The New Dominion

The following is a serial translation of Abdurehim Ötkür’s 1985 historical novel Oyghanghan Zemin, Chapter Two, pp. 38-44. New readers are encouraged to start from the beginning, Chapter One, Part One. This translation is presented for information and entertainment purposes only. New sections will be posted every Sunday, pending their completion and the satisfaction of the translator. It is also a work in progress – comments are welcome, especially on the (questionable) quality of the translation.

In Chapter Two, Part Three, Mäxsut Muhiti went to seek a doctor for a badly-injured Häsän Dolan…

Not long after, a tall man clutching a little doctor’s bag came into the room with Mäxsut Muhiti. He greeted the guests in Russian and set immediately to work. This was the Russian consulate’s doctor, Pitrof. After Pitrof thoroughly examined the wounded man, he at once gave him a shot. Finally, to those in the room:

“His waist is broken, three ribs are snapped, his liver is badly poisoned, and his heartbeat is very faint,” he said, sighing.

“Is there hope of recovery?” asked Mr. Häydär.

“He should have been put up in hospital. Unfortunately, in your land, this is not possible.”

“Truly,” said Tahirbäg, “in our land, wherever there should be a hospital, there are only yamens to trouble people. Wouldn’t there be a way to put him up in your hospital?”

“This, it would be against diplomatic regulations. It’s only possible for me to continue making house calls.”

“Thank you, this is itself a great help,” said Mäxsut Muhiti, grasping the doctor’s hand.

Dr. Pitrof promised to continue treating Häsän Dolan as long as he was able. Everyone thanked him and saw him out together. Mäxsut Muhiti passed a handful of paper money to Sarixan and said, “Keep paying his expenses.” Seeing Sarixan’s continued hesitation, Mr. Häydär said, smiling, “Take it, take it. I’ll keep coming to see him, and we’ll keep coming by.”

In the meantime, Burhan Shähidi was on his way from Turpan. Since he knew what a suspicious and intolerant person Jin Shuren was, finding fault where there was none, he was worried that he would be implicated in the case of Fan Yaonan. However, since Yang Zengxin, a day before he had perished, had sent him to inspect road construction in Turpan, he was not especially worried. Just as was said, after Jin Shuren called him in front of him and asked him once of the situation, Jin said, “Keep working in confidence,” told him of some worries regarding the Kazakhs in Nanshan, and sent him to investigate the situation. This situation showed that Jin Shuren yet trusted Burhan Shähidi. Thus, after Burhan Shähidi returned from the mountains, he discussed matters with Mäxsut Muhiti and the others and set to work getting Yunus Bäg released from jail. For this reason, it would be absolutely necessary to meet with Jin Shuren himself.

“Emperors are like tigers, or so I have heard,” said Burhan Shähidi to his companions. “When tigers are hungry, it seems, they may even eat their own young, but, as for when their bellies are full and they lay on their backs, they do not even attack a gazelle that suddenly appears before them, but, it seems, may even play with them. No matter how true this may be, it does reflect one aspect of rulers’ dispositions. I will meet with Jin Shuren, but I think that, in order to make him listen, it is absolutely necessary to find the appropriate moment.”

Mäxsut Muhiti and the others agreed with this opinion.

Jin Shuren finished performing the mourning ceremony for Yang Zengxin, and, one day when he was peacefully absorbed in his daily work, he burst into his office around teatime and cheerfully greeted the yamen official (Burhan Shähidi was also among them) who stood, bowing, on the threshold. His mood seemed merry and his steps were vigorous. Since Burhan Shähidi had seen this people under the influence of opium become this vigorous and kind, he thought to himself, “The appropriate moment has arrived.” A few hours later, he entered Jin Shuren’s office with permission and, with all the trappings of etiquette, broached the subject of Yunus Bäg.

Jin Shuren just some few weeks before had been standing in the middle that luxurious, spacious office that belonged to Yang Zengxin, his head held high. He was a tall, crane-necked, droopy-eyelidded, beady-eyed, rather ugly man. His thin, grey, high-collared long satin shirt made him seem even taller. His recently-shaved bald head did not seem to go with his height. The white shayi silk shirt that could be seen from behind his half-open collar made his opium-blackened face seem even darker. This man was originally from Hezhu County in Gansu Province, and, when he was studying in places of learning in Gansu, he was already a follower of Yang Zengxin. In 1908, after Yang Zengxin had, on the orders of the Manchu Khan, come to Xinjiang from Gansu to work as an official, Jin Shuren had come, too, seeking refuge with him, and, with Yang Zengxin’s benevolence, governed Aqsu, the old city of Kashgar, Ürümchi, and other areas; in 1926, he had been raised to the Chief of the Bureau of Administrative Affairs. Then, unexpectedly, with the death of Yang Zengxin, good fortune came to him, and he was himself surprised when he became the highest official of a land as wide and as rich as Xinjiang, which took up one sixth of China’s land area. As they say, “When fortune comes, a fly on his head; on the day the Sumurgh comes, it will come to his side,” and, when many military and administrative officials, such as the education official Liu Wenlong, with knowledge and reputation many times his own, and Zhang Peiyuan, leader of many military forces, stood before him with their hands crossed in deference, he felt as if in a nighttime dream. However, as his own situation was revealed to him, he began to worry and think to himself, “On a bad day, wouldn’t these people be my enemies?” As the saying goes, “When the water doesn’t come, build a dam,” and he began to consider measures to face the enemies in his imagination. As he thought of it, the measures his master Yang Zengxin had used to rule would absolutely need to be his only guide. This is to say, on just this day, as this man named Burhan Shähidi, in the name of respected locals such as the head of the Yihui (Consultative Assembly), Rozi Hajim, and the delegate to the Presidential Election Committee, Tahirbäg, was politely requesting the release of a student named Yunus Bäg, if he took this opportunity, wouldn’t it capture the people’s hearts? What’s more, there was no evidence of Yunus Bäg taking part in this evil scheme. He had only been apprehended on suspicion of being an accessory. As such, wouldn’t freeing him be making jewels out of eggs?

Jin Shuren, thinking just these thoughts, took a seat at his work desk and suddenly asked:

“How long have you known Yu Wenbing?” (He meant Yunus Bäg.)

“Ten years,” said Burhan, not breaking contact with his appraising eyes.

“What did he think of General Yang?”

“He was very faithful.”

“In that case, how can you explain his closeness with the rebel Fan Yaonan?” asked Jin Shuren, knitting his brows.

“As the honorable General is aware, all teachers are fond of superior students. If only the honorable General were also a teacher, I think he would also be very fond of superior students. Even though Yu Wenbing is a Uyghur, he was one of the superior students at a Chinese-language school. His skill in oratory and composition surprises people. In the future, he may become one of the General’s faithful and component workers.”

Burhan Shähidi used the word “general” as much as possible and said it with a clear emphasis. Although Jin Shuren had announced himself publicly as the Chair and Chief Commander of the Xinjiang Provincial Government, having always been an administrative official, no one had yet called him “General” to his face. So, every time his ears heard the word “general”, a kind of satisfaction was reflected on his face. Finally, he came to ask, “Who will vouch for Yu Wenbing?” Then, Burhan Shähidi, thinking that all had gone well, emphasized once again that the local leaders Rozi Hajim and Tahirbäg would be able to vouch for him.

“And you?” said Jin Shuren.

“If the honorable General recognizes me as being qualified, with all my strength, I will also vouch for him.”

The Awakened Land – Chapter Two, Part Five