The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-03-09
KHAN'S MANGONELS
Tho Earliest Introduction of Siege Artil-
lcry Into China.

Tho Earliest Introduction of Siege Artil-
lory Into China.
Noah Brooks, who tells for the
boys Of today 1.-The True Story of
Marco Polo" in st. Nicholas, quotes
the following from Marco:
Now you must know that this o1ty
held out against the great khan for
three years after the rest of Manzi
had surrendered. The great khan's
troops made incessant attempts to
take it, but they could not succeed
because of the great and deep wa
ters that were round about it, so
that they could approach from one
side only, which was the north. And
1 tell you they never would have
taken it but for circumstance that
l am going to relate.
You must know that when the
great khan's host had lain three
years before the city without being
able to take it they were greatly
chafed thereat. Then Messer Nicolo
Polo and Messer Maffeo and Messer
Marco said, 1--WE could find you n
way of forcing the city to surrender
speedily" whereupon those of the
army replied that they would be
right glad to know how that should
be. All this talk took place in tho
presence of the great khan, for
messengers had been dispatched
from the camp to tell him that there
was no taking the city by blockade,
for it continually received supplies
of victuals from those sides which
they were unable to invest, and the
great khan had sent back word that
take it they must and find a way
how. Then spoke up the two broth
ers and Messer Marco the son and
said, Great prince, we have with
us among our followers men who
are able to construct mangonels
which shall cast great stones that
the garrison will never be able to
stand them, but will surrender at
once as soon as the mangonels or
trebuchets shall have shot into the
town."
The khan babe them with all his
heart have such mangonels made as
speedily as possible. Now, Messer
Nicolo and his brother and his son
Immediately caused timber to be
brought as much as they desired and
fit for the work in hand. And they
had two men among their followers,
a German and HISTORIAN Christian,
who were masters of that business,
and these they directed to construct
two or three mangonels capable of
casting stones of 800 pounds weight.
Accordingly they made three fine
mangonels, each of which cast stones
of 300 pounds weight and more. And
when they were complete and ready
for use the emperor and tho others
were greatly pleased to see them
and caused several stones to be shot
in their presence, whereat they mar
veled greatly and greatly praised
the work, and the khan ordered that
the engines should be carried to his
army, which was at the Lacquer of
Saianfu.
And when tho engines were got to
the camp they were forthwith set
up, to tho great admiration of the
Tartars. And what shall tell youa
When the engines were set up and
put in gear, stone was shot from
each of them into the town. These
took effect among the buildings,
crashing and smashing through ev-
erything with huge din and commo-
ton, And when the townspeople
witnessed this new and strange Wis
itation they were so astonished and
dismayed that they wist not what to
do OF say. They took counsel to-
gether, but no counsel could DO sug-
gestcd how to escape from these en-
gines, for tho thing scomed to them
to be done Ly sorcery, They declar-
ed that they were all dead men if
they yielded not. so they determined
To surrender on sIIph con1itioue no