Soldiers love eating meat and drinking alcohol the most. As soon as Huang Taiji issued the military order, the Eight Banners camps were filled with the aroma of fine wine.
Two Mongols in the Xianghuang Banner were also drinking. Later Jin, through its conquest of various Mongol tribes, had surrendered some Mongol people, incorporating them into Mongol Zuoling, directly subordinate to the Manchu Eight Banners, with five Zuoling per banner. Historically, after conquering the Chahar, Huang Taiji then consolidated the large number of surrendered Mongols into the Eight Banners Mongol.
“Ah!” Batu suddenly sighed heavily.
“Old Batu, just drink when you’re drinking, why are you sighing?” Ulinqin asked strangely.
Batu shed tears, “We are all Mongols, yet we have to fight against the Khan of the Mongols, a sin, a sin!”
Ulinqin drained the wine in his bowl in one gulp and also sighed, “Who says it’s not? That is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, the Great Khan of all Mongols!”
Seeing that his companion also didn't want to fight this battle, Batu became spirited and tentatively asked, “How about, while they are drinking, we steal horses and report to the Great Khan?”
At night, with the wine flowing freely, two swift horses escaped from the Xianghuang Banner camp and galloped to Lindan Khan’s encampment outside Xuanfu Town.
At this time, the Khan was enjoying himself in Biji Sutai’s felt tent. This Sutai Biji was from the Aisin Gioro’s mortal enemy: the Yehe Nara clan. She was the daughter of Delherili Taiji of the Yehe tribe and the granddaughter of Jintaiji, the last leader of the Yehe tribe. She had given birth to Lindan Khan’s eldest son, Erke Kong'er Ejei, who was also his only son at present.
Because the Aisin Gioro clan destroyed the Yehe tribe, this Biji had often spoken ill of Later Jin in front of the Mongol Khan. Ironically, historically, after she surrendered to the Qing Dynasty with her son Ejei, she remarried Jirhalang, a cousin of Huang Taiji, and became part of the Manchu family.
“Whew,” Lindan Khan gasped for breath while lying on Sutai. At the age of forty, his energy was far from what it used to be.
“Great Khan, there is an urgent military situation,” the voice of Tashihai, the Left Wing Grand Commander, interrupted the dragon playing with the phoenix.
“Uh!”
Lindan Khan roared majestically, put on his robe, and walked out of the tent, “What military situation?” His voice was as calm as water.
“Two Mongols who escaped from the Later Jin side have arrived. According to them, Huang Taiji has secretly come to the Xilamulun River bank and is meeting with the surrendered Mongol tribes, preparing to attack us.”
“Summon those two men into the great tent, I want to question them,” Lindan Khan was shocked in his heart but did not show it.
Batu and Ulinqin entered the great tent, knelt before Lindan Khan, not daring to rise, their voices trembling, “Your servant pays respects to the Great Khan!”
“Dispense with the formalities! Rise,” Lindan Khan said gently, then changed the subject, “You said Huang Taiji is going to attack me? How many soldiers and horses did he bring?”
“Reporting to the Great Khan, Huang Taiji brought fifty thousand Eight Banners, plus the armies of the Khorchin, Zalute, Bairin, Naiman, Aohan, Karaqin, Tumed, Aru Korqin, Ongniud Banner, Asut, and other tribes who came to meet, there are approximately one hundred thousand men.”
“These rebels who have forgotten their ancestors are not worthy of being Mongols!” Hearing that so many Mongol tribes were helping Later Jin attack him, Lindan Khan was enraged.
Following the rage was shock. The enemy had one hundred thousand men, while he, having suffered from natural disasters and continuous warfare in recent years, now had only twenty thousand soldiers. This battle would be difficult to fight. If he fought head-on, he probably wouldn't win.
He looked at Batu and Ulinqin again and asked, “Huang Taiji has a large force. Why did you come to me?”
“You are the Khan of the Mongols, how would Your servant dare to be your enemy?” The two quickly knelt down again in panic.
“Strong grass is known in strong winds, and loyal ministers are known in times of turmoil. Although you are ordinary people, you know loyalty and righteousness, much stronger than those Taiji and Zaisang who betray their masters for glory!” Lindan Khan was deeply moved. He immediately appointed the two as thousand-household and each bestowed upon them a thousand sheep.
With the enemy strong and himself weak, Lindan Khan ordered his entire tribe to immediately move west to the Hetuo region.
He ordered Shitu Taiji to lead the elderly, young, women, and children first; Gunchuk Taiji and Thousand-household Badaxi Zaisang to lead the army to protect himself and the officials; Left Wing Grand Commander Tashihai and Right Wing Grand Commander Huluk Zaisang to lead five thousand troops as the rear guard, fleeing westward in a hurry.
Gunchuk Taiji was ordered to protect the central army. The incident happened suddenly, and he had to notify each yurt, some close, some far, in a chaotic manner, with the sounds of people, horses, and cattle in an uproar.
“Taiji, come quickly and help me and the children pack things,” Gunchuk was rushing around gathering people when he suddenly saw his Ahai (wife, also translated as “Aha”), Tai Song Princess, and their three children.
Tai Song Princess was Lindan Khan’s second younger sister, a noble princess of all Mongols.
“Your Highness, didn’t the Great Khan order Shitu Taiji to lead the elderly, young, women, and children first? Why didn't you take the children and go with him?”
“Taiji, we have a lot of things in our home, packing them delayed the time,” Tai Song Princess cried.
Gunchuk Taiji took a look and saw that his Ahai had packed six large carts of supplies, and several slaves were driving the heavy ox carts. He couldn't help but stomp his foot, “Your Highness, how can we run fast like this? Quickly discard these and travel light.”
“Taiji, I’m afraid of a lack of supplies during the escape, which will make the children suffer. I wanted to bring more things,” Tai Song Princess said with a look of grievance.
“Foolish! Your lives are in danger, what do you want these things for?” Gunchuk Taiji was furious and roared at the steward, “Immediately prepare fast horses, dry food, and water, and take Ahai and the children to travel on horseback.”
“Yes, Taiji,” the steward rushed to prepare.
Tai Song Princess was still crying when Badaxi Zaisang, in military attire, burst in, “Taiji, the army has assembled.”
Gunchuk Taiji sighed and said to his Ahai, “Your Highness, your husband has the responsibility to protect the Great Khan and dare not neglect public duty for personal matters. Please travel light and quickly.”
After speaking, he mounted his horse, no longer looking at the woman and children, and galloped towards the Khan’s tent.
The area east of the Helan Mountains in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, and south of the Langshan and Daqing Mountains, where the Yellow River flows, is called “Hetuo” because the Yellow River forms a large bend here. This area has been known for its abundant water and lush grass throughout history, hence the folk saying: “A hundred harms from the Yellow River, only the Hetuo is rich.” Its surrounding areas, including the Huang River basin, Taoshui River basin, Luoshui River basin, Weishui River basin, Fenshui River basin, Sanggan River basin, Zhangshui River basin, and Hutuo River basin, all have relatively good natural environments, surrounding the Hetuo like stars holding up the moon.
Lindan Khan, as a great statesman, chose to move his people here. They could advance or retreat, and there was water and grass to feed the livestock. He truly had foresight!
“Great Khan, most of the people have safely withdrawn, only about a hundred households have been scattered.”
“Great Khan, all the gold, silver, and money in the national treasury have been transported out. The large materials that could not be taken have been burned, nothing was left for the enemy.”
“Great Khan, within a radius of two hundred li, no Later Jin cavalry has been found.”
Listening to these reports one by one, Lindan Khan’s expression softened. In recent years, with natural disasters and war, his strength had greatly diminished. If he could hide in this Hetuo area to recuperate, it would be best. This place has abundant water and grass, and in a few years, the population and livestock would increase.
A minister named Bandida Gushi suddenly spoke, “Great Khan, should we send people to move the people of Dading and Xuanfu Town to the Hetuo?”
Dading and Xuanfu Town were originally places of the Great Ming Dynasty. In previous years, in order to obtain “annual rewards” and plunder supplies, the Chahar people captured the two places and abducted a large number of Han people.
“It’s too late, the Han people don’t ride horses and can’t outrun the Later Jin cavalry,” Lindan Khan sighed, “To make the wolf stop eating meat, you always have to feed it first!”