Why was Marco Polo called a liar by the citizens of Venice when he returned after his stay of almost two decades at the court of Khubilai Khan?
Coming Soon! Cobalt Blue: Marco Polo in Da-du.
A work of fiction created from The Travels by Marco Polo. Inspired by Marco's position in Khubilai Khan's government when the Khan united China again for the first time in four centuries. The so-called barbarian meant to conquer in peace. The Yuan Dynasty turned to trade, not to war.
Khubilai Khan's best general, Bayan, completed the conquest of Southern Song China. For the first time since the Tang Dynasty, China was one country again. It had taken three generations, beginning in the time of Genghis Khan. Khubilai Khan did not wish to treat the South as a conquered people, but as the return of long lost brothers. But Khubilai Khan had problems. In his words, a king is history's slave. The empire handed to him was vast, but it was cracking up as his relatives were breaking away. He could not be all things to all people. His dream of universal rule, of himself ruling all peoples, was disappearing, and he was getting depressed. His son, the Heir Apparent Jinggim, was worried about him, and was plotting against his enemies. Marco Polo could speak the language of the Khan, and as a European, did not have political gain as a goal. Marco could be trusted. More than that, Marco had experience that was valuable to the Khan and so he received a post in the south where he could spy on the nefarious doings of the villainous ministers who were spoiling the Khan's plans.