e
obtained the sovereignty by his consummate valor, his virtues, and his
prudence, in opposition to the designs of his brothers, supported by
many of the great officers and members of his own family. But the
succession appertained to him of right. It is forty-two years since he
began to reign, and he is fully eighty-five years of age. Previously
to his ascending the throne he had served as a volunteer in the army,
and endeavored to take a share in every enterprise. Not only was he
brave and daring in action, but in point of judgment and military
skill he was considered to be the most able and successful commander
that ever led the Tartars to battle. From that period, however, he
ceased to take the field in person, and intrusted the conduct of
expeditions to his sons and his captains; excepting in one instance,
the occasion of which was as follows.

A certain chief named Nayan, who, although only thirty years of age,
was kinsman to Kublai, had succeeded to the dominion of many cities
and provinces, which enabled him to bring into the field an army of
four hundred thousand horse. His predecessors, however, had been
vassals of the Grand Khan. Actuated by youthful vanity upon finding
himself at the head of so great a force, he formed, in the year 1286,
the design of throwing off his allegiance, and usurping the
sovereignty. With this view he privately despatched messengers to
Kaidu, another powerful chief, whose territories lay toward the
greater Turkey, and who, although a nephew of the Grand Khan, was in
rebellion against him, and bore him determined ill-will, proceeding
from the apprehension of punishment for former offences. To Kaidu,
therefore, the propositions made by Nayan were highly satisfactory,
and he accordingly promised to bring to his assistance an army of a
hundred thousand horse. Both princes immediately began to assemble
their forces, but it could not be effected so secretly as not to come
to the knowledge of Kublai, who, upon hearing of their preparations,
lost no time in occupying all the passes leading to the countries of
Nayan and of Kaidu, in order to prevent them from having any
information respecting the measures he was himself taking.

He then gave orders for collecting, with the utmost celerity, the
whole of the troops stationed within ten days' march of the city of
Kambalu. These amounted to three hundred and sixty thousand horse, to
which was added a body of a hundred thousand foot, consisting