Chapter 32: Dawn (III)

As May arrived, the weather gradually grew hotter. The grasslands around Shule Town slowly regained their vitality, with herds of cattle and sheep wandering along the banks of the Chi River, grazing on the tender shoots emerging from the soil. This spring, abundant rainfall had allowed the grass to grow quickly, sparing the herders much trouble. If rainfall had been insufficient, they would have had to use the dry grass from last winter, which was not good news for fattening their livestock.

There were dozens of nomadic tribes active in this region. Among them, the larger tribes with more livestock included the Turkic Khitans, the Uyghurs, and some scattered Turks. After migrating from the northern deserts to the Western Regions, the nomadic peoples’ tradition of respecting the strong remained unchanged. In this area, those with more warriors owned more grasslands and livestock.

As the time for sheep to give birth approached, the herders couldn’t afford to be careless. This was the beginning of their year’s livelihood and the hope for a better future. With more lambs, they only needed to fatten them through the autumn before the cold winter, after which the lambs would grow into adult sheep. Having more adult sheep meant more influence and a better quality of life.

The herders’ lives were simple, and the rules of survival were cruel.

While a decade ago they could still sell sheepskin to the tribes in the River Regions, such hopes had now vanished. Since the Arabs invaded from the east, the Governor of Anxi issued a ban prohibiting herders in the four towns from selling furs to the Arab-controlled tribes. Although the herders complained, they had to accept reality since they were on foreign territory.

Now, they could only hope that a Tang Dynasty caravan traveling from the east would happen to pass through their grasslands and buy the furs they had accumulated over the winter. No matter how low the price, it was better than letting the furs rot right before their eyes.

Yet this hope was unlikely to come true. Tang merchants valued profit above all—why would they travel the longer route from the northern deserts to the Western Regions just to buy furs? Most merchants passing through Shule were Arabs or Sogdians, who were more interested in silk and spices.

“I heard that the Khitans in Suyab are fighting among themselves again. Governor Gao Xianzhi is worried that Arab spies might take advantage of the situation to infiltrate Anxi, so he has imposed martial law in the four towns. There are dozens of soldiers at the gates of Shule City, checking everyone—only allowing entry, not exit. Ah, life is getting harder by the day!”

An old Turk in his forties stood on an open space not far from the yurt, waving his whip angrily as he voiced his complaints.

Ordinary herders like them feared war the most. No matter who was in power, war would always lead to the recruitment of mercenaries. Herders like them from Shule had long forgotten how to shoot with bows; forced into battle, they would only serve as fodder.

“You know, the Tuyuhesh people too—can’t they just live their lives peacefully? Why do they have to rebel? The Great Tang Emperor treats all tribes so well. It’s bad enough they’re ungrateful, but why do they even try to undermine from behind?”

His name was Ashina Luosi. It was said his grandfather belonged to a branch of the Western Turkic royal family, though that family had long since declined. The old man had lived outside Shule City for three generations and knew the area well. Besides herding, he occasionally worked as a guide. But since the martial law was imposed, fewer and fewer caravans came to him for guidance to Khotan.

“Brother Ashina, stop complaining. Even if conscription occurs, will the Tang soldiers take your felt tent? With Ashina’s reputation, how could descendants of the gods-protected wolves go to battle to carry spears and knives for others?”

The one who replied was a fat young man named Chisi Hun’e. He was one of the few Göktürks in the Shule region, having moved there from Jinshan five years ago. As a newcomer, he had suffered much bullying from the Uyghurs and Turks. It was Ashina Luosi who gave him the ox sinew for tying up felt tents and blankets for setting up camps. Therefore, he was very grateful to this Turkic old man and would occasionally send him high-quality mare’s milk wine.

People of the steppes valued loyalty above all. They remembered clearly who was kind to them and who stabbed them in the back—no one could deny it!

“The Ashina surname?”

The Turkic old man sneered. “What use is that surname these days? The wolves’ teeth have been worn down, and the eagles’ feathers have been plucked. O Turks, blessed by the Eternal Heaven, what crime have you committed to deserve such a curse!”

As Ashina Luosi spoke, he grew emotional, waving his hands wildly. “If the Ashina surname still had any value, would I have to fight with those Tuyuhesh bastards over a bundle of dry grass before winter? If it still had any influence, would my mare’s milk wine be stolen by those Uyghur brats who haven’t even grown chest hair yet? What use is that surname now? Absolutely no use!”

The Turks of the northern deserts once ruled supreme but were conquered by the Great Tang twice, losing much of their former glory. Although many Turks still lived in the former lands of the Western Turks, they no longer held the same influence. The so-called Ashina royal surname had naturally become a joke.

The young Göktürk man had spoken without thinking, and now that he realized he had said the wrong thing, he quickly shrugged and changed the subject.
“Yes, those Türgish are truly despicable! They’ve taken over the vast grasslands along the Ili and Chui rivers, yet instead of being grateful to the Tang Dynasty, they’ve allied with the Arabs. It makes me sick just thinking about it.”
His words were truly heartfelt. The three-clan Göktürks often fought among themselves due to shortages of grassland. Later, with the mediation of Yelü, they reached an agreement to migrate westward to ease the growing tensions over grasslands. But those greedy Türgish suddenly appeared, seizing large areas of grassland along the Ili and Chui rivers and driving out any tribe that tried to enter those regions.
If not for the Türgish, the Göktürks’ white yurts would already be set up on the beautiful grasslands of the Ili River; if not for them, Chisi Hun’e wouldn’t have had to migrate to the isolated town of Shule five years ago.
“Now everything’s in chaos—people here in Shule are terrified. How can they even live like this?”
Furious, he snapped his whip in the air and spat out a mouthful of phlegm. In the past, he might have cared about the gazes of the surrounding Türgish, but now, he didn’t care at all!
If it came to it, he was ready to fight to the death on the grasslands—his blood still burned with passion! Didn’t the Turkic people of the steppes practice sky burials after death? The descendants of the divine wolf feared death not at all and were only willing to fight for honor. He had had enough of this humiliating life! He truly had had enough!
“Sigh, brother, be quiet!”
Chisi Hun’e quickly glanced around and grabbed Ašina Luòsī’s arm, trying to calm him. Under these circumstances, with the Türgish ruling supreme, how could they survive in these grasslands if they offended them?
“I… I… Sigh!”
Ašina Luòsī shook his head and angrily threw his whip on the ground.
“Ašina brother! Ašina brother!”
Dumuoye’s deep voice came from afar. Before long, a jujube-red Turkic pony appeared before them.
As expected!
Ašina Luòsī was so angry he almost fainted, but Dumuoye was one of the few Türgish he knew who was honest and straightforward. Even though he was dissatisfied with the Türgish, he couldn’t get into a feud with Dumuoye and turn his anger toward him.
Besides, he was a deputy general in the Anxi Shule army!

To make a living in this land, how can one not build a good relationship with him? If one has a good relationship with him, doesn’t that mean having the support of the Anxi Tang army? Who else in this Shule territory would dare to trouble me in the future?
At these thoughts, Ashina Luosi’s face immediately broke into a smile. He spread his arms and stepped forward to Duomo Ye, saying, “Duomo Ye, my dearest Turkic friend, what wind has brought you to my yurt, and what blessing has made you so joyful? O Turkic people blessed by the Eternal Heaven, I wish to greet you with the sincerest heart.”
Though trying hard to control himself, Chisi Hun’e still wanted to curse Ashina Luosi’s ancestors at that moment. This man really had no backbone—how could he change his expression faster than a Tang actor?
Of course, Duomo Ye had no idea what Chisi Hun’e was thinking. With a light jump, he easily dismounted from his horse.
“It’s the spring breeze from Chang’an that guided me here, and it’s the blessings of the Tang that fill me with joy. I, Duomo Ye, have come to my brother’s yurt to share this joy with the descendants of the divine wolf!”
Duomo Ye placed one hand on his shoulder and bowed deeply to Ashina Luosi.
Ashina Luosi was indeed in high spirits. He had previously wondered how he could become friends with a Turkic person. Now it seemed that even if this person was his greatest enemy, the Arabs, they could still become close friends.
Whether sincere or not, sweet words are always better than awkward and hard-to-understand phrases.
“Hey! Your complexion looks increasingly rosy. It seems the lambs from the governor’s palace have filled your belly, and the fine wines of Shule have nourished your skin. I, Ashina Luosi, am truly happy for you!”
“Now, there’s a wonderful opportunity before you, O Turkic people blessed by the Eternal Heaven. I hope you can feel the same joy as I do!”
Duomo Ye nodded at Ashina Luosi, speaking softly and slowly. His voice was so clear and pleasant, like a cold current flowing beneath the ice of the Chih River in winter.
“What kind of opportunity could allow me to share joy with you, brother?”
Seeing Duomo Ye get straight to the point, Ashina Luosi narrowed his eyes and rubbed his hands together repeatedly. Since Duomo Ye had come to him on his own, this must be related to the Shule army.
Why else would he come looking for him? If his guess was right…
“Haha, our new governor of Shule is going on a mission to the countries along the Chih River, and he hopes you can act as a guide!”
Duomo Ye gave Ashina Luosi a firm pat on the shoulder, his lips curling into a smile, like a new moon reflected in the Chih River under the night sky.
Note 1: Grassland sheep usually give birth in June and reach maturity in half a year.