25 Escape
Dorj has escaped from the black ger with the assistance of squad leader Tseren. Squad leader Tseren bowed to Dorj and sighed. "So, farewell. This is the last time we meet. If we meet in the future, we will meet as enemies. Hurry up, Jegei is waiting for you at the west with his family. They have three horses which are enough for you. "
Dorj looked at Tseren and asked a favor. "Squad leader Tseren, I thank you for your assistance. But can I ask you a favor?"
Squad leader Tseren looked dejected as of he wanted to refuse, but he can't help but ask what would be the favor. "Dorj, if your request is not too much, then I will help you for the last time."
Dorj hesitated for a moment and looked at Tseren with determination. "Can you help me to notify Tsagadai khankhuu about my escape after two hours?" asked Dorj.
Squad leader Tseren's eyes widened and asked with a puzzled face. "I helped you to escape by Zuchi khankhuu's order. But why would you ask me to notify your escape?"
Dorj looked at Squad leader Tseren's eyes as he explained. "This may be the last chance to save your master and my friend Zuchi. Just trust in me." Replied Dorj.
Squad leader Tseren pondered for a moment and looks at the sincere eyes of Dorj. He has known him for a month and he knows that he is truly the messenger of the sky. Or else, the shaman of the reindeer people wouldn't call him so.
"If this is the only way to save my master, then I have no choice but to help you this time. If you get caught again, don't hope that I will help you to escape." Said squad leader Tseren as he placed his right hand on his chest and left.
Dorj has met with Jegei at the boundary of the settlement.
Jegei was waiting him with his family.
"Master, are you alright? Let's escape from Temuujin's settlement." Bowed Jegei.
Next to him, his four-year-old son is in the embrace of his wife on a horse.
Dorj looks at Jegei and replied. "Jegei, there is an unsettled matter here. Can you help me to free the 500 prisoners who were working at the mines?" replied Dorj.
"My lord, in the process of freeing the prisoners, what if we get caught? Not only me but my wife and son will be executed then" replied Jegei as he looked worried.
In response, Dorj patted on the shoulder of Jegei "Jegei, if you don't want to help me, it is alright. Go back to your ger as of nothing happened. If Temuujin finds out you are not involved in my escape, then you would be pardoned."
Jegei weighted the outcomes for a moment.
'I have gone this far already, even if I pretend that I didn't get involved in Master Dorj's escape, then Temuujin would surely execute me and my family." Thought Jegei as he looks at his son and wife.
It is an honor for a warrior to die on a battlefield. I hope the Tenger will embrace him and his family if he dies while aiding the messenger of Tenger.
"My lord, I agree. Let's hurry up," said Jegei as he instructed his son and wife to stay here.
About ten minutes later, Dorj and Jegei stealthily got near the ragged Tents. By the opening of the ragged Tent, they have entered the tent and woke up Zorigt.
"Zorigt, wake up" shook Jegei quietly.
Zorigt woke up as he got frightened by the two intruders inside the tent. Other nine prisoners also woke up by the commotion.
"Who are you?" asked Zorigt with fright. But Jegei put his hand on his mouth and muffled the sound.
"Shhh. Zorigt, it's me Jegei. My lord Dorj is here as well." Said Jegei.
Zorigt's eyes widened upon seeing the messenger of Tenger as he stood up and kowtowed.
The other prisoners also stood up to bow to Dorj.
"My lord, aren't you now prisoned? How come are you here?" asks Zorigt.
"Your name is Zorigt? I am about to escape from Temuujin's settlement, if you want to come with me, now is the time. Can you notify the others and ask whether they want to follow me?" Dorj replied.
"My lord, it is better to follow you even if we die. Staying here, we have no option but to be slaughtered like sheep. So I believe others agree to follow you and escape" Replied Zorigt while looking at the other nine khereit tribe prisoners in his tent.
The other prisoners nodded and expressed their approval.
"We will follow the messenger of Tenger!" said the other prisoners in unison as they kneeled on the ground.
Dorj nodded as he patted on the shoulder of Zorigt. He gazed at the eyes of Zorigt as he found no malice but only sincerity.
"We will now move. You will stealthily notify the others and we will kill the guards who are protecting the tents in half an hour. When we group, we will rush to the stable where the horses are. Notify others to take the weapons of the guards and the mining tools as they will become a handful in the future" instructed Dorj.
"Yes, understood." Zorigt got up and left the Tent from the hole in the fabric. Due to the coldness, Zorigt didn't need to dress as he is wearing the warm clothes which Jegei has provided them.
As Zorigt entered the other tents where the prisoners are in, they were notified about the messenger of Tenger has come for them to escape.
In a half an hour, led by Dorj and Zorigt, the 500 prisoners attacked the 100 guards near the tents.
Because the prisoners are unarmed and there was no riot before, the guards have slacked off and lowered their guards. Few of them were sleeping during their duty, while some were circling a bonfire and drinking alcohol to heat them up.
'Urgh!' a guard who was sleeping has died. A prisoner stealthily stole his sword and cut his throat.
'Aargh!' another guard is strangled to death. Five prisoners strangled the guards neck and made him suffocate.
Like this, the fifty guards responsible for the prisoners have died without alarming other troops.
Dorj and Jegei have instructed the prisoners to collect the dead guards' swords and arrow and bows.
The 500 prisoners led by Dorj and Jegei lined up and moved to the stable at the outside boundary of the settlement.
They have killed dozen of guards who have encountered them along the way. As the dawn is getting near, the troops would wake up soon. Therefore to not het caught, they must hurry up.
Upon reaching the stable, the 500 prisoners has taken one or two horses and released the other horses for making chaos.
'Thud! Thud! Thud!'
The galloping of 500 horses started to vibrate among the settlement.
Some troops that have just woke up and got out only find that the khereit prisoners are escaping.
"Wake up! The prisoners are escaping! Urgh!"
They wanted to alarm the others, but to no avail, they are instantly beheaded by the prisoners.
They were either beheaded by a sword or were hit by a shovel or pickaxe which the prisoners used to carry for the mining work.
Dorj and Jegei looked at each other as they lead the prisoners to the west side of the settlement to reunite with Jegei's wife and son.
"We made it my lord! We have successfully escaped from the settlement!" cheered Jegei as he was galloping away from Temuujin's settlement.
He was excited that they are yet to be chased and they have released the horses which Temuujin's army had. Temuujin's troops need to gather their scattered horses first in order to chase them, so in a short time, they are safe from being chased.
Dorj did not smile, instead, he instructed. "Jegei, soon Tsagadai khankhuu will chase us. If he comes, I will confront him. If I start to lose the battle can you shoot him down?" asked Dorj while riding the horse.
Jegei is shocked about what he has heard. "My lord. If we kill Tsagadai khankhuu, wouldn't Temuujin become enraged that he wouldn't leave us alive? Wherever we escape, he will chase us down till we die!" suggested Jegei.
Dorj shook his head and replied. "Jegei, there is no way to go back now. Either we will die, or Temuujin will die. There is a blood feud between us now! If you want to survive, just do as I said" commanded Dorj with anger and hatred in his eyes.
Seeing his master this enraged. for the first time, Jegei lowered his head and replied.
"Yes, my lord. I will shoot down Tsagadai khankhuu if you lose the battle. You can count on me."
Dorj turned his head to find around 500 prisoners on their horses.
'I have this many troops now. They don't need any military training as they used to be Khereit tribe warriors. If I retreat to Khereit tribe and surrender to Wan Khan, I will lose their command. But if I retreat to the north as I gather the scattered Mongol warriors, I may become an independent force!' thought Dorj as he pulled the bridle of his horse and maneuvered his direction straight north.
