Evening star., 1928-05-27
Story of Genghis Khan

silk screen. And these words described
the beauty of women. It was all very
wonderful.
His officers were eager to launch
themselves at the great wall. To have
gratif1ed them, to have led his wild clans
at that time against Cathay would have
meant disaster for the Khan. Calamity
at home, as well If he left his new en-
pire and suffered defeat in the east, in
Cathay, other enemies would not hesi-
tate. at all to invade the Mongol do
Ininion.
The Cobb desert was his, but he could
look south, southwest and west and see
three formidable foemen. Along the
Nan-lu, the southern caravan track, ex-
isted the curious kingdom of Hattie
so-called robber kingdom. Here were
lean and predatory Tibetans. come down
from the hills to plumber, and outlawed
Cathayans. Beyond them extended the
power of Black Cathay, kind Of noun
tain empire. And to the west the row.
ing hordes of Kirghiz, who had kept out
OF the way of the Mongols.
Against all these troublesome neigh
6ors Genghis Khan sent portions of his
horde, mounted divisions, commanded
Dy the Orkhons. He himself rode sew
eral seasons to war in the Hia country
war OF raids IN open country that
convinced the Hia chieftains it would
be well to make peace with him. The
peace was strengthened by blood tie
one OF the women Of the royal family
being sent to Genghis Khan for a wife.
Other ties were made in the west.
An this was cautiorl-cIearing his
hanks. in military parlance. But it won
him allies among the chieftains and re-
crllitS for the horde. And it gave the
horde itself some very desirable expert
ence in campaigning.
Meanwhile the monarch of Cathay
died; his son was seated on the dragon
throne, a son tall and Superbly bearded
interested chiefly in painting and hunt
ing. He called himself Wal Wang.
In due course the mandarins of,
Cathay got out the tribute rolls for the
new monarch, and an officer was sent.
into the plateaus of the Cobb to collect
tribute from Genghis Khan. He took
with him also the proclamation of the
new sovereign, Wal Wang. This, an
imperial edict, should have been re-
ceived on bended knees, but the Mongol
stretched out his hand for 1t and re-
manned standing, nor did he give It to
an interpreter to read
who is the new Emperor" he
asked.
"Wai Wang"
Instead of inclining his head toward:
the south, the Khan spat. 'I thought
the son OF Heaven should be an ex-
traordinary man; but an inbecile like
Wal Wang is unworthy throne. Why
should ! humiliate myself before him?"
With that he mounted his horse and.
rode away.
The next day the envoy was called.
before the Khan and given message
10 take back to the Golden Emperor.
Our dominion" said the Mongol, sis
now so well ordered that we can visit
Khan so well ordered that he can re-
ceive us? We will go with an army
that Is like roaring ocean. It matters
not whether we are met with friend
ship or war. If the Golden Khan
chooses to be our friend, we will allow
him the government under us of his
dominion; If he chooses war, 1t will last
until one OF us is victor, one defeated"
No more insulting message could
have been sent. Genghis Khan must
have decided that the moment for in
vaslon was at hand. While the old
emperor lived he had felt bound, per-
haps, by feudal allegiance to Cathay
With Wal Wang he had no concern.
The envoy returned to Yen-King
where the court of Wal Wang resided
Wal Wang was angered by the response
he brought with him. The Warden of
the Western Marches was asked what
the Mongols were about. He replied
that they were making many arrows
and gathering horses. Thereupon the
Warden OF the Western Marches was
clapped into prison.
The Winter passed and the Mongols
went on making many arrows and
gathering horses. In the Spring, for
the first time, the nonad horde was
moving to the invasion of a civilized
power.
tCopyright, 1921