Chapter 66 The Big Two prepare for battle

At the beginning of 1219, Genghis Khan was preparing for war.Leave 30,000 people to Mu Huali, and ask him to continue to encroach on the Kingdom of Jin.Leaving 10,000 people for his younger brother Timug to stay in the base camp, the remaining 95,000 Mongolian regiments and 8,000 engineering troops went west with him.At the same time, he ordered the Uighurs and Xixia people to send 20,000 troops to fight with the army.The Uighurs responded positively, but the Xixia people said to Genghis Khan's envoy: "Since your sweat is not strong enough, why bother calling it sweat?" The person who said this was Asha Daganbu, who was the minister of Xixia at that time. It was reported that Xixia had been controlled by him.Genghis Khan was furious at the unruly behavior of the Xixia people. If the Western Expedition was not imminent, he would have to carry out a fourth conquest against Xixia.However, Genghis Khan still kept this matter in mind, and the fuse of Xixia's demise had been lit.

When Genghis Khan was furious at Xixia's infidelity, there was a man from the Southern Song Dynasty standing not far from him. This man from the Southern Song Dynasty was called Zhao Gong. He came to the Mongolian Kingdom as an envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty a month ago.In his opinion, the master of the steppe empire is easily angered, especially when others break their promises. A few months later, Zhao Gong returned to the Southern Song Dynasty and painted a portrait of Genghis Khan. The portraits of Genghis Khan that we see today are from Zhao Gong. This portrait may have been imagined through art, but it may be the true impression of Genghis Khan on Zhao Gong : Plump face, rich ears, kind and sharp eyes, and a thin and white beard growing on the serene mouth.

At this time, Genghis Khan was 58 years old. Zhao Gong had to admit that although he was very old, he was full of energy, insight and understanding. Zhao Gong said that Mr. Genghis Khan would always bring groups of beauties with him whether he was going out for battle or at a banquet. It is said that these beauties came from his beauty concentration camp "Ordu".They are so beautiful, they come from all corners of the country, they are good at singing and dancing, and their eloquence is outstanding, which makes Zhao Gong, who has been educated in Neo Confucianism for many years, can't help being envious and jealous.

Zhao Gong also said that Genghis Khan's Mongolian Kingdom was simple and unpretentious.One day, Genghis Khan asked him: "Why didn't you come to play polo yesterday?" Zhao Gong replied: "Because there was no call from His Majesty, so the future." Genghis Khan said: "Since you are here, it is like a family member. In banquets, playing horses Please feel free to have fun together when playing ball or hunting, why do you have to ask me to invite you every time?" Zhao Gong panicked, which would never happen in their empire.Genghis Khan looked at him and said, "If you don't come to play polo, it's a missed appointment. According to the grassland rules, you should punish yourself with six cups."

Zhao Gong had no choice but to drink six cups in a row and return drunk.When Zhao Gong left the Mongolian grassland and returned to the Southern Song Dynasty, it was when Genghis Khan was concentrating on preparing for the Western Expedition. He said to Zhao Gong: "In my lifetime, when you and I meet again, we should drink three big cups." Then he said to the officials who sent Zhao Gong off : "In a good city, take him to stay for five or six days. If you have good wine, let him drink it. If you have delicious food, entertain him to your heart's content. Let the expert band play the hospitality well."

Zhao Gong was so moved that he wanted to cry. This Southern Song native didn't know that the Mongols have always been so simple and enthusiastic. Even when faced with a mountain-like test, they would never neglect their guests. Genghis Khan in the spring of 1219 faced a major test.On the one hand, it is the war with the powerful enemy Khwarazmo, and on the other hand, it is the question raised by Ye Sui.One night, he said to Genghis Khan in bed: "You are going to go west and fight against a great enemy. If something happens to you, who should take the helm of the country?" Genghis Khan suddenly woke up from a half-dream. He held Ye Sui's hand and said, "Although you are a woman, your vision is higher than that of many men. Indeed, I cannot ignore this problem."

The next day, he called his brothers and sons together and said, "That was a wake-up call for me. Brothers and sons, none of you have ever asked such a question. I also feel as if I will never die." Same, but this is an illusion, this Western Expedition has a lot to do with it, and I must determine a successor among you. Whatever you think, please speak out.” No one spoke, and like Genghis Khan, everyone here believed that Genghis Khan could not grow old, or even die.Genghis Khan broke the silence, pointed at Jochi and said, "You are the eldest son, you should say it first." Before Jochi could speak, the second prince, Chagatai, rolled up his sleeves and jumped up and roared, "Father asked him, did he want to Should he inherit the position of Khan? He is Mier begging for a seed, how can we let him take care of it?"

Hearing this, Jochi exploded like a firecracker, grabbed the collar of Chagatai next to him, and stared angrily: "Father Khan didn't even treat me as an outsider, so why do you say that? You are more powerful than me." What is it? You are just irascible and domineering!" Chagatai jumped three feet high, especially when he found out that what Jochi said was the truth, he was furious.Genghis Khan remained silent, but the others couldn’t sit still. Mu Huali and Boershu hurried out to try to persuade Chagatai, and Chagatai’s adviser Kuo Kuo Si also came out to criticize Chagatai: “Before you were born, the world was in chaos. , you don’t even have time to go to bed. The ground is churning, and you don’t even have time to sleep in bed. The world is in turmoil, and people are not living well, so unfortunately your mother was captured by Mier beggars, and you actually said that your elder brother Jochi is a Don’t you beg for someone’s seed, this hurts your mother’s heart, aren’t you brothers?”

These grandiose words made Chagatai calm down immediately, and then Genghis Khan slowly said: "Jochi is my eldest son, no one is allowed to say that in the future." After hearing what his father said, Jochi also calmed down immediately.Everyone sat down again. Although Chagatai stopped making noise, he still objected to Jochi inheriting his father's Khan throne.He was determined to die with Jochi: "Jochi is a talented person. Jochi and I are both the eldest son of my father. Both of us are willing to serve the father of Khan. If anyone escapes, his head will be broken. If anyone If you fall behind, cut off his heel. Wo Kuotai is kind and generous, and can elect him to be his father's successor."

Genghis Khan immediately asked Jochi, "What do you say?" What else could Jochi say, if he disagreed with Chagatai's recommendation of Okuotai, then he had the ambition to become a great khan, and he could only agree.Genghis Khan knew very well that Jochi and Chagatai reconciled after losing both sides, which is an extremely unstable emotion.He tried to appease the differences between the two: "You two don't have to do the same thing in the future, and you don't have to be under the same roof. The world is vast and there are many rivers and rivers. You can each rule your own country. I want you now Swear, even if you are not friendly, don't invade each other, or the sky will punish you." The two agreed, and Genghis Khan gave them an additional reward - two territories with a large number of people.

Genghis Khan can only do this, and the future is beyond his control.He looked at Wo Kuotai with high hopes, just as Chagatai said, Wo Kuotai is kind and generous, and has the air of a king.Wo Kuotai met his father's gaze and said, "Since the two elder brothers say that I can do it, can I say I can't do it? I want to do it with all my heart!" Genghis Khan nodded with satisfaction and turned to his youngest son, Tuolei.Tuolei immediately beat his chest and said: "I would like to serve my brother nominated by Father Khan. If he forgets, I will let him remember; if he falls asleep, I will let him wake up. I will be his megaphone , be his riding whip, and take part in all the battles he presides over!" Genghis Khan nodded with a smile. This was a successful layout. The Mongol Empire remained strong after his death, and it was he who chose a qualified heir. Mahamo did not have the worries of Genghis Khan. He had no extra sons, only one son, Zalandin, who had been proven many times to be the most suitable to inherit his inheritance.His worry was the coming war. When he received Genghis Khan's six-character declaration of war, he began to convene large meetings to discuss countermeasures. His advisers and generals suggested four options for him to respond.The first is an active plan, gathering the entire army in the upper reaches of the Syr Darya, and keeping Genghis Khan out of the country; the second is a semi-active plan, also known as luring the enemy to go deep, that is, dividing troops to guard the important towns in the empire, and gradually consuming the enemy's vital strength; The third is a semi-negative plan, giving up all the territory south of the Syr Darya, stationing the main force at the ferry of the Amu Darya, and fighting a protracted offensive and defensive battle with Genghis Khan; the last one is a completely negative plan, retreating to Kejiyun (now Afghanistan) Ghazni), ready to flee to Xindu at any moment. For the powerful Khwarazmo, the latter two options are simply embarrassing.Mahamo was thinking deeply, his son Zalandin slammed his fist on the table and said: "Assemble the whole army on the upper reaches of the Syr Darya, and wipe out the group of barbarians outside the country!" Mahamo was so cautious that it made people angry. He said slowly: "If you go to war with the Mongols outside the country, even if you win, you will be hurt. It is better to use the second plan to divide the troops to guard the important towns in the empire. The power of Genghis Khan. When he is exhausted, we can launch a counterattack and wipe them out within the borders." Zalandin sighed in disappointment, and Mahamo said to his son and his subordinates: "Genghis Khan must have been exhausted when he came all the way across mountains and ridges. As long as we strengthen the defenses of the cities along the Syr Darya River and resist tenaciously, Genghis Khan was nailed there, and when they hadn't achieved anything and were exhausted, we would gather our troops in Samarkand and deal a fatal blow to them. From now on, get ready!" Mahamo's order was of course the order of Allah, and the entire Khwarazmo Empire was mobilized.Mahamo ordered starry night to rush to build a solid city wall around the capital Samarkand, with a circumference of 84 kilometers.It is a pity that this huge project was only halfway through, and Genghis Khan had already arrived at the city of Samarkand, and the entire project was wasted.At the same time, he issued an order that the major military towns along the Syr Darya should imitate his actions in Samarkand to build cities.For this huge expenditure, he forced to collect taxes in advance for three years.The people of Khwarazmo complained a lot.Of course Mahamo knew, but he couldn't care less about the enemy now. As long as he could defeat the Mongols, he could definitely give back more to his people. During that time, Mahamo was like a spinning top, spinning around constantly.He had to inspect those important military towns, and he knew it well.His son followed closely, like a future monarch and an excellent bodyguard.In the city of Wadala, Mahamo inspected and said to Zalandin: "This is a strong city wall, and no one can attack it." Zalandin nodded resolutely and said, "Even if the Mongols do capture it, I can take it back." Mohamed laughed loudly, patted Zalandin on the shoulder, and said relaxedly: "My son, you worry too much. As long as the Mongols enter our country, they will never return, let alone capture the city. Even a fence, they have to go around." Zalandin was puzzled and asked his father, "Why?" Mahamo smiled and said, "Because they are very tired." Zalandin asked again: "Do you have any scientific basis for your affirmation?" Of course there is Mahamo, but unfortunately, they are all wrong. He said triumphantly: "Not to mention anything else, it is a huge challenge for Genghis Khan's army to come to our door. The Mongols first have to climb over the Altai Mountains where the birds are extinct, and cross the great desert called Baigudian, which is full of bones. Then go west along the cloudy and sunny Tianshan Mountains. Altai Mountain is 3,000 meters above sea level. Even in midsummer, the top of the mountain is covered with snow and frozen thousands of feet. There is no way to go. Even if the Mongols can bear it, their horses will suffer too. No. I think they might die on the way." What Mahamo didn't know was that the Mongols were the most able to bear hardships and stand hard work, and they were able to withstand the invasion of unexpected and harsh environments.As for Mongolian horses, although they are short and hairy, their appearance and speed are not as good as those in the Arab world, but the endurance of Mongolian horses is unparalleled in the world.Although they travel long distances, feed irregularly, and lack rest time, they can still maintain sufficient physical strength.This is because the Mongols have secrets to raising horses. When there is no war, the only task of Mongolian horses is to eat and drink.In autumn, Mongolian horses were as fat as pigs, and Mongolians began to ride them around. The aquatic plants were halved, and after one month, the fat turned into muscles.Riding hundreds of miles without sweating, the Mongolian horse becomes a mechanical horse when it goes out to battle, and there is no such thing as fatigue at all. In Mahamo's impression, Genghis Khan was a nomadic tribe, so he was only good at field battles, not at fortified battles, and even bad at building bridges and roads, so he said that it was extremely difficult for the Mongolian army to cross the Altai Mountains and Tianshan Mountains.But what he didn't know was that Genghis Khan had formed an engineering team long ago, and this team regarded building bridges and roads as a child's science. What Mohamo didn't know was that Genghis Khan's tactics were not just a single-minded attack like a reckless man under the city.Genghis Khan's tactics are usually to besiege or monitor the current enemy's city with one force, and the main force will go around and go deep into the enemy's rear, forcing the enemy to fight hastily at an unexpected time and place, under unfavorable situation, so that in one fell swoop Annihilate the main force of the enemy. It can be said that Mahamo knew almost nothing about Genghis Khan. Without knowing the enemy's situation, Mahamo made a wrong strategy, using a strong city to consume Genghis Khan's power. Gather the main force from Samarkand to launch a counterattack against the opponent.His hopes are good, but we know that his hopes will be dashed. Mahamo knew nothing about Genghis Khan, but Genghis Khan knew Mahamo like the back of his hand.When he learned of Mahama's strategy, he immediately formulated a targeted strategy.This strategic idea is to launch a frontal attack with great fanfare to attract the attention of the enemy. The main force and the secondary main force will be divided into two places from the north and the south, overcoming natural obstacles and making bold detours. heart. The specific implementation is like this: the frontal attack is carried out by three columns. The task is to wipe out the enemies in the cities along the Syr Darya, and at the same time block the intelligence and cover the main action; the commander of the first column, Jochi, first cleans the lower reaches of the Syr Darya. After finishing, go northward and go straight to the military town of Khwarazmo, Zhandi (southeast of Zil'orda in today's Kazakhstan); the commanders of the second column, Chagatai and Wokuotai, attacked the city of Oedala, the city that murdered the imperial envoy; Alahei, the commander of the three columns, attacked Khwarazmo's military town of Kokand (now Kokand, Uzbekistan) in the southeast of the Syr Darya River. After completing the task, the three columns converged near the city of Khokand and participated in the siege of Khwarazm all the way west. The battle of Samarkand, the capital of Razm. The commander of the second main force, Jebe, crossed the Pamirs, flowed down from the source of the Amu Darya River, and besieged Samarkand from the southeast to the north. The commanders of the main force were Genghis Khan and Tuo Lei. When the three frontal columns launched an attack to attract the enemy's attention, they secretly crossed the Syr Darya River, entered the Red Desert, made a detour, and attacked the west gate of Samarkand from the northwest. The city of Bukhara, an important city, went east and besieged Samarkand with other columns after success. This is a very risky plan. The Red Desert is a hell on earth for everyone in the Western Regions. The heat is unbearable. Suddenly, sand and rocks are flying, and nothing can be seen within three meters. Few people can cross it on foot.But Genghis Khan thought the risk was worth taking, because if successful, it would be like a magic soldier descending from the back of Samarkand. At the turn of spring and summer in 1219, Genghis Khan swore an oath on the Mongolian grassland and announced his westward expedition.The prelude to the most glorious expedition in human history was slowly opened. Of course, it was not the end, but it was the first of many Mongolian expeditions to the west. An accident happened at the swearing-in meeting.In the early morning of the day when the flag was sacrificed, there was no cloud in the sky, the army was assembled, and when the horses were about to be slaughtered, suddenly black clouds overwhelmed the top, and a violent storm and snow fell from the sky. In half an hour, the snow was three feet deep. Genghis Khan believed in Changshengtian, and immediately concluded that this was a warning from Changshengtian.He hesitated, and the Mongolian warriors knelt down in the snow one after another, shouting for longevity.Yelu Chucai didn't believe in ghosts and gods, so he said to Genghis Khan, who was at a loss, "If you don't sacrifice the flag, it will be bad after the hour." Genghis Khan was a little angry: "It's not good now! Look at the snow, it's summer, why is there so much snow!" Yelu Chucai realized that he could only fight poison with poison, so he pretended to count his fingers, looked at the white sky, and said: "The Qi of Xuanming, seen in midsummer, is also the sign of defeating the enemy." Genghis Khan stared at Yelu Chucai, half-believing.Yelu Chucai said emphatically, "This is a sign of defeating the enemy!" Genghis Khan pondered for a while, drew his waist knife, shook it to the sky, and shouted: "Sacrifice the flag!" Several knife and axemen swung their big knives at the same time, aimed at the horse's neck, and clicked.The snow stopped suddenly, and the sun rushed out of the clouds, shining brightly on the grassland. Genghis Khan ordered the third prince Wokuotai to set off first to be in charge of the road construction project in the Altai Mountains. A month later, he ordered the second prince Chagatai to set off along the mountain road completed by Wokuotai to cross the Baigudian Desert and build roads in Tianshan Mountains. bridge. This is one of the most difficult projects in the history of human engineering.It was midsummer when Wo Kuotai built roads and bridges in the Altai Mountains, but the peaks were snowed and frozen thousands of feet.Wo Kuotai had to break the ice first, and then dig the road. Fortunately, they had artillery troops. Although it was difficult, they finally completed the task satisfactorily. In the autumn of 1219, various Mongolian corps came one hundred kilometers east of the gate of Khwarazmo one after another to complete their assembly.The battle between the two superpowers in the world at that time began, and the battle between dragons and tigers was staged.