The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

HISTORY OF GUYUK KHAN
took refuge in his protection. Fatima had an old grudge against
Mahmud Yalavach, whom Qa'an had appointed sahib-divan. Biding
her time, she nominated a man called 'Abd al-Rahman in his stead
and sent Oqal Qprchi along with him as ambassador to arrest Yalavach
and bring him back with his nokers. When the ambassadors arrived,
Yalavach came in with a cheerful face and performed the ceremonies
of honor and respect. For 2 days he detained them with acts of kindness
saying, "Today, let us drink a draught and tomorrow we will
hear the terms of the yarligh." But in secret he was preparing for
flight. Oqal Qprchi ordered his nokers to be arrested and imprisoned.
Yalavach instructed them to make an outcry against him and exclaim:
"We are informers against Yalavach. For what crime have you
arrested and imprisoned us? We have prayed to God for such a day
as this." On the third night, Yalavach plied the ambassadors with
drink until he had made them completely intoxicated and put them
to sleep. Then he fled with a few horsemen to Koten and was secure
from their evil. Both he and Chinqai made Koten their asylum and
were enveloped in his favor. The next day, when Oqal Qprchi learnt
of Yalavach's flight, he released the nokers from their bonds and set
off in pursuit of Yalavach. When he came to Koten he delivered his
mother's edict that Yalavach was to be arrested and brought back.
At his heels there came another messenger on the same errand. Koten
said: "Tell thy mother: 'The kite that takes refuge in a thicket from
the talons of the falcon is safe from its enemy's fury. Since these men
have sought refuge with us, to send them back is remote from the rules
of chivalry. A quriltai is shortly to be held. I shall bring them thither
myself, and their crime can be investigated in the presence of kinsmen
and emirs and they can be punished and chastised accordingly.'"
She sent messengers several times again, and Koten excused himself
in the same manner. And when the Emir Mas'ud Beg, who was
governor of the countries of Turkistan and Transoxiana, observed this
state of affairs he too thought it inadvisable to remain in his own
territory and saw fit to hasten to the Court of Batu. And Qara Oghul
and Orq'ina Khatun and some others of Chaghatai's wives had sent
Qurbagha Elchi along with the Emir Arghun Aqa into Khurasan
to arrest Korgiiz. When the Emir Arghun brought Korgiiz and he
was put to death, he was sent to Khurasan as Korgiiz's successor.
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