Khoorchi and Zuchi

While Dorj was in high spirits feeling enthusiastic about his future while looking at the ancient nomadic lifestyle. A shadow of a person appeared next to Dorj.

"So you are Dorj, the newly appointed Minister for Military Inventions. Correct me if i am wrong." said someone who is standing next to him. When Dorj turned his head to his left he can see there is a man with short black beard and luxurious yellow robe.

While Dorj was pondering who this man may be, Jegei's eye pupils dilated and he become astonished. Jegei quickly stood in front of the yellow robed man and bowed slightly.

"Lord Khoorchi" said Jegei still bowing to the man.

"My name is Khoorchi, Lord Temuujin's minister of transportation and logistics" said Khoorchi when he smiles you would see his yellow teeth.

"Good morning Lord Khoorchi, I am Dorj" said Dorj.

"It's a surprise that you have become a minister without any achievements. But considering the fact that your strategy against Wan Khan's battle at Muu Undur is effective can be considered as an achievement" said Khoorchi while smiling.

The new Minister Dorj is a mysterious person even for the high ranking officials. They have not seen Dorj except at the time at Khuraldai where Dorj has suggested to use deception against Wan Khan.

Only this early morninh there is a fresh news that Dorj was appointed as the Minister of Military Inventions which has proves that Temuujin is valuing Dorj very much. It has triggered many people's jealousy, curiosity and as of course anger.

Some people has worked for Temuujin for their entire lifetime, but they are yet to be appointed as a General or Minister. This intrigues many people on how come a young man who has no achievements and military merits become a Minister?

It was Khoorchi, who wanted to test out what kind of person Dorj is and find out whether he would become his ally or enemy in the political circle.

'Is he trying to find out my eligibility?' thought Dorj. If lord Temuujin has made the supernatural occurrence that happened last night public, then perhaps his eligibility may not be questioned today. But simply lord Khoorchi is questioning him and therefore the supernatural occurrence that has happened last night must not spread yet or silenced by lord Temuujin himself.

"I understand, lord Khoorchi" said Dorj with a weak voice and while nodding his head towards Khoorchi.

"Dorj, no Lord Dorj from now onwards, I have no malice towards you. I must say, I barely know you. It's just a kindly reminder for you. There are many factions among lord Temuujin's Generals and Ministers. If it was not for the fact that lord Temuujin's great leader, then many people would have already organized a coup d'etat. So If you want to survive in this political ordeal, you must find a way to make achievements." said Khoorchi with a slight arrogant tone and gazing at Dorj's eyes as if seeing a toddler who is just learning to walk.

"Thank you for the advice" said Dorj with a thankful tone.

"Okay, so since I have introduced myself. Please pardon me for my rudeness. We must leave in a hurry. I have much things to do during this migration." said Khoorchi and left to organize the migration to Buir lake.

When Khoorchi walked away to a distance that he cannot hear Jegei's voice. Only after that Jegei opened his mouth.

"Lord Dorj, Khoorchi is a cunning and sly person. He has become a Minister due to his trickery. But do you know why he is still a minister?" asked Jegei while speaking quiet as possible.

"What is the reason?" asked Dorj feeling a bit surprised.

"The most important thing is that he is loyal to lord Temuujin. Even he is a sly and cunning person, he advises how to trick his enemies. I heard that when lord Temuujin used deception against Wan Khan, Khoorchi was the person who made the idea to erect fake scarecrows as soldiers and lit bonfires as many as possible to deceive the enemy" said Jegei to Dorj.

"I see" said Dorj, while looking at the silhouette of lord Khoorchi who was instructing his subordinates.

'Even though I am a minister now, If I don't carefully plan my actions and words, I may not survive in this harsh world' thought Dorj in his mind.

Soon, in the afternoon, all the dismantling of the gers has finished, people have put the dismantled gers on carts pulled by camels and bulls.

The only ger that was left intact was Temuujin's ger which is placed on top of a big cart pulled by twenty oxen.

The migration to Buir lake has started. Dorj was riding a horse next to Jegei. For Dorj, riding a horse is a skill that he has not learned, therefore his body was stiff as a wooden log.

"Lord, loosen your body, the horse understands that you are afraid, so your horse are confused" said Jegei, while holding the bridle of Dorj's horse.

'Haa' Dorj took a deep breath and tried to loosen his body. The movement of his horse started to get stable as well.

"Thank you Jegei!" said Dorj.

The next few hours continued without any change. Migration is a boring task for sure. Dorj spent his time mostly on riding the horse. When people make food, they make it on their horse, when they take a nap, they take it on their horse, they only get down from their horses to empty their bladder.

While riding the horse, Dorj got bored and started to think what invention he should create first in the 13th century.

'The Mongolians are nomads. Even if I invent concrete and build houses, they would not settle in a fixed location and create a city. The herders move to places that has rich grass and fresh water following their livingstock's needs.' thought Dorj.

Engineering is best suited to the western culture. Or the western culture was developed through the engineering inventions.

'I need to create something that Mongolians need right now, but from what should I start?' thought Dorj while contemplating.

"Hello Dorj!" said a man in his twenties while smiling to Dorj, interrupting his inner thought.

"Zuchi khankhuu!" Jegei placed his hands on his chest, bowing his head.

/Khankhuu means prince. The literal translation is Khan's son/

'Zuchi? Khankhuu?' thought Dorj, trying to remember the four sons names of of lord Temuujin.

"Good afternoon khankhuu!" said Dorj. He bowed to Zuchi on his horse.

"Dorj, I heard that you are appointed as my father's minister of Military inventions" said Zuchi, while trying to see the other person's facial features.

Zuchi khankhuu saw that Dorj is a young person just like himself, without any military merit and yet appointed as a Minister.

Zuchi's younger brother Chagatai khankhuu has become a general at the age of 18 due to great military achievements. But Zuchi khankhuu himself is not a soldier yet and has no achievements even though he has already reached 24 years old.

"Zuchi Khankhuu, do you have any inquiries from me?" asked Dorj

"Oh, no I was just wondering what kind of person you are, because I was not present at the previous Khuraldai and I couldn't see your face. Just think this as an introduction of me." said Zuchi.

"I see, then perhaps Zuchi khankhuu, would you like to chat with me while we reach the Buir lake?" asked Dorj, trying to befriend Zuchi, the eldest son of Temuujin khan.

Actually, Dorj has seen Chagatai khankhuu, Temuujin's second son but his first impression about him is not good. Chagatai khankhuu accussed him as Wan Khan's spy and wanted to torture him for information.

But on the other hand, Zuchi khankhuu has greeted with him nicely and is not much older than him. Perhaps, they can be friends in the future.

"If you don't mind, then I accept your idea" said Zuchi.

"I heard from my servant that our tribesmen are gossiping that you are a messenger from Tenger." asked Zuch with high curiosity and interest.

"Ah, about that. You may call me a messenger from Tenger, but I don't have much skills in real life" said Dorj, while rubbing his head.

"I see, as the new Minister of Military inventions, I believe you haven't got your officials yet. If you don't have any person in mind, then how about I join your ministry and I work for you?" proposed Zuchi.

"Khankhuu! That's presumptuous. How can you work under lord Dorj" interrupted Jegei the conversation between Zuchi and Dorj.

"Soldier! Don't you dare to give a lesson to me!" said Zuchi with a slightly angry tone.

Jegei shut his mouth and did not dare to say any more word. It is actually true that it is a taboo for interrupting his lords conversation.

"Khankhuu, please don't get angry. Jegei has good intention." said Dorj, trying to appease Zuchi's anger.

"No, Dorj, I am actually not angry. It's just that people subconsciously try to give lesson to me every time. If my younger brother Chagatai was here I believe your guard would be stunned and dare not say even a word" said Zuchi looking at Jegei with a warning gaze.