Post-Houses

Stations dot the courier routes across Kublai Khan's domain. Ling-Tau describes how riders clang bells to signal arrival, prompting stable hands to lead out fresh horses already saddled and stamping in the dust. Couriers swap mounts in moments, bindings cinched tight against the relentless gallop that covers three hundred miles daily. These outposts fuel the empire's urgent relay, where horse sweat mixes with steppe wind and the constant threat of breakdown drives unyielding speed.