Upon receiving the summons from the Great Khan, Chen Rong did not dare delay.
He quickly made arrangements for his slaves, gave brief instructions regarding the crops, and then climbed into his off-road vehicle.
The Mongol envoy waited nearby, mounted on horseback, ready to guide him to the meeting place.
The engine roared to life, an unfamiliar sound that still drew glances from nearby soldiers. Chen Rong followed the Mongol soldier, guiding the iron vehicle slowly through the encampment.
"Mr. Chen," the leading Mongol soldier called out as he rode beside the vehicle, "the Great Khan wishes to ride your iron chariot today.
You are to proceed directly to the main gate of the camp. Please follow me."
Chen Rong nodded. "Understood. Lead the way."
During these past few days, Genghis Khan had been occupied with military matters from dawn until dusk.
It was only now, after several days, that he had found time to summon Chen Rong again.
Even Qiu Chuji - Master Changchun, had reportedly been arranged to meet the Great Khan later that evening.
Clearly, this was no casual meeting.
Following the Mongol guide, Chen Rong carefully drove through the vast encampment. It took more than ten minutes to exit the inner camp and approach the main gate, where a large group had already gathered.
As Chen Rong drew closer, he saw dozens of Mongol generals assembled in formation. Behind them stood hundreds of Mongol cavalry, their horses stamping impatiently against the earth.
At the center stood Genghis Khan himself.
Chen Rong parked the vehicle and quickly stepped out. Walking forward, he bowed respectfully.
"Chen Rong greets the Great Khan. I have kept you waiting."
Genghis Khan waved his hand casually.
"No need for formalities, Mr. Chen." He gestured toward the men beside him. "Allow me to introduce you. These are my sons and generals."
He pointed first to four men standing closest to him.
"These four are my sons—Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui."
Then he gestured toward several seasoned warriors nearby.
"This is Chilaun, Jebe, and Subutai. You should become acquainted.
Soon, you will accompany us in the campaign against Jalal ad-Din, the new Sultan of Khwarezm. This time, I hope your flying artifact will help us capture him."
The Mongol officers nodded toward Chen Rong in acknowledgment. The four princes placed their hands upon their chests in greeting, a gesture both respectful and dignified.
Chen Rong immediately stepped forward and returned the salute.
"I am honored to serve the Great Khan. Chen Rong, a humble man from the mountains, greets the four princes and esteemed generals."
He kept his posture respectful, but inwardly, his thoughts raced.
These were no ordinary men.
Each of Genghis Khan's sons was a formidable commander in his own right. In the Central Plains, any one of them would be considered a top-tier general capable of leading vast armies.
Among them, Ögedei and Tolui stood out most in Chen Rong's memory. These two would eventually become the strongest contenders for the position of Great Khan after their father's death.
Chen Rong remembered that after Genghis Khan's passing, Tolui temporarily governed the empire. For two years, he held power, competing with Ögedei for succession.
Yet, with the support of Chagatai and adherence to Mongol tradition, Ögedei ultimately became the new Great Khan.
Even their descendants would go on to dominate vast territories. The Golden Family was at the height of its strength—its influence destined to shape the world.
Chen Rong suppressed these thoughts and returned his attention to the present.
Genghis Khan stepped forward and glanced at the iron vehicle.
"How fast does your iron chariot run?" he asked. "Is it faster than a horse?"
Chen Rong considered his answer carefully.
On paved roads, no horse could match the vehicle's speed. On rough terrain, horses might initially keep pace, especially Mongol horses known for endurance.
But over time, the vehicle would surpass them easily—especially if pushed to its limits.
The Mongol horses were resilient, but they were not bred for pure speed like Arabian or European warhorses. And once Chen Rong accelerated fully, no horse would catch up.
This demonstration would be important.
He wanted to leave a strong impression.
"Reporting to the Great Khan," Chen Rong said respectfully, "when this iron chariot runs at full speed, no horse can catch it."
Genghis Khan raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
He had previously seen the vehicle moving slowly within the camp. In his mind, the iron chariot seemed comparable to a carriage—perhaps slightly faster, but certainly not faster than a galloping horse.
Several Mongol generals behind him exchanged amused glances. The iron contraption looked heavy and cumbersome. That it could outrun horses seemed unlikely.
"Great Khan, please ride with me," Chen Rong said. "There is room for two in the rear."
He deliberately offered additional seats. Allowing the Great Khan to ride alone might make the Mongol generals uneasy.
Genghis Khan nodded after brief consideration.
"Ögedei, Tolui—come. You two will sit in the back. I will ride in the front."
"Yes, Father," the two princes replied, stepping forward.
They were both imposing men, broad-shouldered and hardened by years of warfare.
Chen Rong opened the rear door, allowing the two princes to climb in. Then Genghis Khan entered the front passenger seat.
Chen Rong briefly considered the seatbelts, but dismissed the idea. Asking the Great Khan to fasten restraints might be interpreted as binding him—something that could easily cause offense.
Better to avoid unnecessary complications.
"Are you seated securely, Great Khan?" Chen Rong asked, gripping the steering wheel.
Genghis Khan nodded.
Well you can Start.
Chen Rong turned the key. The engine roared to life, vibrating beneath them.
He began gently, shifting into second gear, then third. Within moments, the vehicle accelerated to around forty kilometers per hour.
Genghis Khan glanced around, wind brushing against his face.
"This speed is decent," he said calmly. "But not faster than a horse."
Chen Rong smiled faintly.
He had been holding back, worried the Great Khan might experience discomfort. But the man seemed completely unfazed. Years of riding across the steppe had given him a strong tolerance for motion.
Good.
Then there was no need to hold back.
"Hold tight, Great Khan," Chen Rong said. "Soon, you will not even see your cavalry. We will ride ahead and wait for them."
Before Genghis Khan could respond, Chen Rong shifted gears rapidly—fourth, then fifth—and pressed the accelerator fully.
The engine roared like a beast unleashed.
The vehicle surged forward, wheels spinning violently as dust erupted behind them. The sudden burst of speed startled the horses trailing behind.
Dozens of warhorses whinnied in alarm, some rearing up violently. Several Mongol riders struggled to control their mounts, and a wave of chaos spread among the pursuing cavalry.
The iron chariot shot forward like an arrow.
Wind howled past them, whipping their clothing. The grassland blurred into streaks of green and gold.
Genghis Khan's eyes widened slightly, then he burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! Faster!"
Behind them, the Mongol cavalry quickly became distant figures swallowed by dust and distance.
The iron chariot continued racing across the vast steppe, leaving the greatest cavalry in the world struggling far behind.