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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
Butkha (Yuen shi); Abalahu, as Kublai himself said, was rich in fish; indeed, after the
suppression of Nayan's rebellion, the governor of that country used to send to the Peking Court fishes
weighing up to a thousand Chinese pounds (kin.). It was evidently a country near the Amur
River." (Palladius, l.c. 31.) - H. C.] Nayan had added to his inherited territory, and become very
powerful. ["History has apparently connected Nayan's appanage with that of Hatan (a grandson of
Hachiun, brother of Chinghiz Khan), whose ordo was contiguous to Nayan's, on the left bank of
the Amur, hypothetically east of Blagovietschensk, on the spot, where still the traces of an ancient city
can be seen. Nayan's possessions stretched south to Kwang-ning, which belonged to his appanage, and it
was from this town that he had the title of prince of Kwang-ning ( Yuen shi)." (Palladius,
l.c. 31.) - H. C.] Kaidu had gained influence over Nayan, and persuaded him to rise against Kublai. A
number of the other Mongol princes took part with him. Kublai was much disquieted at the rumours, and
sent his great lieutenant BAYAN to reconnoitre. Bayan was nearly captured, but escaped to court and
reported to his master the great armament that Nayan was preparing. Kublai succeeded by diplomacy in
detaching some of the princes from the enterprise, and resolved to march in person to the scene of action,
whilst despatching Bayan to the Karakorum frontier to intercept Kaidu. This was in the summer of 1287.
What followed will be found in a subsequent note (ch. iv. note 6). (For Nayan's descent, see the
Genealogical Table in the Appendix (A).)
CHAPTER III. HOW THE GREAT KAAN MARCHED AGAINST NAYAN.
When the Great Kaan heard what was afoot, he made his preparations in right good heart, like one who
feared not the issue of an attempt so contrary to justice. Confident in his own conduct and prowess, he
was in no degree disturbed, but vowed that he would never wear crown again if he brought not those two
traitorous and disloyal Tartar chiefs to an ill end. So swiftly and secretly were his preparations made, that
no one knew of them but his Privy Council, and all were completed within ten or twelve days. In that
time he had assembled good 360,000 horsemen, and 100,000 footmen, - but a small force indeed for him,
and consisting only of those that were in the vicinity. For the rest of his vast and innumerable forces were
too far off to answer so hasty a summons, being engaged under orders from him on distant expeditions to
conquer divers countries and provinces. If he had waited to summon all his troops, the multitude
assembled would have been beyond all belief, a multitude such as never was heard of or told of, past all
counting. In fact, those 360,000 horsemen that he got together consisted merely of the falconers and
whippers-in that were about the court![NOTE 1]
And when he had got ready this handful (as it were) of his troops, he ordered his astrologers to declare
whether he should gain the battle and get the better of his enemies. After they had made their
observations, they told him to go on boldly, for he would conquer and gain a glorious victory: whereat he
greatly rejoiced.
So he marched with his army, and after advancing for 20 days they arrived at a great plain where Nayan
lay with all his host, amounting to some 400,000 horse. Now the Great Kaan's forces arrived so fast and
so suddenly that the others knew nothing of the matter. For the Kaan had caused such strict watch to be
made in every direction for scouts that every one that appeared was instantly captured. Thus Nayan had
no warning of his coming and was completely taken by surprise; insomuch that when the Great Kaan's
army came up, he was asleep in the arms of a wife of his of whom he was extravagantly fond. So thus
you see why it was that the Emperor equipped his force with such speed and secrecy.
NOTE 1. - I am afraid Marco, in his desire to impress on his readers the great power of the Kaan, is here
giving the reins to exaggeration on a great scale.
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