He then gave orders for collecting, with the utmost celerity, the whole of the troops stationed within ten days’ march of the city of Kambalu.  These amounted to three hundred and sixty thousand horse, to which was added a body of a hundred thousand foot, consisting of those who were usually about his person, and principally his falconers and domestic servants.  In the course of twenty days they were all in readiness.  Had he assembled the armies kept up for the constant protection of the different provinces of Cathay, it must necessarily have required thirty or forty days; in which time the enemy would have gained information of his arrangements, and been enabled to effect their junction, and to occupy such strong positions as would best suit with their designs.  His object was, by promptitude, which is ever the companion of victory, to anticipate the preparations of Nayan, and, by falling upon him while single, destroy his power with more certainty and effect than after he should have been joined by Kaidu.

In every province of Cathay and of Manji,[65] as well as in other parts of his dominions, there were many disloyal and seditious persons, who at all times were disposed to break out in rebellion against their sovereign, and on this account it became necessary to keep armies in such of the provinces as contained large cities and an extensive population, which are stationed at the distance of four or five miles from those cities, and can enter them at their pleasure.  These armies the Grand Khan makes it a practice to change every second year, and the same with respect to the officers who command them.  By means of such precautions the people are kept in quiet subjection, and no movement nor innovation of any kind can be attempted.  The troops are maintained not only from the pay they receive out of the imperial revenues of the province, but also from the cattle and their milk, which belong to them individually, and which they send into the cities for sale, furnishing themselves from thence, in return, with those articles of which they stand in need.  In this manner they are distributed over the country, in various places, to the distance of thirty, forty, and even sixty days’ journey.  If even the half of these corps were to be collected in one place, the statement of their number would appear marvellous and scarcely entitled to belief.

Having formed his army in the manner above described, the Grand Khan proceeded toward the territory of Nayan, and by forced marches, continued day and night, he reached it at the expiration of twenty-five days.  So prudently, at the same time, was the expedition managed, that neither that Prince himself nor any of his dependents were aware of it, all the roads being guarded in such a manner that no persons who attempted to pass could escape being made prisoners.  Upon arriving at a certain range of hills, on the other side of which was the plain where Nayan’s army lay encamped, Kublai halted his troops and allowed them two days of rest.  During this interval he called upon his astrologers to ascertain, by virtue of their art, and to declare in presence of the whole army, to which side the victory would incline.  They pronounced that it would fall to the lot of Kublai.  It has ever been the practice of the grand khans to have recourse to divination for the purpose of inspiriting their men.