Episode 158
While Baghdad simmered with rage, the morale of the Mongol army soared under the direct command of the Great Khan.
It wasn’t just their spirits that were lifted; the unity among the commanders grew stronger as well.
From unifying the steppes to defeating the mighty empires of Western Xia, Jin, and Khwarazm, the Mongol generals and soldiers had been through countless battles, emerging victorious in most.
This wasn’t something that could be achieved by Genghis Khan’s brilliance alone. It was possible because each of his commanders, who acted as his limbs, possessed the capability to lead their own troops without any shortcomings.
Genghis Khan had an exceptional talent for recognizing and trusting the abilities of his subordinates. He entrusted key roles to those with outstanding skills, like Muqali, Jebe, and Jelme, with a trust deeper than family.
Even though the Jin Empire was on the brink of collapse, leaving it in the hands of Muqali alone was a testament to that trust.
Moreover, Genghis Khan was unhesitant in recruiting capable individuals, even if they were former enemies. He never forced loyalty by demanding they sacrifice their lives, often saying they could flee if the situation turned dire.
This approach only fueled the loyalty of his followers, and none of those who earned his trust had ever betrayed him.
As the wars concluded in victory, certain individuals among Genghis Khan’s trusted aides began to stand out. Though they had no official titles yet, they played crucial roles in the army, leading to frequent discussions about future strategies during lulls in the fighting.
“So, do you think the Great Khan sent that letter to provoke them on purpose?”
“No, I don’t think it was meant as a provocation. The words the Great Khan dictated were his genuine thoughts. It might seem like a provocation to them, though. Poor Muqali, missing out on this thrilling campaign.”
“Perhaps he feels superior. Except for Jebe and Subutai, we all fought alongside the Great Khan against the Jin. The Great Khan entrusted Jin to Muqali, meaning he deemed him more suitable than us.”
“Muqali was indeed the standout in dealing with Jin. But I manage the army’s supplies, so I couldn’t have taken Muqali’s place anyway.”
Hushin Borokhul, responsible for the Mongol army’s supplies, and Suldus Tiraun, a strategist who once saved Genghis Khan’s life, were among those present. Alongside them were Arlat Boorchu, the chief of security, and Jebe and Subutai, who managed the western front.
Though their words differed, they all shared the confidence that they were the most trusted by the Great Khan.
The core of the Mongol army was focused on one thing: the response from Baghdad. The Great Khan’s next move depended on it.
Jebe, who had been quietly sipping water, suddenly turned to Borokhul.
“Speaking of supplies, did the Great Khan say anything to you?”
“He told me to be ready to march at any time. But that’s always been his instruction, so it doesn’t really help us guess his plans.”
“What’s the point of guessing? We just follow orders.”
“Still, those who constantly think about what our lord wants will be better prepared to follow orders.”
Though there was no intent to compete, none were willing to relinquish their place as the Great Khan’s top aide. As the atmosphere grew tense, Tiraun lightened the mood with a change of topic.
“All we can prepare for is battle. The problem is, only Jebe and Subutai here have fought our potential enemies. How were they?”
“The Khwarazm were not at their best, and the Western Xia were like toothless old tigers. Nothing to boast about.”
“They were said to be formidable in the West. Were they really that weak?”
“Claiming to be experienced in war is proof of their complacency.”
Everyone chuckled at Jebe’s retort. On the steppes, every day was a battle, and life itself was a war. Every man who could wield a weapon was a warrior, making it easy to recruit elite cavalry.
In that sense, Jebe’s words rang true. The people here, who separated war from life, had grown too accustomed to peace.
Jebe continued, watching the water droplets trickle from his cup.
“Soon, they’ll realize how unprepared and weak they truly are.”
“I can’t wait for news from Baghdad.”
The wolves that emerged from the vast steppes continued to grow, feasting on prey scattered everywhere. Still hungry, they eagerly awaited their next hunt.
Under the dim light of the moon, which cast a faint glow over the desert, Genghis Khan received the long-awaited reply with a quiet smile.
“Did you get the answer you wanted?”
“Well, either outcome was fine, so I can’t say I had a preferred answer. But this seems like it will be the most entertaining. Isn’t that why you’re all here at this late hour?”
Looking at Borokhul, Tiraun, and Jebe standing behind Boorchu, Genghis Khan mused aloud.
“Ah, you haven’t seen it yet. Let me read it to you.”
“Yes, please.”
“To the novice ruler who has just begun to unify his tribes and believes himself superior to all: Do you feel as if you own the world after conquering a few lands? Do you know that from the Maghreb and Egypt in the west to Mesopotamia in the east, all who believe in Allah are my subjects and servants?
All Muslims, whether kings or beggars, belong to my court, and at my word, they will rise in fury and gather in Baghdad. Threaten if you will, but know that it will only draw the wrath and hatred of all who believe in Allah upon you.”
After reading, Genghis Khan chuckled with exaggerated amusement.
“Oh, this is quite serious. Is this what they mean by poking a hornet’s nest?”
“You think the writer is exaggerating, Great Khan?”
“I once met an Amir from Khwarazm who spoke of the Caliphs and Sultans of Islam. Boorchu, weren’t you there?”
“I recall something about the Caliph handling religion and the Sultan governance, but the details are fuzzy.”
Though it was long ago, they remembered that the Sultan was held in higher regard than the Caliph.
Genghis Khan had asked to gauge the Khwarazm king’s thoughts and influence, and it turned out to be unexpectedly useful.
“If the Caliph truly wielded such power, there would have been a reaction already. Has anyone heard of Muslims within our territory moving towards Baghdad?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Nor have I.”
“If they had such influence, many would have already volunteered to protect the Caliph in Baghdad.”
Genghis Khan, lacking deep religious understanding, didn’t attribute much significance to the Muslim Caliph. To him, religion was more a tribal custom than an absolute truth.
He knew Islam was a vast force, but he had no intention of treating its leaders any differently than others. If they were an obstacle, he would simply crush them.
“Now that we have their response, we must act. What do you all suggest?”
“There’s no need to hesitate. Let’s march on Baghdad.”
“Our army’s only weakness is siege warfare. Baghdad is fortified, so we should quickly establish a siege to capture it swiftly.”
Borokhul and Tiraun spoke almost in unison. Their suggestion was sound; if the Mongol army had a weakness, it was siege warfare. However, it wasn’t that they couldn’t conduct sieges.
In his battles against the Jin, Genghis Khan experimented with various siege tactics. Some failed, but others proved successful.
Even now, he actively utilized the engineers from the conquered regions to create a variety of siege weapons, using them to enhance his troops’ skills.
However, compared to the open plains where they could ride freely and fight, their proficiency in siege warfare was inevitably lacking.
“So, we’re going to encircle the city and starve them out slowly this time as well.”
“It’s slow, but it’s the most effective method. Besides, Jelme is advancing from the rear, annexing regions that haven’t yet submitted to us. We can wait for our forces to join us as we capture Baghdad.”
“If the Caliph’s boasts are true, we might have to face a multitude of Muslims coming to his aid.”
“Then more Muslims will learn how foolish it is to resist the Great Khan.”
If the Caliph’s words were mere bluster, he would wither away in isolation. If not, they would crush the reinforcements along with him.
Genghis Khan nodded, scanning his subordinates as if to ask if anyone had more to add. Subutai, who had been holding back, stepped forward.
“I believe it would be wise to send a detachment to intercept any reinforcements coming from the Ayyubids.”
“The Ayyubids?”
“Yes. From what I’ve gathered, the Caliph has a close relationship with the Sultan of the Ayyubids. There’s a significant chance they might send reinforcements.”
“Then I’ll leave that to you. Take as many troops as you need to intercept them.”
Preparations had been made long ago; now it was time to act.
“Relay the orders to the entire army. Starting tomorrow, we march on Baghdad.”
They said the more pressure we apply, the more the believers in Allah would direct their anger and hatred towards us?
Well, let them try.
We’ll turn all that anger and hatred into sheer terror.