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

Chapter 313 Universal Empire: The Chinese are more universal than others!
It was at this moment that Liu Heima's 10,000-strong force moved. Warriors clad in two layers of armor carried ladders and sped forward on the mountain road.

There were nine hot air balloons, each carrying eight bombs. After dropping them, they would have to return to land, reload, start the fire, and take off again. Even if everything went smoothly, it would still take more than half an hour.

Moreover, after several bombings, once the enemy adapts from their initial panic, they can easily discover the hot air balloon's fatal weakness: to ensure the bombs land accurately, the altitude must be lowered, which puts them within range of the enemy's powerful bows and crossbows. Maintaining sufficient altitude, however, results in a horribly large margin of error, greatly reducing its destructive power.

Must be fast!

Before the enemy can react, seize Blackrock Fortress (Crown Shield Fortress)!

"Charge! Kill!"

"The first four to breach Black Rock Fortress will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and promoted one rank!"

"Those who retreat will be beheaded, and their entire families will be executed!"

"God's calamity, the destruction of Bohemia, the destruction of Europe!"

……

Just as the thunderbolts from the nine hot air balloons were dropped, and thick smoke was still billowing from Black Rock Fortress, almost simultaneously, three cloud ladders were erected on the stone walls of Black Rock Fortress amidst shouts. The soldiers bravely climbed up, their morale soaring.

Their morale is indeed high.

Firstly, this combination of hot air balloons and thunderbolts was the first time it had appeared on the battlefield, bombarding the enemy guarding the fortified position with a truly shocking effect.

Secondly, it was Zhao Shuo's name that played a role.

When they, or their fathers and grandfathers, submitted to the Mongols, they were not valued by the Mongols. They were mainly assigned the most dangerous tasks, such as being the vanguard and attacking cities, and received very little spoils. In short, they were cannon fodder, with a status only slightly better than the Balu Battalion.

Later, as the war progressed, these people proved their worth, and Zhao Shuo's Eight Banners army made a name for itself. As a result, their treatment improved, and the spoils of war increased.

Historical records show a similar pattern.

The Mongol Empire established by Genghis Khan had a strong sense of universality. When Genghis Khan unified the grasslands, the country was inhabited by a large number of Jurchens, Turks, Khitans, and Uyghurs, and various religions existed.

Later, as the wars progressed, Han Chinese also joined in. By the time Kublai Khan marched north to seize the throne of the Mongol Khanate, the Han Chinese hereditary lords had become an important pillar of Kublai Khan's army.

These Han military lords, with their powerful armies, territories, and people, how could their status be low?
Meanwhile, the Mongols of the same period were already showing signs of selling their children, and even themselves, into slavery in order to cope with corvée labor.

It was only later, when Li Tan rebelled and Kublai Khan stripped the Han military and civilians of their power, that the status of the Han people began to decline.

Later, with the decadence of the Yuan Dynasty rulers, a de facto four-class system of people emerged. At the same time, ordinary Mongols also struggled to cope with corvée labor, and Mongol slaves became a significant export commodity from Quanzhou Port. The Yuan court issued several decrees to redeem Mongol slaves, but these efforts were ultimately insufficient.

In any case, by now, this army composed of Han Chinese, Khitans, and Jurchens faces almost the same level of danger in carrying out combat missions as an army composed entirely of Mongols, and the spoils of war are also the same.

Western troops, on the other hand, are still being used as cannon fodder. For example, there are hardly any Polish conscripts left.

It must be said that Zhao Shuo's idea of ​​allowing Han and Mongol people to share the world gradually took root and bore fruit under his subtle influence.

As for the Jurchens and Khitans?
Within the territory ruled by Zhao Shuo's Khanate, there was no legal discrimination against these Jurchens and Khitans, nor was there any reduction in land allocation for them. Zhao Shuo's real discrimination was directed towards the population west of China.

However, Zhao Shuo declared that "Han people and Mongols share the world," and as the saying goes, "What the superiors like, the inferiors will follow even more closely." The Khitans and Jurchens actively moved closer to the Han people.

In the eyes of the Mongols, whether they were Han Chinese, Khitans, or Jurchens, they were all Chinese and there was not much difference between them.

The soldiers of this unit were unaware of the historical developments. They only believed that it was the Eight Banners army under Zhao Shuo's command that had achieved its prestige and that Zhao Shuo's advocacy had elevated their status, and they held Zhao Shuo in high esteem.

Although Zhao Shuo is not participating in the battle, the weapons he provided are outstanding, which has boosted their morale even further!
On the other side, the Bohemians atop the "Crown Shield" fortress were in extremely low spirits.

The hot air balloon that had just taken to the sky was enough to discourage them. The thunderbolt that was thrown down from the hot air balloon sent their morale plummeting to rock bottom.

Can you still play like this?
To bombard by dropping gunpowder weapons directly from the sky?
How can we fight them? They can't fly!
Having never encountered such a severe blow before, how could these people possibly come up with a suitable way to retaliate in such a hurry?

Countless people were injured or killed on the spot, and the wounded could only lie helplessly on the city wall and wail in agony.

Countless people were completely bewildered, only able to kneel on the ground and pray for divine protection.

Vittor Premisel was even more bewildered.

Is this still the barbarian he thought he knew, the one who only knew how to destroy?
These barbarian-made tools can actually fly into the sky, challenging the forbidden zones of the gods. If they are considered barbarians, then what are the Europeans? Even more barbaric and useless trash?

The besieging army's claims of "God's calamity" terrified him even more.

Could this flying device truly be a gift from God? Was King Zhao Shuo, the "Calamity of God," truly acting on God's will to destroy Europe?
Do not!
This is impossible!

God favors Europe, so the calamity of God must be a lie told by the Mongols! As long as we firmly believe in God, He will surely bless His devout people and bring them victory!

Is such that!

That must be the case!
"Get up! Get up and fight!"

"The Mongols have used the devil's weapons; they will surely be severely punished by God!"

"This is just a test from God! Lamb of God, take up your weapons and fight these infidels!"

……

Vittor Premisl steadfastly upheld his beliefs and rallied the Bohemian troops on the fortress walls to continue fighting.

However, only a little over two hundred people picked up their weapons again, trembling as they prepared to continue fighting.

At this moment, the enemy troops had already attacked!

"Charge! Kill! God's scourge will destroy Bohemia!"

"Smash Blackrock Fortress, leave no one alive!"

……

The Chinese army roared wildly and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the demoralized Bohemian defenders.

Vittor Premisel watched almost every moment as enemies or his own comrades died, with fewer on the enemy side and more on his own.

Witt Premisel's eardrums were filled with shouts, the sounds of weapons clashing and hacking, the screeching of weapons piercing armor, and the muffled thuds of weapons penetrating bodies.

"kill!"

With a loud shout, Vittor Premisel's eyes widened as he used all his skill and courage to kill the enemies in front of him one by one! He caught his breath slightly, but then an enemy wielding a short sword came slashing at him from the side!

Witt Premisel twisted his waist, dodging the fatal blow. His short sword grazed the chest plate, sending sparks flying. The enemy, having exerted too much force, staggered slightly. Witt Premisel seized the opportunity and thrust his longsword into the enemy's neck. The sword pierced the enemy's throat, and blood gushed out.

The enemy was actually quite skilled in martial arts and was likely an officer. However, Vittor Premisel was one of the most outstanding heroes in Bohemia, and the enemy was no match for him.

However, Vittor Premisel's good fortune came to an end.

Just as the enemy was killed by Vittor Premis, the Chinese soldier next to him, seeing his own centurion die, flew into a rage and swung a long iron mace, striking Vittor Premis heavily on the head.

The ornate helmet was immediately smashed flat.

Vittor Premisel's eyes were almost completely ruptured, and blood spurted out from the edges of his eye sockets, mixing with the brain matter that was overflowing from his forehead.

Thus, Bohemia's "Golden Lion" Vittor Premisel met his end at the "Crown Shield Fortress," at the hands of a lowly Chinese soldier.

By the time the battle at "Crown Shield" Fortress was completely over, the entire battle had only lasted for two hours.

The Bohemians inside the fortress were all slaughtered, and the food stored up inside, enough to last a year, became spoils of war for the Mongols.

Subsequently, the Mongols pressed on and breached two more fortified fortresses in a single day.

Seven days later, all the fortresses in the Sudetenland Mountains had been destroyed by the Mongol army.

King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia abandoned his capital and hastily led two thousand cavalrymen to pursue Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.

Of course, at the same time, Möngke also learned about the movements of the European army from the prisoners.

"very good!"

Mongke is in a pretty good mood right now.

This surprise attack by the Mongol army swiftly wiped out the Bohemian camp in the Sudetenland Mountains. Möngke not only gained a large amount of grain but also a staggering one million taels of silver. This was because the Kingdom of Bohemia was a border vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire, and its prosperity was primarily due to the massive silver mines within its borders.

Of course, Möngke also knew that now was not the time to take advantage of the victory and attack the Bohemian capital to obtain more spoils; annihilating the main force of Europe was the top priority.

He shouted, "Pass on my order: the entire army is to pursue King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia! We'll go west of the Elbe and give Frederick II a good kick in the ass!"

"Yes!"

Because of their eagerness to break through the Sudetenland defenses, even with the support of hot air balloons and bombs, the Mongolian army suffered considerable losses, with approximately 7,000 casualties.

Möngke and Kublai Khan, leading 42,000 cavalry, continued southward, unsure if they would make it in time for the crucial decisive battle.

Meanwhile, in Buda, Hungary.

"We probably won't make it to that final battle."

Pope Innocent IV had just learned of the Mongol invasion of Brandenburg and Frederick II's decision.

A quick calculation shows that even if cavalry were dispatched now, it would be too late to move from here to the area west of the Elbe River.

He looked intently at King Louis IX of France and said, "But that doesn't mean we'll do nothing."

Louis IX was also a rare wise ruler in Europe.

This man is only thirty years old this year, but he ascended the throne fourteen years ago.

In the early years of his reign, he suppressed a noble rebellion within France and even defeated a joint invasion by the rebels and King Henry III of England, successfully strengthening royal power and annexing all of the English king's territories in France except for Aquitaine.

He nodded slightly and said, "You mean, to attack the Mongol army on the other side?"

"Yes, that's it."

Innocent is fifty years old this year, which is still young for a pope.

"According to the intelligence sent by Frederick II, the Mongol army alone has nearly 100,000 troops deployed for outflanking maneuvers. They must also leave tens of thousands of troops in the Polish region. So, how many Mongol troops will be left on our side?"

After a pause, Innocent IV pointed to the map and said, "The decisive battle between the Mongol army and our European allied forces will inevitably take place west of the Elbe River. It's more than a thousand miles away from here. We certainly can't spare the time to provide support, but the main Mongol force can't possibly support Hungary either! Why not seize this opportunity and use our nearly 300,000 troops to annihilate the enemy forces right in front of us!"

"I agree!"

The Pope and the King of France were in agreement, and the matter was settled.

Three days later, with a command from the Pope, an army of 70,000 crossed the Danube and launched an attack on Pest.

The Mongols seemed to be afraid of the European coalition, and only sent a small force to intercept the Europeans on the banks of the Danube. Seeing that the battle was going badly, they retreated in panic and did not defend Pest to the death.

Two days later, the European coalition grew to 130,000 men and crossed the Saijo River.

At this point, the Pope had two options: either set up a defensive line along the Seyio River or continue the pursuit.

After spending a day on the east bank of the Seio River, the European coalition that had gathered around the Pope numbered 150,000, and he decided to continue the attack.

Of course, the combat strength of this army of 150,000 was uneven, and there were only about 30,000 cavalry.

To ensure the speed of the pursuit, Innocent IV brought only 70,000 of his most elite infantry in addition to his 30,000 cavalry.

They traveled forty li a day and pursued for seven days before finally seeing fifty thousand Chagatai Khanate cavalry arrayed ahead.

"Are they finally ready for a final showdown?"

Innocent IV breathed a sigh of relief. If the Mongol army had continued to retreat, he truly wouldn't have known whether to continue the pursuit or stop to seize other opportunities. After all, with the battle lines stretched too long and offering no defensible terrain, it was precisely when the Mongol army was most vulnerable. But, God bless Europe, the Mongol army finally stopped and agreed to a decisive battle.

Although this is a plain, it is the site of the most elite army in Europe that he leads.

With twice the troop strength, and cavalry not much less than the enemy's, they had a significant advantage.

If not now, when?

"The Eternal Heaven has been kind to me!"

Chagatai looked at the European army before him and a smile appeared on his face.

He is too old; even if he doesn't participate in this war, he probably won't live for another year or two.

Let this glorious victory in the final battle be the best ending to his life!

(End of this chapter)