of those
who were usually about his person, and principally his falconers and
domestic servants. In the course of twenty days they were all in
readiness. Had he assembled the armies kept up for the constant
protection of the different provinces of Cathay, it must necessarily
have required thirty or forty days; in which time the enemy would have
gained information of his arrangements, and been enabled to effect
their junction, and to occupy such strong positions as would best suit
with their designs. His object was, by promptitude, which is ever the
companion of victory, to anticipate the preparations of Nayan, and, by
falling upon him while single, destroy his power with more certainty
and effect than after he should have been joined by Kaidu.

In every province of Cathay and of Manji,[65] as well as in other
parts of his dominions, there were many disloyal and seditious
persons, who at all times were disposed to break out in rebellion
against their sovereign, and on this account it became necessary to
keep armies in such of the provinces as contained large cities and an
extensive population, which are stationed at the distance of four or
five miles from those cities, and can enter them at their pleasure.
These armies the Grand Khan makes it a practice to change every second
year, and the same with respect to the officers who command them. By
means of such precautions the people are kept in quiet subjection, and
no movement nor innovation of any kind can be attempted. The troops
are maintained not only from the pay they receive out of the imperial
revenues of the province, but also from the cattle and their milk,
which belong to them individually, and which they send into the cities
for sale, furnishing themselves from thence, in return, with those
articles of which they stand in need. In this manner they are
distributed over the country, in various places, to the distance of
thirty, forty, and even sixty days' journey. If even the half of these
corps were to be collected in one place, the statement of their number
would appear marvellous and scarcely entitled to belief.

Having formed his army in the manner above described, the Grand Khan
proceeded toward the territory of Nayan, and by forced marches,
continued day and night, he reached it at the expiration of
twenty-five days. So prudently, at the same time, was the expedition
managed, that neither that Prince himself nor any of his dependents
were aware of it, all