43 After the Battle

Fortunately, Khan Temir loved his sons and was not a suicide ... otherwise we would have been fucked by several thousand Tatars, even more than a Japanese po.rn actress in a gangbang... I could breathe a sigh of relief, the only challenge was to look after such a large number of prisoners, but I used the Poles who were taken captive by the Tatars to help... those who survived, because the losses were high ... actually the whole attack of the Tatars was focused on them, thanks to which we were so lucky.

I was sitting in Khan Temir's tent and pondering my next steps. My captive was tied on the floor, his two sons and a concubine were lying next to him.

"Remember you gave the words that you will set us free." (Khan Temir)

"No, I swore to let your people and your sons go free, but not you ... and I will keep my word. Your life is probably not a big price to pay for the lives of all of them." (MC)

I looked at Khan Temir ... and I had an idea. I couldn't free a few thousand Tatars, it would be stupid and dangerous. They'd be back in a year or two, and I have to fight them again.

"I will not release all of your people at once, but in groups of 200 or 300, they will be escorted by my soldiers so they don't rob on the way." (MC)

I left the tent and called Saddat.

"How is Cyryl?" (MC)

"He's injured and unconscious, I don't know if he'll survive." (Saddat)

"I have a task for you, actually two tasks. Ask captured Tatars who of them would like to join me, I will let them settle on my land, I will let them breed animals, trade and they do not have to pay me any taxes, but they have to for me. fight." (MC)

"I understand Lord, and the second task?" (Saddat)

"You will take 300 captured Tatars, put them on horses, you will go 20 kilometers, and there you will deprive them of their horses ..." (MC)

"I understand" (Saddat)

"... and you will cut off each captive's hand before you free them. I promised to let them free, but I did not promise that they would be safe and sound. They can go back to their country... if they are lucky and do not die on the way." (MC)

"And Khan Temir and his sons?" (Saddat)

"I will kill Temir myself. Hang his sons, his concubine ... do what you want with her, and when you are done, a stone to her neck and to the river ... just hurry, I expect guests in two days." (MC)

In two days I was expecting the arrival of the Polish army and by then I wanted to get rid of the Tatar problem. I was not sure how Stanisław Koniecpolski, the present Field Hetman of the Crown would react to my victory ... an experienced commander in command of an army of 5000 soldiers lost to the young man with 300 soldiers. His ego may not take it well.

Koniecpolski went down in history as a great magnate, supporter of military reforms and an outstanding commander, but also a religious fanatic. Most people fought for fame, money, influence, duty or patriotism ... he dreamed of crusades and conversion to Catholicism ... but even him was the subject of jokes in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth because of his stuttering... it was said that "hetman shall strike before he utters a word." Although I didn't want to go into conflict with him, I knew it would be inevitable in the future ... but until then I will try to play it safe.

Every two hours Saadat returned, picked up more prisoners and "escorted" them south. Each time he brought two sacks of severed hands, I didn't ask for it, but it's good that he thought about it for me... In my previous life I saw a picture of thousands of buffalo skulls and a man standing on them ... I wish I could have taken a picture of myself on thousands of human hands, but unfortunately not in this era.

Day turned to evening, evening to night, and then the morning came.

"It is going a bit too slowly, in one day we only managed to send back 3500 Tatars, and there are more than 4,000 left. We have to speed it up somehow." (MC)

"Lord, less than 4000 I was able to recruit 600 of them for service." (Saddat)

"Will they be loyal?" (MC)

"Yes, by unifying all the hordes, Khan Temir made a lot of enemies for himself, those I recruited were not his followers, but had to obey him." (Saddat)

"Well, now they are your responsibility ... and we will see their loyalty. Let them help in escorting the prisoners and let them cut their hands. As they say, "You don't work, you don't eat." (MC)

I went back to the tent to see how my prisoner was doing. He was still tied on the floor of the tent, I wasn't sure if he was sleeping or faking it.

"Waking up, too much sleep can be detrimental to your beauty, and today is the day you meet your creator. I will let you choose how you will die, hang or beheaded?" (MC)

"My sons?" (Khan Temir)

"A few hours ago they were sent south with 300 other Tatars ... if they are lucky they will return home safely, if not God's will." (MC)

"I choose beheading." (Khan Temir)

"Quick and painless, a good choice. I guarantee that my saber is perfectly made and always sharp ... it will be a pleasure." (MC)

"My sons will grow up and come back ..." (Khan Temir)

"Yes, yes, yes, and they'll get their revenge. I've heard it so many times ... "Head up" as the executioner said to the prisoner before hanging him." (MC)

I took out my saber and with one blow, I separated Temir's head from the rest of his body ... fucking hell ... I could have done it outside, now the whole tent will be dirty.

Too late ... I raised Temir's head.

"This is not the end of Temir. We will spend many more years together ... I will clean your head and then cover your skull with gold ..." (MC)