Manas Goes on an Expedition to Save Compatriots from Adversity
Adjacent to the territory of Qalmaq people, the Alasha nomads were often plundered by the troops led by Konurbai, son of Alooke.
As a ruthless fellow who harbored an intense hatred for Manas, Konurbai often sent his troops to loot the areas inhabited by both Kyrgyz and Kazak people in the past ten years. What was worse, they slaughtered local residents, including the old people and infants. The remains of the victims were exposed in the wilderness. Manas did not know the holocaust until a batch of Alasha prisoners fled back to the territory under the control of Manas. It occurred to him that Alooke and his Qalmaq lackeys committed a lot of crimes. And Konurbai, the merciless warmonger, still got numerous Kyrgyz people by the short hairs. Manas began to worry about the sufferings of Kyrgyz people who were often whipped and put into jail as the warmonger pleased. Manas could neither fall asleep nor have a meal in a good mood. “What is the point of being a khan at the lustrous pinnacle of my military fame if I cannot find a way to relieve the distress for my poor fellow countrymen? I cannot sit by and do northing any more,” Manas said to himself. He was resolved in helping his compatriots shake off the shackles of the Qalmaq people’s oppression. As a result, he spared no time in preparing an expedition to the city of Beijing.
A total of seven khans living in the neighbor were summoned to discuss
Manas Goes on an Expedition to Save Compatriots from Adversity
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the upcoming expedition at the request of Manas. To his surprise, several khans asked for leave almost at the same time as soon as they learned that Manas was aimed to send a punitive expedition against Konurbai. In addition to Bakai, only forty warriors were a visible presence at the meeting, including Almambet, Chubak and Kyrgol. Manas was annoyed by such a tepid response. “All of them are depraved ones. Don’t they dare sit back without showing concern about the sufferings of compatriots!” Manas said.
In order to smooth the ruffled feathers of Manas, Bakai stood up and tightly held Manas’ hands. “Oh, my great hero. You don’t have to fly into a fury. It is under your protection that your people can live a carefree life. If you have resolution to make an expedition for the purpose of capturing the city of Beijing, all of us will back up the decision. I only suggest that you take the whole stuff into consideration. The reason is quite simple: The expedition is supposed to last for about twelve months. You should let more Khans’ forces join so as to expand our troops. Only in this way can our Kyrgyz Grand Army qualify for the upcoming expedition to the city of Beijing,” said Bakai.
This expedition was out of the ordinary and so much would be at stake that Bakai felt he had to make sure of everything. Bakai showed Manas a list of Khans’ names he made after careful consideration. “Your Majesty, I would like to take the responsibility of informing all the khans of the upcoming military action. I will bring your confidential order with me. I personally think I will wind up my duty in twenty days. I will make it to the palace in time as and when all the Khans’ preparatory work moves into full gear,” said Agibai.
Manas agreed to his request, feeling quite relieved about the help of the right-hand man.
Agibai had set off on his journey as early as the daybreak, taking the confidential order of Manas with him. He asked several small tribes’ khans to join the Grand Army of Manas in seven days. Otherwise, they would be severely punished for disobedience to orders. Koshoi and several other khans obeyed Manas’ command readily.
As the antithesis of the Khans who were game for the expedition called for by Manas, Yoobee, a Kazak khan, turned his back on the messenger. What was worse, a total of ninety fierce canines turned on Agibai while barking violently. The messenger was not a bundle of nerves at the moment. Instead, he raised his whip out of fury and drove away all the fierce canines. As no servant
Legend of Manas
showed him into the Khan’s yurt, Agibai had nothing to do but break in. The khan of the Kazak tribe was caught making a feint of dozing off while being draped in a quilt. And his wife Jiezbilek sitting beside the khan assumed an arrogant air, snubbing the messenger with her characteristic panache.
Agibai waited there from dawn to dusk. However, Yoobee did not move at all in his bed. In order to prompt the Kazak guy to get up instantly, Agibai thought of a good idea at a stroke. In his opinion, it was time for him to pit his wits against Yoobee. As a result, he took out his brass tobacco pipe and set about taking puffs at his pipe. The puffs of dense smoke wafted outside the windows. Neighbors thought by mistake that his yurt might be set on fire so that they shouted in unison. The dense smoke also choked the khan in the bed. He had to get up in haste at last. He was still trying to make a pretence of waking up just now. “Oh, you talkative chattel, what the hell do you bring to me? What sort of bad news? There must be an unexpected tragedy whenever you come. Who once made me lose face at the commemorative ceremony for Koketei? I have never seen the hero like Manas or any vile character of your kind,” the Kazak khan reviled at the messenger while gripping a sharp sword in anger.
