Jebe

Jebe (or Jebei, Mongolian: Зэв, Zev; birth name: Zurgadai, Mongolian: Зургаадай) (died 1225) was one of the prominent Noyans (generals) of Genghis Khan. He belonged to the Besud clan, part of the Taichud tribe, which was at the time of Genghis Khan under Targudai Khiriltug's leadership.

In 1201, during the Battle of the Thirteen Sides, Genghis Khan was wounded by an arrow to the neck. His loyal subordinate, Jelme, cared for him. After the battle (which Genghis Khan had won), he asked the defeated to reveal who shot "his horse" in the neck (euphemizing his own injury as his horse's in an apparent attempt to conceal his injury, or possibly to prevent false confessions). Zurgadai is said to have voluntarily confessed that he shot him and not his horse, and further said, that if Genghis Khan desired to kill him, it was his choice, but if he would let him live, he would serve him loyally. Genghis Khan, in his own usual custom, highly valued honesty and loyalty in his soldiers and so, in the traditions of nomadic chivalry, pardoned him and praised him on this account. He then gave Zurgadai a new name, Jebe, which means both "arrow" and "rust" in Mongolian.