The Wrath of Uluç: Rise of the Golden Horde

Kara's eyes darted around the tent before settling on Wolfram. "What the hell was that trickster doing in your tent?" he demanded, his voice low but intense. "What did she do to you?"

Wolfram shook his head, still somewhat bewildered by the whole interaction. "She was just testing me, Kara. Trying to see what I'm made of. She didn't do anything... just talked."

Kara frowned, not entirely convinced. "She's a tricky one, that Aslı. Don't let your guard down around her. She's as dangerous with her words as any warrior is with a sword."

Wolfram paused, considering his words before responding. "I don't see her that way. She has more layers to her than I first thought. At the meeting, I thought she was just being rude and assertive, trying to push everyone's buttons. But after talking with her, I realize she tests the waters with bold assumptions to gauge people. She talked about Uluç's life, and she didn't sound like she hated him. She was explaining why he is the way he is now by discussing his past."

Kara's brow furrowed as he listened, his skepticism not entirely fading. "You think she's just misunderstood?"

Wolfram shrugged. "I think she's more complex than she lets on. There's a reason she's survived in this world of warriors and politics. She knows how to navigate it, and maybe that's why she tests people—to see who's worth trusting."

Kara crossed his arms, still not fully convinced but intrigued by Wolfram's perspective. "Maybe. But just be careful, Wolfram. She may have layers, but that doesn't mean she's not dangerous. Keep your wits about you."

Kara was intrigued by Wolfram's words and leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "What exactly did she tell you about Uluç? She was too young to remember those events firsthand. Even I was just a boy when Uluç was in his early years. She doesn't know the whole picture—she might have twisted the narrative to suit her purposes."

Wolfram considered Kara's words before replying, "Do you remember your time in his army? Were you one of his Altai warriors?"

Kara let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "Altai warriors? No, we didn't call ourselves that. Originally, we were Tharkan warriors, but under Uluç's command, we became something more. We were stricter, more disciplined. No one dared to defy an order in Uluç's army. His word was law, and we followed it without question."

Wolfram listened intently, absorbing Kara's firsthand account and beginning to piece together a more complete picture of Uluç's rule. "How did it all start?" he asked. "What led to this?"

Kara's expression turned serious as he began to recount the events from a soldier's perspective. "Well, you know how much I admire Timurtas, but during those times, he was too involved with festivals and meetings, basking in his influence and taking a well-deserved rest from his years of conquest. Uluç, on the other hand, was in his prime. Timurtas granted him resources—far more than anyone else, just like how expenses skyrocketed when Kılıj took command of the army. Uluç was a heavy spender. He made sure everyone in his army had a good, comfortable life. He even helped his soldiers get married, personally involving himself in their lives—and that cost money."

Kara's tone shifted as he spoke, his voice tinged with admiration and a hint of nostalgia. "In the West, they called him the 'Expensive Prince.' We were there, Gengiz, the day he made one of his legendary speeches. He took his Dane axe—the same one you've seen me using—and with a single blow, he struck down the Marshal. The rest of the council, seeing this, began speaking in Arabic. They were panicked but too afraid to confront Uluç any further, so they fled back to their army. But Uluç wasn't calm. He was seething with anger. He looked over at us and, with a voice full of fury, commanded, 'Summon the Golden Horde.'"

Wolfram's eyes widened at the mention of the Golden Horde. "So that's what he called his army—the Golden Horde."

Kara nodded solemnly. "Yes, Gengiz, the Golden Horde. It's an army that has never lost a war. You need to understand the reasons behind its success."

Kara continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone as he described the events that followed. "With his command, Uluç shot whistle arrows toward the enemy army's direction. Those who heard it passed the message along, until it finally reached Kılıj. He marched his army toward the Caliph's forces. And then, we saw it—the Golden Horde in all its might. An army of 40,000 heavily armored cavalry."

Wolfram interjected, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait, wasn't the total number 60,000, as Aslı mentioned?"

Kara chuckled again, correcting him. "That was just the soldiers, Gengiz. We had maybe another 20,000 non-combat servants, give or take. The Caliph's army had around 80,000 men, not including their servants. They weren't prepared for a major confrontation. They underestimated the wrong man. Kılıj brought the entire army to that battle. So many legendary onluk and yüzlük beys were there that day—the best and most ambitious commanders under Uluç's golden banner."

Kara's voice grew more animated as he described the battle tactics. "Uluç ordered a suppression of arrow rain upon them. Our riders, in a single line, marched toward the enemy, loosed their arrows, and then retreated as another wave of archers closed in. By maintaining our distance, we kept their men pinned down under a relentless shower of arrows. It was a calculated, trained maneuver that we had practiced hundreds of times. But never before on such a scale. We harassed them endlessly, giving little to no casualties in return."

Wolfram listened, enraptured by Kara's tale. The story of Uluç's cunning and might was more than just a history lesson—it was a glimpse into the mind of a warrior who had shaped an era, a man whose presence still loomed large over those who had served under him. The battlefield, the strategies, the unyielding will of Uluç—all of it painted a vivid picture in Wolfram's mind, making him rethink everything he thought he knew about the man and the empire he had helped to build.

Wolfram, still engrossed in the conversation, leaned in closer. "But why did it come to this? I've heard rumors of cult leaders acting as missionaries for the Caliph, spreading his influence in Anatolia, and causing divisions among the people."

Kara scoffed, his expression darkening. "Small fractions? They were causing far more than just minor problems. These cults were imposing their own twisted rules and sense of justice on the free people of the realm. The peace they were promised by Türk-il, the Ashina Khaganate, was being trampled. That was the reason people lived in these lands with pride—because they were allowed to practice their religion freely, without trying to alter the very foundations of our society. But these cults... they tested our resolve, provoking unrest along the southern borders."

He paused, his gaze hardening. "Uluç had to put an end to it. He didn't just march into these cities to restore order temporarily. He demanded the source of the problem be eradicated. First, he gathered all the commanders under his command, handpicking those he trusted to train their soldiers in strict discipline. It created a smooth operation, giving authority and confidence to his commanders. I wasn't selected directly by Uluç; it was Kılıj, one of his top commanders, who picked me. But I quickly rose through the ranks and earned the right to ride close to Uluç himself. He respected my blunt, honest nature."

Kara's voice grew more intense as he continued, "Uluç positioned his army along the border and sent messenger after messenger. When he learned that the Caliph wouldn't hand over one of the cult leaders—this so-called scholar who was writing poems mocking our reign and our way of life—Uluç was furious. This scholar was spreading propaganda, mocking the very foundations of our society, our religion, and the legacy of Ashina. He ridiculed how we valued our women as equals and rejected female rulers in their regions. To Uluç, this was an attack on our way of life, a direct challenge to Ashina's reformed ways."

Wolfram nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So that's why Uluç took action. But what happened next? How did the battle unfold?"

Kara leaned back, his eyes distant as he recalled the events. "Well, the strategy wasn't just Uluç's doing—it was a collective effort. Every commander, including Uluç, discussed how to win against larger armies, how to use our expertise in horse archery to our advantage. Uluç respected those who were straightforward and honest, not those who carefully crafted their words for political gain. He treated us as equals, demanding that we explain our strategies and asking for everyone's input before adding his own touch. Once the plan was finalized, the word was spread, and each unit—onluk, yüzlük, binlik birlikler—began training relentlessly. That tactic of raining arrows was just the beginning."

Wolfram's eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to hear more. "What was the rest of the plan?"

Kara's grin widened as he continued, "When you fire a Turkish arrow, it's not as effective as a longbow, but it's deadly at close range. Our tactic wasn't just about killing; it was psychological warfare. The enemy soldiers, shielded by armor, would start to panic as they saw the men beside them fall, even if the damage was minor. Their heavy cavalry, unable to keep up with our fast-moving archers, would grow frustrated. They'd chase after us, but our archers would scatter, vanish, and reappear elsewhere, making it impossible for the enemy to land a decisive blow. Eventually, their patience would snap, and they'd make the first move."

Kara's voice dropped as he described the crucial moment. "They charged from both wings, thinking they had us on the run. We gave them space, retreating just enough to lure them in. Once they were far from their infantry and archers, we encircled them and struck. When their reserve cavalry came in, thinking they'd break our lines, we opened a gateway in our circle, leading them straight into the bulk of our army. They rushed in, believing they'd found a gap, but it was a trap. We crushed them from all sides, hunting down those who tried to flee the chaos."

Wolfram was captivated, hanging on every word. "And then? What happened when they saw the bulk of your army?"

Kara's expression grew serious, the memory of the battle clear in his mind. "Their infantry and remaining cavalry charged at us, but we were ready. Some of us turned to face them head-on, engaging in brutal close combat. We held the line, waiting for the rest of our forces to finish off the enemy's fleeing cavalry and close in. Uluç's men used whistle arrows to command the battlefield, their sound echoing across the chaos. The enemy had the advantage in numbers, but we tore through their formation, breaking their spirit."

He paused, his voice filled with pride. "And then Uluç himself took the charge. He led the bulk of his army straight towards the Caliph's camp. Kılıj, with 2,000 riders, had been harassing the enemy's flank, clearing a path for Uluç. When the Caliph saw his army in disarray, he tried to gather his last forces and restore order, but it was too late. The soldiers who had fled were running from hell itself. As they tried to regroup, they saw Kılıj's riders step aside, revealing Uluç and his men charging like a storm. Uluç was at the center, cutting through the enemy lines like the head of an arrow."

Wolfram's heart raced as he imagined the scene. "Did they manage to reach Baghdat?"

Kara nodded, his voice heavy with the weight of the memory. "Yes, most of them fled to Baghdat, thinking they could negotiate peace. But Uluç had just begun. We chased them all the way to the city. By the time they reached its gates, they were a panicked, disheveled mess, too shocked to understand how they had lost. That night, they slept uneasily, knowing we were close. The next day, our rangers appeared on the horizon, and soon after, our entire army camped outside the city, cutting it off from the outside world."

Kara's eyes gleamed as he finished the tale. "We not only defeated them on the battlefield, but we also showed up at their doorstep, showing them the full might of our army. It was a display of power that none in Baghdat would ever forget. Uluç didn't just win a battle—he made a statement. The Ashina Khaganate was not to be trifled with, and any who dared would face the wrath of the Golden Horde."

The vivid description left Wolfram speechless, fully grasping the epic scale of the battle and the sheer force of Uluç's will. The story of Baghdat's fall was not just a tale of war—it was a testament to the power and discipline that had forged an empire, and the unyielding spirit of the man who led it.

Kara scoffed, his expression darkening. "Small factions? They were causing far more than just minor problems. These cults were imposing their own twisted rules and sense of justice on the free people of the realm. The peace they were promised by Türk-il, the Ashina Khaganate, was being trampled. That was the reason people lived in these lands with pride—because they were allowed to practice their religion freely, without trying to alter the very foundations of our society. But these cults... they tested our resolve, provoking unrest along the southern borders."

Wolfram nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So that's why Uluç took action. But what happened next? How did the battle unfold?"

Wolfram's eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to hear more. "What was the rest of the plan?"

Kara's voice dropped as he described the crucial moment. "They charged from both wings, thinking they had us on the run. We gave them space, retreating just enough to lure them in. Once they were far from their infantry and archers, we encircled them and struck. When their reserve cavalry came in, thinking they'd break our lines, we opened a gateway in our circle, leading them straight into the bulk of our army. They rushed in, believing they'd found a gap, but it was a trap. You see in such chaotic moment you don't think about the bigger picture you only see what's up front and survival instincts take it. They broke their formation and one by one. We crushed them from all sides, hunting down those who tried to flee the chaos."

Wolfram was captivated, hanging on every word. "And then? What happened when they saw the bulk of your army?"

Kara's expression grew serious, the memory of the battle clear in his mind. "Their infantry and remaining cavalry charged at us, but we were ready. Some of us turned to face them head-on, engaging in brutal close combat. We held the line, waiting for the rest of our forces to finish off the enemy's fleeing cavalry and close in. Uluç's men used whistle arrows to command the battlefield, their sound echoing across the chaos. You have heard couple of them in an open area now imagine thousands of them. It was loud. The enemy had the advantage in numbers, but we tore through their formation, breaking their spirit."

He paused, his voice filled with pride. "And then Uluç himself took the charge. He led the bulk of his army straight towards the Caliph's camp. Kılıj, with 2,000 riders, had been harassing the enemy's flank, clearing a path for Uluç. When the Caliph saw his army in disarray, he tried to gather his last forces and restore order, but it was too late. The soldiers who had fled were running from hell itself. As they tried to regroup they clashed at each other and they saw Kılıj's riders step aside, revealing Uluç and his men charging like a storm. Uluç was at the center protected by his men, cut through the enemy lines like the head of an arrow."

Wolfram's heart raced as he imagined the scene. "Did they manage to reach Baghdat?"

Kara nodded, his voice heavy with the weight of the memory. "Yes, most of them and caliph fled to Baghdat, thinking they could negotiate peace. But Uluç had just begun. We chased them all the way to the city. By the time they reached its gates, they were a panicked, disheveled mess, too shocked to understand how they had lost. Some witnesses say when they saw their army in disarray city was in chaos.That night, they slept uneasily, knowing we were close. The next day, our rangers appeared on the horizon along with our eagles, and soon after, our entire army camped outside the city, cutting it off from the outside world."

After Kara left his tent Wolfram heard conversation outside so he stepped outside.Wolfram's curiosity piqued, he stepped outside to find two guards speaking with Kara. Their conversation halted as they noticed him, and their gazes shifted to him with a sense of urgency.

"Wolfram," Kara said, his voice tinged with both curiosity and concern, "Uluç wants to see you."

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