nic-stricken, the emperor moved
his court from Chung-tu to K'ai-feng Fu, much against the advice of
his ministers, who foresaw the disastrous effect this retreat would
have on the fortunes of Kin. The state of Sung, which up to this time
had paid tribute, now declined to recognize Kin as its feudal chief,
and a short time afterwards declared war against its quondam ally.
Meanwhile, in 1215, Yeh-lue Ts'u-ts'ai advanced into China by the
Shan-hai Kwan, and made himself master of Peking, one of the few
cities in Chih-li which remained to Kin. After this victory his nobles
wished him to proclaim himself emperor, but he refused, being mindful
of an oath which he had sworn to Jenghiz Khan. In 1216 Tung-kwan, a
mountain pass on the frontiers of Ho-nan and Shen-si, and the scene of
numerous dynastic battles (as it is the only gateway between
north-eastern and north-western China), was taken by the invaders. As
the war dragged on the resistance offered by the Kin grew weaker and
weaker. In 1220 Chi-nan Fu, the capital of Shan-tung, was taken, and
five years later Jenghiz Khan marched an army westward into Hia and
conquered the forces of the king. Two years later (1227) Jenghiz Khan
died.

With the view to the complete conquest of China by the Mongols,
Jenghiz declined to nominate either of the eldest two sons who had
been born to his Chinese wives as his heir, but chose his third son
Ogdai, whose mother was a Tatar. On hearing of the death of Jenghiz
Khan the Kin sent an embassy to his successor desiring peace, but
Ogdai told them there would be no peace for them until their dynasty
should be overthrown. Hitherto the Mongols had been without any code
of laws. But the consolidation of the nation by the conquests of
Jenghiz Khan made it necessary to establish a recognized code of laws,
and one of the first acts of Ogdai was to form such a code. With the
help also of Yeh-lue Ts'u-ts'ai, he established custom-houses in
Chih-li, Shan-tung, Shan-si and Liao-tung; and for this purpose
divided these provinces into ten departments. Meanwhile the war with
the Kin was carried on with energy. In 1230 Si-gan Fu was taken, and
sixty important posts were captured. Two years later, Tu-le, brother
of Ogdai, took Feng-siang Fu and Han-chung Fu, in the flight from
which last-named place 100,000 persons are said to have perished.
Following the course of the river Han in his vic