiar pattern between the first and second emperors of an empire that can rule for a long time."
"Founding monarchs are often like Genghis Khan, possessing unparalleled courage and an invincible army, capable of sweeping away all enemies and conquering a vast territory."
"But the empire won on horseback cannot be passed down on horseback, so the second or third generation of monarchs often have very different qualities from the founding monarch."
"They were able to handle the disputes between all people in the empire properly, soothe the conquered with kindness and tolerance, and ease the pain brought by bloodshed, thus bringing long-term peace and stability."
"Prince Zhuchi is exactly that kind of person."
No one, including Genghis Khan, expected that Yang Kang would have such a high opinion of Zhu Chi.
Even Shu Chi himself hadn't expected it.
"but...."
Yang Kang spoke again.
"The Mongols are not Han Chinese, and Genghis Khan was not a Han Chinese ruler."
"I don't know if Mongolia should also have such a monarch."
Genghis Khan remained silent for a long time.
The only sound in the tent was the occasional crackling of charcoal in the brazier.
"Zhu Chi is indeed unlike me."
After a long silence, Genghis Khan finally spoke.
"But he's also like his mother."
These words were spoken very softly, yet everyone in the tent heard them clearly.
Jochi's body trembled slightly, his heart filled with bitterness. Just like a year ago, Genghis Khan once again avoided the question of Jochi's bloodline. Chagatai clenched his fists tightly, but ultimately did not speak again.
Yang Kang saw this but didn't say anything.
"Where is Ögedei?"
"I imagine that, given your position, you should know my sons very well."
Genghis Khan suddenly looked at Yang Kang.
"Since you have spoken so much about the principles of the Han people, you must have also seen the difference between Ögedei and Júchi."
Yang Kang smiled slightly.
"King Ögedei has something that the other three princes do not have."
"What?"
"He can make everyone willing to serve him."
Yang Kang looked at Ögedei and said calmly.
"Prince Juchi inspires awe, Prince Chagatai inspires fear, and Prince Tolui inspires loyalty."
"But only Prince Ögedei could make most people willingly serve him."
Ögedei suddenly raised his head, almost dropping the wine bowl in his hand.
He remained in the far corner of the tent, drinking with his head down, seemingly oblivious to the debate over the successor.
He never imagined that this Han Chinese man from Shandong would say such things in front of everyone.
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Genghis Khan's eyes.
"Willingly."
"Does that include you?"
Genghis Khan suddenly asked with great interest, and Yang Kang just shrugged without answering, but the calm look in his eyes as he looked at Ögedei gave him his answer.
"Where is Tolui?"
Genghis Khan finally asked for the last name.
Yang Kang remained silent for a moment.
Tolui was his sworn brother, the only person in this great tent he could call a brother.
But precisely because of this, he understood Tore's problem better than anyone else.
"Tolui is my sworn brother."
Yang Kang said calmly.
"In your Mongolian customs, you cannot lie to your 'da' (father).
"So I can only tell the truth."
"Tolui was the best general, the best brother, and the best warrior."
But he was not suited to be a ruler, Yang Kang did not say this.
Tore paused for a moment, then slowly smiled.
He wasn't angry, nor was he surprised.
"Anda is right."
Tolui raised his wine bowl and waved to Yang Kang from afar.
Tolui may have thought about the succession, but he had already vaguely sensed that his father's choice was not him.
Otherwise, even an outsider like Yang Kang wouldn't have known that Ögedei Khan could make everyone willingly serve him.
"I'm really not suited to be the Khan."
"I only wish to serve under my father, the Khan, forever as a general, and to fight for him against every enemy who refuses to submit."
Torrei laughed heartily, appearing unusually composed at that moment.
The leaders of newly established empires often have relationships beyond mere interests; they never know what power can turn a person into.
Torre was destined to pay the price for his naiveté.
Genghis Khan watched all this, his eyes growing ever brighter.
"Where is Chagatai?"
"You've commented on my three sons; I'd like to know what Chagatai is like in your eyes?"
"Although he offended you, I still think you should give him a fair assessment."
Genghis Khan, seeing Yang Kang's comments about his sons, seemed intrigued and continued to ask questions.
He was indeed a qualified father and king. Even though he always doubted Jochi's identity and was so angry with Chagatai, he still tried his best to give his sons equal attention.
"Chagatai..."
Yang Kang was slightly taken aback, as if he hadn't expected Genghis Khan to ask him for his opinion on Chagatai.
His gaze shifted to Chagatai, and he looked him up and down several times.
"Prince Chagatai is too fixated on such an empty thing as the Golden Family bloodline. He doesn't know what he should truly be proud of."
"Genghis Khan did not achieve his success because of his lineage from the Golden Family."
"None of the founding ministers of the Mongol Empire who drank muddy water with Genghis Khan, including Guo Jing sitting in the tent today, were noble because of their bloodline."
"Poor Prince Chagatai, if he were to become the monarch, it would surely be a disaster for all his subjects, including himself."
Yang Kang said without any mercy.
Chagatai's expression changed drastically. Even though he knew how brave and powerful Yang Kang was, he could not tolerate such humiliation.
"Yang Kang, who do you think you're talking to?"
"Believe it or not, with a single command, you will be beheaded today."
Chagatai gritted his teeth and said fiercely.
"Alright, Chagatai."
"Wait until you become Khan before you start giving me orders."
Genghis Khan shook his head in disappointment, not denying Yang Kang's words.
He looked at Yang Kang with regret, his heart filled with endless pity and apprehension.
As Yang Kang said, as long as he was twenty years younger, no matter how capable Yang Kang was, he was confident that he could control him.
But now he is old, and his son cannot fully satisfy him.
"I am indeed getting old; I can't even manage the disputes among my own sons anymore."
Temujin sighed helplessly, causing Juchi and Chagatai to kneel down in shame and indignation and admit their mistake.
He paid no attention to the two men's performance, but looked at Yang Kang with a listless expression.
"It seems that none of my sons can earn your sincere loyalty."
"General Yang Kang, your bravery is the greatest in the world, and your pride is also the greatest in the world."
"If there are not enough skilled riders, then the noblest horses should be willing to roam freely on the grasslands."
"Guests from afar are all guests. You are the sworn brother of Guo Jing and Tuolei, so you can be considered my nephew."
"You've come all this way, so take a good rest for a while."
"When I return and destroy the Jin Dynasty, you can reign as the King of Lu in Shandong for generations to come."
Genghis Khan shook his head and did not continue the topic.
Now he has everything, and although he regrets not being able to gain Yang Kang's loyalty, he doesn't value it too much anymore.
As for the idea of destroying what one cannot obtain, he no longer harbors such thoughts, and even if he did, it shouldn't be discussed within this tent.