verseers not to be troublesome. He commanded that the YangtzeRiver be extended 135 miles north by constructing the Grand Canal. The Grand Canalwould link the Yangtze River with Ta-tu. When it was completed in 1289, the GrandCanal, first used only for official news, but soon merchants used the Grand Canal as well. Khubilai also tried to improve the communication system within his empire. By the end ofKhubilai’s reign, there were 1,400 postal stations, which used 50,000 horses, 8,400 oxen,6,700 mules, 4,000 carts, 6,000 boats, 200 dogs, and 1,150 sheep.10 Because ofKhubilai’s strict accomplishments, soon both trade on land and overseas flourished. The Mongols welcomed foreigners including Russians, Arabs, Jews, Genoese, andVenetians. Mongols did not involve themselves in caravan trade so they encouragedothers to do so. Khubilai protected and encouraged caravan merchants and used them togather intelligence. Merchants felt secure and had a relatively high status during the YuanDynasty in China. Khubilai was the first to devise a country-wide use of paper currency.11 Merchants had to convert foreign coins into paper money when they crossed into China. Marco Polo, a Venetian traveler, was among one of the many traders who was welcomedand worked for the Great Khan.12 Marco Polo was greatly impressed with trade on theYangtze. He even named the city of Ta-tu, Khan-balik, meaning “the city of the GreatKhan.”13Khubilai had to have interest in the Confucian religion if he wanted to be perceivedas the ruler of China. Even though Confucianism was a major part of the Chinese culture,Khubilai also wanted a government that would preserve Mongol dominance and not granttoo much power to the Chinese. Thus, he set up a system based on personal loyalty andresponsibility. His basic policy was to establish a straightforward system of rewards andpunishments. He would allow the people to present him with memorials, which werep...
