POV of a former Mongol by Johanna Jarrett

Mongol empire

jarretjv271 — 2024-09-25 12:03:13 UTC

We've been successful so far and our next stop may be one of the most important in our journey. We're going to capture one of the most popular and influential cities, Baghdad. Before becoming a high-ranking Mongol, I would've just thought it was another stop on the journey. Now I realize that if we can capture it we might as well have control of the whole Silk Road. I do feel more remorseful for the people I kill along the way though. Especially because I know what it's like to watch your neighbors and the people you grew up get killed right in front of you. Every time I mention by doubts to the Khan, he just tells me it's for the greater good of everyone. And who am I to argue with him? I've been back to our past conquest and seen how much their trade and people are thriving so we're obviously doing something right.

Baghdad

jarretjv271 — 2024-09-25 12:06:29 UTC

I was able to get to Baghdad before everyone by stealing one of the commanders' compasses, but it would only buy me so much time. The first thing I saw when I got to Baghdad was their mosque which told me that they were Islamic. Even though I was Buddhist I was still always drawn to what other religions were like. Once I got into the city it was full of shops and merchants from all over like Kashgar. I decided that if I wanted to warn them, I would need to find the place where their most respected elders were. I went further into the city and found the house of wisdom which was where most of their scholars and elders would be. Inside it looked like the biggest library I'd ever seen, and I'd seen a lot of libraries in my conquests. I was in awe of how many scrolls and books they had in one place. The curious part of me wondered what was in them while the Mongol in me saw them as an easy way to burn the whole thing down. They also had a whole section dedicated to stars and astrology. After seeing all of this I remembered why I was there and set off to warn them before it was too late.

Kashgar

jarretjv271 — 2024-09-25 12:31:07 UTC

On our way to Baghdad, we passed through the city of Kashgar. Although it's not as influential as Baghdad it still holds a lot of power on the Silk Road. When we got there it was full of people from all different cultures and religions. I learned about a religion called Christianity that was practiced by people from Byzantine. Although we've been through a lot of cities, I'd never seen so many different people in one place. It was amazing and made me even more remorseful knowing what was about to happen to them. I decided since I had 3 days of scouting ahead, I might as well get to know the city that was about to join our empire. I found out that they travel in caravansai to protect their groups. I also saw a lot of different things being traded that I'd never seen like gemstones and some new spices. This was when I knew that being with the Mongols wasn't for me. I needed to get out of here and warn Baghdad.