The rise of the Türkmen commanders Togrul and Çagry Begs annoyed the Soltan of the Türkmens, Gaznaly Mahmyt, who had conquered huge territories in the East and West, including India. He called one of the Hans of the Seljuk Türkmens in order to learn about them. Ysraýyl Han started out towards the headquarters of the Soltan with ten thousand riders. The Soltan immediately sent a message to the Han and indicated that he had not summoned support but was only calling the Han to meet. Then Ysraýyl came to the meeting with three hundred of his riders. The Soltan cheerfully welcomed him and then asked:

“If we needed military support, how many soldiers would you send us?”

Ysraýyl took an arrow from his quiver and said:

“If you send this arrow, then an army consisting of thirty thousand soldiers will come from the Balkans.”

“If we needed more than that?”

“Then, if you send this arrow, ten thousand more riders will also come.”

“If we needed many more than that?”

“If you send this arrow towards the Balkan Mountains, then an army of a hundred thousand soldiers will come.”

“Yes, but if we needed a greater force than that?”

Then Ysraýyl gave another arrow and said:

“If you send this to Türkmenistan, then an army of five hundred thousand soldiers will come.”

Only a commander of a Türkmen tribe was capable of forming an army of five hundred thousand soldiers. This was a great army. Think how great was a nation which could form such a huge army.

 (156.)