The Nāṣirī Generations 288.3
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 288.3
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288.3.1
“Hū-pī-lay” was directed by “Mengko” to return to his government, and prepare for the siege of Vu-chang-Fu, the capital of Hu-quang, then to march to Hang-chew, the metropolis of Che-kyang, and the empire of the Song; and the general Chang-jau was nominated to command under him. I will now return to the Mughal accounts from where I left off, when, early in 652 H.— about March or April, 1254 A.D.— Mangū appointed Irtuk Būḳah to remain in charge of the great urdūs and ulūsis, along with his eldest son, but some say his son Serki. lieutenants and governors, who were in Turkistan and Ma- To enumerate all the names, and give all the details, respecting those Shah-zadahs, Amirs, and troops, which accompanied him, and the preparations made, would occupy far more space than can be afforded here : at some future time I hope to do so. Suffice it to say that they included a great number of Shah-zadahs, Amirs, and forces, both of the Dast-i-Chap—the left hand—and Dast-i-Rast—the right hand—which latter they style [i.e. the territory they occupy] Jaukut or Jakut, which signifies the forces of Khitae, Tingkut, Khurjah, and Solanka because the Mughals, in their dialect, used to call those parts Jaukut or Jakut. The army of Mangu Ka'an amounted, it is said, to the immense number of 600,000, one half of which belonged to the Dast-i-Chap, and whose leader was the Shah-zadah, Taghachar [there is no such name as "Tkugatshur"], son of U-Tigin, the younger brother of the Chingiz Khan.
288.3.2
As Mangu issued forth on his way, he received the news of the death of the Nu-yin, Belkutae, half brother of the Chingiz Khan, who had attained the age of 110 years, and who had done good service in the latter's time. Mangu also received an account of his brother Kubilae's movements with his forces ; and that, as Kubilae, at this time, was indisposed—he was afflicted with gout, or dard-i-pae—if he were allowed to take repose for a time, it would be well. Kubilae was permitted, accordingly, to return to his urdus, as a temporary measure, to get better. This evidently is what the Chinese histories refer to as a disagreement between the brothers, and Kubilae’s being suspected, and forgiven, but the Musalman writers never so much as hint at anything of the kind, and the two accounts are wholly contrary to each other. Although Kubilae had permission to retire to his Urdus he did not do so, but again returned to his post. It was at this time likewise, that Shiramun, who was not to be trusted, was put to death before Kubilae departed. Perhaps it is this incident that the Chinese writers got hold of.
288.3.3
Having set out, in the summer of 653 H.—about June, 1255 A.D.—Mangu reached the boundaries of the territories of Tingkut and Tingnash or Biktash [Ningaish], at the place named Alwan or Aluan Shan it was Lewan Shan—before. See note, page 1088], within the confines of Tingnash or Biktash [Ningaish], which is the place where the Chingiz Khan died. Towards the latter part of the year he moved forward for the purpose of attacking the Masul Kahlukhah or Pass, and forced it. With little effort he subsequently captured twenty fortresses, and subdued a territory known as Khan-Sindan—in one copy of Alfi the first word is Jan—and, having taken possession of the whole of it, turned his face towards a great fortress [a fortified city] called Muli Sang. There is considerable discrepancy with regard to the name of this place, caused by the careless copying of scribes, and the facilities which the Arabic characters offer for making mistakes when carelessly written. In the best written copies of Alfi and the Fanakati, respectively, it is Muli-Sang, as above, and Doli-Shang while in other copies of the former, and in other works, it is without points. The place in question is the Ho-chew of the Chinese historians, and Ho-chew or Ko-chew of the Jesuits' map.
288.3.4
Before setting out into those parts, he had despatched the Nu-yin, Taghachar, with a numerous army, by way of the great river called Ma'an Ling wara-un-Nahr, in a very short space of time — less than that he might reduce to submission the fortified cities of Fang-ching — the words are without points, and may be meant for Mang-ching — and Mang-Fun. Taghachar reached the foot of that fortress [the last mentioned place], and invested it for a week, but, during that time, having obtained no sign of success, he marched away, and returned to his own urdus. Mangu Ka’an was excessively wroth at this proceeding, and vowed he would punish Taghachar in such a way that others should take example therefrom, but he did not live to do so.
288.3.5
The place before which Mangu Ka’an sat down in 654 H., was, according to the Habib-us-Siyar, “a fortified mountain of prodigious height and circuit, and furnished with all things necessary to withstand an enemy. Winter came and passed, and spring set in, and the summer of 655 H. arrived [the summer of 1257 A. D.]. The excessive heat brought on a pestilence among the troops, and most of his army perished. Mangu, who, for a long period, had been investing this strong place, took to drinking deeply, in order to ward off the danger of catching the disease, but his health gave way in consequence, and he was taken ill, and died eight days after, in Muharram — the first month — of 656 H. [about the middle of January, 1258 A.D.] on the banks of the Kobighah Mur-an after a reign of eight years.” The circumstances related by our author, although very brief, contain some interesting particulars respecting these events, which no authors I have been quoting mention. There is considerable discrepancy, too, and some doubt, concerning the date of Mangu’s death. Alfi, and its authorities, the Rauzat-us-Safa, the Fanakati, and the Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, say it happened in 655 H. The Habib-us-Siyar says it took place in 654 H., while Guzidah and Fasih-i say it was in 657 H., and that he reigned nine years, and was forty-eight — some say forty-six — when he died. The Fanakati says his reign was six years and two months.
288.3.6
The last of these dates — 657 H. — is undoubtedly correct, because his brother, Hulaku, in Rabi’-ul-Awwal, 655 H., sent Nur Shah, Badshah of the Mulahidah, to his camp, after obtaining possession of Alamut; and, by Mangu Ka’an’s command, he was put to death by the way. Mangu, therefore, could not possibly have died in 654 H., nor in the first month of 655 H. Another proof is that Hulaku sent the news to Mangu of the capture of Baghdad, and the murder of the last Kha-lifah, together with an account of events which had happened in ’Irak in 656 H., and which news reached him. Therefore, allowing for the immense distance which separated the brothers, the first month of 657 H. — January, 1259 A. D. — is, evidently, the more correct date. Our author, who finished his history in the fifth month of 658 H. — about the end of February, 1260 A.D. — appears to have very recently become aware of his death by report. I must now give the Chinese version of these events for the sake of comparison. “Hu-lyang-hotay” having made conquests in the countries bordering on “Yun-nan,” subsequent to his subjugation of Tibbat in 1255 A. D. — 653 H. — penetrated as far as “Tong-king,” and “Kochin-China,” then comprehended under the name of “Gan-nan,” ruined its capital, and plundered the country. He was returning to “Tali,” when “Mengko” ordered him to join “Hu-pi-lay” in the siege of Vu-chang-Fu [capital of the province of Hu-quang].
288.3.7
“Mengko’s” forces entered “Se-chwen” in three bodies, each in a different direction. As soon as the army passed the mountain of “Lu-pan” [this is one week — purchased 80,000 horses from Samrkand and the Chinese name for the place where the Chingiz Khan died], “Po-li-cha,” a great Tartar [Mughal] lord, was appointed to command the first body, Mu-ko, the Ka’an's brother, the second, while “Mengko” commanded the third, and took the route of Han-chong-Fu in Shen-si. He was vigorously opposed by the troops of the Song in Se-chwen. “Mengko” now sent on, in advance, Nyew-lyen of the Chanchu tribe, whose father and grandfather were greatly renowned in the army, in the beginning of the year 1250—656 H.—to obtain information. He learnt that Ata-hu, the Mughal general in Ching-tû-Fû, was in great extremity, being invested on all sides by the Song. He, Nyew-lyen, having reached Ho-chew, resolved to succour Ata-hu, but his efforts were of no avail, for the Song took it, and Ata-hu died. Nyew-lyen, now grown desperate from want of success, posted himself between the Song army and Ching-tû, to which he immediately marched, and soon after succeeded in gaining possession of it. Finding that the Ka’an had reached Kang-chong-Fu, he left the city in charge of another officer, moved to Mahu, and sent forces to facilitate “Mengko’s” passage of the river Kyan-lin by a bridge of boats.
288.3.8
The other two bodies of troops having rejoined him, Long-gan-Fu was captured, and Lan-chew [now Pau-ning-Fu] surrendered. The general Hû-lyang-hotay entered China, on his return from Gan-nan, by Tung-quin, moved forward to Quang-si, and seized Quey-lin-Fu, the capital of that province. The Chinese were surprised to find him penetrate as far as Chang-sha, a city of Hu-quang, which he invested in the beginning of 1259 A.D., equivalent to the first month of 657 H., which ended on December 16th of that year, and which completely agrees with the year given in Guzidah.