Genghis Khan - Mongol Empire 2of6

In those early days Temujin and Jamukha shared the leadership of the tribe. Yet even as they celebrated the victory over the Merkits, there was a hidden tension between them. At the root was a fundamental question, how to measure a man's worth. Both Temujin and Jamukha were the sons of tribal leaders, Mongolian aristocrats. But only Temujin had experienced a childhood of real adversity and learned from it. Now I cared only for the strength in a man's heart. A warrior does not win a battle by virtue of his birth. Temujin rewarded ability and loyalty alone. One of his most promising warriors was Subudai, the son of a humble herdsman. But this attitude flew in the face of Mongol tradition. Jamukha's noble birth led him to believe that high rank should be reserved only for Mongol aristocrats. But now his blood brother was throwing out the old ways. The gulf between Temujin and Jamukha widened still further. Until the prophecy of the Mongol holy man brought their relationship to a crisis. The shaman said he had ascended into heaven in the holy trance where the supreme god told him that he would give to me and to my sons the whole surface of the world. For the tribe and for Jamukha, it was a decisive moment. Men who are sworn brothers share one life. But I began to question whether Jamukha was truly my blood brother for all eternity. It was not right that our differences should force a feud. But my wife stopped me from going after him. She warned that one day my blood brother would ride against me. For Temujin, this feud brought back the darkest memory of his childhood. I knew where a war between brothers would lead. Even when we were starving, my brother Bekta had betrayed us. He refused to share the spoils of a hunt. He died of his wounds. Jamukha split the tribe. Two years would pass before they would hear from him. High on the plateau of central Mongolia is a place known as Dalan Balji. It was here that Borte's prophecy would be fulfilled. Jamukha ambushed Temujin's tribe. Temujin, the man who would be Genghis Khan, led an army that was unprepared, outnumbered and outwitted. It had been a catastrophic defeat. But there was worse to follow. Jamukha took the generals he had captured and subjected them to the cruelest of punishments. He boiled them alive. When Temujin learnt of the atrocity, he made this vow. By the power of heaven, I swore to gain my vengeance. Never again would I be defeated, nor my loyal warriors so dishonoured. It was now that Temujin started a revolution. They say that the Mongols were descended from the wolf. Like the wolf, they were famous for our ferocity and courage. But to win a battle, we had to fight fiercely, not as individual warriors, but as parts of a whole. Temujin formed an elite officer training corps, the Kashir. He was building a professional fighting machine from top to bottom. The Mongols' universal instrument of battle was the bow. Made from wood and animal bone, it had a shooting range of 500 metres. Training in archery and horsemanship was made compulsory for all, even children. They learnt to release their arrows at the exact moment the horse's hooves were off the ground, for maximum accuracy. Temujin had thrown out the old tribal divisions. This was a meritocracy. This was a modern army. He was ready. In the summer of 1204, Temujin rode west to confront his blood brother. The outcome would be decisive for the future of the Mongol people. In the foothills of the Hengi Mountains, on the eve of battle, Temujin called his generals to him. I told them, one tribe is like a single arrow, easily broken. But many tribes together would be strong. They could never be broken. But Temujin didn't just rely on inspirational speeches. He practised psychological warfare. I knew Jamukha's scouts would be watching as my men prepared for battle. I ordered each man to light not one, but five fires. Jamukha's scouts reported that Temujin's army was so large, they had more fires than there were stars in the sky.