The true appearance of Manas was in sight at last. Viewed from behind, Manas looked like a fierce tiger. While looking into the eyes of Manas, people would be awed into silence by the dragon-liked solemnity of him. Furthermore, his head was wreathed with the halo which was shaped like that of a magical bird. The yells of Manas would even be much louder than the roars of a total of forty one lions. In all, Kyrgyz people were completely proud of the birth of Manas, a hero who had shown great promise already.
The intense fighting broke out and the whole battlefield was permeated
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the Teen as Khan of Their Clan
with the thrills of terror. And even the high mountains seemed to be torn into bits by the numerous fighters. Assuming an arrogant air, Kontoy made a promise to behead Manas and longed for a considerable reward for that. However, he heard a slogan of Manas rumbling like a thunder from the sky. He was taken aback and did not notice the sudden dash made by Manas. Manas thrust at Kontoy with his lance. Being hit in the abdomen, the presumptuous general fell down from the back of his horse. As soon as their commander-in-chief lost his life on the battlefield, all the Qalmaq soldiers lost their morale and dispersed in all directions at once. Under these circumstances, Manas ordered to continue the victorious pursuit without hesitation in order to annihilate all the Qalmaq invaders at one stroke. “Kill all the Qalmaq persons! Kill them all!” Kyrgyz soldiers shouted at the top of their voices. However, Manas also heard Qalmaq people’s cries for help. He advised Bakai not to chase the defeated enemies. “We shouldn’t get ordinary Qalmaq people to suffer the calamity. If we do so today, the fighting will not be one of our accomplishments made in history. It is unfair for ordinary people to share the responsibility caused by their rulers’ crimes. Leave them alone, please. They are innocent,” Manas remarked.
Bakai felt relieved to hear the words of Manas so that his eyes flashed a smile. According to him, this was what a genuine king should behave. And Manas would become the genuine leader who was popular with numerous Kyrgyz people in the near future.
The war was over and everything seemed to rest in peace.
Jakip did not participate in the war so he did not get any trophy from Manas. He was extremely unsatisfied with this. “Manas is not a dutiful son of mine. Up to now, the prodigal has splashed about a prodigious amount of fortune of mine. I have been kept on tenterhooks for so long. I have lost face for him and my personal dignity will be entirely destroyed one of these days,” Jakip complained.
When Jakip lodged a barrage of complaints against his son repeatedly, Bakdowlet and Markdoom turned their backs on him. Bakdowlet’s contempt for Jakip was quite obvious. “How dare you say that? You have no qualification to be a father!” said Bakdowlet. Markdoom also lashed out at the Jakip at the same time. Annoyed by the two women’s rebuke, Jakip raised his whip and gave them a sound thrashing. He did not stop until the two women cried for
Legend of Manas
help in a loud voice. After that, Jakip came up to Chiyirdi. To his surprise, he came across Manas. Jakip pretended to wear a smile in the disguise of a loving father. Regardless of whatever enthusiasm Jakip showed, Manas said in a calm tone:
“My respected father, my respected king,
You are a rich man in our ethnic group.
You paid tribute to Qalmaq noblemen,
But you bring disgrace on yourself by doing this.
Qalmaq rulers have you over a barrel,
And you have to fawn upon them.
You are a genuine sycophant I pity.
We have captured a vast grassland,
But we should not drop our guard.
Junmurgirchi and Balta engage in preparations of an forthcoming celebration.
I am your son, and you are my king.
But you have utterly forgotten the magnificent event.
You will probably lose face completely if you show no signs of repentance.”
Jakip was angry with what Manas said. “The scoundrel did not give me a foal yesterday. He is figuring on seizing my assets in the name of holding the celebration,” Jakip thought. Although he was unsatisfied with Manas, he had no guts to refute the idea of Manas.
On the occasion of celebration, all the people from sixty tribes were overcome with a deep sense of joy. “Kyrgyz people would fight against Qalmaq people fiercely for a long time. We must select a person to be our paramount leader. Who are qualified for such a post?” asked Bakai.
As soon as Bakai finished saying so, the room reverberated with the people’s shouts of hurrah : “Manas! Manas! Manas! Our paramount leader!”
It was a sensible decision to support Manas in assuming leadership. And Manas also won the unanimous approval from all the people.
According to the Kyrgyz tradition followed as early as the reign of his great ancestor Mamai, Manas was invited to sit on a sheet of white felt. Then a total of seventy warriors raised the white felt and moved Manas onto the throne.
“We have our new khan! We have our new khan!” People shouted. And the loud cheers reverberated in the steppe once again. People prostrated
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the Teen as Khan of Their Clan
themselves in worship before Manas. People jumped for joy and all sorts of birds kept fluttering their wings. The rays of bright sunshine were also blocked by the bird wings.
Manas mounted the throne. He started his career as a military marshal taking charge of commanding troops and capturing territory.
Legend of Manas