Usurping the Mongols: My Father-in-Law is Genghis Khan

Temujin, Zhao Shuo, and Qulan were discussing the next targets for external conquest.

“Now that the grasslands are pacified, the targets for our Mongolian army are nothing more than four places: the Jin Dynasty, the Xia Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty, and the forest peoples on the edge of the grasslands.”

Speaking of this, Temujin paused, chuckled, and said, “I heard that Prince Kuchlug of the Naiman got lucky and, after fleeing to the Liao Dynasty, won the favor of the Liao Empress, who took him as her son-in-law.”

Zhao Shuo, of course, knew what Kuchlug had done after fleeing to the Western Liao. This kid later usurped the throne of the Western Liao and infuriated his good father-in-law to death.

Zhao Shuo said, “Does Father Khan mean to attack the Liao Dynasty first, to eliminate the root of the problem?”

Zhao Shuo thought for a moment and then said, “The forest peoples and the grassland peoples share many similarities in language and customs, making them the easiest to deal with. Father Khan can send a great general to conquer them now.”

Temujin said, “Then let’s send Jochi! He is my eldest son and should try leading troops independently. What about after that?”

“The Xia Dynasty,” Zhao Shuo said softly.

“Why?”

Zhao Shuo said, “The Xia Dynasty says they hope we will use troops against the Jin Dynasty, but who knows if that’s true or false?

Moreover, the Xia Dynasty has already become a vassal of the Jin Dynasty. What if the Xia Dynasty takes the opportunity to attack us when we attack the Jin Dynasty? Our population is already small, making it difficult to fight on two fronts.

Therefore, we must subdue the Western Xia first, completely frighten them, and ensure they don’t dare to make any small moves while we are conquering the Jin Dynasty, so we can be at ease.

Also, the Xia Dynasty is much weaker than the Jin Dynasty. By attacking the Xia Dynasty, we can plunder gold, silver, treasures, cattle, sheep, and slaves, strengthening our own strength, and gain some siege experience to prepare for attacking the Jin Dynasty in the future. It can be said to be a win-win situation.”

“Good, let’s do it that way!” Temujin agreed with Zhao Shuo’s opinion without hesitation.

Qulan had no objections to this either. Zhao Shuo’s analysis had taken all angles into consideration, and it was indeed the most suitable strategic policy for the Mongolian Empire at the moment. He agreed with it from the bottom of his heart.

Temujin clapped the golden seat, and a light shone in his slender eyes. He said with majesty and boldness, “Then let’s first send Jochi to conquer the forest peoples. After pacifying the forest peoples, we will attack the Xia Dynasty!”

…

Time passed, and another half a year went by in the blink of an eye.

“A-Shuo!”

A large group of Mongolian cavalry gathered on the grassland like dark clouds.

A tall general with a wide face and long eyebrows, wearing brown-red iron armor, rode a chestnut horse, taking the lead and whipping it forward.

This person was Temujin’s eldest son, Zhao Shuo’s sworn Anda, Jochi.

Returning from the expedition to conquer the forest peoples, Jochi, upon seeing Zhao Shuo and Hua Zheng, immediately gave Zhao Shuo a big bear hug.

As always, Zhao Shuo was the person Jochi felt closest to in this world. This time, after returning victoriously from the expedition to the forest peoples, he didn’t go straight to the royal court but took a small detour to the Hulunbuir Grassland. Even Hua Zheng felt a bit jealous of his affectionate manner towards Zhao Shuo.

“What? Jochi, you only miss your good Anda? Don’t you miss your own sister?” Hua Zheng teased.

“How could that be? I miss you both! I miss you both!” Jochi, who was as cold as ice on the battlefield, could only scratch his head sheepishly in the face of his sister’s teasing.

Zhao Shuo smiled and smoothed things over, saying, “Come on, let’s go to my station. I’ll treat you to something fresh today to celebrate your triumphant return.”

“Okay!”

What Zhao Shuo treated Jochi to was actually hot pot.

In Huaxia, hot pot already had a rudimentary form.

During the Warring States period, people used large cauldrons to cook food, and everyone gathered around the cauldron, putting beef, mutton, and other foods into the cauldron to cook and share.

The “glug” sound made when ingredients were put into the boiling water was called “Glug Soup.”

By the Han Dynasty, a grilling and dipping method similar to hot pot appeared.

By the Tang Dynasty, hot pot was even more popular. The “red clay stove” was a vivid portrayal of people eating hot pot around the stove at that time.

Hot pot developed further in the Song Dynasty, and spicy hot pot began to appear. However, at that time, there were no chili peppers, so ginger, pepper, mustard, or spicy vegetables were used to extract the spiciness.

But in Mongolia, hot pot was a very novel way of eating.

“What exactly is this hot pot and how do you eat it?” Jochi asked curiously.

“Put the ingredients in and eat it once it boils.”

As he spoke, Hua Zheng had already thrown a large plate of sliced mutton into the hot pot.

Then, she filled three small dishes with sauces and placed them in front of Jochi.

One dish was made with wild leek flowers, one was made with evodia, and the other was made with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic.

“Hmm, delicious, really delicious.”

The mutton was eaten as soon as it was cooked, which was the most delicious time, and paired with the rich aroma of the sauce, it was simply the perfect taste combination.

Jochi dipped some in leek flower sauce, some in evodia sauce, and some in mixed oil, busying himself happily.

After a long while, he finally let out a satisfied burp and said, “With such good food, how can there be no wine?”

“Isn’t it right next to you?” Hua Zheng personally poured Jochi a cup and said, “Now we have many kinds of good wine in our winery. Brother, try this glass of shochu!”

“Hmm! Really strong!”

Jochi liked stimulation the most, and this shochu really suited his taste.

He drank three cups in a row, drinking too quickly, and soon felt a little dizzy, putting his arm around Zhao Shuo’s neck and saying, “Anda A-Shuo, I, Jochi, have never admired anyone in my life, but I admire you!

Not only because you are a grassland warrior, but also because you have invented many novel things. How about it? In the past six months, you haven’t just invented hot pot, have you? What other good things do you have? Hurry up and show them to me.”

Zhao Shuo drank a cup of mare’s milk wine and said, “There is indeed one good thing, but it wasn’t invented by me, but by a craftsman under me named Sun Wei.”

“The things invented by your subordinates are not yours? Bring it to me and let me see.”

“Alright.”

Zhao Shuo ordered, “Someone come! Bring the sinew lamellar armor from my bedroom tent and show it to Anda Jochi.”

“Yes!” A small maid serving in the tent replied softly.

Jochi was a little worried and said, “Change someone else. Can such a flower-like little girl carry it?”

“Don’t worry, this sinew lamellar armor is very light.”

Sure enough, when Jochi took this strange armor in his hand, he found that the armor was very light, weighing only about eight or nine pounds.