Genghis Khan, founder and first of the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire, looked at the smoldering ruins of the city of Kiev on top of his warhorse. His armies - now a well-oiled machine from decades of conquests over Central Asia, Russia and parts of Northern China - were methodically putting the finishing touches to the city of Kiev.
The Great Khan sighed to himself, '
When will these people ever learn that it's never wise to reject my initial offer of peace
.' As per his standard peace offer before the fighting began, the Mongols had offered each territory generous terms of surrender: swear fealty to the Mongol Empire and pay a ten percent annual tribute. Some territories wisely accepted the offer, but most committed the ultimate act of disrespect in the eyes of the Mongols by murdering the envoys and placing their heads on a public spectacle for everyone to see.
This conquest of Kiev was not a difficult one by Mongol standards. The Mongols had prepared two years for the invasion of Europe, hoping to add to their bounty of goods and luxuries to bring home. Scouts mapped out Europe's terrain, noting which areas provided plenty of grazing pastures for horses, the core unit of the Mongolian fighting force. After conquering a few regional cities in Russia, the Mongols turned their attention to the political and religious center of the Slavic world: the city of Kiev. Kiev's reaction was predictable: the cityfolk and peasants rushed into the city, hoping for protection behind its castle walls, but in reality merely fed into the Mongol's plan to overburden the city's capabilities while the Mongols could take their time to build siege machines from the neighboring forests with the assistance of their Persian and Chinese engineers. Within a few weeks, the defenders of Kiev knew their defeat was imminent and the Mongols allowed refugees to flee to parts of Western Europe - bringing with them horror stories which would serve as effective propaganda for the Mongolian war machine and instill fear into their future subjects.
"My Great Khan," one of the generals approached Genghis, "we have rounded up the aristocrats of Kiev. Should we execute them?"
Genghis nodded affirmatively, "Yes - proceed to execute the aristocrats, but spare the peasants and normal folk - especially if they possess useful skills and are willing to join us. The political control of Eastern Europe will be under our control from now on." Genghis had learned from a young boy, abandoned by his own tribe, that nobility and bloodline were undependable concepts which caused more harm than good. Further, defeated cities and kingdoms were more likely to remain loyal when their nobility had been cleansed out, and the new leaders in charge would have more to owe to the Mongols for delivering them their new-found power. Nobility were often not well-liked by their citizens, which the nobles often only found out (to their dismay) after being read their death sentence by the Mongols and abandoned by their people.
On the other hand, if the Mongols discovered people of remarkable skills, loyalty, bravery or other attributes, they were quick to put them to work, and were treated as equals amongst the Mongols. Many of Genghis' most trusted and loyal lieutenants had previously served his former enemies.
"The Kievan commander Dmitri has fought, and is still fighting, quite valiantly." The same general continued to report to Genghis. "Do we put him to death?"
Genghis frowned, his hands combing through his long, black beard. "Try to capture him alive, and see if he is willing to commit to our cause. We can always use brave, talented men like Dmitri."
"Yes, my Great Khan." The general bowed deferentially and shuffled his feet out of Genghis' sight.
At that moment, a Mongol messenger appeared in the distance, his horse galloping towards the Great Khan and his contingent. The setting sun was a crimson shade of red, a reflection of the blood that was being spilled. After a few minutes, the Mongol messenger was within twenty paces of Genghis Khan when he dismounted his horse and approached the contingent by foot.
"Great Khan, a message for you," gasped the messenger. He had hastened his way to the Great Khan once he had a message to relay. The Mongols built an intricate system of relay stations every twenty to forty miles with messengers stationed at each one, allowing messages to travel across the empire as fast as possible. This messenger had come from the closest relay station and had seemed to cover the distance in one sprint.
"What is it?" Genghis gestured for the messenger to continue.
"The princess of the Kingdom of Germany is currently half a day's journey from here. She would like to discuss with you a peace treaty between the Mongol Empire and the Kingdom of Germany."
*******
Maria looked at herself in a temporary vanity table and mirror set up in her tent. She was the princess of the Kingdom of Germany, and was sent by her father in a last-ditch attempt to assassinate Genghis Khan before his armies arrived in Germany. Th Mongol armies were unstoppable and no one in Europe was able to put up any meaningful resistance against them. She looked at herself in the mirror again. She was beautiful and she knew it. Blonde, long, straight hair; blue, sparkling eyes; tall, statuesque body with an ample bosom and curvy in the right spots. Her features were tall, face angular and her lips were full and luscious. Many eligible princes and peasants from all over Europe drooled at the prospect of winning her hand in marriage - and also a night with her ravishing body and beautiful face.
"My lady, we are within two hours' journey from the Mongol's encampment," came her guard's voice outside the tent. "It is perhaps wise to make your final preparations now."
"Understood, Captain." Maria's clear voice masked her fear she felt right now. A whirlpool of emotions and thoughts ran through her, as she combed her blond hair for the twentieth time. '
God, why am I being sent on this suicide mission,
' she thought to herself bitterly. '
The concept of chivalry seems to have disappeared from my family. Maybe that's why the Mongols are finding so much success on the battlefield against us.
' She had heard the arguments from her family and cowardly generals for her to embark on this mission: "The Mongol armies cannot be bested on the battlefield; assassination is the only way. No one knows much about the Mongols and their leader Genghis Khan, but we do know that he loves sex and beautiful women. No one in the land is as beautiful as you, Maria, so you will be perfect for this mission. Do this to save our kingdom!"
That said, Maria was curious to see first-hand what Genghis Khan was like, as she slipped in the first dagger in the inside of her right thigh and the second and smaller dagger with a poisonous tip under her right breast. Her large D-cup sized breasts were large enough to conceal the small dagger. She had heard the rumors flying around about him, his bloodlust and his unquenchable sexual appetitie. Apparently rumors encouraged by the church, in an attempt to villainize the Mongols, had said he ravaged through tens of thousands of women stretching from eastern China all the way to Europe. People believed him to have extraordinary sexual powers, because he would sleep with many women every night. Maria shrugged her shoulders, '
My own family has forsaken me to sure death by the hands of the Mongols by asking me to go on this suicide mission. The least I can do is enjoy myself before I die.
'
*******
"My Great Khan, we don't think it is wise to allow this princess within ten paces of you." The captain of Genghis Khan's personal guard cautiously stated his position.
"And why is that so?" Genghis was seated at the head of a table in the central command tent. A meeting with his top generals had just finished, and preparations were underway to begin the conquest of the next European kingdom. Maria and the rest of the German contingent were outside waiting to be received by the Mongols at the entrance of the Mongolian encampment.
"I don't like the looks of this. It is likely an assasination attempt. Why would the Kingdom of Germany send a beautiful princess to personally deliver a message on potential peace treaties when a normal messenger would have sufficed?"
"Perhaps they want to show their sincerity?"
"Perhaps," allowed the captain of Genghis Khan's guard, "but perhaps the Europeans have believed the rumors spread by the church and partly by us that we are all a bunch of unrestrained barbarians hellbent on killing and raping all women. If they believed that, they probably think you would be interested in a beautiful, blonde princess for one night, and therefore would try to get her to kill you during an intimate moment."
Genghis let out a deep, belly laugh and clasped his guard on the back. "You're funny, captain. I'll give you that. You forget one thing though - it is true I love beautiful women and these European women are quite the delight."
"My Great Khan," the captain started, fearing his worries would be totally overridden by Genghis' lust.
"Don't worry, don't worry; I hear you. How about this: we let Maria into my private tent for a discussion so she thinks it will just be us two. Place two of your men hidden inside my tent near the entrance, and upon my signal, pounce on her and do a fulsome security check on her. What do you think will be her weapon of choice? Poisoned dagger?"
"Poisoned dagger, or two or three, is a likely suspect. But I hear you, my Great Khan; your plan will be carried out as you say." The captain of Genghis' guard bowed with deep respect and exited the tent to prepare the trap.
*******
