Genghis Khan 成吉思汗 - 6

In the summer of 1204, Temujin(铁木真) rode west to confront his blood brother. The outcome would be decisive for the future of the Mongol people.

In the foothills of the Khangai Mountains (杭爱山脉), on the eve of battle, Temujin called his generals to him.

"I told them, one tribe was like a single arrow, easily broken. But many tribes together would be strong. They could never be broken."

But Temujin didn't just rely on inspirational speeches. He practiced psychological warfare¹.

"I knew Jamuqa's(扎木和) scouts² would be watching as my men prepared for battle. I ordered each man to light not one, but five fires."

Jamuqa's scouts reported that Temujin's army was so large; they had more fires than there were stars in the sky.

At daybreak, Jamuqa led his army onto the heights of Chakirma'ut, and this was the sight that confronted him.

"I saw the man who had been my friend, who had sworn the sacred vow³ of anda(安答,意为义兄弟), but he had broken that vow."

Jamuqa was about to become the first commander to face an army that would eventually conquer twelve million square miles

psychological warfare: war which includes using methods which influence the psyche

scout : a soldier or other person sent out ahead of a main force so as to gather information about the enemy's position, strength, or movements

1 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

2 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。

3 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。