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

Zhao Shuo said, "It's hardly a brilliant plan, just a rough idea: we can use these prisoners to form a Balu Battalion."

Balu means 'slave.'

Historically, the Mongols formed Balu Battalions from prisoners and convicts, always using them as vanguards in field battles and cannon fodder in sieges. They were assigned the most dangerous tasks, resulting in a very high casualty rate.

However, it wasn't entirely without hope.

Those who survived three bloody battles could leave the Balu Battalion and become regular soldiers.

After Zhao Shuo briefly explained the Balu Battalion, Temujin's eyes lit up. "Survive three bloody battles and become regular soldiers? Good! Once these prisoners are stained with the blood of the Western Xia people, they won't even think about returning to Western Xia, even if we whip them."

Borshu praised, "The most important thing is that our Khalkha men are not good at sieges. Rather than sacrificing our Khalkha warriors in vain, why not let these useless prisoners take their place?"

"Yes, Anda, this method is good. If they can survive three bloody battles, they are worthy warriors and can become our companions."

"Haha! The consort is indeed skilled. He has easily solved the problem of the prisoners for us. In my opinion, all future prisoners should be handled in this way."

"I agree!"

"I approve!"

…

Most of the Mongol nobles agreed with Zhao Shuo's "Balu Battalion" proposal.

However, after thinking carefully for a while, Hulan suddenly spoke, "Even if we form a Balu Battalion with prisoners, over thirty thousand people is still too many. First, we only have thirty thousand soldiers ourselves, so we still need to guard against and control the Balu Battalion. Second, supplying thirty thousand people will consume a large amount of food, which we cannot afford. Third, the specific effect of the Balu Battalion is still uncertain."

Temujin said, "Then, Hulan, how many people do you think is appropriate?"

Hulan thought for a moment and said, "At most ten thousand people."

Temujin said, "Alright, we'll keep ten thousand people, and kill the rest."

Hulan then asked, "May I ask, Great Khan, who will lead this Balu Battalion?"

"There's no need to concentrate them together, as that would be difficult to manage," Temujin said. "A total of twenty-seven chiliarchs came with us on this expedition (not including Genghis Khan's Kheshig). Each chiliarch will select four hundred people, which will be about ten thousand.

These people will serve under each chiliarch. When it's a certain chiliarch's turn to face the enemy or besiege a city, they can send the Balu Battalion first. If a prisoner can survive three bloody battles, they can be added to the chiliarch's forces."

After a pause, he looked at Zhao Shuo and said, "A'shuo, you have achieved the greatest merit this time, so you can have priority in choosing your two thousand men."

Zhao Shuo asked, "Can I choose whoever I want? As long as it doesn't exceed two thousand people?"

Temujin said, "Of course, you can choose whoever you want. As for the number of people, if these prisoners are considered spoils of war, you deserve more than two thousand. You don't have to stick to the number two thousand, it just depends on whether you can afford to support the extra ones."

"Thank you, Father Khan!"

The next day, Zhao Shuo and Ge Le took hundreds of personal guards to the prisoner camp.

First, they selected the two thousand tallest and strongest men.

Then, they asked the remaining people to volunteer and state their specialties.

For example, those who claimed to be skilled in martial arts could compete with the selected warriors on the spot.

For example, those who claimed to be former officers and good at commanding operations were verified on the spot, and Ge Le would ask them a few questions to see if they were telling the truth.

For example, those who claimed to be excellent archers could shoot a few arrows on the spot.

Although Zhao Shuo did not explicitly state what the benefits of joining his command were, at least their lives were temporarily guaranteed, so the prisoners volunteered quite enthusiastically.

In the end, Zhao Shuo selected 3,167 people from the prisoner camp, even taking in Zhang Yong, who was seriously injured yesterday.

He was surprised to find that although Western Xia was a country established by the Tanguts, the proportion of Han Chinese in the army was quite high. Among these three thousand people, there were actually more than thirteen hundred Han Chinese.

After nearly twenty years of transmigrating, he finally had his first batch of Han Chinese subordinates.

Fragrant rice porridge and plenty of sesame cakes made the prisoners feel at ease.

Then, Zhao Shuo gathered them together to give a speech.

"From now on, you are no longer prisoners of war, but warriors of my Balu Battalion."

Zhao Shuo slowly looked at the prisoners and said, "What does the Balu Battalion do? It's all about risking your lives! In battle, you are the first to rush up, consuming the enemy's arrows and engaging in close combat. When besieging a city, you are still the first to rush up, climbing the city walls and consuming the enemy's rolling logs and stones."

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"Isn't... isn't this sending us to our deaths?" A Tangut man asked boldly.

"What if it's sending you to your deaths?"

Before Zhao Shuo could speak, a tall, red-faced man said loudly, "Didn't you Tanguts make us Han Chinese do the 'crashing vanguard'? We were on the outermost side when forming ranks, and at the front when charging. When besieging a city, you made us climb the city walls. When distributing spoils of war, we got pitifully little. What's the difference between that and being in the Balu Battalion?"

"My ancestors were Han Chinese captured by you and forced to be 'crashing vanguards.' Even in my generation, I'm still a 'crashing vanguard.' Damn it, it's time for you Tanguts to taste the flavor of being 'crashing vanguards!'"

"I heard that the consort has Han Chinese blood! Serving Western Xia is serving, and serving the consort is also serving. We are more willing to serve the consort!"

"That's right! Under the consort, Tanguts and Western Xia people are treated equally, leaving it all to fate! You Tanguts can't be arrogant anymore, right? Haha!"

…

With this red-faced man taking the lead, the Han Chinese warriors clamored.

Although the Tangut prisoners were slightly more numerous, they were too afraid to speak in the face of the Han Chinese who had a new master to support them.

Soon, countless Tanguts quickly changed their positions, claiming that they were willing to join the Balu Battalion and serve the consort to the death.

When their voices gradually subsided, Zhao Shuo nodded in satisfaction and said, "The Balu Battalion isn't all about sending you to your deaths. We, the Great Mongol Empire, still want to give you a way out. As long as you can survive three bloody battles, you can officially become citizens of the Great Mongol Empire and be treated the same as other soldiers.

The rules of the Balu Battalion under my command can be more clearly defined. Anyone who cuts off three enemy heads can escape the status of a slave."

Three heads doesn't sound like much.

However, it must be obtained in the most tragic battles, and they must survive the battle, which is already quite difficult.

But then again, this treatment is not much harsher than being a 'crashing vanguard' in the Western Xia army. Moreover, after all, it gives them a way out, doesn't it? The Western Xia 'crashing vanguards' have no way out at all.

Some Han Chinese prisoners were overjoyed.