Semetey. First Encounters with Enemies. Part - 1

Konurbay ordered his army to prepare for the campaign, warning that anyone who did not follow his orders would have their heads removed. There were no disobedient among his orders. Out of fear of him, the entire population began to prepare.

Meanwhile, Konurbay decided that he needed to see Semetey at least once himself, to weigh his own strength, and if it turned out that he could handle him alone, one-on-one, he would not gather his troops. If, however, it proved too much for him alone, he would set out with a large army. Thinking this way, he mounted his Apgar and, taking no one with him, rode out to seek a meeting with Semetey.

The Chinese hero Konurbay was fearsome.
He rode a mythical horse,
Great Manchzu was gray-bearded and gray-haired.
The corners of both his eyes resembled open graves.
And his vast forehead
Resembled a summer pasture in a high mountain valley.
His twitching mustache
Was like the handle of a large axe.
His protruding huge nose
Resembled the sheath of a hatchet.
If you ask about his origin -
He was born on the outskirts of Beijing.
Not only China, but the whole world
Was thrown into turmoil by Konurbay.
Wherever he passed, dust rose,
And quarrels arose.
Having confirmed his bravery, the Chinese people
Obeyed him in everything.
To prevent enemies from accidentally coming,
He erected fortifications on the outskirts of Beijing.
Have you heard
That he killed all who fought with him?
This cunning creature
Had much cunning.
He knew well the nature of his enemies,
He was immeasurably brave.
He was like a house,
Built high on the mountainside.
If you wish to fight, meet him -
This is the strongest khan of the Kalmyks.
He is overly clever, his strength is like poison,
Have you heard about this?
Wherever he fought, he leveled everything to the ground…
Behind his playful black stallion
He allowed only the heroes to court.
Wishing to know his strength,
He turned to the shamans.
In a golden saddle with a turned bow
He sat, ready to perish!
And saddling him with Algaru
Sixty heroes
Watched, waiting for his orders.
The great Manchzu, with a gray beard,
Instilled fear in many people.
Having suffered only pain and weeping from him,
The oppressed people murmured against him.
At this time, old age came upon him.
Oh, cunning and grasping! Where has your strength gone?
His hair and beard turned white,
The time of his death approached.
Having passed eighty, nearing ninety
His age was already upon him.
You did not take a large army with you,
Oh, you pitiful, unfortunate one!
Surely your end is near.
To the son of Kankor Manas
You met in vain, warring with him.
The time of your death has come.
Your beard has turned gray.
You will no longer be mighty.
Oh, cunning one, what has happened to you?
You will probably never see Beijing again!
When the creature mounted his horse
The chiefs cried, the khans cried too.
A great multitude of people wept.
The poor people mourned.
Oh poor brave one,
You have grown old! - saying this, they wept.

Konurbay, having mounted Algaru, came to the place where his herds had previously grazed in search of Semetey. But in the familiar place, there was not a single horse, only here and there lay the corpses of slain shepherds. From this sight, Konurbay's heart sank, and he was greatly saddened.

At that time, Semetey, upset that he had not caught Karagul, captured all of Konurbay's horses and, returning to Bakay, told him everything that had happened from beginning to end.

Bakay, having listened to Semetey, became very angry with him.

- You boast that you captured Konurbay's horses, but what good are these horses, you unfortunate orphan! Look: among the horses you brought, there are only foals and young mares, there is not a single stallion, not a single gelding, not a single horse fit for Kulchoro and Kanchoro! - Having said this, Bakay rode aside.

Semetey, dissatisfied with himself, fell into despair from Bakay's anger and, not knowing what to do next, without dismounting from Tayburul, took off his olpok, covered the horse's back with it, and, leaning on his syrnaiza, fell into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Konurbay, following the trail in search of the horses, rode right to the place where Semetey was and saw him sleeping. Delighted, he looked around and, seeing that there was no one nearby, began to ponder what to do.

- If Semetey agreed, I would take him with me, proclaim him khan, and marry him! - But, after thinking, he decided that Semetey would not agree.

A hero who has come so far to avenge his father, can he accept my offer? Pitying the enemy - he will die himself, - he decided.

It would be better if I kill him. If he wakes up, I will not have the strength to fight him, so I will kill him while he is still asleep. - Thus he decided and, taking out his gun, shot at Semetey. As soon as the shot rang out, Semetey, like a bird, flew off Tayburul and fell to the ground. He was seriously wounded. Confirming that Semetey was wounded and could not resist, Konurbay approached and, without dismounting from his horse, began to examine him. Seeing that Semetey lay half-dead, he quickly jumped off his horse and began to roll him from side to side, intending to cut off his head, and had already drawn his sword from its sheath.

At that very moment, Kulchoro, walking on foot in the footsteps of Semetey and Bakay, approached the place where a large herd of horses was located; out of joy, he shouted loudly. Among Konurbay's herds was Kokala, the horse of Khan Kyokche. Many years ago, during the Great Campaign, he had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Now, when he heard Kulchoro's shout, he approached him and stretched out his neck.

Kulchoro instead of a bridle threw a rope around his neck, jumped on him without a saddle, and climbed up the mountain ridge. This was just at the moment when Konurbay, holding his sword in his hand, was about to cut off Semetey's head. Kulchoro, seeing this, instantly pulled out a gnarled birch tree and rushed at Konurbay. Not expecting this, Konurbay got scared and fled. Kulchoro chased after him but could not catch up.

Returning and noticing that Semetey was seriously wounded, he quickly gave him the medicine that Kanikei had given them for the journey.

Meanwhile, Bakay, who had returned, approached them and, seeing what had happened, began to lament and scold Semetey:

- How many times have I told you, but you did not listen to me, you unfortunate orphan! I told you that Beijing is not an ordinary land and the Chinese are not trifling enemies. How many times have I told you that you need to go there with a large army, well prepared, and yet you did not listen to me. Listen to me at least now, you unfortunate one! Let’s return home with this small spoils, and next year we will come here with a larger army.

Semetey agreed with Bakay. Kulchoro and Kanchoro drove the captured horses, and all four of them headed towards their ails.

Shortly after this, Bakay, climbing to the mountain ridge, saw that a large army was approaching them. Calling Kulchoro and Kanchoro, he said:

- Oh, my dear orphans! I have lost my strength due to old age, and Semetey, as you know, is seriously wounded and has not yet healed, and now before us is a large enemy army. Kulchoro and Kanchoro! Now is the time when you can offer help!

Listening to Bakay's speech, Kulchoro impatiently awaited one thing - for Bakay to finish speaking quickly. It turned out that before them was the army of Muradyl. He was driving the fourteen horses captured from Semetey and a gift for Esenkhan, thinking to inform him that they were taken as spoils after Semetey's death.

Despite his wound, Semetey, seeing the large army, could not contain himself, took Kulchoro and Kanchoro with him, and, receiving Bakay's blessing, with a battle cry in honor of Manas, rushed at the enemies. Muradyl, at that time, unaware, was walking carelessly and calmly with his army.

When he saw Semetey, he was terribly frightened by the unexpectedness and, not knowing what to do, became completely confused. Semetey, Kulchoro, and Kanchoro began to press him from three sides. Like falcons swooping down on a flock of crows, exterminating it, so they surrounded the enemies and began to destroy them. The corpses of the slain made it impossible for a person to pass.

Bakay, not entering the battle, watched from the side and made sure that Muradyl did not send messengers to the Chinese. He noticed that Djeedzheldet had ridden out to inform Konurbay about what was happening. Then Bakay, on his Kokcholok, rushed after him, caught up with him, knocked him down with one thrust of his spear, and, capturing the enemy's horse, led it behind him. Then, unable to resist, Bakay headed towards the battlefield.

Upon arriving, he saw that all the fighters were covered in blood, as if painted. Semetey, Kulchoro, and Kanchoro continued to beat Muradyl's warriors. Bakay also joined the fight. After a while, his horse became tired and stopped.

The giants of Muradyl surrounded Bakay, knocked him off his horse, and he was completely exhausted. But Semetey and Kulchoro, seeing the old man in such a position, rushed to help and rescued him, then turned their horses back and charged into battle again.

No enemy could withstand the strength of the glorious heroes. Semetey, turning and looking to the right, saw that Muradyl was driving Kanchoro before him and was already ready to strike him with a spear. Chasing after him, Semetey knocked him to the ground with one blow of his syrnaiza, and Kanchoro, dismounting from his horse, cut off his head.

Semetey. The War of Semetey with Konurbay. The Campaign to Beijing. Part - 3