Legend of Kai
Khan
Kai Khan was born as Renkei,
Kai
Khan, age 16 (200
AD)
son
of Chief Dogodei, and the
youngest of his three offspring.
Dogodei was a leader of a small
tribe in the eastern regions of the Gobi Desert. Neighboring his home
reigned the looting Manchu, which had struck a bargain with the eldest
of Dogodei's sons. The Manchu promised him more lands in exchange for
the death of the family. Unfortunately, the eldest of three sons agreed.
Upon the execution of his family, Renkei fled, and became a fugitive
amongst his own people. For two years, Renkei lived under the scrutiny
of a wildchild, living off from the land, and stealing what was
necessary to survive. At the mere age of fourteen, Renkei confronted his
traitorous brother, and had slain him for the right to rule. Renkei
became the new chief.
In retalliation, Renkei led attacks against the Manchu. Within a year
the entire region had been subjugated. For the first time, the Mongol
had their taste of prolonged warfare. Upon their conquest, Renkei proved
his dominance of the Gobi, and was declared "Kai Khan", or
"Heroic King".
Kai
Khan did not stop. He continued to lead campaigns against the Chosun
peninsula, and the vast Persian tribes far to the west of the Gobi. Upon
interests to the south, Kai Khan had come across a lost heritage. Before
his mother was murdered by his brother, she had given Kai Khan a Chinese
Medallion. "This is all I have to give to you now, my
child....."
Kai Khan, age 25 (209 AD)
It wasn't until the year 200 AD, when Kai Khan had begun negotiations
with Northern Chinese warlords, that the truth of his lineage was
contained in the medallion. Inside was a scroll with official
documentation and authenticity, that Kai Khan's mother was Yuan Chan,
sister to Yuan Shao.
With the help of Chinese allies, Kai Khan unraveled a conspiracy
within his mother's lineage. She was sold to slavery in exchange for
Yuan Shu's safety from the Manchu when they had raided the greater Ji
region. Forsakened, she was within the mercy of the Manchu until Chief
Dogodei himself had acquired her in a game of chance.
Kai Khan set forth, and intervened in a matter just after Yuan Shao's
assasination. Shao's three sons, Yuan Shang, Yuan Tan, and Yuan Xi
vied for head of household. After capturing Yuan Shu, who had ursurped
the Jade Seal, Yuan Shang conspired with Cao Cao so that Cao Cao would
have the Seal, and Yuan Shang his support. Shang and Tan killed one
another, as Xi fled north. Running into Kai Khan, which at the time
had been a part of a Northern Alliance, discovered the truth about Kai
Khan. In exhanged for safety, Xi pledged his
allegiance to the young warrior king.
Kai
Khan, age 31 (215 AD)
He had held high ambitions for expansion into the Northern regions of
China, especially the river region of Ji, in which he installed his
cousin, Yuan Xi, as protector of Ji based out of Nan Pi for the
Imperial Han. While Kai Khan then pursued other conquests in the far
west, Yuan Xi's peaceful 14 year reign was toppled by Wei forces in
215 AD. Kai Khan returned to China, and assisted Sima Zhao in matters
of cavalry. He was officially recognized by Sima Zhao as a valuable
ally, and was given the honorary title "King of Horses".
Called by his Chinese name in court, Yuan Ren, Kai Khan continued to
pursue his exploits until he died in his deathbed in the year 267 AD,
at the age of 83.
