Chapter 1 Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Italy's famous city, Venice.

His father Nicolo Polo and uncle Matteo Polo were merchants and were out running their trade since Marco Polo was a little boy. Marco Polo lived with his mother, and had not once met his father, until he was 15 years old. At that time, Marco Polo's mother had passed away and he was living with his aunt. -1-

Marco Polo would remember that particular morning in 1269, when the excited shrills of his aunt next door drew him away from his studying. He rushed into his aunt's room and saw her chatting merrily with two men, whom he had never met. When his aunt saw him, she immediately introduced the two men to him, and while pointing to the slightly older man, she said, "Boy, he is your father, whom you've been thinking night and day!" -2-

Marco Polo prided himself to be a young man of considerable inner strength, and he hardly cried when facing obstacles. However, at that very moment, he was unable to restrain his emotions. He fell into his father's arms, and broke into tears. Here he was, the father that he had met for the first time in 15 years. For the past 15 years, all he could do was to stand at the coast, hoping in vain for the ship carrying his father to fall into sight. While all he could do before was to imagine how his father might look, now he could finally take into view his father's face. -3-

Nicolo Polo was equally emotional. He was struck by the appearance and built of his son. Marco Polo was rather tall and lanky; his face was a little pale, and his thick, curly eyelashes added a fine touch to his blue eyes, which were aglow with intelligence and wisdom. Warmed with the thought that his son would soon grow up to be an honest, intelligent and stable young man, Nicolo Polo grinned with pride and satisfaction. -4-

Nicolo Polo took out an assortment of presents from his luggage. Among them were sturdy cotton fabric, fine linen, intricate silk fabric, muslin, and multicolored gemstones. Marco Polo was filled with curiosity and he asked his father, "Where did you get all these beautiful and expensive gifts?"

-5-

His father replied, "China, and Persia."

"China? Where's that?"

Marco Polo felt a little perplexed. Is there really such a place called China? Are there many treasures to be found there? What kind of place is China? It was then that he recalled what he once heard, that there exists in China a river filled with valuable treasures. Marco Polo thought: "That must be the place where Father and Uncle picked up all those treasures." -6-

He could not help but ask his father, "Is China rich? Did you make friends with the Chinese people?"

"Certainly, we made many friends in China, including the great Kublai Khan!" answered Nicolo Polo, proudly.

"What's a 'Khan', Father?" asked Marco Polo.

"Kublai Khan is the ruler of China. He's a Mongolian, who called their emperor 'Khan'." -7-

"Emperor? You made friends with the emperor!" Marco Polo was visibly amazed. He kept insisting to his father to tell him all he knew about China. Looking at how curious his son was, Nicolo Polo started telling him, in detail, his experience in China.When Nicolo and Matteo Polo were trading in Constantinople (presentday Istanbul in Turkey), they were acquainted with an emissary to China. Over the few days that they spent together, they got along very well. The emissary told them that Kublai Khan had never seen an Italian and he would definitely be thrilled to have the chance to meet with them, and would certainly bestow them with rich rewards. With that, Nicolo and Matteo Polo left with the emissary for China. -8-

In 1266, they arrived in the royal city of Kublai Khan, who hosted a grand feast to welcome the foreign visitors.

-9-

Life in China was pleasant and happy, but soon, Nicolo and Matteo Polo started to miss their families in Italy. They decided to return to Italy. Upon knowing of their impending departure, Kublai Khan assigned a special mission to the Polo brothers. He wanted them to send a letter from him to the Pope in Rome. In his letter, Kublai Khan requested the Pope to dispatch a hundred scholars who were well-versed in Christian doctrine, astronomy, geography to China and research with the local scholars. - 10 -

After hearing his father's story about China, Marco Polo was scarcely satisfied. He hungered for more knowledge about China. He asked his father, "What is China like?". To that, his father replied, "China is a land of mountains, rivers and lakes. There are deserts and prairies. It is beautiful. It is a huge country, bigger than any country in the world in terms of its size and population. It is the richest country ever." - 11 -

Marco Polo had seemingly endless questions about China for his father. Nicolo Polo told him, jokingly, "Silly boy, with that many stories about China, I'm afraid I won't be able to finish telling them all to you in three days."

"That's great! Then I'm not going to eat nor sleep for the next three days and listen to your stories of China," smiled Marco Polo, innocently.

From then on, China was transformed into a giant magnet, entrapping the young Marco Polo with wonder and amazement. Once he got hold of the time, he would tag on to his father and uncle, and tirelessly implored them to tell him more about their experiences in China. In the end, he was even able to memorize every detail that was told to him. He realized then that he had come to a point where neither his father nor his uncle was able to satisfy his curiosity about China. He decided, thus, to visit China. He wanted to find out for himself how mystical this country in the orient really was. - 12 -

Soon, Marco Polo was able to muster his courage and proposed to his father his wish to visit China. His father objected staunchly to his request. He told his son, "This is a critical time for your growth into a fine, young

man. What you really have to do is to attend school and receive a formal education. It's not your time to go out there and endure all sorts of hardships. Financially, I'm able to fulfill your every need." - 13 -

Marco Polo reacted to his father 's words with great disappointment. He was a sensible child and completely understood his father's thoughts. Yet he was also fervently seeking to explore a world that was more exciting and vast than Venice. Unable to fulfill his dreams, Marco Polo became very sulky and withdrawn, and could not bring himself to be interested in anything else. - 14 -

Seeing that, Matteo Polo decided to plead with Nicolo Polo on his nephew's behalf. He told him that Marco Polo was an attentive, brave, strong and intelligent child, destined to be an explorer. It would give him more opportunities to excel in life if they were to take him along to China. - 15 -

Nicolo Polo said, "I do not doubt his abilities. What I'm worried about is the distance and the traveling. I don't think he has the physical strength for that. On top of that, we won't know how many years he would be away, and as such, he would miss out on his education. Anyway, I wish to see him becoming a merchant here in Venice, instead of an explorer." - 16 -

Matteo Polo did not let the matter rest. He continued to persuade his brother, "I don't agree with you. Haven't we always regarded Venetian merchants as natural born travelers? We are apt in exploring different parts of the world, making friends along the way, and widening our world of knowledge. All these have helped us in our business, and they do not pose any harm to our growth." - 17 -

Thanks to his uncle's strong persuasion and his own persistent pleas, Marco Polo finally gained his father's approval to let him follow him on his next journey to China. Marco Polo was so thrilled that he jumped for joy. - 18 -

In 1271, the 17-year-old Marco Polo started on his journey with his father and uncle, along with over ten other travel companions. With the Pope's reply and exquisite gifts for Kublai Khan carefully secured among their luggage, Nicolo Polo and Matteo Polo led their expedition to the East, and brought Marco Polo one step closer to his dream of China.

Chapter Two: A Journey Filled with Adventures From Venice, Nicolo Polos expedition journeyed to the Mediterranean Sea, upon which they crossed the Black Sea and arrived at the ancient city of Baghdad in the Middle East. They would then travle to the seaport of Hormuz, from which they would board a boat and sail directly to China. None of them expected though, that a mishap was awaiting them. -1-

While making purchases in a small town, the expedition was targeted by a band of bandits. In the night, they were seized and locked up by the bandits. Marco Polo and his father managed to escape but when they returned with help, the bandits were gone. Thereafter, they were stranded for two months in Hormuz as none of the boats were heading towards China. Left without a better option, they decided to travel on land to China. -2-

The expedition soon arrived at the south-eastern part of present-day Iran, where they have to travel across the Iranian plateau. Here, they entered an unfriendly terrain of wide spans of wilderness, and endless deserts, posing danger and toil to their journey. Yet, it was the only land route by which they could travel to China. They were left with no other choice. -3-

Three days into the desert, and they found themselves facing a massive obstacle. The water they brought along was depleted and both men and animals were badly dehydrated. Before them, the desert stretched into infinity. No one knew how long more it would take for them to reach the other end. Every time when Marco Polo saw a trace of cloud hovering in the sky above them, he wished fervently that it would bring a downpour. Each time, however, as they journeyed into the night, all they could see in the sky was the lucid moon and stars that sprinkled across the vastness like jewels. There was not even a drop of dew in sight, let alone rain. -4-

Deep in the night, Marco Polo was unable to get to sleep. Tossing and turning, his heart was filled with anxiety. If this carries on, he thought, how would they ever continue on their journey in the desert? He got up stealthily and went in search of water all by himself. -5-

Guided by the moonlight, Marco Polo ventured into the empty desert ahead of him. After walking for about three hours, in the slowly illuminating dawn of the day, he discovered an oasis. Water, at last! Marco Polo was overjoyed. As he took a gulp of water from the oasis, he was shocked by the taste of the water, which was salty and bitter. He could scarcely bring himself to swallow it despite his thirst. He finally forced himself to drink the water to quench his thirst. Then he filled up a leather bag and took it back to camp. -6-

The expedition continued on its journey. Midway, Marco Polo was attacked by a violent churning in his stomach and began vomiting and experiencing diarrhea. He lost energy in his legs and was unable to take a step forward. Fighting the urge to simply collapse on the ground, Marco Polo told himself that this was not the right time to fall.He was determined to persevere and move on. It was his choice to go to China, and there would be more obstacles ahead. He must persist to his destination. -7-

With that in mind, Marco Polo encouraged himself onwards. Finally, he and his fellow travelers succeeded in crossing over the Iranian Plateau. They continued to move ahead and traveled across the Pamir Plateau, and at last, arrived in Xinjiang of China. -8-

In Kashgar, Marco Polo was enthralled by the myriad of sights, sounds and scents of the town. In Khotan, they saw a wide variety of gemstones, ranging from the snowy pearl white ones, to the fiery red, and those that were as dark as night. They were equally amazed by the sizes of the stones, which reached a hefty weight of 10 pounds and measured over 30 centimeters in diameter. -9-

From Khotan, they proceeded towards the northeast, and in a few days, they started to cross another desert Taklamakan Desertreputed for its extreme dryness. It was not easy finding water in this desert, and when they did, the water was bitter and pungent. It was reminiscent of their journey across the Iranian Plateau. Marco Polo and his companions had picked the shortest route across the desert, but even then, it would take at least a month to complete the journey.

- 10 -

The days passed slowly. It was a trying feat to journey across a desert with an unending vastness, with scarcely a change in scene as they went along. It was such a dull experience that caused one to be depressed. The most dangerous part of it was the fluctuating hallucinations that might mislead them off their course, resulting in them losing their way and perish in the desert. - 11 Once, Marco Polo heard someone calling his name:Marco, Marco He walked towards the direction where the voice was coming from and asked, Who is there? Whos calling my name? Nobody is! shouted Nicolo Polo. Keep close to one another. Do not leave the group. - 12 Later, Nicolo Polo explained to his mystified son, Such phenomenon is common in the desert. It is a hallucination. It is crucial that you have to stay calm, and not be led astray. The worst-case scenario in traveling across the desert is to lose ones way in it. - 13 -

Finally, the journey across the treacherous desert came to an end. They arrived safely in the city of Dunhuang.Marco Polo found that there were many temples in such cities situated at the fringe of the desert consecrating an assortment of Buddha images. Many of the residents in these cities prayed at these temples. - 14 -

Not long after, they reached the present-day Ejinaqi in Inner Mongolia. There, they proudly showed a Mongolian military officer the imperial gold medallion bestowed by Kublai Khan. Upon seeing it, the officer told them, The Great Khan has been expecting you for a long time! He would be delighted to know that you are finally here! - 15 -

Escorted by the army troops, Marco Polo and his father and uncle, along with his travel companions, arrived a week later at their destinationShangduthe upper capital of the Yuan Dynasty. It was the year 1275, four years from the day that first departed Venice.

Chapter Three: Honorary Guests of the Khan

Shangdu was originally known as Kaiping County. It was here that the imperial palace was located when Kublai Khan ruled over the vassal states in the region. It was located in the southern border of the great Mongolian Prairie, with the vast desert area to the north and central plains to the south. Its geographical location was strategic. -1-

In 1260, Kublai Khan ascended to the throne in Shangdu, which was thus named as the capital city. In 1271, which was the year Marco Polo and his expedition set off from Venice, Kublai Khan formally named his reign the Yuan Dynasty. The following year, he shifted the capital to Dadu, present-day Beijing. -2-

When Marco Polo arrived in the city of Shangdu, it was already a developed, enchanting city. The city was located to the north and faced the south, and it was surrounded by high, sturdy walls. The city walls were equipped with watch towers, and were closely guarded by full-armored soldiers, ensuring the safety of the city. -3-

The streets in the city were wide and spacious. People of all races, dressed in various odd-looking costumes, thronged the streets. On each side of the streets were neat arrays of shops, restaurants, residential houses, temples. When Marco Polo and his expedition entered the city via its gate, the soldiers that guarded the gate stood at attention and raised their weapons as a sign of respect. -4-

Marco Polo drank in the sights before him, and was silently in awe of the prosperity of the city. He thought to

himself how all the hardships that he had gone through for the past four years were truly worth it for all that he saw before him. He had not a single tinge of regret for following his father and uncle to this place. -5-

Soon, they found themselves stopping in front of another city gateMingde Gatethe front gate of the imperial city. The imperial city was located towards the southeastern part of the upper city. Quadrilateral in structure, and surrounded by high city walls, the imperial city was safely segregated from the outer city. Once they reached the palace, the guards went in to report to Kublai Khan of their arrival. To welcome Marco Polo and his party to China, Kublai Khan had, much earlier, arranged for a great feast for them, attended by all the court officials. It was the grandest banquet Marco Polo had ever seen in his life. He was incredibly excited to be able to share the moment with all the members of the royal family, as well as the court officials. During the banquet, Kublai Khan welcomed his guests with a toast to Nicolo Polo and Matteo Polo, "Lets toast to welcome my emissaries, who had traveled a long distance to get here!" -6-

Marco Polo seized the chance to scrutinize the leader of Mongolia. He saw that Kublai Khan was of average built, looked fit and strong, with a calm demeanor. His face was red and glowing, and his eyes were black and they sparkled. He appeared to Marco Polo to be a wise and noble leader. During this first meeting, Kublai Khan left an impressive impression on Marco Polos mind. -7-

The next day, early in the morning, Marco Polo, his father and his uncle were summoned to meet with Kublai Khan. Nicolo Polo presented the letter of the Pope and gifts to the emperor, and formally introduced Marco Polo to him. -8-

Kublai Khan looked at this young man standing in front of him and wondered if he was as capable as his father and uncle. He asked Marco Polo, "When you were traveling past Afghanistan, what opinion do you have with regard to its fortresses?"

Marco Polo answered, "Your majesty, the fortresses of Afghanistan were heavily guarded by its troops. Many of its cities were built against the valley. It is a country that would not be easily attacked and defeated."

"How about Badda?"

"The people of Badda are Muslims, and it is abundant in producing wheat and gemstones. It is also endowed with fine horses and sheep. It would take 12 days to travel across its entire territory."

"How many days, then, from Badda to Turkey?"

"Thirty days, towards northeastern direction."

Kublai Khan nodded. He could see that this young man with his blond hair and blue eyes had an exceptional memory and an eloquence that far surpassed his father and uncle. -9-

He told Marco Polo, "Very well! I have the maps of that region that are very old. I wish that you could help me amend them. I would be very grateful!" - 10 -

"Thank you, your majesty! I will certainly try my very best!" Marco Polo agreed, delightedly. He was surprised to obtain this early chance to show Kublai Khan his talents, as well as gaining his recognition. Both Nicolo and Matteo Polo were astounded by the conversation between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. They had least expected Marco Polo to be so attentive as to note down everything that he saw along the way. Meanwhile, they were equally happy to see that it was right to bring Marco Polo to China. - 11 Kublai Khan continued, "Im sure you are aware that the khans of Mongolia are constantly fighting for dominance, especially at Kaidu, the fights are unceasingly frequent, which jeopardize our diplomatic relationship with I khanate and Kipchak Khanate. Hence, its imperative that we must defeat Kaidu. Since you had traveled past that region, whats your view on this?" - 12 -

Nicolo and Matteo Polo met the expectant eyes of the great Khan, and started to feel nervous. They were

successful merchants and experienced travelers. However, politics was a subject that they hardly considered and was rather unfamiliar to them. - 13 -

It was at this moment that Marco Polo spoke, "Your majesty, all the way from Acre to the upper city, I had made some reservations, such as the terrain, produce, cultural practices of the place, which I had recorded. I wonder if they would be of use to your majesty." Kublai Khan was overjoyed. He said delightfully, "Thats amazing! This is the basic item that a ruler must possess. Tell me all about them now!"

Hence, Marco Polo started describing to Kublai Khan, all the countries that he had passed along his journey. He was comprehensive, detailed and lively in his description of what he had recorded. - 14 -

Kublai Khan developed an immense interest in Marco Polo, who appeared to him as a sincere young man. Not only had he mastered both the Persian and Mongolian languages while on his journey, he had even made detailed observations of the places that he had visited and thought seriously about them. Kublai Khan projected that he would engage the service of this attentive and intelligent young man to be of service to the Mongolian empire. - 15 -

Once, Kublai Khan asked Marco Polo, "Tell me, how should a man live so that his life would not be in vain?" "Well, I feel that he must have the ambition to learn new things every day. If he doesnt, he would have wasted a day."

Kublai Khan laughed heartily, "Both of us have very similar opinions!"

He went on, "So tell me what you like."

"I love to travel, and spend time learning and understanding all the interesting things I see at various places

that I visit. Other than the physical landscape that varies from place to place, I would also take note of the various lifestyles of the people. I would write them down so that it would help me relive the memory of these places."

"So what is it that you are able to help me record?"

"I feel that the records of certain things are must have for a ruler, such as the taxation of a region, the produce of various regions, its cities, roads, rivers, natural disasters, the places that its troops are stationed and those that are at war. All of these, your majesty, are things that I would carefully record for you."

Upon hearing what Marco Polo said, Kublai Khan found that he had become increasingly fond of him. - 16 -

Kublai Khan invited Marco Polo and his family to take residence in the city, and bestowed them a beautiful mansion. He even dispatched over 30 maid servants to take care of their daily needs. - 17 -

One day, Kublai Khan told his eldest son Chingen- Temur, "You must bear in mind that one day, you will inherit my throne. Hence, you must be diligent in acquiring knowledge. When it comes to geography, you can consult Marco Polo." - 18 -

The Crown Prince Chingen and Marco Polo were rather close in terms of their ages. However, they also shared many common interests and hence, they spent many hours together learning and playing. They soon became fast friends. Unfortunately, Prince Chingen was inflicted with epilepsy. - 19 -

One day, Marco Polo was out hunting with the Crown Prince. When they were pursuing a wild boar, the prince was struck by epilepsy. He fell off his horse, and his body went into a fit, foaming from his mouth and groaning in agony. Marco Polo was shocked, and he was unprepared for the right course of action to take without any servants in tow. He tried calming himself down, and decided to help Prince Chingen. He knelt beside the prince, and took off his belt, putting it between the teeth of the prince so that he would not bite off

his own tongue. Then Marco Polo held the prince closely to him, supporting his body and released his collar. He kept comforting him, until the prince overcame his fit. - 20 -

Following this incident, Kublai Khan expressed to Marco Polo, "I am grateful to you for saving the Crown Princes life. Other than that, please keep the princes affliction an absolute secret as only the three of us are aware of it."Marco Polo realized then that he had become a confidante of Kublai Khans family.

Chapter Four: Exciting Encounters in the Orient

One day, Kublai Khan assigned Marco Polo with the task of surveying and investigating the southits agriculture and handicrafts industry. He was given 6 to 12 months to complete his task. To Marco Polo, it was the perfect task. -1-

Shortly, Marco Polo bid farewell to his father and uncle, and set off from the capital city. As it was a timeconsuming endeavor to cover the entire southern region, he decided to begin inspecting the regions in the east first. Hence, they headed towards the southeast. -2-

After some time, Marco Polo and his expedition arrived at the Yellow River. Upon crossing the river, they arrived at the city of Huai-an. Huai-an was a prosperous port and trading center. From here, Marco Polo traveled along the Causeway, cut across the Yellow River Delta, and arrived at Baoying, the city that produced silk. After passing through several smaller cities, they arrived at Jiangdu and arrived three days later at Yangzhou, the leading producer of salt. Yangzhou had ports that spanned several miles, as well as numerous temples and houses. At some of the major saltpans in the region, a multitude of workers could be seen working diligently under the watchful eyes of the supervisors. The workers put together huge mountains of salt, and water was filtered through them. The salty water would then be channeled via pipelines into gigantic troughs, where it would be heated to boiling point, thus producing high-quality pure salt. Due to the very much developed salt industry, the city was heavily taxed every year. -3-

From Yangzhou, they continued to head towards the Yangtze River. That day, as the wide expanse of the Yangtze River fell into Marco Polos view, he was awed into silence. He stood by the river for along time, reflecting on all the great rivers he had once passed. The Tigris River and the Yellow River, both of which he had seen, were unable to match the grandeur of the great Yangtze River. The banks of the Yangtze River were very far apart from each other. Through the thin layer of mist, it was almost impossible to see clearly what was on the other side. On the river, boats and vessels of all sizes thronged the busy waterway. One particularly huge boat caught Marco Polos attention. It consisted of towering bow and stern, four masts, and a sail that

was made of reed. It was the first time he saw such a massive vessel. He could not help but ponder how magical China was. -4The Yangtze River was Chinas major waterway in water transportation. The data collected by Marco Polo from the naval officers and captains of merchant ships was of an astounding figure. Later, Marco Polo personally verified the data and was proven accurate. He further discovered that the Yangtze River had its source in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and had a vast network of over 700 tributaries. Spread across both sides of the Yangtze River were over 200 citiesmany of which were densely populated and well developed in trade and commerce. As there was an year-round headwind, which significantly aided in leading the vessels and ships heading upriver. When the wind died down, horses and manual labor would take over by pulling the vessels attached to ropes upriver along the banks. -5-

Subsequently, Marco Polo and his expedition rode on horses eastward, and arrived at a river-port city Zhenzhou. Marco Polo surveyed the number of boats berthed at the busy port and counted a whopping 5,000. He found out from a local tax official that every year, a total of over 200,000 boats and vessels sailed upriver from Zhenzhou.

Marco Polo spent three months inspecting Xiangyang, Chongqing and other major cities in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Chongqing was located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and its main tributary, Jialinging River. It was a major trading center between Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet. Marco Polo went aboard a ship at Chongqing and sailed downstream, passing through the Three Gorges. There, the waters were strewn with rapids and turbulences. Along the way, Marco Polo saw many ancient temples that were perched precariously on sharp cliffs. He was also struck by the rustic, natural beauty of the surroundings. -6-

After sailing for 30 days, Marco Polo reached the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The expedition team disembarked and rode on horses down south to the trading center, Zhenjiang. From there, they traveled through the beautiful silk-producing city of Suzhou, and arrived at Hangzhou, the capital city of the Southern Song Dynasty (11271279). -7-

It was said that if Suzhou were the City of the Earth, then Hangzhou would be the City of Heaven. Every visitor to Hangzhou was arrested by its amazing beauty. It was as if they had arrived in heaven. Likewise, Marco Polo was full of praise and totally agreed that the reputation of Hangzhou as the City of Heaven was not an overstatement. -8-

Beginning in 1127, Hangzhou had been the capital city of the Southern Song Dynasty. Hangzhou had a radius of over a hundred li, and was criss-crossed by a vast number of rivers. The rivers directed the filth and garbage away from the city, which kept the city clean and hygienic; its air constantly fresh and crisp. The streets of Hangzhou are wide and spacious, and horse-drawn carriages traversed the streets without obstruction. The water transportation was well-developed, too. The stone bridges that straddled the river were built to reach high altitude, facilitating the passing of large vessels. On the sides of the streets were beautiful houses constructed using fine-quality wood. The pillars and beams of the houses were exquisitely crafted, adding to the grandeur of their appearances. Within the city were countless market sand trading areas, and 10 major squares. Each square spanned a radius of half a li, and there were surrounded by tall buildings. The ground floor of the buildings were used as shops, selling an assortment of products, ranging from jewels to clothing and food, as well as Persian rugs and imported spices. Every three days of the week, every market would have poultry, wild games, fruit, vegetables and fish for sale. Every cart was filled to the brim, and yet was wiped clean towards the end of the day. -9-

Marco Polo got hold of the population of the city, which numbered at over 1.6 million households. Baseon a figure of 5 people per household, and excluding the servants, transient workers, and visitors to the city, the actual population of the city would have reached an astronomical figure. Another city of such scale could hardly be found elsewhere in the world. - 10 -

Other than its advancements in trade, one could also find many grand palaces, education institutions and temples in the city of Hangzhou. The residents of the city were friendly and kind, and were well mannered and hospitable. Marco Polo was delighted to have the chance to interact with them. Another thing that caught Marco Polos interest was the number of bathhouses in the city, which numbered

hundreds. Every day, the bath houses were thronged by a large number of bathers. This showed that the people of Hangzhou were very particular about personal cleanliness and hygiene. - 11 -

There was a huge library in Hangzhou which housed a large collection of scrolls and books, as well as the archives of the Song Dynasty (9601279),poems, novels and religious scriptures. It was in this library that Marco Polo discovered a rare find, a movable-type printing machine. With such a machine, up to a hundred books could be printed over a few days, leaving behind the arduous task of copying the text by hand. Marco Polo was amazed by this invention. He pondered how wonderful it would be if this invention could be brought to the west, thereby making books easily available to the masses, instead of having the power of knowledge in books held in the hands of only the church, the nobles and the wealthy. - 12 -

Marco Polo was also impressed by the taxation bureau of Hangzhou. There, he perused the annual taxation report, and calculated that its total annual taxation came up to 22.4 million gold coins. - 13 As Marco Polo was an important guest, he was put up at the citys most luxurious hotel. Its main chef was the imperial chef of the Southern Song Dynasty. Comparing to the delicious cuisine that he had eaten in the city, the food that he tasted at the hotel was truly unforgettable. - 14 -

After completing his official duties, Marco Polo extended his stay in Hangzhou for another two weeks. He visited various places in the city and had an unforgettable time. Finally, he bid farewell to this beloved city of his, Hangzhou. - 15 -

Marco Polo and his expedition continued towards the southeast and arrived at Fujian. Primarily, he wanted to inspect two seaport cities, Fuzhou and Xiamen, at which the volume of imports far exceeded that of Hangzhou. At Fujian, Marco Polo saw massive sailboats that were built to sail across oceans. These boats were usually equipped with more than four masts, and were navigated by six people. Before this, Marco Polo had only

heard of such sailboats. Foreign traders frequently traded ivory tusks, pearls and ambergris with the Chinese. All these products were tagged to a tax of 10% and 30% to 40% freight charges, yet the merchants were still able to make a decent profit from it. - 16 -

Boarded a ship captained by an Arab, Marco Polo set his course back to Hangzhou. The captain showed him a compass, which was an invention of the Chinese people. With the compass, it would certainly be safer to sail across the oceans. - 17 -

Once Marco Polo reached Hangzhou, he swiftly boarded an imperial vessel and returned to the capital city, Dadu, via the Grand Canal. - 18 -

What truly surprised and touched Marco Polo, as he sailed into Dadu, was finding out that the Crown Prince had come to the pier to welcome him back. The Crown Prince told him that all the reports and data that he had collected during his expedition were highly regarded by the emperor and the imperial officials. Hence, every person in the city, from the mass to the noble, was anticipating every detail that he had recorded. Before him, there had never been any other individual or project that had researched so deeply and comprehensively into the southeastern and southern regions of China. The Crown Prince declared to Marco Polo, You have unveiled a world that is filled with wonder. - 19 -

Back at the imperial court, Marco Polo presented his final report to the 12-men Privy Council. Kublai Khan then personally conferred to him an imperial decree and a gold medallion imprinted with the image of a lion. - 20 -

Before Marco Polo traveled south, many court officials had suggested to Kublai Khan to attack the south, and to conquer that region by force. What Marco Polo had presented in his report supported the initial viewpoint of Kublai Khan with reference to this issue. It reinforced his determination to continue proper management of the

southern regions, and unceasingly derived the benefits brought by the south. This would far surpass all the killings and violence, which would reduce the south into a wasteland. - 21 -

As Marco Polo was all praise in his report on Hangzhou, many court officials suggested to the emperor to move the capital city to Hangzhou. KublaiKhan was very adamant about this as he announced, We will never move the capital city anywhere else. Hangzhou is a city that is fit only for the hedonist. Dadu is where the soul of the Mongolian people resides. We must never forsake our homeland, neither shall we allow the will of the empire to become weak and frail. - 22 Marco Polo also suggested to the emperor to make good use of the Song Dynasty archives. He said, The Song Dynasty had ruled over the south for many years. Its archives contained many records of the taxation in every district and town. We can make use of these records as a basis to formulate the taxation policies in the south. - 23 -

In 1279, Kublai Khan led the Mongolian army and defeated the Southern Song Dynasty, unifying the north and the south. For the Mongolians who had principally been living in the north, it was a totally new topic when it came to governing the south. While they excelled as a nomadic people who were brave and were great horsemen, they were at a loss in managing the production and development of advanced cities. - 24 Owing to Marco Polos excellent capabilities, Kublai Khan decided to dispatch him to Yangzhou as its magistrate, to be in charge of and coordinate all matters pertaining to the production and transportation of salt. Marco Polo was also to lead a group of tax officials to assist him in all taxation matters. - 25 -

Taking with him his new mission, Marco Polo set foot once again on the path downward south. This time round, he had in his company, his uncle Matteo Polo. - 26 -

A few days later, they arrived in Yangzhou. The local officials threw a grand ceremony to welcome him. - 27 Within Yangzhous jurisdiction were 24 cities and towns, which were all very advanced in trade and the handicrafts industry, and were famous for weaponry. Owing to that, many military troops were stationed at Yangzhou, making it a vital location. - 28 -

As his first time in Yangzhou, Matteo Polo felt that the city was dotted with bridges and streams, very much like their hometown, Venice. Marco Polo commented that both Yangzhou and Venice were aworld of difference. - 29 -

The reason why Marco Polo made such a comment was the fact that over the two times that he had visited Yangzhou, he had developed a better understanding of the city. By that time, Yangzhou was conquered by the Mongolians, and their sovereignty was apparent all over the city. What struck Marco Polo the most was the cold, apathetic expression that was splashed over the faces of the common people. The streets were taken over by the military officers assigned by Kublai Khan to collect taxes. They watched over every transaction that took place, ensuring that all items were taxed, including pedestrians who passed by a particular stretch of the road or a bridge. Marco Polo could not help but wonder what it would be like if the exact same scene were to take place in his hometown, Venice. How would the common people and merchants there react to such exorbitant taxes and levies? - 30 -

It was not untrue that the wealth generated in the Yangzhou region was astonishing. Yet to the majority of the common people, the wealth of the city had no relations to them. All the money had fallen straight into the possessions of the imperial treasury and the Mongolian nobles. Despite unifying China, the Mongolians were incompetent in the governing, developing and managing of the southern region. All they were interested in was to enslave the common people and generate wealth. - 31 -

Later, whenever Marco Polo recalled his contributions to the Mongolian rulers over the southern part of China and how they had affected the people there, he would not have a single tinge of pride. Despite working for the Mongol empire, Marco Polo remained a Westerner, and he would always shave a different insight of what he witnessed in China, as a foreigner. - 32 -

Other than Yangzhou, Marco Polo also visited a number of cities in the region. - 33 -

The city of Suzhou had a radius of over 60 li, and all over the city were streams and bridges, and was a beautiful and tranquil place. The city had a total of more than 12,000 bridges of all sizes. It was a key producer of silk and satin fabric, and was densely populated. - 34 -

Guazhou was a center of water transportation, and many rivers and canals ran through the city. Marco Polo was very impressed by the Grand Canal, which connected the northern and southern parts of China into a huge network of waterways. It ran an extremely long course and everywhere it passed, the common people who resided at its banks would reap great benefits from the trade. Aided by sturdy and wide embankments, land transportation along the canals were well developed and convenient as well. - 35 -

At Changzhou, Marco Polo found that the common people were hateful of the Mongolians. Upon investigation, he realized that it was because the Mongolian troops had massacred many innocent folks in this city. - 36 -

Marco Polo felt that he had accomplished tremendously in this particular trip to the region to the South of the Yangtze River. Not only had he completed his task in studying the taxation of the region, he had also compiled a comprehensive report on trade, water conservancy and transportation in the south.

- 37 When he returned from the south, Marco Polo took on the position of the emperors special envoy, and began his next task of inspecting the western regions of China. - 38 -

Traveling west from Dadu, Marco Polo and his expedition soon found themselves at Yongding River, located 16 kilometers from Dadu. Lugou Bridge, which straddled the river, caught the keen interest of Marco Polo. This stone bridge measures three hundred steps in length and eight steps in width, with the capacity to carry over ten people on horsebacks simultaneously. The bridge was thronged with people, carriages and horses; it was a vibrant sight to behold. The railings of the bridge were decorated with over 500 stunningly beautiful marble carvings that depicted lions of varying sizes. Marco Polo commented to his travel companion, This is the most magnificent bridge I have ever seen! Venice maybe well known for its bridges, but they are simply uncomparable to this particular bridge. - 39 -

From Lugou Bridge, Marco Polo traveled for 50kilometers westward, and arrived at Zhuozhou. Here, the land was rich and fertile and its trade well developed. There were vineyards all over the place, and Marco Polo delighted in feasting on the grapes, growing in abundance. Zhuozhou was also a major producer of silk and satin fabrics. - 40 -

Marco Polo then continued southwesterly and ten days later, arrived at Taiyuan. From there, he and his expedition continued their journey for another seven days, and arrived at the city of Linfen. There, Marco Polo saw the beautiful Yellow River again. There were dense forestation along the banks of the river, and it was a perfect sanctuary for birds and other wildlife. There were also many villages and cities developed alongside the banks. - 41 Crossing the Yellow River, Marco Polo and his expedition arrived at Xian, an ancient yet majestic ancient capital city of the Han Dynasty (206 BC220AD) and Tang Dynasty (618907), among many others. At that time, Xian was still a big trading center of mainland China, and it was well developed with a good

transportation network. Many foreign visitors could be seen in the city. On the outskirts of the city were mausoleums, temples and prince palaces. - 42 After leaving Xian, Marco Polo arrived in Chengdu, which to him, was a magnificent city. Covering a radius of 30 kilometers, Chengdu was divided into three regions, each governed by one of three princes. This arrangement came to an end when Chengdu was conquered by the Mongolians. Marco Polo noticed that there were also many rivers and bridges in the city. - 43 -

Traveling along the Yangtze River for another 100days, Marco Polo had the opportunities to travel all of Sichuan region. On his journey, he saw many wild creatures such as leopards and tigers. He noticed that the local customs were very unique. He found that single women had the freedom to sleep with any man they chose. They could accept the expensive gifts and jewelry of foreign traders, and the more gifts they received, the more popular they became among the single men of the city. - 44 -

Later, Marco Polo arrived in Yunnan, and he visited places such as Dali and Xishuangbanna. - 45 -

In every mission that he undertook, Marco Polo had made detailed observation of the sights and sounds that he encountered along the way. All these interesting observations were exactly the things that Kublai Khan was most interested in. Each time after Marco Polo had submitted his report pertaining to his mission, it would be followed by a long session of his descriptions of everything that he saw on his journey. His descriptions were exciting and lively, which led the emperor to reinforce his opinion of Marco Polo as a trustworthy man with the great judgment. - 46 -

Kublai Khan increasingly regarded Marco Polo highly in court. Other than China itself, he would also send Marco Polo to other sovereign nations and territories for missions. Due to such opportunities, Marco Polo obtained a deeper understanding of this unique part of the world, more than any other person.

- 47 -

Other than inspection of various countries and regions, one of the main contributions of Marco Polo to Yuan government was assisting the emperor in eliminating the traitorous minister, Ahmad Fanakati. - 48 -

Ahmad once suggested to the emperor to prohibit private salt trading. At the same time, he rallied to develop a national steel industry. All these efforts helped to alleviate the financial crisis that affected the nation at that time. Because of that, he was highly regarded by the emperor, who supported Ahmad in almost every suggestion he brought up. However, Ahmad, who was then favored by the emperor, started becoming arrogant, and fell into a series of corruption and law-breaking activities. The emperor was kept in the dark. - 49 -

Finally, the Crown Prince decided to report on Ahmad. He went to Kublai Khan, and informed him of all the misdeeds that Ahmad had been engaging in. To his astonishment, the emperor believed none of what he heard. The Crown Prince was utterly disappointed. Marco Polo encouraged him to practice patience. He said, A fox wont be able to hide its tail for long. As long as we are prepared, and patient, once he lets his tail out, we will nab him. - 50 -

Indeed, the common people soon found Ahmadatrocities intolerable and revolted against him. Every day, Ahmads victims would gather outside the courthouse and tearfully appealed for justice to be served. After a period of time, such events caught the attention of the emperor. He consulted Marco Polo and asked for his opinions. To this request, Marco Polo told the emperor everything that he knew with regard to Ahmads evil deeds. Finally, the emperor realized that Ahmad was an evil man, and ordered for him to be executed. - 51 -

The Crown Prince was extremely pleased with the outcome. He was thankful to Marco Polo for his role in successfully persuading the emperor, and putting the matter to rest at last. -

Chapter Five: A Glorious Homecoming

Time flew, before long, Marco Polo, his father and his uncle had served in the Yuan Dynasty court for more than 10 years. They began missing home and long to return to Venice. Meanwhile, they were considering the fact that Kublai Khan was getting older and might die anytimeif they did not leave when he was still alive, they could very well not get the permission to leave for home. -1-

Marco Polo had brought up the issue of returning to Venice to the emperor a number of times, but the emperor could not bear to see him leave. He advised Marco Polo to not risk his life again, as the journey home would be paved with dangers and obstacles. He also promised Marco Polo that if they stayed, he would give them anything they wanted. -2-

One day, three envoys from Iekhanate (Persia) came to China with a marriage proposal. Kublai Khan agreed to it and bestowed Princess Cocachin to the Persian king. The envoys was preparing for the journey back to Persia, but was stranded in the capital due to military conflicts between the Mongol warlords, causing the roads to be impassable. -3-

At that time, Marco Polo had just returned from a mission to India. He went to the emperor immediately and reported to him his experiences on his journey. The three envoys got wind of it, and was certain that Marco Polo was a competent navigator. They requested Marco Polo to escort them to Persia aboard his ship. This was great news to the Polo family. They requested the envoys to formally seek the emperors consent. The emperor could not bear to see Marco Polo leave, but in the end, he relented. However, he requested Marco Polo to return to China after they had stayed in Italy for some time. Marco Polo agreed. -4-

Kublai Khan bestowed Marco Polo, as well as his father and his uncle, two gold medallions and many valuable items. He ordered 14 vessels, carrying enough food and supplies to last for two years, to go along with Marco Polo. Kublai Khan also wrote several letters for Marco Polo to be delivered to the kings of France, England and Spain. -5-

In 1291, Marco Polo and his father and his uncle finally set sail from Quanzhou of Fujian Province, leaving behind the China that they had resided in for the last 17 years. -6-

Under the commission of the emperor, Marco Polo took great care of Princess Cocachin, who regarded Marco Polo and his family as her own. The conditions at sea were unpredictable and the journey at sea was full of perils. It took them two-and-a-half years to reach Persia. Of the 1,600 workers and sailors who boarded the ships at Quanzhou, only 18 remained when the party disembarked at Persia. -7-

When Marco Polo arrived in Persia, King Arghun had already passed away. According to local customs, Princess Cocachin was married to the succeeding King Ghazan. -8-

In Persia, Marco Polo and his family rested for nine months. When they were about to set sail for Venice, Cocachin gave them four gold medallions as presents. Engraved on the medallions were the royal decree of King Ghazan, with the instruction to provide Marco Polo and his family horses, travel expenses and armed guards along the way. Because of this, Marco Polo and his family were warmly received everywhere they stopped at along the journey. -9-

During his journey, Marco Polo received the news that Kublai Khan had passed away. He was devastated and dismissed his plan to return to China. To Marco Polo, Kublai Khan was a brave, wise and just ruler. Later, he had this to say about Kublai Khan: This is a man who was only second to god. He was the wisest and most capable person, a great ruler of his people and empire, and also the finest character. - 10 -

At last, the trade vessel sailed through the Dardanelles Strait, the Aegean Sea, and entered the Adriatic Sea. The vessel carried on towards the northwestern direction, and proceeded slowly to Venice. As Venice gradually came into their view, Marco Polo and his family were swept by a massive wave of emotion. - 11 -

When Marco Polo left Venice, he was only a 17-year-old young man. Now, he was 42 years old, donning a thick beard. - 12 -

Setting foot on their homeland for the first time in over two decades, the three men broke into tears. Soon, they were in disagreement on how they should appear in front of their fellow countrymen. - 13 -

Nicolo Polo suggested putting on the most beautiful silk clothing, bejeweled rings and a hat decorated with pearls. This would make them stand out from the crowd as someone who had both wealth and status. Matteo Polo suggested that they should send someone to inform their family and relatives, so that they would be prepared for their return. Marco Polo disagreed with them, saying that they should give their family and relatives a surprise. He also warned them against showing off their wealth. At Marco Polos insistence, his father and uncle decided to follow his advice. - 14 -

The three men checked into a local hotel. After dinner, all three of them put on Mongolian outfits, which were brand new when they departed China, and had now become rather worn-out after being at sea for the last couple of years. However, Marco Polo felt that more needed to be done, and went on to tear a few holes in his clothes. - 15 -

They finally came to their house. He stood on the step in front of the door and rang the bell. - 16 Who is it? came a voice from the house. - 17 Its me, Marco Polo. He struggled to keep speak Italian accurately, as he had already become more familiar with the Mongolian language. - 18 -

body came to the door as everyone in the house thought someone was playing a prank on them. Marco Polo rang the bell again, announcing loudly his name, as well as his fathers and uncles names. - 19 -

There was a brief moment of hesitation in the house. Everyone thought the three men had long perished in a foreign land, how could they possibly show up now? - 20 -

Finally, someone opened the door. He scrutinized the three men, who looked very much like vagabonds. After sometime, he was finally able to identify them. They were indeed Nicolo Polo, Matteo Polo, and Marco Polo! - 21 The neighbors soon got wind of these three mens return, and came to see them. They had loads of questions for them, and Marco Polo, his father and uncle answered them tirelessly. They were all excited to share with them all their experiences in the last 24 years. - 22 -

Several days later, they held a scrumptious feast for all their relatives and friends. Once the guests were all settled at the tables, Marco Polo got the servant to bring a basin of water for them to wash their hands. They were rather puzzled by this gesture, to which Marco Polo explained that it was a habit of the Mongolians to wash their hands before eating, so that they could pick up their food with clean hands. - 22 -

It was a marvelous feast, and the guests were especially taken by the variety of Oriental cuisines. It was an eye opener for them. There was a dish that was made up of something long, thin, white and soft, which was smelled delicious. All the guests put in great effort in picking it up with their forks, but to no avail. They turned to look at the hosts, and saw that Marco Polo and his father and uncle were holding between their fingers, two thin sticks. They appeared to be rather apt with them, which appeared to be really useful in picking up food from the plate. The guest asked them eagerly what those two sticks were, and what it was that they were eating. Marco Polo told them that the pairs of sticks that they were using were called chopsticks, and the long and thin stuff was called noodles. - 24 -

en the feast began, Marco Polo, his father and uncle were wearing long, red robes. Once they were seated at the table, they changed into cotton clothing, and gave the long robes to their servants. They explained to the guests that such was a Mongolian custom. After several courses of food, the trio changed into clothing made of goose feathers, and gave the cotton clothing to their servants, just like the first time. At the end of the feast, they were changed into casual clothing, and likewise, gave the goose feather clothing to their servants. - 25 -

The guests were all surprised by their generosity. They did not understand how they could bear to give such expensive clothing to their servants. What happened afterwards truly shocked them. Marco Polo took out the torn and tattered clothing that they were wearing when they arrived in Venice. Then he used a sharp knife and cut open the seams of the clothing, exposing a number of rare jewels. Before long, the table was covered with sparkling gemstones. What actually happened was, before the trio left China, they converted all their money into rare gemstones. Who would have thought of this ingenious way of hiding these precious gems in their clothing? The guests were all dazzled by the fine jewels, which were as big as grapes, and came in a multitude of colors. The guests enjoyed the night tremendously, and they embraced the three hosts, expressing their admiration and respect for them. All of them agreed unanimously that Marco Polo and his family were the pride and honor of Venice. - 26 -

The story of Marco Polo soon spread far and wide. They were visited by a score of Venetians who were all eager to hear a piece of their exciting experiences in the Orient. Many younger men came to chat with Marco Polo every day, and asked him all sorts of questions. Marco Polo answered them patiently. Whenever he mentioned about Kublai Khan, he would say that the emperors revenue was a figure between 1 billion and 1.5 billion. And when it came to the rich natural resources of China, he would also mention similar figures. Soon, Marco Polo was given the nickname of Millionaire Marco. And his house was also referred to as the Millionaire Residence. - 27

Chapter Six: Authoring a Book in Prison

Soon, Marco Polo had returned to Venice for three years. In 1298, Venice was engaged in a fierce battle with another trading center of Italy, Genoa, fighting over foreign trade markets. In order to protect himself and the business interest of Venice, Marco Polo bravely volunteered to fight in the war, and became the commander of naval fleet. -1-

In one battle, Venice was defeated by Genoa, and Marco Polo lost his consciousness due to an injury. When he finally regained his consciousness, he found himself lying in the cabin of a Genoa vessel. Confined in the humid and cramped space with him were tens of Venetian soldiers. He could hear many wounded soldiers groaning in pain. Upon checking with a soldier next to him, he found out that they had arrived in the port of Genoa. Marco Polo was overwhelmed by the pain from his injury, and he was so weak that he needed to be supported by his servant. -2-

His servant felt sorry to see Marco Polo in pain. He implored the Genoa soldiers to give some water to his master. The soldiers refused. Marco Polos servant pleaded again, "He is our commander, his name is Marco Polo, a renowned noble and millionaire of Venice." But it was all in vain, the soldiers declined him water. -3-

For the next few days, Marco Polo was delirious with a high fever. In those moments, he felt if he had returned to China, and began babbling about his experiences in the Orient. -4The other prisoners were unconvinced by what they heard from Marco Polos mouth. They felt that he was lying and gave him a beating. Marco Polos servant was very affected by his masters sufferings, and tried to protect him. He shouted, "Stop hitting him! What he said was all true!" -5-

Just then, the prison warden walked in. He demanded to know why the prisoners beat up Marco Polo. They

pointed at Marco Polo and claimed that he was full of lies and was trying to deceive everyone. Weakened by his conditions, Marco Polo was unable to speak up and defend himself. Marco Polos servant then told the warden, "Sir, his name is Marco Polo and he is our commander. He used to be a merchant and traveled to faraway lands to trade. What he said was all true, and they are stories that tell of his travels to different places. He did not lie. Please believe what he said." -6-

The warden was amused by what he just heard. He asked, "Are the places he visited that amazing? And why wouldnt the others believe him?" -7-

The servant answered, "Sir, what he was telling were stories about places that are far, far away. The people and events that took place there were all very different from what we are familiar here. Thats why the others didnt believe him. But, Sir, what he said was true. Besides that, he is a wealthy man who is worth millions. His family would be willing to pay a huge ransom to have him back." -8-

This finally caught the interest of the warden. He was actually a person who enjoyed listening to interesting stories. He said, "Alright, Ill believe you two for now. Before his family comes to redeem his freedom, I would ensure his health and safety. Now follow me to another room. It would be more comfortable for him there, and there is someone who is very keen in telling stories." -9-

The servant was delighted, and hurriedly supported Marco Polo and followed the warden into another room. Indeed, it was a much cleaner and more comfortable room, furnished with tables, chairs and beds. Most importantly, there was a window in the room, which offered fresh air and a good view of the sky. It would be beneficial to Marco Polos recovery. - 10 -

After sometime, under the meticulous care of the servant, Marco Polo finally got well. He started leaving his bed and walked around a little. And for the first time, he talked to his cellmate, who appeared to be a little

older than Marco Polo. His cellmate introduced himself as Rustichello, and was from Pisa. He was imprisoned in a war between Pisa and Genoa. - 11 "I was told that youre a fine storyteller, and the warden is fond of reading the stories you wrote," enquired Marco Polo. - 12 Rustichello replied, "Yes, Im a writer, and I once wrote the story of King Arthur and the knights at the round table. As for the warden, he was a keen listener and reader of stories. He was kind to me. I think he expects the same from you." - 13 "Thats not true. Im not a writer. Im just a merchant. What others heard were experiences that I encountered when I was traveling abroad," corrected Marco Polo. - 14 "Youre too modest. I heard the stories you spouted during your feverish moments. They are far better than those that I weaved. Im sure you are better than me in making up stories!" Rustichello retorted. - 15 "No, no. What I said was all true. They really happened. I didnt make them up. All the people, the places, and events, they really existed." Marco Polo tried to convince him. - 16 -

Rustichello was speechless. He was silent for a moment, before asking Marco Polo, "Where did all the stories you tell took place? When were you there, and how long were you there for?" - 17 -

"I was there since I left home with my father and uncle when I was 17. I lived there for almost 20 years. I only returned to Venice when I was 42. The place I went was called China." - 18 -

"China! Almost 20 years!" Rustichello was dumbstruck. He could not believe that this seemingly normallooking Venetian actually had such legendary encounters. Not only that, he had had lived there, in such a faraway country, for a long period of time. He asked Marco Polo excitedly, "Do you still remember what happened there, all of it?" - 19 -

"Of course, I do! I will never forget all those events." Marco Polo looked into the distant, and said listlessly. - 20 Rustichello was all excited. He held on to Marco Polos hand and pleaded sincerely, "Sir, if you can put those stories onto paper, it would be fantastic. It would definitely attract the interest of many people. Dont you want to share all these experiences of yours? Do you want more people to know about them? These stories are amazing, and it would be a pity if you dont write them down. Why dont we collaborate? I can help you write your stories!" - 21 After much consideration, Marco Polo agreed to Rustichellos request. - 22 -

Rustichello hurriedly sat at his table, took up his pen, laid out a paper, and wrote the following in French: - 23 -

"To all the kings, generals, ministers, countrymen, and all people. If you wish to understand the different races in the world, to know more about the sights and sounds, customs and lifestyles of the people, then read the travelogues of Mr. Marco Polo!"

- 24 -

"Mr. Marco Polo is an intelligent and learned Venetian. In order for all the people who did not have the experience of being in another country and take in the sights and sounds of the place and people to share in the incredible encounters of his, Mr. Marco Polo has decided to share all that he had encountered in simple languages, with the masses. The time of writing of the book is 1298. It is dictated to and recorded by his friend Rustichello, in the prison of Genoa" - 25 -

Just like that, Rustichello spent over four years writing the stories that Marco Polo dictated to him. Together, they completed the saga, entitled The Travels of Marco Polo. - 26 -

After The Travels of Marco Polo was published, it became an instant best seller. Its popularity swiftly swept across the whole of Europe. In the early 14th Century, when Marco Polo was still alive, there were a number of versions made available in the ancient French language, and various dialects of the Italian and Venetian languages. They are still well preserved to date. In 1477, the first printed copies of The Travels of Marco Polo were made available to the masses, in the German language, followed by the Latin version. - 27 -

Owing to the success of the book, Marco Polo rose in fame. As such, Genoa had no choice but to release him from imprisonment. From then on, Marco Polo resided in Venice, got married and continued with the running of his trade. He did not travel again. His father Nicolo Polo passed away in 1300, followed by his uncle, sometime between 1315 and 1320. In January, 1324, Marco Polo fell seriously ill, and he made a will to take care of his inheritance. After which, no one really knows how long Marco Polo was alive for. It was supposed that his death occurred after June 1325. His tomb was untraceable. According to his will, he should have been buried in St Laurence Church, and it was also believed that he was buried at the Church of St. Sorvino. No one knows how Marco Polo actually looked like. Any image or portrait of him is based on imagination. - 28

Chapter Seven: A Great Travelogue Since Rustichello completed The Travels of Marco Polo during his imprisonment, based on Marco Polos dictation, for over 700 years, the book has been translated into many languages. Many scholars read and make comparisons in many versions available, and carry out many researches on it. -1The Travels of Marco Polo is comprised of four volumes. The first volume tells the stories of Marco Polos encounters when he was traveling east, till the time he arrived at the upper capital of the Yuan Dynasty. The second volume tells the story of Marco Polo as a Yuan Dynasty court official, and his many visits to various parts of China during his career. The third volume includes Marco Polos travels to Japan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, and other islands in the Indian Ocean and East Africa. The fourth volume talks about the various conquests and wars of Mongolia and its wars with Russia. Each volume is divided into chapters, each describing a particular historical event, making up a total of 229 chapters. -2-

The Travels of Marco Polo is a book about Asia. It records all the events and situations that happened in East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and Southeast Asia. Many countries and cities are included. Most of Marco Polos descriptions of cities included their natural landscapes, local produces, weather conditions, trade and commerce, the people, religions, customs and practices. -3-

The focus of The Travels of Marco Polo is undoubtedly China. Marco Polo resided in China for 17 years, and he traveled widely within the country, covering the regions in the northwest, north, southwestern and the south. In his travel stories, he eloquently describes the prosperous sights of the Chinese cities, the grandeur of the majestic palaces, the well developed transportation systems and infrastructure and the limitless extent of wealth. -4-

The second volume that primarily describes China contains a total of 82 chapters takes up the largest proportion of the book. Most of the chapters tell the stories of Kublai Khan and the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, Dadu. Marco Polo describes Dadu as a well organized chess set, and its beauty and perfection are

beyond words. On the architecture of the imperial palace, he describes the elaborately decorated walls, ceilings and roofs that were adorned with different vibrant colors, making them look brilliant like crystals seen from afar. Marco Polo was very impressed by the elegance of the palaces, and the extraordinary dcor of the interiors. He also described the prosperous sights of Beijing as an advanced and busy trading center, with a multitude of imported merchandise that far surpassed any other cities in the world. In fact, what he describes as Dadu was actually present day Beijing. Reading such descriptions in The Travels of Marco Polo certainly helps one to recreate in the mind the ancient city of Beijing from more than 700 years ago. -5-

Marco Polo also dedicated a section of his book on his beloved Hangzhou. In the book, it is written that Hangzhou was densely populated with almost 1.6 million houses. The city was clean and neat, and it was advanced in commerce, with a busy network of land and sea transportations. Marco Polo also mentioned that the people of Hangzhou were very friendly and hospitable towards foreign traders. He also sang praise of Xihu, or West Lake and likened his experience in this magnificent city as being in paradise. -6-

Being a trader, Marco Polo made very careful observation of the local produce and commercial activities whenever he might be. Throughout the history of trade, jewelry, spices and silk of the East had always been highly regarded by the Westerners. It was no exception that all these merchandises caught the special attention of Marco Polo. In his travel writings, when he mentioned Chinas southern cities such as Baoying, Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Suzhou, he would never fail to give a special description of the local silk industry. When he describes Yunnan and Dali, he dwells substantially into the abundance of gold and silver produced by these cities. The whole idea of natural resources being available in abundance is constantly read about throughout the book. This idea is also apparent in his description of India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, which produced all kinds of gemstones, pearls and spices in abundance. -7Marco Polos description of China in his book is not only restricted to cities that were advanced and well developed. It also includes places that were secluded, primitive, and scarcely populated. Marco Polo had once visited the eastern region of Tibet when he made a trip to Yunnan. In The Travels of Marco Polo, he dedicated two chapters on Tibet itself. He describes the expanse of land that he saw, and the rivers that interconnected with one another, forming lakes and rivers across the land. The people of Tibet were many involved in

agriculture and rearing livestock. They were dressed in simple and plain clothing, yet enjoyed a tremendous amount of carefree living. He mentions a kind of wild cattle that was huge and ferocious; as well as a strangelooking creature that emitted a strange substance from its bodies once every month. The substance was scattered over the ground and its scent could be detected from afar. -8-

In The Travels of Marco Polo, two chapters touch on the currency of the Yuan Dynasty, and the use of coal, which had been in use for a long period of time by the Chinese people. According to Marco Polo, Kublai Khan located its mint in Dadu. There, its currency was manufactured using the bark of the mulberry tree. This paper currency could be used within China itself, for the purchase of any merchandise, and it was also widely circulated in foreign trade. He also mentioned about the abundantly available coal, and the fuel it could generate, which could burn longer than wood. In fact, as early as the Han Dynasty, the Chinese people had already started using coal as fuel. -9-

First published in the early 14th Century, The Travels of Marco Polo is a record of the sights and sounds of the Orient that were unheard of to many Europeans. Many people in Europe were attracted to the novelty of the contents, and were all eager to read about them. Very soon, the book became a best seller. Many readers were doubtful that the Orient was really that prosperous in terms of its economy and cultures. Marco Polo also attracted a group of adversaries, who accused him of being a heretic. - 10 They claimed that the world beyond the world of Christianity was the devils hell, and a world of darkness. They were unable to accept what was written in the book, that Europe was incomparable to the Orient. They claimed the book to be a blasphemy against the Christian god. Many people started pointing to Marco Polo as a liar and his book contained nonsense. They rallied for Marco Polo to be arrested. And amidst the fervent opposition to the publication of the book, Marco Polo was finally brought to court by the Catholic Church. - 11 -

In facing all the doubts and accusations, Marco Polo remained firm in his stand. Before he died, some of his relatives and friends were worried that he would not be allowed in heaven for his lies. They tried to persuade him to confess to God, and disclaim all that he had written in The Travels of Marco Polo, so as his soul could

be saved. Marco Polo rejected them, and claimed once again that there was not a single lie in his book, and he had barely told half of what he had experience. - 12 -

The reason why so many Europeans were opposed to The Travels of Marco Polo was because the cultural exchanges between the East and West were extremely slow, which led them to believe that the East was primitive and uncivilized. Other than this, The Travels of Marco Polo did contain contents that were based on hearsay, and some parts were exaggerated. Due to such narratives, many scholars in later years do believe that Marco Polo had actually never been to the East, and all that he wrote in the book was what he heard from others. Some researchers even claimed that Marco Polo is a fictitious character, who did not exist. - 13 -

On the contrary, there are also many scholars of the Orient, who had authenticated the genuineness of the books contents. They did acknowledge the flaws and weaknesses of The Travels of Marco Polo, but mainly they were due to the inability to authenticate the rumors and fading memory of Marco Polo. Otherwise, the contents were mostly true accounts. And there was indeed a person called Marco Polo, who had really been to China. The values of both Marco Polo and The Travels of Marco Polo thus received their well-deserved recognition. - 14 -

Being the first published work about the Orient, and written from the perspective of a Westerner, The Travels of Marco Polo opened the horizons of the medieval Europeans, who began to look towards the East. Many intellectuals of various European studies incorporated into their own writings what they had learnt from the book. Cartographers had especially obtained significant gains from the book. For instance, the map of 1375 Catalonia of Spain was revered as the most valuable map of the medieval times. The map was constructed based on The Travels of Marco Polo. - 15 -

The Travels of Marco Polo had also contributed significantly to the development of seafaring and marine industry. It inspired people to travel and an interest in the Orient. Many adventure seekers, seafarers and explorers were readers of the book, and derived great encouragement and inspiration from it. It was a book read by Portugals Dom Henrique, a leading seafarer and adventurer of the 15th Century, who had advocated

Western Europeans to explore the world via the sea , was hailed as the teacher of great explorers such as Bartholmeu Dias , Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gam a , and Fernando de Magallanes. - 16 -

The founder of America, Christopher Columbus, was known to own a 1485 Latin edition of The Travels of Marco Polo. He read it regularly, and made notes in the empty space at the sides. In all, he made close to 264 notes and annotations. From these notes, it could be seen that Columbus was very concerned with the geographical locations of the places in the East and its natural resources. Columbus greatly admired the civilized and wealthy nations such as China, India, and Japan that were recorded in the book. And he was very inspired by what he read to travel and explore the East by sea. Beginning in 1492, under the commission of the Spanish king, Columbus led a fleet of naval vessels and set off to sea. When he arrived in Central America, and the northeast of America, he thought he had reached the eastern coast of Asia. But what he discovered, was America. The Travels of Marco Polo that used to belong to Columbus is still preserved in Sevilla, Spain, today. - 17 -

Vasco da Gama was also an avid reader of The Travels of Marco Polo. When he was tasked with leading a naval fleet to discover a new direct route to India, one of the first things he did to prepare for his voyage was to peruse The Travels of Marco Polo. - 18 -

Fernando de Magallanes, the first man who circle the globe, was also a reader of The Travels of Marco Polo, and was greatly mesmerized by the rich and mystical Orient. - 19 -

In facilitating the exchanges between the East and the West, Marco Polo was an outstanding emissary. He was the first European in history who introduced China to Europe. All the technological advances of China, in silk production, the making of paper and printing, the coal mining, and architecture, were brought to the world through his book. Many people also read about how the Chinese cities were planned, developed and managed. People in the East had also gained much knowledge of the West through Marco Polo. - 20 -

It has been 700 years since Marco Polo traveled to China. His spirit of adventure and his insatiable thirst for knowledge have inspired generations. Many people have followed Marco Polos footsteps in bridging the East and the West. Today, he is still a well-respected great explorer loved by many. - 21 -