Semetey. The Relocation of Semetey from Bukhara to Talas. Part 2

After the joyful wedding of Semetey, he took Chachykey with him, loading gold onto eighty red one-humped camels, handed the banner to Sara-khan, bid farewell to Temir-khan and Ismail, and set off on his journey.

He rode on Taybuurul, with Akshumkar sitting on his arm, and along the way, he stopped to entertain himself with falconry using dogs. Seeing this beautiful procession, the ones traveling with him, Kanykey and Chiyyrdy, were immensely happy and said to each other:

- Now we can even die, for our cherished dream has come true.

When they approached Kokand, Kanykey said to Semetey:

- When I fled with you from Talas, trying to avoid being noticed by the Kokandis, I took a roundabout route through the Amandozh road; let’s take that route now as well.

Semetey, angered by this, said:

- I am not afraid of the Kokandis and will not hide from them; on the contrary, I will go right through Kokand.

Kanykey told Semetey that the Kokandis harbored a wicked revenge against Manas, but Semetey did not listen to her.

At that time, the Indian, Andijan, and Chambyl khans, led by the Kokand khan Kozubek, gathered their people and said:

- If we do not destroy the orphan Manas in his youth and he remains alive, he will not leave us in peace.

So let’s cut off his head and take it as a gift to Abyke and Kyobesh. We will receive much good from them for this.

Having conspired, they swore an oath to carry this out. At the council, they decided that sending a large army against Semetey was unnecessary; one thousand giants would be enough to deal with him. Preparing these giants for battle, the four khans and their people continued to amuse themselves carelessly.

Meanwhile, the watchmen set by the Kokandis reported to Kozubek-khan that the very boy who had torn off Tyoybalbana's hand in Bukhara and killed him, and then slaughtered the heroes of Kokand, was riding past their city. Kozubek-khan then ordered the thousand giants to prepare for battle. Seeing the approaching large army, Semetey was very surprised and said to Sara-khan:

- What does this mean? Muslims should not touch us, and enemies from China could not approach.

Saying this, he took no precautions and continued on his way calmly. Meanwhile, the warriors shouted battle cries: "India," "Kokand," "Chambyl," "Andijan" - and began to advance. When they converged, two khans - Jenaly and Karach, charged at Semetey, followed by thirty more giants who struck him. Only then, realizing that they were indeed enemies, Semetey, like a lion, prepared for battle. His eyes sparkled with fire, his hair stood on end, and in rage, he shouted at the attackers:

- This is your sin; you will answer for it. I did not touch you; you touched me first!

He was a descendant of Kankor, and thus the thirst for blood awakened in him; he struck Taybuurul with a whip and, taking the syrnayza in his hands, charged at the enemies. Entering the battle, he immediately knocked two khans off their horses and killed them, and like a falcon attacking a flock of crows, he began to destroy the numerous army. At that moment, a giant named Orok, who had arrived from India and was as large as a big hill, rode out from the enemy camp and challenged Semetey to a duel. Orok was considered invincible.

Semetey agreed to the duel.

- Let your wish be fulfilled, - he said to Orok and allowed the giant the right to strike first.

From that blow, Semetey did not even flinch and, with the battle cry "Manas!" struck the giant with a spear. Orok immediately fell from his horse, and Semetey, drawing his sword, cut off his head. Of the thousand Kokand giants that entered the battle, most were slaughtered, and the survivors fled to Kokand and, arriving at Khan Kozubek, said to him:

- The son of Manas, Semetey, is so powerful that he can stand alone not only against us but against the whole world; he is so strong that we foolishly competed with him and hoped to capture him. We are just foolish people.

Saying this, they all scattered and hid in their homes. Meanwhile, Semetey, pursuing the remnants of the defeated Kokandis, was approaching the city. But on the way, Sara-khan caught up with him and grabbed his stirrup.

- My dear, gray-maned one, is it worth it for us to get involved with these lowly people? - he urged him. - Enough blood has been shed! Spare the lives of the others for my sake. Remember that timely restraint is worth more than gold.

After all, these are not the Chinese, not those enemies with whom you should fight.

And he persuaded Semetey not to go further.

After that, ignoring both night and day, they rode non-stop and finally reached Talas. Seeing Talas, Kanykey cried out loud with joy and began to tell Semetey about the beauties of his homeland.

- I will tell you, my son,
And you remember everything.
Listen to my words about Talas,
The land covered with grass,
About the hills rich in forests,
Where deer roam on the slopes of the mountains,
In the bushes and on the cliffs,
Resting in sweet comfort.
There in the mountains, the tall Jorgo
Blocks the exit to the valley.
You pass through this pass,
And you will see from Kenkol
Talas spread out before you.
In the days of our misfortunes and troubles,
We were deprived of our native land.
Our cattle were driven from the free pastures,
Trees were burned in the gardens,
The green forest was cut down,
So that now all the animals
Have gone silent,
The nightingales have stopped singing,
And the cuckoo only calls lonely in the mountains.
This land is rich in treasures.
In the streams of Talas, the water is crystal clear,
There are many apples on the trees,
Birds build nests on the birches
And on the tall poplars.
On the jailoo, there are many hares,
And even more foxes,
Black-brown, silver,
Black, red, and gray.
There are many marals and ulars,
Jackals, badgers, and wolves.
The argalis and roe deer
Roam freely in the mountains.
White-winged and white-feathered falcons
Serve faithfully in the hunt.
Remember, my son, that in Talas
Lives your Kyrgyz people,
In its mountains, there is more silver
Than iron and lead.
When you step onto your native land,
Your soul will stir,
And by the full-flowing river,
In Kenkol at Talas.
You rest after the long journey.

When they entered the borders of their homeland, they saw that the Kyrgyz people, who during Manas's lifetime were so numerous that they could not fit in Talas, were now almost gone.

To erase the very memory of Manas from the face of the earth, Abyke and Kyobesh destroyed his white palace, tore out the golden support of the yurt, and flooded the place with water. Semetey pitched his camp at the very spot where Manas's white palace once stood. Here, Belyokbay arrived with his forty cripples. Burulcha, like a camel that cries mournfully after losing her calf, brought her son Kulchoro to Semetey in tears. With tears in his eyes, leading five hundred Kyrgyz families, Bakay arrived at his side. Kanchoro, the son of Chubak, who had been raised by one of the choro named Kambar after his father's death, joined them as well.

On the occasion of their safe arrival in Talas, as a sign of returning to their people, and also on the occasion of the successful meeting with Kulchoro and Kanchoro, Semetey organized a large public celebration and ordered six hundred barren mares to be slaughtered from his herds.

Deciding to adopt Kulchoro and Kanchoro, Kanykey took them to herself and gave her right breast to Kulchoro and her left breast to Kanchoro. From the breast that Kulchoro began to suck, colostrum flowed, and from the breast that Kanchoro began to suck, black blood flowed.

Seeing this as an omen, Kanykey said to Semetey:

- Kanchoro will not be your friend and companion; you must destroy him now while he is small.

At these words of his mother, Semetey became angry and replied:

- I would rather not live than be afraid of these children! Have you forgotten that Kulchoro and Kanchoro are both my foster brothers?

After the public celebration, Semetey, having released the dogs, went hunting with a falcon. Watching him, the people rejoiced, saying that he was braver than Manas himself. The joy among the people was universal; even toothless old women began to chew on fat. The poor acquired up to a thousand sheep, and even those who had previously been destitute began to live in comfort and happiness.

One day, Semetey said to Bakay-khan:

- I have decided to invite my relatives Abyke and Kyobesh to visit. I have decided to marry my mother Kanykey to Abyke to forget the enmity and thus become even closer related to him. After all, if Abyke, Kyobesh, and the remaining forty choro from my father become my loyal friends, then there will be no enemies who would dare to rise against me. Our horses have recovered and become strong, the men, being idle, have begun to long for action, and therefore the time has come to take revenge on the Chinese khan Konurbay for the gray-maned Manas.

Bakay-khan found Semetey's words to be correct. When he informed Kanykey about this, she said:

- As long as Kyrgynchala and Tazbaymat among the forty choro of Manas remain alive, neither Abyke nor Kyobesh nor any other choro will be your friends, and Talas will not be a true homeland for you.

- You say too much that is unnecessary, - Semetey replied to this and ordered his mother to be silent.

At that time, a wealthy man named Baymurza, close to Semetey, who had reached the age of ninety-five, died. Wishing for Baymurza's name to become known to all, Semetey decided to hold a memorial for him, slaughtered five hundred mares, and announced this to all the people. He sent Sara-khan to Abyke and Kyobesh, dressing him in bulletproof clothing. Giving him battle gear, he ordered him to mount the horse Tuchunaka.

Sending off Sara-khan, Semetey said to him:

- Tell Abyke and Kyobesh to come to the memorial for Baymurza with the forty choro; as proof that they are relatives and not enemies, let them lay earth on his grave. Tell them from me not to refuse but to come quickly.

Sara-khan, cracking the whip on Tuchunaka and driving away the flying birds in his path, reached the camp of Abyke and Kyobesh.

He saw there a numerous army, which swarmed like ants in an anthill, so that the whole earth trembled from their movement.

Thinking about what this could mean, Sara-khan tightened the reins of Tuchunaka, stopped, and began to look around. From the forty choro, Shuutu rode out to meet him. Sara-khan told him the purpose of his arrival and asked why such a large army had gathered. Shuutu replied:

- Abyke and Kyobesh have summoned nearby weak but hateful khans of Manas: Urbyu, Chinkodjo, and others. These khans have come with numerous armies and have sworn to die themselves to kill the orphan Semetey, like a sacrificial animal while he is still young, and to kill Kanykey and Bakay and feed them to the dogs. Since you have come so far, approach and meet with them, but be careful not to dismount, for if you do, they will kill you.

Sara-khan thought that since he had a mission from Semetey, it would be shameful not to fulfill it and return. Therefore, he decided to follow the advice given to him. Shuutu accompanied Sara-khan and, not allowing him to dismount, left him in the yard while he entered the house of Abyke and Kyobesh and said to them:

- Baymurza has died. Semetey, in his memory, has slaughtered five hundred barren mares and sent Sara-khan to invite you and the forty choro to lay earth on the grave of the deceased as relatives.

The ones in the house, Abyke and the half-drunk Urbyu, Chinkodjo, and others, upon hearing this, rushed out into the yard in a rage and ordered to immediately capture the messenger, cut off his head, and, after chopping up his body, feed it to the dogs.

With drunken shouts and noise, they all began to mount their horses. Seeing this, Sara-khan took a spear in his hands and, urging Tuchunaka, prepared for battle.

The first to charge at Sara-khan was Urbyu. With one blow, Sara-khan knocked him down and cut off his head.

After Urbyu, with a shout in honor of Kyobesh, Kygynchala charged at Sara-khan, striking his horse with a whip from the left and right.

Sara-khan, making Tuchunaka play, struck the attacker with a spear. The spear pierced his chest completely, and Kygynchala hung on it like a rag. Sara-khan twisted his body around his head, and it, slipping off the spear, fell to the ground, spinning.

After Kygynchala, Tazbaymat entered the battle. Sara-khan knocked him out of the saddle with one blow, and he fell dead to the ground.

When these three were killed, Abyke and Kyobesh ordered to sound the trumpets and beat the drums to gather the army.

Only a few minutes passed, and Abyke with six thousand, and Kyobesh with four thousand warriors surrounded Sara-khan.

Seeing that he alone could not cope with such a large army, which surrounded him on all sides like ants, Sara-khan decided that it was better not to sacrifice his life but to flee from there and as soon as possible inform Semetey and Bakay about everything that had happened. Having thought this, he prepared to flee. He pressed the spear to his chest, drew his sword from its sheath, cracked the whip on the right and left thighs of Tuchunaka, and began to chop off the heads of the enemies he encountered. Breaking through the numerous enemy warriors, he escaped from the encirclement and galloped away. They chased after him but did not catch him.

Like a whirlwind, Sara-khan rushed, lowering the reins of Tuchunaka, from sunset to sunrise, and in bloody clothes reached Semetey's camp. There he conveyed to Bakay and Semetey the words of Shuutu and told everything he had seen and heard.

Hearing his story, the elder Bakay boiled with great anger. In a thunderous voice, he said:

- I fought not with such worthless ones as Abyke and Kyobesh, but with a numerous army, like ants, of the Chinese, which shook the earth, and I turned them into flour. And with these scoundrels and their army, I fought alone for twelve years and did not yield to them. Now, when the orphan is under my care, I have enough strength not only to deal with the scoundrels Abyke and Kyobesh but with the whole universe!

Enraged, Bakay-khan ordered to beat the drum that belonged to Manas. When all the people gathered, he divided his army into hundreds and positioned everyone on the paths from where the enemies could be expected.

Semetey. The relocation of Semetey from Bukhara to Talas. Part - 1