Central army was marching east. Small Timurids army was closing on Turkestan, about the same size but only 2 cavalry regiments. A Mongol army without proper cavalry - they should be punished just for that. And it will show the world that small army is enough for Khan Esen to stop his enemies. Or rather, Khagan Esen.
They reached the small stream designated for camping and vanguard was calling a halt. Khan doesn't need to give such small orders, every Mongol ought to know when to stop and when to rush without command. Every Mongol should be far more dangerous than any other soldier in the world. But western reports were troubling. General Hottari lost 2 battles against Persians, would lost the third too but Persians were clashing with some zaelots rebels so he grabbed the oportunity. Good move, and he was fine general, but how could he lose? Persians had slightly bigger army but barely any cavalry. Hottary's army was mainly cavalry. A steppe cavalry at that. How could that be? Persia was supposed to be easy picking. Did Oirats becoem bad fighters over night? Should he be worried of this Timurid force too? No, he will not have it. Troubles or not, there is no stopping now. It's been a year since this war started, if Timurids didn't do anything threating until now, then they don't know how to make war.
Esen turned to one of his guards.
- Those messengers our scouts picked up?
- Messengers themselves stayed to rest with scout groups, my Khan, but one scout from each group reached us.
- Yes, yes, send for them.
Three messages in single day. Too much. And whatever it is, it may wait until evening and camping. He is not turning around now. And it is better to hear messages without too many ears around. Most likely one message at least would make a big impact. For better or worse, he has to wait and see. Some food should pass the time.
He was still chewing when men were presented to him.
Good, he thought,
they are fast when called upon, they ought to be.
- Two messages from west and news from east, my Khan.
- The east.
Young warrior stepped forward.
- We caught a rider while hunting Timurid scouts. Chagatai rider with good news. They were scouting ahead of their own armies and discovered that Timurids have more urgent business than war with us. Few weeks after they moved their armies and announced war against us, new pretender appeared. Well provisioned and obviusly planning it it for a while. No less than 15k are sieging Samarkand.
Esen raised his eyebrows. T
hose are not good news, but great news.
- Their second army is now stuck between the pretender army and few small Khorasani rebels. Chagatai are sieging eastern Timurid province unchallenged.
- And their second army?
One of his guards replied - Still sieging in southern Nogai provinces, my Khan.
Incompetent idiots. I should destroy them and let their clans collapse. But they will manage that on their own, I have west to focus on.
- Good. News from west?
- My khan, Nogai clans that rule Zaporozhie are now vassals to Ukraine.
- What? How did that came to pass? I thought Ukraine is under Lithuanians.
- We don't know, Ukraine is small and broke away from Lithuanians. They hold ony Poltava, but somehow vassalized new Nogai. But there is more. Cherson is no longer Hungarian. Nogai clans rule it.
- WHAT?! I am waiting to annex Crimea and finally enter Hungarian plaines, now I have more clans to fight to get there? How could Hungarians lose against Nogai if Ukrainians can beat them?
- There is war going on, my Khan. Turkish sultanate of Candar invaded Moldavia and Wallachia. Hungarians attacked them and all Sunni sultanates joined in, Ottomans, Morroco, you name it. Hungary can't protect against Ottomans.
- Hmmmm, could be we want border again with Ottomans then, after we lost Azerbeijan. What are our armies doing?
- As you instructed, fighting Golden Horde in the north, trying to sieze Samara and gold mines. Russians are also fighting them, so our forces have easier time, otherwise...
- Good. And you? Are you bringing me news from Persia?
Last scout spoke.
- Yes my Khan. As you already heard, Persians turned out to be good fighters, but we prevailed. Currently we are sieging all their provinces, Fars and Hormuz with biggest forces off course. Azerbeijan should fall soon. We are constantly fighting rebels though. Qara Qoyunlu are now our vassals, and they are sieging what's left of Georgia.
- Yes, that's good.
Perhaps he was doing something wrong after all. Luck obviusly helps him against other Mongols, but western states are hard to defeat. Perhaps destiny is telling him to focus on Mongols and Asia, and stop dreaming of west.
Wait, what am I doing? That is thinking of weak. I will strike west and beat all difficulties. I will be first Khagan of the new line!
- Send word to western armies. I want another passage to Ukraine. Tell them to take Boguthjar, that is central point in Russian planes. Then they proceed west to Ukraine and Zaporozhie and sieze them too -
so no reckless rebels may cut the only supply lines through Georgia - We will dispatch this small army of Timurids and head west to help against Golden Horde. Timurids are no longer a threat. They will start begging for peace soon... and be declined until we get what we want on west. Good now! All is well. Soon Europe will tremble from Mongols again.
*****
Morning was cold, but that was good. He was awake and sharp, and all camp was as well. He was watching his men packing. Fighting will start soon, and that made him relaxed. Battle and bow he understood, it was global strategy he had fear of.
- My Kahn, one of our scouts! A new message from east.
- What? Bring him immediately.
One of his Oirat warriors was brought.
- My Khan, we had contacts with scout from east bringing varoius news. In northeast, Korean are rebeling but they do not pose a threat. In southeast, we are siezing whole Pegu lands. Trading in Malacca will soon be ours.
- Hm, more good news, although all expected.
- There is more. I am not sure how to say it, but we heard other rumors from our own lands. Prominent warriors and men heard of defeats from Pegu and Persia, despite we prevailed in the end. They are questioning our ways of war. Many think that they didn't change much since Temujin, but that other nations have adapted and are now better prepared for our hordes. Many question will other nations fear us like before.
Esen was quiet for a while. He could sense his guards are also quiet, fearing how he may react. This was direct questioning of his capabilities. But punishing this scout won't prove anything. And after all, he has the same fears for a while now. He must act.
- Those many that are concerned are correct to be concerned. Our armies don't strike like they used to. We have more men, but it is true, our ways are no longer sharp as they used to be. Send message acros our lands, everywhere. Mongol armies will adapt. We will work on improving our weapons and armors. We will all be more cautios and improve are tactics. LEt everyone know changes will come soon. Go now. And everybody else, go and pack, we leave immediately.
Disrespecting as it was, it also confirmed his fears. So other warriors also understand westerners are putting better resistance than before. Changes are coming, although he didn't know what will changes be. Well, Mongols learned from enemies before. Temujin and Subutai weren't experts in siege warfare before gaining some valuable Chinese prisoners. In the end, anything must be done to make his armies invincible. Because there was only one way to a title of Khagan: the world must tremble!