Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 311 The Mongol army invaded the Holy Roman Empire and drank from the Rhine!
Zhao Shuo issued the decree on June 23, 1243. By July 20, one hundred cannons and five thousand bronze muskets had been transported to the military port of Banqiao Town, Shandong (Qingdao Port).

The naval flag, bearing the red flag, departed from the Banqiao Town naval port, arrived in Mingzhou, China, and then from Mingzhou arrived at the port of Qusay in Egypt on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Meanwhile, a strategic offensive by the Mongol army against Europe had already begun.

By now, the main force of the Mongol army has been concentrated in Poland for nearly two years.

At that time, Guyuk summoned reinforcements from the rear.

Apart from the 5,000 steppe warriors left behind by Guyuk's third brother, Khochu, to suppress the entire steppe, all steppe warriors over the age of twelve were conscripted, bringing the total number of Mongol men to 78,000.

The Chagatai Khanate mobilized an army of 60,000.

In addition, both in the Khanate of Ögedei and on the steppe, there were vassal armies composed of Han Chinese, Khitans, and Jurchens who had been recruited by Genghis Khan during his conquest of the world. These armies, totaling 34,000 people, also participated in this expedition.

Adding to this the 54,000 troops under Guyuk's command and the 30,000 Polish vassal troops, the Mongol Empire's army in Poland reached 256,000.

Such a large army could not be supported by the devastated Poland and half of Hungary alone. Guyuk had to take money from the Mongol Khan's treasury to purchase various military supplies from the Zhao Shuo Khanate and the Batu Khanate.

After a three-month rest and reorganization, the Mongol army amassed in Poland. Guyuk then ordered 56,000 troops to monitor the Bohemian direction, while the remaining 200,000 troops launched a full-scale attack on the Seyjo River defenses held by Pope Innocent IV.

After twenty days of fierce fighting, the Mongol army finally found the weakness of the European coalition and broke through the Saijo River in one fell swoop.

However, the cunning Innocent IV had already shrewdly set up a second line of defense on the Danube River, not far from the Saijo.

After the Mongol army sacked Pest, a major Hungarian town on the east bank of the Danube, it was no longer able to break through to the west.

Subsequently, the Mongol army attempted to take a different approach and attack the Principality of Western Pomerania, which belonged to the Holy Roman Empire.

To the south of Poland lies Hungary, to the southwest the Principality of Bohemia, and to the northwest the Principality of West Pomerania, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Conquering the Duchy of West Pomerania was not difficult, but after conquering West Pomerania came the Holy Roman Empire's Oder River defenses and the Brandenburg region beyond the Oder River defenses.

That's very difficult.

Leaving aside the Oder River defense line, which Frederick II deployed 50,000 troops to defend, the Brandenburg region alone caused the Mongol army considerable trouble.

The surface of the Brandenburg region is characterized by glacial formations, with most of the land being barren and covered with forests, sand dunes, rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Only a few fertile lands were used to build castles and manors for the imperial nobility. These castles, in turn, blocked the Mongol advance.

For the Mongols, who were primarily cavalrymen, they would rather cross the Danube or fight the Europeans in the Sudetenland Mountains than fight them in this rotten land.

Therefore, for the Mongols, conquering the Principality of Western Pomerania was merely a matter of plundering and boosting morale; they did not continue their westward advance.

Subsequently, the Mongols made two attempts to break through Hungary's Danube defenses and another to break through the Sudetenland Mountains in Bohemia, but neither made significant progress.

Ultimately, although Europe has lost Byzantium, Rus', Poland, and half of Hungary, it still has a population of nearly 60 million.

The Holy Roman Empire had a population of 14 million, while the Kingdom of Sicily had a population of around 6 million.

Frederick II alone had a population of 20 million, while Louis IX of the Frankish Kingdom had a population of 16 million.

The first and second strongest countries on the European continent alone have a population of 36 million.

With such a large population and its spiritual leader, the Pope, uniting the secular nobility to resist enemies from the east, the Great Mongol Empire's breakthrough will be no easy feat.

Of course, no matter how difficult the task, it must be accomplished!
In the year 1243, on the eighth day of the twelfth month, at the second watch of the night.

Thirty miles east of the Oder River, inside the Great Khan's golden tent.

"Uriyangkhadai, this time it's all up to you! Europa's heart is right in front of you, take it out and let me see!"

Guyuk personally picked up a cup of wine and slowly walked to Uriyangkhadai.

Uriyangkhadai is Subutai's eldest son, and he is forty-two years old this year. Now that Subutai is old, he mainly serves as Güyük's military advisor, rather than fighting on the battlefield.

When it comes to battlefield prowess, Uriyangqatai is the foremost among the Mongol generals.

Today, Güyük personally bestowed wine upon Uriyangkhadai, giving him a formidable task: to break through the Holy Roman Empire's Oder River defenses and to serve as the vanguard in the Brandenburg region.

Indeed, the Holy Roman Empire deployed 50,000 troops along the Oder River. The Brandenburg region, with its sandy terrain, forests, lakes, and swamps, was also very unfavorable to the Mongols.

But isn't this the coldest time of the year?

The Oder River is frozen over!
The sandy areas and lakes of the Brandenburg region were frozen solid, facilitating the passage of Mongol cavalry. Even the threat of swamps was minimized.

This window of opportunity is very short, only one and a half months.

Guyuk's plan was to destroy the Brandenburg region, invade the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, and cut off the supply lines of Frederick II and Innocent IV within a month and a half.

Now, the combined European forces under their command number around 500,000.

If they continue to hold out, their supply lines will be cut off, and they will starve to death.

If they choose to return to defend, Guyuk will have the perfect opportunity to engage them in open battle. After eliminating the main force of the Europa, he can then invade Europe!

The entire plan was proposed by Subutai and decided upon after discussions among Guyuk, Chagatai, Möngke, Kublai Khan, and others.

The entire plan has been in place for ten months. It can be said that during these ten months, the Mongol army's attacks on the Danube River defense line and the Sudetenland mountain defense line were merely to distract the Europeans.

Everything is for today.

By now, the Mongol vassal army of 30,000 Polish soldiers had been almost entirely wiped out. Of the 34,000 vassal troops of Han, Khitan, and Jurchen people, only 28,000 remained.

Of the Chagatai Khanate's 60,000-strong army, only 51,000 remained.

Of the 132,000 troops in the Mongol heartland, only 122,000 remained.

The total strength is 210,000 men.

Guyuk personally led 80,000 steppe warriors to this location, joining Subutai and Uriyangkhadai to carry out the crucial flanking maneuver. Unlike the emperors of the Central Plains, Guyuk, the Great Khan of the Mongols, wouldn't win over the four Mongol lineages without tackling the toughest challenges.

Möngke Khan, Kublai Khan, and other members of the Tolui faction led 21,000 Mongol troops and 28,000 vassal troops, totaling 49,000 men, to make a show of force in Poland, threatening the Sudetenland Mountains. If Frederick II showed any sign of abandoning the Sudetenland, they would immediately attack, cutting off his rear.

Chagatai led his troops in Hungary, totaling 51,000 men, and, in a show of force, confronted Pope Innocent IV on the banks of the Danube.

Another 20,000 Mongol troops were stationed in major cities in Poland and Hungary to suppress local rebellions.

The grand flanking maneuver and encirclement will begin tonight.

"Thank you, Khan!"

Uriyangkhadai knelt on one knee, took the wine bowl with both hands, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Uriyangkhadai will not fail in his mission!"

He then turned and left the central command tent, mounted his horse, and arrived in front of the 20,000 elite Mongol warriors who had been prepared.

"set off!"

Without uttering any grand pronouncements, Ulianghatai issued the order directly, then put a wooden stick in his mouth.

Of course, there were no horns or war drums.

The 20,000 Mongol cavalrymen wrapped their horses' hooves in cotton cloth and held wooden sticks in their mouths, advancing silently toward the Oder River.

Scouts had already been dispatched, and occasionally returned to report intelligence from the front using sign language.

The ranks were eerily silent. Only the mournful whistling of the wind through the bare branches and the soft, muffled thuds of countless hooves pounding the frozen earth could be heard.

As they approached the Oder River, they slowed their pace to avoid being detected by enemy scouts.

The Holy Roman Empire's 50,000-strong army opposite them was naturally on guard against a Mongol breakthrough. However, the Mongols never launched an attack, which had made them complacent.

They also guarded against the Mongol army crossing the river on ice, sending men during the day to break through part of the ice on the Oder River.

However, it was too cold, and this work was really inhuman. Many people lost fingers due to frostbite, and the project was inevitably done perfunctorily.

By late at night, the Oder River had frozen over again.

When Uriyangkhadai led his army to the east bank of the Oder River at midnight, the enemy's sentries on the opposite side had already been picked off by the Mongol scouts.

It's now!

Seeing that there were only a few faint lights and nothing unusual in the Holy Roman garrison camp across the way, Ulianghatai waved his hand in satisfaction.

Swish swish!
The soldiers began to don their armor.

The thousand Mongol warriors, who had been training for a long time, did not put on armor, but simply dismounted.

Ten scouts, divided into ten groups, crawled forward on the ice.

Soldiers followed closely behind, with straw laid out behind him. The straw not only allowed the warhorses to tread more evenly on the ice, but also provided insulation to prevent the ice from melting due to excessive trampling.

puff!
Upon reaching the center of the river, a muffled thud was heard as a section of ice broke, and the two Mongol warriors fell into the ice hole without making a sound.

The warriors behind did not attempt a rescue; instead, they quickly retreated and tried a new route.

That's how elite Mongolian warriors are: strong, patient, used to life and death, and always putting completing the tasks assigned by their lords first.

Of course, it's impossible to keep the enemy in the dark forever.

"Attack! Enemy attack!"

A piercing scream rang out from the opposite bank of the river.

However, it was too late by then; the Mongol army had already padded eight paths with thatch.

The Oder River defense line stretched for three hundred miles, and fifty thousand Holy Roman Empire troops were stationed there. The Holy Roman Empire army nearby numbered only about four thousand.

Rumble~~~
The Mongol cavalry galloped through these eight roads, but two of them were too heavy to bear the weight, and some warriors fell into the river with their horses.

But that's okay, there are still six more!
Six thousand fully armed Mongol elite troops quickly landed and surrounded the enemy's forward strongholds.

"It's done!"

Uriyangkhadai stood on the east bank of the Oder River, watching the main force continuously cross the ice, and said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: take no prisoners. After wiping out one stronghold, quickly move on to the next, and expand the gains as quickly as possible." "Yes, sir!"

"Furthermore, immediately inform the Great Khan that I have crossed the Oder River. Please send your army to support me and wipe out the remaining enemy forces!"

"Yes!"

The Mongol army had an overwhelming numerical advantage and was one of the most powerful armies in the world. The battles at each stronghold were brief and brutal, with hardly any proper shouts, only the vibration of bowstrings and the dull thud of blades cutting into flesh.

By the time dawn broke, they had wiped out approximately four thousand Holy Roman Empire troops in the vicinity.

Guyuk also led a Mongol army of 60,000 across the Oder River.

Afterwards, they spent two days galloping along the east bank of the Oder River, annihilating most of the 50,000-strong army of the Holy Roman Empire.

Then, Uriyangqatai continued as the vanguard, attacking the Ukmak region of Brandenburg.

This area was a wild frontier region for the Holy Roman Empire, with vast moraine plains covered with sandy soil, pine forests, and countless small lakes and swamps, and with few roads.

Along this crucial road stands the castle of the nobles of the Holy Roman Empire.

If it weren't for winter, it would have been an absolute nightmare for the Mongol cavalry.

It's not easy to win now.

The Mongol army spared no effort in capturing local hunters, fishermen, and merchants to obtain the most accurate information on terrain, roads, and hydrology, so as to know which forests could be traversed and which swamps were frozen solid in the harsh winter.

Then, they split into sixteen teams, each with five thousand men, and advanced along multiple parallel routes.

Once the sandy ground froze solid in winter, it became more traversable than muddy, fertile soil. When encountering dense forests, Mongol soldiers would use battle axes and saws to quickly carve a path wide enough for cavalry to pass. While this slowed them down, it didn't stop them.

When they encounter a fortified castle, they will attack it at any cost to obtain its food and people.

Then, they drove these people to attack the next fortress.

These prisoners were not distinguished by age, gender, or physical condition; anyone who couldn't keep up was killed on the spot. Only those who could keep up with the troops and survive the brutal siege had a chance to continue living in this world.

Fortunately, at this time, the Brandenburg region had a total population of only about 100,000, and the number of enemies in each fortified town was not large, ranging from a few hundred to only a few dozen. The Mongol army's advance was relatively smooth.

It was at this time that Otto III received news that the Mongol army had entered the country.

At this time, the Brandenburg region of the Holy Roman Empire was not ruled by a single monarch, but by two brothers.

His elder brother, John I, resided in Stendal and ruled over the wealthy western region of Brandenburg, also known as the "birthplace of the dragon" in Polish Denburg.

Otto III resided in Spandau, which later became part of the Greater Berlin area.

If history had unfolded normally, the two brothers would have united and established Berlin.

Upon learning that the Mongol army had broken through the Oder River defenses and advanced into the Ukmak region, Otto III quickly moved into Brandenburg to fight a decisive battle against the Mongol army.

He is thirty-four years old and an ambitious man.

This ambition was not about what to do to his brother John I, but about fighting for the strength of Polandtenburg and for the glory of God, and was known as the "Pious Ones".

Since he officially took power at the age of sixteen, he has continuously sent immigrants to the border of Tengburg, Poland, expanding Tengburg's power.

He was never married and had no children.

Because marriage was a powerful tool for expanding power in Europe, he had to carefully choose his partner. It wasn't until this year that he became engaged to Princess Beatrice of Bohemia. The Kingdom of Bohemia was considered one of the most powerful nations in Europe.

He once said, “My value lies not in giving Brandenburg a master, but in winning a future for Brandenburg. My brother already has children, enough to continue the family line. My marriage must be either a sword piercing the enemy’s heart or the strongest shield protecting our land. I would rather wait until I find that sword or that shield.”

Such a ruthless person, facing the attack of nearly 100,000 Mongol troops, not only did not panic, but was also excited and eager to try.

Because this Polish-Denburg was not only a strong fortress, but also built along the Havel River.

Because the Noot River, a tributary of the Havel River, is fed by groundwater and heat resources, it does not freeze in winter.

Brandenburg is divided into three parts.

One part is the most central part, standing on Cathedral Island in the middle of the Havel River, where Brandenburg's largest church is located, as well as the Marquisate of Otto III.

The other two sections stand on either side of the Havel River, with walls made of massive stones, reaching a height of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Moreover, the waters of the Havel River were diverted to form a complete moat.

Although he only had two thousand garrison troops and four thousand civilians in the city, how could the Mongol army conquer it in such a short time?
It's winter now, would the Mongols even be digging? What would they use to fill the moat?
So what if Brandenburg has a small population? Its small size and low population density are what make it so special!

Besides, he doesn't need to stay for long. He has already sent a messenger to Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor.

"Nine-stripe white banners? The Mongol Khan has actually come in person! Good! Good! Good! Wait until your army is bogged down in Brandenburg, your rear thaws, and your logistics fail. Then the Holy Roman Empire's army arrives, and we'll see how you die!"

"If I defeat you, I will be the hero of Europe! The emperor will surely grant me West Bolamenia, won't he? My Brandenburg family will be more powerful than ever before! I will also be a hero of the Roman Catholic Church, and I will surely be canonized after my death!"

The European army and the Mongol army had been at war for a long time, so Otto III certainly recognized the nine-stripe white banner that represented the Mongol Khan.

Three days later, Otto looked at the Mongol army gathered below the city and the nine-bladed white banner, a smug smile on his face.

To his surprise, an old general with gray hair opposite him looked at Brandenburg before him and let out a cold laugh: "Brandenburg, what a grand name! But after seeing it today, it's nothing special."

This man was Subutai, a veteran Mongol general.

Guy said, “Brandenburg’s circumference is only eight miles, including the Havel River in the middle. Compared to the other cities we’ve attacked, it’s really nothing. But the Havel River is strange; it doesn’t freeze in winter. And it’s too cold now, making it inconvenient to get soil. What should we do?”

Subutai's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said, "If obtaining soil is difficult, is obtaining timber difficult? There are plenty of forests around Brandenburg, and we've captured another 10,000 Brandenburg conscripts. Let them cut down trees and build a pontoon bridge over the moat for us, won't that solve the problem?"

"What if the Brandenburg garrison, positioned on higher ground, attacks these conscripts?"

Subutai smiled slightly and said, "I'm afraid we still have to rely on these pieces of wood."

Soon, all ten thousand Brandenburg conscripts sprang into action, cutting down trees in the forests near Brandenburg.

Upon seeing this, Otto III couldn't help but sneer, saying, "What are they doing? Do they want to build a pontoon bridge? So what? My city's defensive weapons are enough to inflict heavy casualties on them. They can't build this pontoon bridge! Hmph, the Mongols are indeed just a bunch of barbarians who only know how to destroy. When faced with the powerful castles of the civilized world, they only resort to the most foolish means."

However, seven days later, he stopped laughing.

boom!
As the dry firewood ignited the damp wood, plumes of thick smoke rose, completely enveloping the nearby moat.

Amidst the thick smoke, soldiers carried wooden planks forward, clearly building a pontoon bridge.

The ranged weapons on the city walls could certainly inflict some casualties. However, the thick smoke obscuring the sun greatly reduced these casualties.

In just over half a day, four pontoon bridges had been built over the moat.

Immediately afterwards——

Boom boom boom!
The Mongol army's catapults have proven their effectiveness!

Countless seven-and-a-half-pound stones were launched toward Brandenburg!

The gunpowder weapon, the Thunderclap, has revealed its true power!

Whoosh whoosh!
The three-bow crossbow fired a single shot and three arrows, reaping the lives of the Brandon defenders!

"Charge! Kill!"

"Break Brandenburg!"

"The Great Khan will personally oversee the battle; anyone who retreats will be beheaded!"

……

With shouts echoing, five thousand Mongol soldiers, under the cover of long-range weapons, carried ladders and bravely charged towards the walls of Brandenburg.

Time was of the essence, so there was no need for those conscripted soldiers; Guyuk directly mobilized five thousand Mongol troops!
"Oh no!"

In fact, Otto III realized something was wrong when the Mongolian army used the thick smoke to build a pontoon bridge this morning.

At this moment, they were completely dumbfounded.
What a terrifying long-range weapon this is! The West has never had one before!

What a valiant warrior he was! Even the most elite of his two thousand troops could probably compare to him!
What barbarians? These Mongols before us are undoubtedly a civilized race skilled in combat and adept at using tools!
Otto III felt like a frog in a well!
Of course, it was too late for Otto III to think anything now. The Mongol army breached the walls of Tengburg in Poland in just one hour.

Otto III could only lead his personal guards to flee to Cathedral Island.

The following day, the Mongol army gathered the ships within the city and, under the cover of three-bow crossbows, successfully landed on the island.

Otto III resisted fiercely inside the Marquis's mansion, but was killed on the spot by the Mongol soldiers who stormed in.

dong dong dong~~
An hour later, Guyuk entered the Marquis's mansion under the protection of five hundred guards.

He was accompanied by Bishop Bühåck, the Bishop of Brandenburg.

Guyuk picked up a book decorated with indigo and gold powder, his fingertips tracing the exquisite illustrations stained with Otto III's blood, and said, "I heard that Otto III, before he died, was fighting my soldiers with a sword in one hand and this book in the other. How ridiculous, fighting with a book will only hasten his death."

A translator was appointed to translate for the old bishop.

The old bishop said, “That is a scripture from my Roman Catholic Church. Otto III knew he was going to die, but our Roman Catholic Church forbids suicide. He fought with this scripture to prove his piety to God.”

“The scriptures…” Guyuk said to the captured old bishop after hearing the translated words, “What does this scripture say?”

A glimmer of hope ignited in the old protagonist's eyes as he eagerly explained about love, redemption, and God's law.

Guyuk listened patiently and nodded. Then, he casually tore off a few pages of the toughest parchment and handed them to the guard beside him.

“Use it to wrap the meat,” he ordered. “The rest, use it to start a fire.”

Under the old bishop's distraught gaze, Guyuk pointed to a picture of the final judgment in the book and said to the interpreter with a smile, "Look, this scripture is drawn incorrectly. We Mongols are the ones whom God judges."

……

After the fall of Brandenburg, Guyuk sent Uriyangkhadai as his vanguard, who swept away Berlin and Kohl, which were not far away.

It was at this moment that Frederick II learned of the latest movements of the Mongol army and was greatly alarmed. If Brandenburg could not hold off the Mongol army, they would be drinking from the Rhine!
(End of this chapter)