Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 57 Enjoy the Lantern Festival

Killing people and setting fire to gold belts. This massive robbery was very fruitful. More than 20,000 cattle, sheep, camels and other livestock were robbed. In addition, from the Gelug warehouses in Tugulik and Henggol Elong, He also received a large amount of gold and silver jewelry, silk and satin, cloth and tea leaves, and more than 10,000 copper coins.

Suletan observed these coins and found that except for a small number of various "Tongbao" from the Ming Dynasty, most of them were "Pul" from the Yarkand Khanate. This kind of copper coin is cake-shaped, large, thick and heavy. Because the impression is larger than the copper blank or the pressure is not uniform enough, the inscription on the coin is not clear. It took him a lot of effort to distinguish the inscription "Daqian Wupu" engraved on the front of the pomegranate pattern, while the inscription on the back was engraved "Zarpuyar Kante", which was made by Yarkand. In addition to this thick pancake-shaped big money, there are also thin pancake-shaped "Pools" with a smaller currency value; cylindrical "Pools", also known as "chopstick-head coins", are equivalent to small change.

"Oh, this coin really represents the strength of the country! The Yarkand people's 'Pu' is really incomparable with the Ming Dynasty's 'Tongbao'!"

Sultan muttered to himself while playing with the two copper coins he had snatched. Indeed, although the Ming Dynasty at this time was weak in national power, it was still a behemoth compared to small countries in the Western Regions such as Yarkand. Not to mention the high-end "Yongle Tongbao", even the slightly inferior "Chongzhen Tongbao" is not as beautiful and exquisite as the "Puer" coin.

He suddenly remembered that Mongolia in Oirat still had no currency, and the main currency used was the "Pul" of the Yarkand people. In his excitement, he raised his head to the sky and shouted, "One day, I, Oirat, will also have our own currency!"

On October 25th of the lunar calendar, during the Lantern Festival, an important festival in Oirat Mongolia, the Saratuo Sea on the north bank of the upper reaches of the Ili River turned into a sea of ​​joy.

More than 200 steps southeast of "Ger" (yurt) of all sizes, every household has built a lampstand with mounds of earth or stones. According to custom, when dusk comes, each household must prepare its own ever-burning lamp and place it on the lampstand. Light it up and pray to Buddha for a long life. Some wealthy families will also dedicate ever-burning lanterns to Buddha statues.

One wick represents one year of age, and each herdsman must make a hundred or more wicks in order to "live a hundred years."

Twenty-year-old Talbach was busy making his own wicks. He should have prepared them yesterday. Unexpectedly, the kumiss was too sweet. He drank a few more bowls with some friends yesterday and woke up early this morning. He skillfully kneaded the splendens stalks, wrapped them with cotton, and dipped them in ghee. Lord Buddha, forgive me, I was just drunk, I never meant to neglect you! He prayed silently in his heart.

"Talbaqi, you brat, are you okay? Everyone is waiting for you." The elderly Ebug (grandfather) leaned on a cane and cursed with a smile.

"Ebuge, my grandson is ready." Talbachi jumped out of the grid with his ever-burning lantern. Suddenly he remembered that he hadn't changed into new clothes yet, so he ran back and put on a brand new labsik (a kind of robe). Put on a belt and a handsome tolrak (a kind of hat). When I walked out of the grid again, I felt much more energetic.

Dusk has fallen, and stars are twinkling in the night sky. The Talbach family came to the lampstand with their own wicks and lamps. The elderly Ebuge took the lead in inserting the wicks into the lamps. The whole family inserted the wicks in order according to their seniority and age. Then, in order of eldest and youngest, they light their own everlasting lamps, perform prostrations, circle the lampstand three times, and pray to the Buddha to grant people a long life and make all things last forever.

As the ever-bright lamps were lit, Saratuohai became a grassland that never sleeps. The Lantern Festival has officially begun. Mongolians in Oirat congratulate each other, entertain each other, sing and laugh, and celebrate the festival.

Seeing his grandson's eagerness to try, Old Ebuge was happy, and said lovingly: "Go, go and play to your heart's content!" "Thank you Ebuge," Talbach was overjoyed. Three steps merged into two steps, and he quickly He ran towards the east lattice. The old Sanger family lived there. But he didn't go to see Sanger, but was thinking about Sanger's granddaughter Qiqige.

Its style means "flower" in Mongolian, and I am as beautiful as a flower. At this moment, she was dressed in festive attire, wearing a "Chedek" (a kind of long waistcoat) and a Hajlega (a kind of women's hat). Perhaps because of drinking, her face was bright red, which made her look even more... People are more delicate than flowers.

Talbach came to the old Sanger, respectfully placed the two fingers of his right hand between his eyebrows, bowed his head, and stood up to hug each other. This was the hug gesture given by Oirat when he was humble and respected his elders. Sangge hurriedly touched his shoulders to show his kindness.

Many scholars of the Ming Dynasty thought that Mongolia was a barbarian country with no respect for etiquette. In fact, over the long years, Mongolia has already formed its own etiquette with many rules.

Just as far as the "embrace ceremony" is concerned, there are particularities in how to cast the spell on different people: "When all Taiji and Tushmer below see Da Taiji, they will kneel down and hug Da Taiji. Da Taiji Use both hands to caress the shoulders of the kneeling person, and the person who is giving the greeting will hug his shoulders with both hands. The people under the jurisdiction of each Taiji should do the same when they see their master." This one has to kneel down and hug him; "When you see Zaisang below, see Zaisang. Use the two fingers of your right hand to pinch the eyebrows to show respect and love. Bow down and kowtow, and stand up to hug each other. Do the same when the humble and young see the elders. After the elder sees the humble and young hug each other, he smells the face of the humble, or touches his shoulders. "To show love", this one can be done by standing and hugging after kowtow; "Those who are familiar with Ju Heng just bow when meeting each other", this one can just bow.

The Mongolians in Oirat have always been hospitable, and they have the custom of entertaining each other during the Lantern Festival, so Sanger was very happy to see Talbach and laughed and said: "It's Talbach, good boy, sit down quickly and drink with us." Sing".

Being coy is not a Mongolian character. Talbach sat down generously, and while drinking wine with old Sanger, he glanced at her style with his eyes, and swore in his heart that sooner or later she would change her single braid (an unmarried Mongolian girl’s hairstyle) ) into a six-strand braid (a bridal hairstyle to be married).

Seeing his silly look, Qiqige chuckled and sang a song, "The dark gray Torrak is as round as a ball. The torks surrounding it are floating above the head. The one with a big collar Mongolian robes are the clothes of our ancestors. It is the habit of our ancestors to communicate with relatives near and far." On the surface, he was singing Torrak, but because Talbach was wearing a dark gray Torrak, this was a hint. The two families were close to each other, and the girl had already developed a secret crush on the boy.

Talbach understood, liked it in his heart, and sang loudly: "The dust flying in the sky is caused by the dark gray horse. The look of the hajlega hat on his head is the look of my sweetheart. Oh. That dust flying high is caused by the jade-topped green horse. That person wearing a Tolrak hat is the appearance of my sweetheart." On the surface, he is singing hat, but because he is wearing a hajlega hat, he is actually expressing his love.

After listening to this song, Qiqige blushed with embarrassment, turned his head to one side, and stopped looking at him.

The Sanger people are mature and can see the thoughts of the two children. He was satisfied with this marriage.

"Come, child, have another drink with me." The old man raised his wine bowl towards Talbach, but he was thinking in his heart: This child's family is rich, so the betrothal gift must not be less, at least three humped camels and fifteen camels. Cattle and twenty sheep.

(End of this chapter)