The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 178 (Color Image)

0178	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

136

BOOK II.

MARCO POLO

01,

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still the noblest city in all those provinces. There are

very great merchants here, who trade on a great scale,

and the abundance of silk is something marvellous.

They have, moreover, most charming gardens abounding

with fruit of large size. The city of Tadinfu hath also

under its rule eleven imperial cities of great importance,

all of which enjoy a large and profitable trade, owing to

that immense produce of silk.'

Now, you must know, that in the year of Christ, 1273,

the Great Kaan had sent a certain Baron called LIYTAN

SANGON,3 with some 8o,000 horse, to this province and

city, to garrison them. And after the said captain had

tarried there a while, he formed a disloyal and traitorous

plot, and stirred up the great men of the province to

rebel against the Great Kaan. And so they did ; for

they broke into revolt against their sovereign lord, and

refused all obedience to him, and made this Liytan,

whom their sovereign had sent thither for their protection,

to be the chief of their revolt.

When the Great Kaan heard thereof he straightway

despatched two of his Barons, one of whom was called

AGUIL and the other MONGOTAY ;4 giving them 1oo,000

horse and a great force of infantry. But the affair was a

serious one, for the Barons were met by the rebel Liytan

with all those whom he had collected from the province,

mustering more than i oo,000 horse and a large force of

foot. Nevertheless in the battle Liytan and his party

were utterly routed, and the two Barons whom the

Emperor had sent won the victory. When the news

came to the Great Kaan he was right well pleased, and

ordered that all the chiefs who had rebelled, or excited

others to rebel, should be put to a cruel death, but that

those of lower rank should receive a pardon. And so it

was done, The two Barons had all the leaders of the

enterprise put to a cruel death, and all those of lower

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