As a leader of a region, Dalai Taishi still possessed courage. He distributed the game among the leaders and held a grand feast for seven days, hosting the good friends who came to support the Dörbet.
The Ob River became an ocean of joy, the air filled with the aroma of wine and meat. Everyone praised the Great Taiji's generosity and hospitality.
"Ugh," Nomudalai let out a satisfied burp and gave his confidant, Tuoli, a meaningful look.
Tuoli understood, secretly stepped forward, and reported in a low voice: "Taiji, the matter is settled. I found a few Oros merchants and exchanged that batch of furs for twenty muskets and a thousand rounds, but they are all old, worn-out goods."
This hunt yielded a considerable harvest for the Khoshut, who received over a thousand various animal skins, including five hundred larger ones.
Nomudalai secretly ordered Tuoli to use these skins to exchange for muskets from the Russia people.
Although the firearms obtained from Samarkand were of better quality, going there required passing through the territory of the Kazakh, and now the Kazakh and Oirat Mongol were like fire and water. Buying firearms in Samarkand was dangerous and costly, so after much thought, trading with the Oros People was still more cost-effective.
Nomudalai inspected this batch of muskets. As Tuoli said, there were only five or six good guns; the rest were antiques, and whether they could even be used was questionable.
He laughed heartily, "Muskets, it doesn't matter if they're old; as long as they can fire, they're treasures. Get ready, we're going home!"
Tribe after tribe departed, and Nomudalai also bid farewell to Dalai Taishi.
Unexpectedly, perhaps as a reward for the Huit Tribe's loyalty, this hero actually came to see them off personally. "Nomudalai Taiji, leading your tribe to this alliance was truly arduous.
This Taiji is extremely grateful and has come specifically to see you off."
"Oh dear, who am I to deserve the Great Taiji personally seeing me off?" Nomudalai squeezed out tears with effort, overwhelmed with gratitude.
"Oh dear, true friendship is seen in times of difficulty. I truly hate to see you go!"
The hero's words were full of sincerity.
"I also hate to leave, Great Taiji!
In my next life, I would rather turn into a dog or a horse to serve the Great Taiji," Nomudalai's skill was not shallow; he vigorously expressed his loyalty.
"Hmm, I've always told people that among the Taijis of the various tribes, you, Nomudalai, are the most loyal. As expected," the hero praised him profusely, then suddenly changed the subject. "I have reserved fertile pastures for you in Tarbahatai. Why not lead your people to relocate there?
That way, I can also frequently seek your advice."
Upon hearing this, Nomudalai immediately felt a chill run from head to toe.
His intuition told him that if he refused directly, he might not make it home alive.
After thinking for a moment, he explained tactfully, "Your kindness, Great Taiji, has overwhelmed me with gratitude, etched deep within my heart.
However, if you'll forgive my frankness, although I am called the leader of the Huit Tribe, I can only command my own core group. The other leaders, including my two younger brothers, don't really listen to my orders."
If we were to move north to Tarbahatai, they might not agree."
"Hmm, what you say is indeed the truth.
How about this: when you can command the entire Huit Tribe, I will wait for you in Tarbahatai," Dalai Taishi smiled slightly and bowed to him as if to a long-time friend.
Nomudalai hurriedly returned the bow, mounted his horse, and galloped away.
He was afraid the Dörbet would strike against him, so he rushed south without the slightest delay.
Dalai Taishi watched the Huit cavalry disappear from sight, sighed, and said no more, like a statue.
"E Qi Ge, it seems to me that this person was being perfunctory and had no sincerity about moving north to Tarbahatai.
Why not send troops to intercept him?"
The young fourth son, Omu Bu Daiqing Heshoku, broke the silence.
"Son, tell me, how can your father command the various tribes?"
Dalai Taishi glanced at his son with deep meaning.
Omu Bu Daiqing Heshoku pondered carefully for a long while before saying, "You are selfless, handle matters justly, and administer clear rewards and punishments, which is why you can command the various tribes, and none dare disobey."
"Precisely!
Since you know that those in high positions should administer clear rewards and punishments, Nomudalai has not committed any error now, so how can I attack him when he is innocent?
If this matter were known to the various tribes, wouldn't it damage my prestige?
And how would I command the world then?"
"But, E Qi Ge, I observe that this person is not one who is content to remain subordinate."
"Haha, my son has grown up!
You are very discerning of people!"
Dalai Taishi laughed with satisfaction, "It is very good that you can see through this person's ambition.
However, you must remember, no matter how great the ambition, it requires a suitable stage to be realized.
The Huit Tribe is currently small and fragmented. Even if this person's ambition is great, what is there to fear?
Let him go back, but keep a close eye on him.
If he dares to rebel, then we will justly eliminate him."
"Yes, E Qi Ge, I understand."
Nomudalai rode back quickly. At first, he was worried that Dalai Taishi would strike against him, but later, he was eager to return home, wanting to see his beloved wife sooner.
After only seven days, he entered the Huit Tribe's nomadic territory, the Yulduz Grassland.
"Great Taiji, ahead are the Otoks of the two Taijis, Noyan Ubashen and Buyanbu'erhan. Should we set up camp as last time and notify them to come and pay respects?"
The confidant, Kutuqi Naer Tuoli, stepped forward to report.
"Tuoli, you should take the time to read more Han Dynasty books. Things are different now."
Hearing that he had arrived in the territory of his two younger brothers again, Nomudalai waved his hands repeatedly as if stung by a poisonous bee.
"Then, Great Taiji, what do you plan to do?"
"Take a detour, go around their Otoks. I want to lead my warriors safely home."
"Yes, Great Taiji."
A strange scene occurred: the Great Taiji of the Huit Tribe actually took a detour within the territory of the Khoshut!
chang sheng tian seemed to favor him; the journey was surprisingly peaceful, and they slowly approached their home territory.
"Let the men dismount and rest for a moment, eat some dry rations, and then continue on," Nomudalai issued the military order.
This journey had exhausted him. The main reason was that others wore only one layer of armor, or none at all, while he wore two layers.
Yes, two layers!
The beautiful Subude Biji was afraid her husband would be in danger, so before he left, she insisted he wear another layer of soft armor under his outer armor and made him swear not to take it off until he returned home.
This meant that his every movement was more strenuous than others, and his physical exertion was greater.
Heaven help him, he was finally almost home!
Just as he relaxed, a warning sign suddenly arose in his heart—the intuition unique to veteran warriors.
"Not good!"
Nomudalai roared, but it was too late; a feathered arrow pierced his chest.
"Thump!"
Good archery!
An arrow hit him directly in the chest, knocking down the Great Taiji of the Khoshut.
"Great Taiji! Great Taiji!"
Everyone was greatly alarmed and rushed to help.
Nomudalai, however, woke up on his own, and with a "plop," he pulled out the arrowhead. There wasn't much blood on it.
He gave a self-mocking smile, "Luckily I listened to Biji and wore two layers of armor, otherwise I would be returning to the embrace of chang sheng tian this time!"
"Great Taiji, the assassin escaped," Tuoli reported.
"Hmph, let him escape. It's just the good work of my two younger brothers," Nomudalai's expression was somewhat mournful. After a moment, he said, "Let's not mention this matter for now. We'll discuss it after returning to our main camp."