hang,
where the grand khan's army lay, and encamping at no great distance
from it, intended to give his troops a few days of rest.

As soon as the approach of the king of Mien, with so great a force, was
known to Nestardin, who commanded the troops of the grand khan,
although a brave and able officer, he felt much alarmed, not having
under his orders more than twelve thousand men (veterans, indeed, and
valiant soldiers); whereas the enemy had sixty thousand, besides the
elephants armed as has been described. He did not, however, betray any
sign of apprehension, but descending into the plain of Vochang, took a
position in which his flank was covered by a thick wood of large trees,
whither, in case of a furious charge by the elephants, which his troops
might not be able to sustain, they could retire, and from thence, in
security, annoy them with their arrows....

Upon the king of Mien's learning that the Tartars had descended into
the plain, he immediately put his army in motion, took up his ground at
the distance of about a mile from the enemy, and made a disposition of
his force, placing the elephants in the front, and the cavalry and
infantry, in two extended wings, in their rear, but leaving between
them a considerable interval. Here he took his own station, and
proceeded to animate his men and encourage them to fight valiantly,
assuring them of victory, as well from the superiority of their
numbers, being four to one, as from their formidable body of armed
elephants, whose shock the enemy, who had never before been engaged
with such combatants, could by no means resist. Then giving orders for
sounding a prodigious number of warlike instruments, he advanced boldly
with his whole army towards that of the Tartars, which remained firm,
making no movement, but suffering them to approach their entrenchments.

They then rushed out with great spirit and the utmost eagerness to
engage; but it was soon found that the Tartar horses, unused to the
sight of such huge animals, with their castles, were terrified, and by
wheeling about endeavored to fly; nor could their riders by any
exertions restrain them, whilst the king, with the whole of his forces,
was every moment gaining ground. As soon as the prudent commander
perceived this unexpected disorder, without losing his presence of
mind, he