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

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
They did not move at all or budge from their position in order not to
break ihejerge117 and to remain in proper order. And because of their
own multitude and superiority and the fewness of the Mongols, pride
and vanity had taken root in their brains and they looked with the
glance of contempt upon the Mongol army and spoke big words,
saying: "We shall encircle these Mongols and their king, and take
them prisoner, and do this and that to their womenfolk." And they
gave expression to shameful ideas and unworthy desires. God Almighty
did not approve of their arrogance and pride, and in the end [He]
caused them to be defeated. When they paid no attention to the
galloping about of Qutuqu Noyan and his army and did not give
way, Tolui Khan said: "As long as they do not budge it is impossible
to fight them, and if I turn back, our army will be dispirited and they
will be all the more insolent. The best course is for us to make in the
direction of the provinces and towns that belong to their king and, if
possible, join Ogetei Qa'an and the main army." And he appointed
Toqolqu Cherbi, who was the younger brother of Borghuchin Noyan
of the Arulat tribe,"8 with a thousand horsemen, to act as scouts and
follow in the rear, whilst they themselves made off to the right. When
the army of Khitai saw that they had turned their faces from battle
and set off in another direction, they shouted out: "We are standing
here. Come so that we may fight." But they, for their part, paid no
attention and continued to withdraw, and the Khitayans of necessity
moved out of their position and began to pursue them, and because the
Khitayan army was large the Mongol army went in fear and apprehension.
All of a sudden the Khitayans struck at Toqolqu Cherbi, who was
[in command of] the rearguard. They hurled forty Mongols into a
muddy stream lying across their path and killed them. Toqolqu
Cherbi joined his army and reported the situation. Tolui Khan gave
order for the practice of rain magic."9 This is a kind of sorcery carried
'"See Glossary.
118 According to the SH, Doqolqu—such is the correct form of the name—was the
younger brother of Jedei Noyan of the Mangqut. See Campagnes, pp. 352-533, and
Boyle 1956, p. 149. He was one of the six cherbis, or adjutants, appointed by Genghis
Khan in 1206. See Boyle 1963, pp. 237-38 and 244.
119 Jadamlshi, on which see Doerfer, I, pp. 286-89. On this practice in modern
times, see Harva, pp. 221—23.
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