Mongol Expedition to Japan

A lot had been said about Mongol expedition to conquer Japan amongst which was the cause of the downfall of the Mongol Empire

There may be some truth in that. Pethaps, if Kubilai Khan had given more focus on the management of his Yuan Dynasty, it might have shone longer and brighter(?) Perhaps it was the urge of expansion was simply the manifestation of a great Mongol traditional. As there was not much more land the Mongols had not conquered, Japan became the the next target. There were many campaigns on Japan but two became very well known as they almost bankrupted the Empire and tarnished the image of Kubilai.

The first was in 1274. As usual Mongol would first send a demand for submission of it's adversary. However Japan's "insolent" reply caused the Mongols to prepare for war.The Koreans were pressganged to provide the fleet and sailors to carry 20,000 troops......perhaps more than enough to deal with the illequipped Japanese. It was indeed a very easy progress for the Mongols. However, the night after Mongol landing in Japan, a storm blew up and the Korean sailors insisted that they set to sea least their ships would be dashed against the rocks and be destroyed and they would have no means of retreat after that. The Koreans may be right, but once at sea they were scattered by the winds ......13.000 lives were lost. The Mongols withdrew.

The second expedition was in 1280 after the defeat of Sung. Kubilai wanted revenge on Japan. This time 900 ships brought 40,000 troops from Northern China and 100,000 Chinese from Southern China. This time, the Japanese in Kyushu Island were more prepared. They had built a fort. They battled for two months but fate would have the typhoon wind to blow up again. The Koreans again asked for a retreat to sea. In the melee 60,000 troops drowned or slaughtered trying to get off the beach.

Many sources blamed the Koreans. However, it could also be the lack of knowledge of the weather in Japan. It was unlikely that they were lacking in naval warfare as the Sung Dynasty had been defeated in a naval warfare......