The Nāṣirī Generations 288.2.6

288.2.6

Then it is related that “Mengko considered the urdu at or near Kara-Kuram too small for holding kuriltaes and keeping his Court; and so he commissioned Lyew-ping-chong to select a place in Tartary, who, from his great scientific attainments, made choice of a place, to the east of the city of Whan-chew, called Long-kang; and there a city was built, which was named Kay-ping-Fu, and afterwards, Shang-tu.” built, which was called Kay-ping-Fu, and, afterwards, Shang-tu: yet Kara-Kuram [although neither a city nor town] still continued to enjoy a jurisdiction of greater extent” — it was still the asl yūrat of the Ch͟hingiz K͟hān. The foundation of this place therefore has been wrongly ascribed to Ḳubilāe, who founded K͟hān-Bālīgh, instead of to “Mengko,” but that it was more convenient, as to position, than the vicinity of Ḳarā-Ḳuram, and Kalūr-ān, is absurd, unless for the convenience of his eastern subjects and dominions alone. There may have been another reason, and an important one. Ḳarā-Ḳuram depended a great deal on provisions brought from a long distance, and, should supplies, by any chance, have been cut off, famine would have arisen, as was subsequently proved.