Conrad's Last Campaign Read Free

all of the army’s civilian products, across much of the world. He was also my secret chief of spies.
    “Tell him that I’m coming,” I said, grabbing an embroidered silk robe.
    In the radio room, bleary eyed, I said, “Boris, this had better be good!”
    “It’s not, my lord. It’s very bad. The Mongols are getting ready to move on Europe again. Their departure date is set for three months from now.”

Twenty Years Ago in China
    Polymaths, geniuses in multiple fields, are rare in history, but China in the tenth and thirteenth centuries and the Ottoman Empire for a few centuries afterward produced more than their share. In a few rare lifetimes, more than one existed simultaneously. Su Song was a polymath working for the great khan.
    In his younger days, Su Song had written an extensive book on pharmacology, cataloging hundreds of medicinal compounds and herbs. As with other polymaths, he also wrote books on engineering, metallurgy, military strategy, mineralogy, chemistry, and diplomacy. His most famous achievement was a forty-foot high clock built for the Song emperor. It was water powered, chain driven, regulated by an escapement four hundred years ahead of its time. In Conrad’s home time line, it was famous a thousand years in the future.
    As with most Chinese polymaths, he rose to prominence during the civil service exams and spent most of his life in Imperial posts. It was his diplomatic expertise and knowledge of history that caused him to end up in Mongol Imperial Service.
    He was on a diplomatic mission to the Jin dynasty in 1237 when the city he was in came under Mongol attack. The city held out for two months, until captured Chinese sappers exploded nearly two tons of black powder under the city walls.
    Because the city had resisted, the Mongols imposed the usual penalty; death to all inhabitants. However, the khan had learned by now that some people were as valuable as horses and land. The engineers who had sapped the walls and the gunpowder they used were, after all, Chinese engineers and a Chinese invention.
    In spite of his fame, Su Song was kneeling in front of a raised sword when he was recognized and saved. It was an even closer call for his wife.

From the Secret Diary of Su Song
    It has been five years now since I entered the service of the great khan. For the last three years, I have served the new khan, Ogedei, by improving siege machines, trebuchets, and gunpowder weapons and planning supply chains for his military campaigns, but today things became much more interesting.
    Early in the morning, two palace messengers summoned me to a meeting with the khan himself.
    I remember that my wife fussed with my collar unnecessarily, her fingers lingering when they brushed the skin of my neck. I knew what she was thinking. When one was summoned by the great khan, one could return showered with wealth or wrapped in a shroud.
    I tried to reassure her, “My dear, you have been fussing over my clothes for the past ten minutes. I’m more likely to be executed for keeping the great khan waiting than for wrinkled clothes”. I immediately regretted the jest as her eyes teared over. Like most husbands, I am better at reading the stars than I am in reading my wife’s mind.
    Several of my assistants were waiting at the heavily guarded door to one of the grand halls.
    Of course we dropped to our knees and began the ceremonial crawl to the throne. We had not gotten more than a few chi [^1] when the khan announced loudly, “Su Song, you and your men will have to stand to see what we have to show you. We have important business to attend to.”
    I looked up to an amazing sight. Ten crossbowmen stood on each side of the emperor. In all his years as emperor, the khan had strictly forbidden any deadly weapons in his presence He carried the only sword allowed in the audience chamber. Even his personal guard was not armed in the audience chambers or offices. Something momentous was going to happen, and I hoped that it