Temujin picked up a bowl of muddy water and said loudly, "Come! My most loyal companions, let us drink this water together! First, let us use water instead of wine to celebrate Hua Zheng and Zhao Shuo's engagement. Second, I, Temujin, was defeated at the Kerulen Sand Dune, but you were loyal and brave, never abandoning me. It is truly commendable! Today, we drink this water together! In the future, when I achieve great success, I will surely share wealth and glory with you! If I break this oath, may I be like this river!"

Everyone said in unison, "We are willing to share weal and woe with the Khan and achieve great success! If we break this oath, may we be like this river!"

The muddy water of this Baljuna River was not only full of mud and sand, but also bitter and astringent. Even wild animals would not use it as a water source.

However, with Temujin taking the lead, everyone drank the bowl of muddy river water in one gulp!

This is the historically famous "Baljuna River Oath."

Today, those who participated in this oath were: Temujin, Temujin's brother Khasar, Temujin's eldest son Jochi, Temujin's daughter Hua Zheng, Temujin's brother-in-law Bo'erchu, the consort Zhao Shuo, and the generals Jebe, Muqali, Chuurcheldei, Taichu, Subutai, Khaban, Sukegei, Tatchiman, Yelü Ahai, Tuhua, Sherig, Khuluhun, Asutai, Zhenhai, Shoguur, and Zhabar Khoja.

A total of twenty-two people!

Among these twenty-two people, only eight were Mongols. The rest were Uyghurs, Merkits, Khitans, Keraits, and even Zhao Shuo, a Han Chinese!

There were nine Shamanists, including Temujin, but there were also thirteen non-Shamanists. For example, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and even an atheist like Zhao Shuo!

Whether from bloodline, ethnicity, or even belief, Zhao Shuo's existence did not seem abrupt at all.

He had already become the second most important founder of this group, second only to Temujin, and one of the original shareholders of this huge force that would soon make the whole world tremble!

… …

Of course, meals must be eaten step by step, and roads must be walked step by step.

On the banks of the Baljuna River, with no food, no water, and not even a tent, Zhao Shuo and Hua Zheng could get engaged, but getting married was absolutely impossible.

The minimum prerequisite for the "Baljuna River Faction" and Temujin to share wealth and glory was to first destroy Wang Han, their mortal enemy!

"Father Khan is wise!"

Just after making the Baljuna River Oath, Zhao Shuo suggested, "Wang Han betrayed his trust and launched a sneak attack on our army, achieving a despicable victory. Now that he has defeated our army, he is complacent and unprepared. Why don't we repay him in kind and retaliate fiercely?"

"Retaliate?"

Whether it was Temujin or the others present, their eyes lit up!

Nonsense, of course, we must retaliate immediately!

In Zhao Shuo's view, according to historical records, Temujin recuperated for half a year, gathered 4,600 elite cavalry, and launched a sneak attack on Wang Han, achieving the final victory and becoming the overlord of the eastern grasslands.

Now, Zhao Shuo alone has a well-organized army of 3,000 men. Wouldn't it be easy to gather some more troops and put together five or six thousand cavalry? If we don't plan to retaliate now, when are we waiting for?

In the eyes of the many "Baljuna River Faction" members present, the prerequisite for sharing wealth and glory was to win the war against Wang Han! The sooner this victory came, the better!

In Temujin's view, the only chance to turn defeat into victory, with the enemy strong and us weak, was to launch a sneak attack on Wang Han. Now, wasn't it the best time to launch a sneak attack when Wang Han had just won a great victory and was most relaxed?

Temujin carefully considered the feasibility of the sneak attack and pondered slightly, "The biggest difficulty in launching a sneak attack on Wang Han lies in finding out where Wang Han's royal court is located. The grasslands are vast, and there are many places where troops can be stationed. We are outnumbered, and if we cannot strike with one blow, it will surely arouse Wang Han's vigilance, and it will be difficult to succeed. Now, we must find a way to know exactly where Wang Han's royal court is located before we can launch a sneak attack."

Muqali said, "If the Khan sends an envoy to Wang Han to surrender, Wang Han should meet him, right? In this way, the envoy will know where Wang Han's royal court is located. The question is, can the envoy return smoothly and bring back the news of Wang Han's royal court?"

Jochi said, "Also, will Wang Han's royal court change during the time the envoy travels back and forth? This sneak attack is the only chance for our Mongol tribe to rise again. Once it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Zhao Shuo said, "I do have a plan, but I don't know if everyone believes in my Jade Claw Divine Eagle."

"Your peregrine falcon?"

"Yes, that's it." Zhao Shuo said, "Although my Jade Claw Divine Eagle may not be as intelligent as Emperor Taizu of Liao, Yelü Abaoji's State-Protecting Divine Eagle, it may not recognize anyone, but it will recognize me, its master. If someone ties their hair in my style and wears my gold-lacquered iron armor as the Khan's envoy to see Wang Han, and then someone follows this Jade Claw Divine Eagle from afar, won't we be able to find Wang Han's central army?"

Zhao Shuo himself, of course, could not go.

He had just shot through the cheek of Wang Han's eldest son, Sangkun. Even if Sangkun didn't die, he would be disfigured. Under such circumstances, if Zhao Shuo went to Wang Han's place again, he would not be a heroic warrior, but a fool who took the initiative to die.

Temujin, of course, understood this.

He carefully calculated, "Track down Wang Han's camp based on your hairstyle and armor? Is your Jade Claw Divine Eagle really capable of doing this?"

Zhao Shuo nodded firmly and said, "There will be no problem."

Zhao Shuo's gold-lacquered iron armor was the trophy he obtained from killing the Tatar warrior, Huduon.

This kind of armor may not be very precious in the Central Plains, but it is definitely a rare item on the grasslands. It may be that the Tatars had been dogs of the Jin people for a long time before they obtained this gold-lacquered iron armor, but in the end, it benefited Zhao Shuo.

In any case, the gold-lacquered iron armor, coupled with Zhao Shuo's unrestrained hairstyle, is definitely a unique existence on the grasslands, enough for the Jade Claw Divine Eagle to recognize.

After a pause, Temujin looked around and said, "Then, who will be my envoy to make this trip?"

"I am willing to go!"

"I'll go!"

"I'll go!"

"Khan, send me!"

… …

Although being an envoy is not as certain death as it would be for Zhao Shuo, there is still some danger.

However, the members of the "Baljuna River Faction" present, under such difficult and arduous circumstances, chose to follow Temujin. How could they be people who are greedy for life and afraid of death? They all volunteered.

— — — —

Please leave more comments, I'm most afraid of single-player mode in the new era.

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