“There is a world outside the one we know,” he said softly, “with cultures and races and armies who have never heard of us. Yes, and cities greater than Yenking and Karakorum. To survive, to grow, we must remain strong. We must conquer new lands, so that our army is always fed, always moving. To stop is to die, Chagatai.”

“My word is iron," Kublai said to the guards, as Meng Guang was led away. "Your people will come to know this, in time.”

“We are all fools with our sons. We wipe them and suckle them and all we expect is for them to be grateful to the end of their days.”

“You have a powerful army, Kublai, but the best force is one you do not have to use.”

“Sung Win smiled to himself, enjoying the tension across his shoulders and the way his pulse beat in his veins. All life involved risk.”

“It's all you can say, when the end comes: 'I did not waste my time.' I think that matters. I think it may be all that matters.”

“Predators did not need mercy.”

“I am the rightful khan of the nation. I am the gur-khan. My word is iron and my word is law.”

“Kublai went on as if he had not spoken.“Before you all, in the lands of my enemies, I declare myself great khan of the nation, of the khanates under my brothers, Hulegu and Arik-Boke, of the Chagatai khanate and all others. I declare myself great khan of the Chin lands and the Sung. I have spoken and my word is iron!”

“I am not you and all my choices have already been made, good and bad.”

“No worthy goal should come easily, he told himself. Suffering created value.”