Kingdom of Conquerors

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"It is not sufficient that I succeed:

all others must fail"

--Genghis Khan--

In the 1200's arose a man

so feared for his ruthlessness

and cunning that he was able to emerge as

the greatest empire

builder ever known to mankind,

Genghis Khan - revered as the founder

of the Mongol Empire.

Making history from the saddle

of his unstoppable steed,

Genghis Khan and

his formidable horsemen became known

both for their unrelenting

strategic skills as well as

the wholesale massacres of any

civilian populations that stand in their way.

In his lifetime he set his people on a path that

eventually saw them controlling

large portions of present day China,

Russia, Central Asia,

the Middle East and Eastern Europa.

But by 1219 as he led

his Mongol forces the West once more

to do battle he faced

an enemy that he could not defeat;

a growing fear if his own mortality.

KINGDOM OF CONQUERORS

Grandpa, are we at the city where the sun sets?

No, it's still far.

When we get there, I'll be all grown up.

That's right.

Every Mongolian grows up on the road.

We keep moving as long as we're alive,

right up until we die.

What does "die" mean?

"Die" is when you stop moving.

Grandpa, why do we keep

going in this direction?

Because that's where our enemies are.

Don't stop!

They killed our trade envoys

and now the Creator

wants us to punish them

for their arrogance

and their foolishness.

When I grow up, I'm going to fight

your enemies, Grandpa.

You must chase down your enemies

and tear down their city walls

so that grass can grow in its place,

and so that your horses can run free.

Naya, open your eyes!

Look at me, Naya!

Great Khan,

you should stay back.

Beware of the plague.

Naya?

The Western Campaign army

was ravaged by plague.

When Kheshig Commander Naya

succumbed to the disease,

the Great Khan

began to fear his own death.

Great Khan,

here is your plague medicine.

So long as my enemies are alive,

I will not die.

Great Khan,

Yelv Chucai asked me to tell you

the baby may be infected

with the plague.

It must be kept away from your queen.

No!

This child arrived at the wrong time.

His cries weaken my heart.

Go find him a good family.

With the blessings of heaven,

he will survive

and will someday become a great man.

My queen.

Long Beard.

Do I...

look old to you?

I may be old,

but even so,

I still have a long way to go.

Nothing could stop

the Great Khan's advance to the west.

Should plague

and pestilence be an obstacle?

Great Khan's royal bodyguard Naya

died because of plague.

I was ordered to take up his saber?

And seek out the great Taoist monk,

the Sage of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji.

The Sage Qiu has a world reputation,

and everyone knows him

in the eastern plains.

I hope to persuade him to allay

the Great Khan's fear of death.

We traveled day and night

toward the rising sun.

13 horses died of fatigue under me.

And after three seasons passed,

I finally saw the legendary ocean.

Who comes?

Special envoy for Genghis Khan,

Liu Zhonglu.

I come to present an invitation

from the Great Khan to Master Qiu,

to instruct him in the Way.

Where is the Great Khan?

The Great Khan is traveling west

and is now campaigning

in Khwarezmia.

My master is advanced in age

and cannot travel.

We must decline.

Halt!

Give the plants very little.

Save the water

- for the people down the mountain.

- Move it!

- Move!

- Take me to Qiu Chuji.

Wait.

I am Qiu Chuji.

You can let him go.

Listen, old man,

I am looking for the Sage

of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji.

And I am

the Sage of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji.

I am sorry, Master.

My apologies.

"I inquire after Master Qiu,

you who are the embodiment of the Way,

and in harmony

with all in and under heaven,

whose wisdom exceeds the knowable,

whose conduct his name bears high,

who has meditated long

in the valleys hidden in the shadows.

I have therefore dispatched General Liu

with an escort and chariots to request

that you delay your quest

for immortality?

And make the instruction of myself?

In the Way your foremost task,

as this offends neither righteousness,

your station, or proper governance.

By order of Genghis Khan."

The honor that has been

bestowed upon me

by the Great Khan

is far greater and nobler than

an old man like myself deserves.

Master, when will you

be ready to depart?

I will ready your escort.

Whether I go or not

depends upon heaven's will.

Master, fool that I am,

I request clarification.

Wendeng suffers from

the worst drought in a century.

I must pray for rain here.

When heaven takes pity

on the people of Wendeng

and grants them rain,

then I will follow you

and your men west,

without delay or protest.

Master, you know that

the Great Khan's edicts must be obeyed.

You've crossed mountains and rivers,

your journey was long.

You must get some rest.

Master? Master.

Master!

Master!

An emissary from the Jin Empire

requests your presence

at their capital.

And a Song ambassador

requests your guidance in Luoyang.

They come with full honors.

Tell them that right now

our crops are dying

at the hands of a severe drought,

and unless they can provide me

with a rushing river,

I will not see any one of them.

Great Khan,

your feet are cold today.

I am very old.

My blood does not flow well.

Hoelun, these last few days

I have been dreaming

about nothing but death.

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