BES: Chapter 9

The next two years passed by in a blur of training, only seldomly interspersed with moments of note and small breaks to rest. My instructors drilled me hard, the showing against Gongsun Ping having proven to my father, instructors, and the Great Khan, just what I could achieve when pushed hard enough. It helped that my adult memories and skills could help me cope, and future knowledge played a part more than once, but I ultimately was being pushed even harder than Dorji, the ostensible heir.

The extra attention from instructors, especially during our dual classes with Liau Yong Cho, as well as the radically different schedules we were on, had begun to cause a rift to form between us. It hadn't helped matters when I had begun toying with future knowledge ideas for things like Lorcha-style boats or Hwacha-style arrow carts. In both of the classes that I had brought those sketches to Liau Yong Cho, the Hokkien Shipbuilder, had dropped everything to try and help my ideas and sketches become a workable innovation, much to the ire of Dorji, who had been on the abandoned end of those interactions.

Now, I wasn't that close with my younger brother in my old life, so this was a situation I would have ordinarily been fine with. I could have fallen back on the same pattern from my old life in this one, if not for the fact that Courtly Politics had begun to play a part in my relationship with my brother. He had never been overly fond of Mongol clothing styles, but he would usually wear some part of the traditional Mongol Style. Over the past two years, however, he had begun dressing more and more like a Han Chinese Noble. The voluminous, silken monstrosity that was his full Hanfu courtly robes had made multiple appearances. No doubt Huo Fei or some of the other Han in our father's court had begun whispering in Dorji's ear, playing on his discontent and vanity to gain concessions from the heir.

I tried to hold out an olive branch once, but my attempt had been thwarted. Gongsun Ping had, in the wake of his defeat, attached himself to my brother under the guise of being a loyal retainer, and though Dorji often enjoyed falconry as the one major outdoors activity he was any good at, my invitation to go hawking had been rebuffed brusquely. That was a year ago, and now it seemed that the divide between us would not be so easily patched up.

Beyond that, my other lessons had gone very well. I had a thorough grasp of the basics of some of the Shaolin Styles, as well as some of the more advanced techniques of Proto-Hung Gar, like the Iron Wire Fist. I, of course, modified them to suit the unique style I was developing, throwing in more Jiu-jitsu, Judo, Western Boxing, and Muay Thai techniques, blending them together with the Shaolin Techniques that worked, to form a mature style of my own. My Shaolin Dan Dao style had also improved, as I had likewise blended Mongol Ild and Hang Yuet Dan Dao with it, along with a bit of Polish Sabre that I knew from my Old Life to form a completely unique mature style. I had also started on the Spear as well. Of course, my general physical capabilities also improved. I was a day short of my thirteenth birthday, yet I had the build and physique of a sixteen-year-old athlete.

Leung Shun refrained from commenting much, as was his way, save to say that I had reached a sufficient level of mastery to be considered an Elder Brother by the standards of the Shaolin Temple, at least as far as it concerned Proto-Hung Gar and Shaolin Dan Dao. Of my hybridized style, he said only that he was interested intensely in how the finished product worked. I got the feeling he meant to take my hybrid style back to the temple once it was finished, to teach the brothers there. Honestly, he was welcome to do so. The gruff monk had more than earned it by putting up with me.

Dorgon Donggo, too, remarked that I had reached a sufficient level of skill with bow, lance, and horse and that I would likely learn more from practice than I would from further lessons. Liau Yong Cho found himself more helping me organize my future knowledge into a usable state than teaching me shipbuilding, blacksmithing, or anything like that as the years went on. Only Uriyangkidai and Leung Shun insisted that I still had much to learn that they could teach me.

That was possibly why, when Dorji and I were called into court on our thirteenth birthdays, the proclamation my father made was made. I wore my usual courtly clothes. Yellow silk vest, trimmed in sable fur, ultramarine blue silk terlig the color of my eyes, with gray brocade in a wave pattern, baggy cotton trousers, sable fur-lined boots, and a red silk sash. A dao was sheathed at my hip, though I had little doubt that I wouldn't need it with my father's assembled guards and Noyan in attendance. It still showed that I was a Warrior of the Empire, with the right to bear arms that entailed.

For his part, Dorji wore a voluminous Hanfu of sky blue silk with yellow dragons embroidered upon it, seemingly declaring his intent to remain the heir in the face of favoritism. The yellow dragon WAS a traditional imperial symbol, after all. To complete the ensemble, he wore a guan-style hat affixed with a pheasant feather. In his sash was sheathed not a weapon, but a paper fan. Looking at him, it also showed a clear preference for the Han ways of doing things.

We arrived at the throne room moments early, and some messenger from our Uncle Mongke, the Great Khan, was still relaying his message when we arrived. I nodded to my older brother but received only a side-eyed glance in response. It seemed the rift between us had only been exacerbated and would now take both of us making an effort to even begin to mend. It was disconcerting, especially with how Huo Fei and Gongsun Ping had been influencing Dorji. Who knew when that influence would begin to extend to suggesting that Dorji attempt to 'simplify his path to the throne', so to speak? Would my brother do it? I wouldn't even be the first, second, or even third Mongol Prince to be assassinated. Hell, Yesu Mongke had just been assassinated last year out in Chagatai Ulus! I had no doubt that Ping, at least, saw the potential to use Dorji for revenge on me for the duel.

It was as I was thinking about that when the messenger of the Great Khan finished relaying his message, and my father barked out, "Where are my sons? Prince Dorji, Prince Dalai, come forth!"

I strode forward, even as Dorji shuffled forward in his oversized hanfu. I took a knee, bowing to my father. Kublai may not be the Great Khan at the moment, but he controlled the wealthiest and most populated of the Empire's Ulus as viceroy. Even as my father, to bow any shallower would be a grave insult. Dorji struggled to do the same in his monstrous hanfu but eventually managed before our father spoke once again.

"You have both reached the age of thirteen and are only a few short years from being men grown. Both of you have done well in your studies, and as such, I have proclamations and gifts to make and give. Prince Dorji, stand!" Demanded Kublai.

Dorji huffed and stood, struggling under the weight of an overdone robe. My sickly brother eventually got himself sorted out and stood facing the throne. It was clear that the voluminous silk Hanfu, combined with his sickliness, meant that Dorji was having extreme trouble moving about. To him, though, the Hanfu was the proper attire for court, and he would not hear a single word about needing to change. Our father continued as Dorji bowed before the throne.

"I have been told that your studies of administration are going quite well and that your tutors think you are ready for a posting. As such, I am sending you Southwest. I have been told that the recently pacified lands of the former Tibetan States are in need of administrative reforms. It seems that centuries of political fragmentation left them not just militarily weak, but politically and economically disjointed. I am appointing you as assistant to the Military Governor of the conquered Tibetan Territories. You will aid him in ensuring the needed reforms go through. To help you go about your duties in a manner befitting my heir, I am providing you with a stipend of one thousand Shi. On top of the salary of your position. This is both a reward and a test. Do a good job aiding the Military Governor, and I will consider your education complete and release you to your Orda to run your lands as Prince of Qi." Explained Kublai.

"You honor me, Father, with such an important posting and generous additional stipend. I shall endeavor to prove your faith well-placed." Responded Dorji, bowing before stepping back.

"Prince Dalai, step forth!" Demanded Kublai. That was my cue, and I stood.

"Yes, father." I nodded.

"Your education in riding, lance, and bow is complete, needing only further practice. Liau Yong Cho tells me he generally ends up assisting you rather than the other way around. Leung Shun and Uriyangkidai have given glowing reports. You are ready for more responsibility. I am appointing you as an official Qianhu of the Empire's Army, with the right to command a full Minghan of a thousand men. You are also appointed to Uriyangkidai's command as his adjutant. You will be part of the leadership of his army, beyond what your formal rank of Qianhu would normally allow, and thus be entitled to a commensurate amount of the spoils." Intoned Kublai.

"Spoils father?" I questioned.

"Your uncle, the Great Khan, has finally decreed that King Gojong of Goryeo be humbled for his refusal to pay him the homage he is owed. Furthermore, with your innovations in boatbuilding, there is a reasonable chance of prying him out of his island fortress this time. You will join Uriyangkidai as he leads the attack, which will commence in the fall. Win glory, honor, and spoils, and prove to me that you are ready to take command of your holdings as Prince of Yan. In the meantime, you will have no more lessons with Dorgon Donggo or Liau Yong Cho. Instead, you will devote your efforts to aiding Uriyangkidai's preparation and your martial training. In but four months' time, you will be going to war." Answered Kublai.

"I will not fail you, father." I insisted.

"See that you don't. In the meantime, I will be leading another army to expand the borders of the Empire instead of pacifying rebellious vassals. Duan Xingzhi, the King of Dali, was given the option to submit to the Empire peacefully. Instead, he chose to execute the messenger we sent. For that insult, I will tear down his mountain palace and subjugate his people before I allow him to die." Vowed Kublai.

I believed him. It was right on schedule for the conquest of Dali, anyway, though historically, Uriyangkidai had been the one to lead that attack, not Kublai. Had my father's priorities shifted? If so, what could have caused him to pick attacking Dali over subduing Goryeo? Was it the death of the messenger? That was an insult to my new people, and I couldn't recall if it had happened in the original timeline or not. Either way, it didn't matter, though. The outcome was the same.

The Mongols were going to war. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter. It's a bit timeskippy, but I needed to get to a more momentous period fast. Both these wars happened in Twelve-Fifty-Three IOTL, but the details are slightly altered to match the ITTL circumstances. As for the divide between the SI and Dorji, It's people like Ping and some of the eunuchs, like Huo Fei, who are egging that on and exacerbating it. To them, Dorji is sickly and without the kind of vigor it takes to resist their manipulations. There is a growing faction of like-minded people in Kublai's court who are trying to use Dorji as a biddable puppet once Kublai dies. That is going to have consequences down the line.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the remaining time before Dalai goes off to war with Goryeo. We'll be rushing through it in another time-skippy fashion, so hopefully, you guys don't mind that too much.

Stay tuned. . .