The conference room was an excellent continuation of the luxury display throughout the Presidential palace but somewhat on the modern side. They were modern people, after all. The tables, couches and the chairs were of the contemporary style but with a Mongolian twist and exceptionally well made. Everything was so the top of the line, and it looked beautiful and impressive. Then, there were the national musical instruments so loved by the Mongols, mirrors in huge golden frames and a few paintings by the well-known Russian and Asian painters. A few ancient pikes, swords and shields attractively filled the emptiness between the mirrors and the paintings. That kind of authenticity had brought everything together and with the sense of purpose.
The room became less official but more meaningful, more threatening. In the corner, opposite of the main door was the flag of the republic on the sizeable golden staff with an eagle on top. The flag was made of silk, the best silk one could find. The modern Mongolian flag was adopted in 1992 while the basic flag was designed in 1940. Mongolia was part of China until it received its independence after a bloody uprising in 1921. Then, there was a very long period of heavy Soviet influence, and that dictated everything, even the colors of the flag. The younger Mongolian brothers had to respect and obey the older Soviet brothers and that included just about everything — the culture, the lifestyle, the thought, and the action. Still, the flag had two main colors where sky-blue was the country’s national color, and it did not change. The Soviets did not mind it, and the Mongols could keep that. And, the red color used in the flag once represented communism but today was representing progress. Times had changed, and even Mongolia was moving forward, and it had a long way to go. The Soviets had slowed it down so much, almost to a halt. Mongolia had to join the rest of the world, and it wanted it so much. And, there was no hidden motive. They really wanted to be friends with everyone. Well, where there’s a will, there’s a way. It was a slow process, but nevertheless, that was progress, and the Mongols worked very hard to achieve it. They gained only inches, but it was a forward movement.
The flag was guarded by two old-fashion mannequins dressed in full Mongol armor suits with all weaponry attributed to the Medieval times and so favored by the Mongols. They looked very alive and so fierce. If one did not know, one would take them for the real warriors that came through the time to protect new Mongolia and maybe they did. Was that Genghis Khan himself? Also, the flag was framed by the Tughs (banners) of the original Mongol clans: Karaites, Tatar confederation, Merkit confederation, Naimans, Ongud (White Tatars), Dughlat and the other smaller groups mentioned in Secret History of the Mongols. And, that was even more important than anything else. It was as the ancients were present listening to the conversation and approving your decisions. Was there a real link? Was that even possible? The Mongols believed it was. They could be right for all we know. All in all, that was an interesting nation.
“Is that right? This is good. Great news. Where did they find it? I thought no one knew where neither Genghis Khan nor Batu Khan was buried. Even the grave of Subutai was a mystery. All graves of big people were hidden well. They wanted to preserve it, and they did. We could not find even the slightest hint where it could be. I wish we could keep secrets like that now. So, where was it, and how did you find it?” That was exciting. Why did he have the feeling that there was more, and it was not good? “Did they find the treasure? What exactly did they find? Do we know for sure that it was THEM? How do we know that? Very interesting. Please, go on. Do you have any pictures?”
“It was found under the Mamai Kurgan, Sir, on the River Don bank. You know, the place of the last big battle between the Russians and the Mongol Horde. The burial chambers were actually a few feet below the Kurgan, predating the Kurgan. Why? We don’t know that yet. Why they buried Batu Khan and Subutai on the Don River bank instead of the Volga River bank where the Golden Horde was is still a big mystery. But, we are working on it, Mr. President. There could be some magical or religious attraction to that site. After all, it was almost a thousand years ago, and they kept burying more Mongols on the same site. You know, the huge burial mount left after the last big battle between the Russians and the Mongols. There were thousands buried there, layer after layer. Did they plan to protect Batu Khan, and Subutai after death? Was there a threat? You know, Tsar Dimitry, the son of the Russian Tsar Ivan I, the Kalita (the bag), refused to pay the tribute and raised the army to fight Khan Mamai. Mamai was one of our last great Khans if you remember your history. That was the beginning of our downfall. Dimitry’s father, Tsar Ivan I, the Kalita, was cheating the Tatars for a while collecting all taxes, if not more but keeping some of the tributes for himself. He was the official tribute collector, but the Tatars were too far to oversee that and too careless to check it. They had plenty and thought it was enough. Tatars were too busy fighting each other, and whoever else was in the middle of their fights. In short, they let the guard down, and the Russians used it and quite well. They united some tribes and assembled the impressive army. The Russian army happened to be well trained, big, and strong. They knew all our tactics by then and used it against us. Strange times, won’t you say so. Tsar Ivan the Kalita took chances, but he also pocketed the rewards. Smart. He was one of the smartest Russian Tsars, and there were not too many of them as history tells us. Tsar Ivan I, the Kalita, became the richest Russian Tsar of the middle ages. He’s done it well. Later, his son Dmitry had weaponized the money using it to build the Kremlin castles throughout the country and to train the regular military. They called it “DRUZHINA,” and it actually had thousands in the service by the time of the battle with Khan Mamai and then, the volunteers. Mamai missed the entire thing and then, lost the empire.
Druzhina was well paid, exceptionally well trained, and armed to the teeth. Entirely possible that it was the beginning of the regular military in Russia managed by, the Tsar. They had it ever since. Also, Dimitry did not employ the Boyars neither to train not to lead the troops. And, that was smart. He preferred the commoners that advanced through bravery and experience. He had some good people there, many good people. Also, loyalty was important on every level. Dimitry saw the positive results just about everywhere, and he built on it. That is how the Tatars and Mongols of Khan Mamai lost control over Russia. We were, still raiding Russia for another two hundred years more, but it was not the same. Then, after Ivan IV, the Terrible, we were pushed back to Crimea, and even that was over in the 18th century.
Good old times. How did we do it? It was not too many of us in the first place, but we had Genghis Khan. Was any other conqueror bigger than he was? Conquering so much and controlling it for so long. No, Alexander the Great and the Romans were not even in the same league. It was the most fascinating story. Let me tell you more.”
That was one of the Cabinet Ministers who used to be the university history professor. He was probably one of the most educated Cabinet Ministers but not so strong in politics or real life. He also was liberal, and that did not fit well with the conservative administration. There was strong government control, but not in a liberal way. So, he oversaw education and anything scientific. He did that well considering the budget or the lack of it. He often complained but so what. Who did not complain about everything? Was that even possible?