Clash of the titans
Timurid invasion of China
in Saffar 806 (August 1403), an allied Mongol vanguard of Timurid army reached Ulutur[1] near great wall. This vanguard of 25,000 was under command of Yuan Khan Bunyashsiri. The Ming forces assembled against them was 40,000 strong, led by Hai Tung. The two forces engaged with completely different strategy. The Ming gunners fired their cannons and muskets which repulsed the initial cavalry charge of the Mongols and killed many unfortunate riders. Bunyashiri was skeptical about the capability of his troops so he opted for a strategic retreat. But some of his commanders vehemently opposed this and chose a two pronged assault upon the Ming army. It was decided that the cavalry would be lured away from the infantry and gunners through feint retreat by one half while the other half would attack the now unprotected gunners. But it was a disaster as numerically superior Ming cavalry attempted to encircle the detachment that was sent to lure them out, forcing Bunyashiri to act quickly to save his embattled troops. But this in turn exposed his flank to Ming gunners who fired their weapons.
Image: battle of Ulutur (circa 1400 AH)
About 12,000 troops of the Mongols were killed and an injured Bunyashiri barely escaped with 5,000. The rest were scattered or captured. Though this battle was a decisive victory for the Ming, the overconfident Hai Tung issued order to press forward despite the protest of his commanders.
In 3 Rabiul Awwal 806 (20 September 1403), the advancing Chinese forces arrived in near a dried up lake. Unknown to them, the Timurids already overran the small border garrison in the modern town of Yugbin[2] and concentrated their artilleries on a higher ground just south of them. Timur strictly ordered measures like no cooking for this hidden detachment and thus a steady supply of food had to be maintained with buying off from the nearby Tibetan held territory which was still inhabited by Yuan partisans. Just as the Ming soldiers were beginning to settle down. Timur ordered his troops to line up for battle. He arranged his troops in a crescent formation, with Muhammad Sultan leading the right flank opposed to Ming left flank consisting of infantry and Pir Muhammad Bin Umar Sheikh in charge of left flank opposed to Ming right flank which consisted of most of the latter's cavalry. Timur himself was in charge of 3,000 elite cavalry and 800 hand gunners, many of them prisoners from the Ming garrisons which he occupied on the way. The big artillery on the plateau was under command of Umar Sheikh Mirza. The Ming army was surprised, nevertheless they arrayed against the Timurids quickly. This time it was their 35,000 against 50,000 of Timur.
Image: Ming cavalry (Ming art circa 900 AH)
The battle began in the late morning as Timurid left clashed with the Ming right. The 'horse beheading dao' of the Ming infantry dealing heavy blow to the unprotected mounts of the Turkic cavalry that was under Muhammad Sultan. Timur ordered the left flank to charge. The Ming cavalry, overwhelmed with confidence fromm their victory over Yuan forces charged forward. But they were cut off by forces of Muhammad sultan who just repulsed a Ming counterattack. The Ming cavalry was almost destroyed save for 7,000 Khalka Mongols who were able to escape encirclement narrowly. Now Timur set his own standard on fire and raised it very high, for Umar Sheikh to see from the latter's hiding spot on the southern plateau. The Timurid cannons now blasted the retreating Ming forces as the entire Timurid army of 50,000 surrounded the infantry and gunners. Worse, the retreating Khalka Mongols dislodged Ming artillery and damaged many equipments in haste. The Turko-mongol forces set upon the Chinese like hungry wolves, encircling them as the whole Timurid army advanced maintaining their crescent formation. Seeing defeat and capture was inevitable, Hai Tung committed suicide with his own dagger. 20,000 Ming soldiers were killed as opposed to only 4,000 of the Timurids. Most Chinese casualty was during the retreat to the east when Timurid cannons fired. The prisoners were offered two things, convert to Islam or death. Timur didn't want to take any prisoners. He soon set out after a couple of days and marched east again, this time with full force of 90,000 and a small vanguard under Arughtai.
Image: Timur leading his troops in China
Meanwhile the Ming main army under Yongle was still 2 weeks path away from the great wall. Timur settled near modern day Jandu[3] where the Khalka mongols from the previous battle surrendered and offered service to him. The cunning Timur ordered them to proceed further and confuse the Chinese. Timur also ordered the surviving Yuan detachment to raid Biguan[4]. In Rabiul Sani 806, the 2,00,000 strong Ming army finally reached Biguan and repelled some Mongol raids. The Khalka who were moving north also confused the Chinese by saying that Timurids were closer than previously thought. But this had an opposite effect on Emperor Yongle who wasted no time and prepared a vanguard force of 50,000 cavalry to chase and keep the Timurids in check while the rest of the troops, though tired from the long journey prepared to meet the biggest threat to China since Genghis Khan.
(From 'Eternal Kingdom: Rider from the sky' by Riyad Muqaddim Al Hussein)
[1] OTL Minghaisi
[2] OTL Jiayuguan
[3] OTL Shandan
[4] OTL Jinchuan
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"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihe rajiu'n. My folks, Khan Bunyashiri has passed away in just in the wee hours of dawn in this glorious month of prophet's birth. may Allah forgive him from his sins and accept him as a dweller of Jannah." Nizam Moulevi, a student of Syed Baraka who didn't accompany Timur's army and at the moment ,their imam uttered as the Fazr salah was finished.
After the janaza and burial of the dead Khan was completed, the elders and the powerful sat in the masjid to discuss the issue.
"Delbeg is still a child. it will be pointless to enthrone him now. If he is enthroned, it has to be after Emir Timur has returned from war." said Pir Muhammad Bin Jahangir, one of Timur's grandson who stayed.
"I don't see why. I think the previous council is enough to determine Bunyashiri's Child becoming Khan." spoke Mahamu, an Oirat noble.
"The previous council didn't include my glorious Emir Timur and his powerful army, which is a blessing of Allah to you and the sole reason the Chinese are not yet upon you." sneered Pir Muhammad.
"You seem to know what the Emir will decide don't you, young one?"
"HOW DARE YOU! Speak to me like that again and I shall make Sayyed Atrak Khan of all Mongols. He is a Jochid, after all a descendant of Genghis." shouted Pir Muhammad to Mahamu. But the elders stepped in before things could get ugly. The issue for now was dropped and it was decided that a messenger would be sent to Timur for settlement. Once again, the sayings of Allah and the prophet about the ultimate fate of all living things truimphed over the talk about worldly power.
Atrak walked back to his yurt and was surprised to see Narangerel putting saddle on her horse.
"Where are you going?"
"Where have YOU been? I was about to go out and search for you" the Mongol girl's voice boomed.
"Bunyashiri Khan is dead, you know."
"Yes, where does that involve you? The salah of janaza is over for some time now." she scrunched her eyebrows as she enquired of her husband like he was an absconding criminal.
Atrak sighed, this girl didn't care for anything. Well, anything except himself which flattered and creeped him out at the same time.
(From 'Samarqand diaries', English adoption of Sijillat Atrak by Edward Hoffman)
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[1] Sahih Bukhari
Enjoy the update folks, sorry for being late in schedule due to Covid vaccination and stuff. Finally the showdown you've all been waiting for, Yongle vs Timur! But the main show is still left. And oh, Mahamu the schemer is angry at his power as kingmaker slipping away into Timurid hands. How he will react will change the history of a large area of the world, for better or worse (no spoliers, yeah I'm cruel
)
in Saffar 806 (August 1403), an allied Mongol vanguard of Timurid army reached Ulutur[1] near great wall. This vanguard of 25,000 was under command of Yuan Khan Bunyashsiri. The Ming forces assembled against them was 40,000 strong, led by Hai Tung. The two forces engaged with completely different strategy. The Ming gunners fired their cannons and muskets which repulsed the initial cavalry charge of the Mongols and killed many unfortunate riders. Bunyashiri was skeptical about the capability of his troops so he opted for a strategic retreat. But some of his commanders vehemently opposed this and chose a two pronged assault upon the Ming army. It was decided that the cavalry would be lured away from the infantry and gunners through feint retreat by one half while the other half would attack the now unprotected gunners. But it was a disaster as numerically superior Ming cavalry attempted to encircle the detachment that was sent to lure them out, forcing Bunyashiri to act quickly to save his embattled troops. But this in turn exposed his flank to Ming gunners who fired their weapons.
Image: battle of Ulutur (circa 1400 AH)
About 12,000 troops of the Mongols were killed and an injured Bunyashiri barely escaped with 5,000. The rest were scattered or captured. Though this battle was a decisive victory for the Ming, the overconfident Hai Tung issued order to press forward despite the protest of his commanders.
In 3 Rabiul Awwal 806 (20 September 1403), the advancing Chinese forces arrived in near a dried up lake. Unknown to them, the Timurids already overran the small border garrison in the modern town of Yugbin[2] and concentrated their artilleries on a higher ground just south of them. Timur strictly ordered measures like no cooking for this hidden detachment and thus a steady supply of food had to be maintained with buying off from the nearby Tibetan held territory which was still inhabited by Yuan partisans. Just as the Ming soldiers were beginning to settle down. Timur ordered his troops to line up for battle. He arranged his troops in a crescent formation, with Muhammad Sultan leading the right flank opposed to Ming left flank consisting of infantry and Pir Muhammad Bin Umar Sheikh in charge of left flank opposed to Ming right flank which consisted of most of the latter's cavalry. Timur himself was in charge of 3,000 elite cavalry and 800 hand gunners, many of them prisoners from the Ming garrisons which he occupied on the way. The big artillery on the plateau was under command of Umar Sheikh Mirza. The Ming army was surprised, nevertheless they arrayed against the Timurids quickly. This time it was their 35,000 against 50,000 of Timur.
Image: Ming cavalry (Ming art circa 900 AH)
The battle began in the late morning as Timurid left clashed with the Ming right. The 'horse beheading dao' of the Ming infantry dealing heavy blow to the unprotected mounts of the Turkic cavalry that was under Muhammad Sultan. Timur ordered the left flank to charge. The Ming cavalry, overwhelmed with confidence fromm their victory over Yuan forces charged forward. But they were cut off by forces of Muhammad sultan who just repulsed a Ming counterattack. The Ming cavalry was almost destroyed save for 7,000 Khalka Mongols who were able to escape encirclement narrowly. Now Timur set his own standard on fire and raised it very high, for Umar Sheikh to see from the latter's hiding spot on the southern plateau. The Timurid cannons now blasted the retreating Ming forces as the entire Timurid army of 50,000 surrounded the infantry and gunners. Worse, the retreating Khalka Mongols dislodged Ming artillery and damaged many equipments in haste. The Turko-mongol forces set upon the Chinese like hungry wolves, encircling them as the whole Timurid army advanced maintaining their crescent formation. Seeing defeat and capture was inevitable, Hai Tung committed suicide with his own dagger. 20,000 Ming soldiers were killed as opposed to only 4,000 of the Timurids. Most Chinese casualty was during the retreat to the east when Timurid cannons fired. The prisoners were offered two things, convert to Islam or death. Timur didn't want to take any prisoners. He soon set out after a couple of days and marched east again, this time with full force of 90,000 and a small vanguard under Arughtai.
Image: Timur leading his troops in China
Meanwhile the Ming main army under Yongle was still 2 weeks path away from the great wall. Timur settled near modern day Jandu[3] where the Khalka mongols from the previous battle surrendered and offered service to him. The cunning Timur ordered them to proceed further and confuse the Chinese. Timur also ordered the surviving Yuan detachment to raid Biguan[4]. In Rabiul Sani 806, the 2,00,000 strong Ming army finally reached Biguan and repelled some Mongol raids. The Khalka who were moving north also confused the Chinese by saying that Timurids were closer than previously thought. But this had an opposite effect on Emperor Yongle who wasted no time and prepared a vanguard force of 50,000 cavalry to chase and keep the Timurids in check while the rest of the troops, though tired from the long journey prepared to meet the biggest threat to China since Genghis Khan.
(From 'Eternal Kingdom: Rider from the sky' by Riyad Muqaddim Al Hussein)
[1] OTL Minghaisi
[2] OTL Jiayuguan
[3] OTL Shandan
[4] OTL Jinchuan
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Love implies anger, the man who is angered by nothing
cares for nothing- Emir Timur Gurigan
The Khan's bane
Fazr Salah has become a hasty affair for Atrak since his marriage. Getting up at the sound of azan, slipping carefully from Gerel hatun's embrace, quickly bathing and changing into new clothes and speed walking to masjid and speed walking back to his yurt after finishing salat. Speed walking because he doesn't want to make his wife angry. He can do his dhikr in home, after all as prophet (pbuh) said Perform some of your prayers in your houses other than prescribed ones and do not make them graves.[1]cares for nothing- Emir Timur Gurigan
The Khan's bane
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihe rajiu'n. My folks, Khan Bunyashiri has passed away in just in the wee hours of dawn in this glorious month of prophet's birth. may Allah forgive him from his sins and accept him as a dweller of Jannah." Nizam Moulevi, a student of Syed Baraka who didn't accompany Timur's army and at the moment ,their imam uttered as the Fazr salah was finished.
After the janaza and burial of the dead Khan was completed, the elders and the powerful sat in the masjid to discuss the issue.
"Delbeg is still a child. it will be pointless to enthrone him now. If he is enthroned, it has to be after Emir Timur has returned from war." said Pir Muhammad Bin Jahangir, one of Timur's grandson who stayed.
"I don't see why. I think the previous council is enough to determine Bunyashiri's Child becoming Khan." spoke Mahamu, an Oirat noble.
"The previous council didn't include my glorious Emir Timur and his powerful army, which is a blessing of Allah to you and the sole reason the Chinese are not yet upon you." sneered Pir Muhammad.
"You seem to know what the Emir will decide don't you, young one?"
"HOW DARE YOU! Speak to me like that again and I shall make Sayyed Atrak Khan of all Mongols. He is a Jochid, after all a descendant of Genghis." shouted Pir Muhammad to Mahamu. But the elders stepped in before things could get ugly. The issue for now was dropped and it was decided that a messenger would be sent to Timur for settlement. Once again, the sayings of Allah and the prophet about the ultimate fate of all living things truimphed over the talk about worldly power.
Atrak walked back to his yurt and was surprised to see Narangerel putting saddle on her horse.
"Where are you going?"
"Where have YOU been? I was about to go out and search for you" the Mongol girl's voice boomed.
"Bunyashiri Khan is dead, you know."
"Yes, where does that involve you? The salah of janaza is over for some time now." she scrunched her eyebrows as she enquired of her husband like he was an absconding criminal.
Atrak sighed, this girl didn't care for anything. Well, anything except himself which flattered and creeped him out at the same time.
(From 'Samarqand diaries', English adoption of Sijillat Atrak by Edward Hoffman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Sahih Bukhari
Enjoy the update folks, sorry for being late in schedule due to Covid vaccination and stuff. Finally the showdown you've all been waiting for, Yongle vs Timur! But the main show is still left. And oh, Mahamu the schemer is angry at his power as kingmaker slipping away into Timurid hands. How he will react will change the history of a large area of the world, for better or worse (no spoliers, yeah I'm cruel
)
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