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

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF QUBILAI QA'AN
Shall we give them the troops or not?" And they spoke a parable [in
the form of] a riddle: "The heads of the big fish and the little fish have
been cut off. Who is left but thou and Ariq Boke? Is it possible for
thee to return?" Two days later the messengers of Ariq Boke also
reached Qubilai and [said] that they had been sent to inquire after
his health and bring greetings. He asked them in what direction they
were sending the turqaqs and cherigs they were raising. The messengers
replied: "We slaves know nothing. Assuredly it is a lie." Since they
kept the matter hidden, Qubilai became suspicious and reflected: "If
thou needest cherigs for some area, why dost thou conceal this ? Therefore
it may be a matter of deceit and treachery." He consulted in
secret with Bahadur Noyan and Uriyangqadai, saying: "It is some
such case as this, and it is not known what Ariq Boke has in mind for us.
Both of you remain here with some of the troops, whilst I go back to the
Qara-Moren in the land of Khitai, where after ascertaining the state of
affairs I will send you word." And so it was agreed.
Meanwhile, the princes Taghachar, Qadan, and Yesiingge each
went out with the troops that were left, seizing and laying waste
provinces and villages. As for Qubilai Qa'an, when he reached the
town of Namgin,34 which is on the Qara-Moren, he discovered that
Dorji and 'Alam-Dar had come in search of soldiers and had greatly
oppressed the Mongols and Jauqut. He sent a messenger to Ariq
Boke to say: " No good will come of the turqaqs and cherigs that are
being raised from Mongol households and the Jauqut country. As for
the goods and animals that have been levied from the provinces, let
him give them back to them and give them to us and the troops that
were with me, Taghachar, Yesiingge, and Narin-Qadan and the troops
of the left hand, and also to the troops of the right hand that accompanied
Mongke Qa'an and are now with Moge, Qadan, Asutai
and Ja'utu. [Give them to us] so that being provided with mounts,
fodder, and arms we may deal with Nangiyas." He despatched a
message to this effect.
At that time, 'Alam-Dar had departed from thence, while Dorji
had remained in the town of Jungdu, which they call Khan-Baliq.35
34 A variant of Namging, that is Nan-ching, the modern Kaifeng.
35 On Khan-Bali'q ("Khan Town"), Polo's Cambaluc, the Turkish name for
Peking, see Polo /, pp. 140-43.
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