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

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF QUBILAI QA5AN
many princes, emirs, and soldiers?" They were all silent. Then Tiimen
Noyan who was the senior amongst them and belonged to the great
bone,67 said: " O emirs, why do you not answer ? Have your eloquent
tongues become mute? That day when we set Ariiq Boke upon the
throne we promised each other that we should die in front of that
throne. Today is that day of dying. Let us keep our word." Said the
Qa'an: "It is a fine promise of thine, and thou has kept thy word."
Then he asked Ar'iq Boke: "Who incited thee to rebellion and insurrection?"
He replied: "Bulgha and 'Alam-Dar said to me: 'Both
Qubilai Qa'an and Hiilegu have gone on campaigns and the great
ulus has been entrusted by the Qa'an to thee. What hast thou in mind ?
Wilt thou let them cut our throats like sheep?' I said: 'Have you
consulted Dorji?' They said: 'Not yet.' I said: 'Consult Tiimen,
Toquz, Alichar, and Khoja.' They all agreed in their advice. Since
Dorji was not present on account of illness, I said: ' Send for him so
that we may finish our talking.' He too presented himself and agreed
in his advice. This act was carried out and completed by all of them
together. Tiimen [alone] of them did not turn against my words and
performed what I had ordered. It was Jibik-Temiir who did harm,
that is, he uttered words about the Qa'an that did not befit his like."
The emirs all said with one voice: "The facts of the case are as
Ar'iq Boke says, and his words are all true." But Jibik-Temiir said:
"Ariq Boke instructed me to do everything which he now attributes
to me, and Bulgha Aqa is witness to this and knows [that it is so]."
The Qa'an then ordered Jibik-Temiir to be confronted with Ariiq
Boke. He repeated those same words to his face. Ariq Boke was displeased
and said: " If it is so, then thou must remain alive whilst I die."
These words were reported to the Qa'an, and he thus knew that
Jibik-Temiir had spoken the truth. He released him and, having
consulted all the princes, aqa and ini, declared as follows: "Bulgha
Bitikchi has listened to the words of Ogetei Qa'an and Mongke Qa'an.
We will release him alive and he will bear witness to their conduct
in this matter to Hiilegii and the other princes." And with the agreement
of all the princes, [he] released him.
When Asutai learnt of his release he said: "How is it fitting that
Bulgha should remain alive ? I will confront him and expose his crimes."
67 See above, p. 197, note 3.
263