Original subtitles

There are your Mongols. In cages, like animals.

Here death reigns.

We are being killed like animals.

We, Polo…

There sit those invincible Mongols of yours.

You lied to us and the Pope.

Shut up. We'll say we're Italian merchants.

We must kneel.

Water. I beg you. Water.

You are Matteo and Niccolo Polo from Venice.

We are merchants.

I'm Niccolo. This is my brother Matteo, that's my son Marco.

We and our servants are traveling with these gentlemen.

I am Ali Ben Yussouf. The Sultan has assigned this territory to me.

We are surprised that you speak our language.

Is that so weird?

It was the first language I learned.

Ten years ago my name was Lorenzo Rizzo.

I'm from Ragusa. - Dalmatia?

We were born by the same sea.

I was a fisherman.

We were attacked by Muslim pirates.

I got wounded and one of my companions saved me.

We were captured and sold as slaves in Tripoli.

Then you are a Christian.

A muslim.

I was fortunate enough to find a mentor who made me see the light.

Praise be to Allah.

You didn't want to become a slave. - I learned the true faith.

I learned that Muhammad continued the work of Moses and Jesus...

the two prophets who preceded Him. He is the greatest prophet.

Is that why you won't drink with us? Because we're Christians?

I didn't drink, because this is the month of Ramadan.

Muslims celebrate the revelation of the holy book, the Quran.

From sunrise to sunset...

we are not allowed to take any food or water.

If you were born Christian...

How do you justify the atrocities that are taking place here?

Our Lord gave his life for us.

The followers of Muhammad...

destroy life, in the name of God.

Look.

Those women, those children...

have no more tears left.

How many of those people did you slaughter to conquer a city?

Jerusalem is a holy city for everyone.

Not only for the Christians.

Oil from the lamp on the Lord's tomb.

They will take you to the great khan of the Mongols.

It is written in the Pope's letter that you bring to him.

That's your superstition.

In our mosques you will not find idols...

but your churches are full of images which you worship.

You declare his oil sacred.

You have even divided God Almighty into three.

Allah is the only God and Muhammad is his prophet.

You Christian priests and you servants of Khan...

have deserved the death penalty according to our rules.

In the name of God...

the god of our common ancestor Abraham...

Even though we now stand face to face, I beg you for mercy.

It's not about us. William and I embrace martyrdom.

But she...

These innocent merchants did not take sides.

Thank the prophet.

The man who saved my life was from Venice.

I owed him a debt and I'm going to repay that debt now...

with you guys.

I swore I would save others if I could live.

You will get the horses and your belongings back.

You may return to Palestine.

We are extremely grateful to you, but we must not deceive you.

We have sworn to continue traveling.

You will find only death on your path and will not reach the Khan.

I've always said it. They were wrong.

We swore it. - Going back is just as dangerous, isn't it?

Yesterday we released crusaders...

in exchange for our captured fighters.

If you guys drive west fast...

you overtake them and then you travel together.

We are grateful to you...

but that is, as I said, impossible for us.

You have read the letter.

It's about a promise. - And I promised to set you free...

but don't try my patience.

Go back to Acre, to your Pope.

Advise him against his alliance with the Mongols.

Say that you have seen the invincible defeated.

Tell him he can only hope for one thing.

That world peace can only come when everyone understands...

that we all have the same father: Abraham.

The Christian, the Jew...

and the Muslim.

Grab your things and get out.

I want to ask you something else.

You spare us, but my friend died here.

I saw you cry for him. He was like a brother to me.

We want to place the symbol of our faith on his grave.

I found that one.

The Lord has protected us. He will stay with us all the way to Acre.

You lied to us, Niccolo.

We've all seen how it really is.

The Mongols have been defeated.

Listen to me. What we've seen means nothing.

A lost battle does not harm the mighty Mongol Empire.

For the khan, Ben Yussouf's army means...

no more than a few grains of desert sand.

Have you not listened to the apostate?

We can't reach the khan.

We must complete the mission. You cannot break your oath.

This isn't a mission. It's all about the merchant's greed.

Nicholas and I are going back to Acre. - Cowards.

We are not cowards.

You don't know us at all. We've already endured so much.

The Lord holds us responsible for your lives and ours.

He would never forgive us if we handled it carelessly.

Don't think that we are cowards.

Come along, and let's join those crusaders.

The Pope must know that we can make peace.

Not with the Mongols. With the Muslims.

Listen to him.

What did you say? - It's not that crazy.

If we can't go any further, we'll just stay in Akko for a while, right?

Then we wait until the coast is clear.

You don't know what you're talking about. - I don't, no.

We must listen to them.

They are wise men.

Important men.

Teobaldo was a crusader and now he's the Pope.

Perhaps we will see one of these priests again as a cardinal.

Shut up, idiot.

We're moving on and you're coming with us...

even if I have to drag you along and tie you to my saddle.

Take that. You'll keep watch until sunrise.

I hope you find your senses tonight...

and your courage. I don't want to be careless with your lives either.

You're dozing off.

I'll take over.

I was thinking...

That apostate, Ben Yussouf...

is a remarkable man. He has lived two lives.

He has become a completely different person.

He has looked death in the face.

That night at sea.

Then why were all those people killed?

He gives the orders. - War is horrible.

A sea of ​​blood and tears.

War knows no mercy. - That's what I find so strange.

Ben Yussouf did show us his mercy.

Go to sleep, boy.

The priests have disappeared.

The priests... The priests are gone.

They're gone.

I'm sorry, Marco, I was so tired.

Are you not man enough to follow my command?

If only you'd left with those two. - It's all my fault.

At least we've lost them and they won't arrive safely anyway.

Where is the letter and where is the oil? - Here.

The crucifix too.

See, I shouldn't have brought you.

I don't know you and I don't like what I see.

Look, master. The villages are on fire.

We can't go any further.

We have to go back. Let's go home.

Perhaps the apostate was right and we should go to Acre.

Look.

We must go south, to Persia...

And then on to Hormuz. Here on the Persian Gulf, yes.

Are we going across the sea? - We must.

From Ormuz we can go to India and China.

Look, Marco. Ormuz.

Ormuz, on the Persian Gulf

Probably a funeral.

Let them pass.

This isn't right. We need to go the other way.

They burned the boats.

Then the plague was prevalent on board.

We can forget that sea voyage.

Because they couldn't reach China by sea...

they left Hormuz, but the plague pursued them.

Agostino fell ill and died.

Marco became increasingly ill during their journey through the Persian desert.

In the days when he faced death...

father and son finally found each other.

Niccolo's love kept Marco alive.

Badaksjan. That's where his father wanted to take him.

He believed that the dead came back to life there.

The prison of Genoa

They've been here, under that withered tree.

After ten days they reached the edge of the desert.

Marco was so happy with his father's love.

Time passed faster and everything took less effort.

They marched along the Oxus in Afghanistan...

and then they reached this plateau:

Badakhshan.

A paradise for Marco. His father had been right.

The air was so pure that the fire barely warmed them.

The flames were as light blue as the sky itself.

The water wouldn't boil and... - Wait a minute.

One of the guards is also eager to hear these stories.

He would bring wine, fresh bread and maybe even fish.

These stories are for our ears only.

If only my captain could tell them himself.

Your captain Polo has also been advised to forget them.

Continue. How long did the Venetians stay in Badaksjan?

Marco regained his strength and learned some Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese.

Enough to say 'good morning'...

or 'I'm hungry', 'I'm in the mood for wine'.

We should be able to say that in any language, even Genoese.

There they are. This way.

How does the fairy tale continue? - We are now in paradise.

Flames as blue as the sky, Adam and Eve's paradise.

Nonsense. - Marco thought it was paradise.

This man is driving me crazy. Can he go somewhere else?

Wait. Leave that here.

Rhino... - Badaksjan.

Badakhshan, Afghanistan

Come on. The Tibetan guides say we have to leave before the snow falls.

We have to leave now.

There you have it.

I'll go first.

Come on, Marco.

Jacopo, stay with Marco.

Come on, you can do it.

Good. First one hand, then the other.

One after the other. Don't look down.

Don't stand still, Jacopo. Don't look down.

Hold Marco.

Look at me. Don't look down.

Give me...

Give me your hand. Hold me. Take a step forward.

Just one step. Well done.

Good job. Just a little more.

I'll hold you.

the Pamir Mountains, autumn 1273

Good boy. - Make sure he doesn't stand still.

That's how it works.

That's so good.

Alexander the Great followed this path...

when he led his army through the mountains.

On Bucephalus, his warhorse.

They say that all these horses are descended from that horse.

We hope so.

I paid way too much for it. They're already worn out.

Come on, Jacopo. You have to keep moving.

It's not possible, it's too cold. - You have to, otherwise you'll freeze.

It is even colder in the Pamir Mountains.

The guides say we have to leave the horses behind.

I should never have bought those animals.

They don't want to continue either.

They would go along with the trade route.

They say it starts here. They don't go any further.

Then you offer them more.

They're not going any further, Niccolo.

They're afraid of the evil mountain spirits. They don't go any further.

God help us.

Mount Muztagh-Ata, winter 1273

Vader.

My father.

Drink up, it'll cheer you up.

You are in the lamasery of Muztagh-Ata in the Pamir Mountains.

Who are you? - I'm a novice.

I hope to one day become a lama, a Buddhist monk.

I have also had a long journey, just like you.

How did I get here? - My brothers found you in the snow.

Your life fire was almost extinguished, but your karma was not yet done.

My karma? - I'm not.

Your journey to the One has only just begun.

Where are they?

Where is my father?

You've been asking about him for days. - Days? How long have I been here?

I have to find him. - There's no point in doing that now.

But you don't have to look for him. He's safe, just like your companions.

They nearly died looking for you. The brothers saved them.

Are you sure about this?

How do you know that then?

Those are our clocks.

This way, all the monasteries can stay in touch. We are never alone.

A prayer we repeat every morning...

so that the insects we may have crushed...

to be better off in the next life.

It all comes back now. I remember your voice...

and the bell.

I would like to thank you for the good care.

You must thank Buddha. How can I do that?

Buddha defeated the demons of superstition in our country...

and they became his servants. The guardians of Tibet.

If He puts an end to sins or sickness...

we say: God has triumphed.

The bells express their joy because your wheel of life is still turning.

This blessed scarf expresses that we are glad you are with us.

We call that 'katak'.

If you keep the scarf in your possession, God's blessing will be yours.

What is he doing?

Thus the Buddha’s teaching is set in motion.

Life is infinite. We live and die and are reborn.

We lose more and more imperfections each time...

until we finally reach nirvana.

Being one with God.

To do this, you leave material things behind. They don't last.

All these things are not real: passion, jealousy, ambition.

They are just illusions.

Stay with us. Then you'll learn all about the mysteries...

and when you are purified, you learn to overcome human weaknesses...

and you reach nirvana.

I can't do that. - Can't you or won't you?

I made a promise to the leader of my church.

You should never break a promise.

We already knew what you would answer.

Your companions will join you.

I understand you, Marco. It's your destiny to travel.

You will move from country to country, body and mind.

And as far as we are concerned...

We leave the traveling to our minds.

This way we can reach places that others will never reach.

Father. - We already gave you up.

What is this?

There are many trials yet to come.

The steppe will stretch out before you.

The Mongolian Empire of the Wind.

We will pray that Buddha, the eternal wayfarer, accompanies you.

What is it? - A signpost.

The next watering hole is west of us.

We are friends, in the name of the great Kublai.

Welcome, in the name of the great Kublai and of Bektor Khan, our leader.

Gansu, in northern China

My name is Polo.

My son, my brother. We're from Venice.

Welcome. I'm Bektor Khan.

Drink up.

To your luck.

Be careful, it's very strong.

What is it made of? - From horse milk.

My God. If only we had our own wine.

We are honored, Bektor Khan.

We hope you will receive this gem.

Take that.

That's a very nice gift for such a poor reception.

I'm grateful. Where are you traveling to?

To the summer city of Kublai Khan.

That's a long way off. We've already traveled a long way.

It's an honor. When you're rested, I'll send escorts along.

Until then, you are a guest here.

You will meet the great Kaidu, the khan of all our tribes...

which we expect here soon.

Are those his daughters? - More like his younger wives.

You are a hit.

How beautiful.

Very different from mine.

Why is he sitting there?

That young man is in love.

He has to stay in front of the yurt of the girl of his choice.

If she approves of him, she will come out.

Our people love to sing. Do you like it?

How old are you? - 21.

How many wives do you have? - None, I'm not married.

At your age...

I had five wives and ten children.

That's not how it works in our country.

Here we ensure that every mare is assigned a rider from birth.

There's my son Kasar, our wrestling champion.

The winner gets two horses.

Well done, my son. Wonderful.

You said you were expecting Kaidu Khan, right?

He is the champion that Kaidu Khan sent us.

Don't do that, Marco.

The party is over.

Where did you learn to fight like that? - In the alleys of Venice.

Milk from the mares for our gods.

Kaidu, Kublai Khan's nephew, comes to get new horses.

Only the best is good enough.

You've got a good eye for horsemeat, stranger.

I know something about it. A little.

You're particularly impressed with this horse. Why this animal?

Do you like this horse more than the others?

You can't compare the sun to a candle.

It is a beautiful animal...

and with a chest like that and legs like that, he could gallop all day long.

He is quick-witted.

He learns quickly.

These horses are descended from Genghis Khan's horse.

The great leader, the pride of the Mongols.

You have seen how we live, you know our customs.

What do you think of us?

You find our customs barbaric.

They are cruel...

but your people benefit from it.

You know no fear, just like a Mongol.

We are savages, nomads.

We live anywhere, as long as our animals can graze.

Like savages, in freedom.

When limits are imposed on us, we die.

Apparently the great Kublai forgot that...

for he wants to shut us up within his walls.

Tell the great Kublai that Kaidu will never follow his orders.

We stay with the horses, not in his cities.

Tell him that, Polo.

We conquered the world on horseback...

and we will rule it on horseback.

I myself have often thought that Marco let his imagination run too wild.

I tried to make him face reality.

An example:

He told me...

that after the Pamir Mountains and the Gobi Desert...

came to a huge castle, the gateway to China.

He said there was a big wall built on it...

of six million steps long.

He would lead through these areas up to the mountains before Kambalik.

Six million steps.

I said, "I don't believe it. Nobody believes it."

It was tempting to leave the details alone...

about the customs of the inhabitants of Camul.

There are many towns and castles there.

The men sing and dance and play all kinds of musical instruments.

When there are guests...

their wives must provide for all their needs.

When the men are away from home for a few days...

the women are happy and they submit.

And those women who wear all those pants...

because their men love fat...

I don't know if I'll let that stand.

That's not polite. - Those are trivialities.

We are concerned with more important matters.

Go ahead.

It's not always very polite, but we can leave some things behind.

That adds color to the story.

Maybe there is no story left at all.

Go ahead.

After driving for three days, we arrive in the city of Chengdu...

built by the order of Kublai.

The khan likes to be by the water in the hot summer.

He is fond of hunting.

The great Kublai had commanded...

that a residence was built in the middle of a vast meadow.

It had to be built of bamboo.

Each stem had to be longer than three hands.

The dome had to be covered with gold on the inside.

Chengdu, summer 1275

What is he doing?

What is he doing? - He's heating the water.

Chen Pao, can I see this?

This is just a stone. - Those are special stones. Coal.

They carve them out of the rocks.

Nobody believes that. Burning stones?

They have to believe it.

Don't those people ever talk?

Your father likes dumb slaves.

They only talk when you speak to them.

You also have to wait for your turn at the khan's.

Jacopo, Marco, we have to hurry. We have to go to an audience.

What did you say? - God has triumphed.

The llamas taught me that.

Who is that monk? - Phags-Pa, the man of the documents.

He is the man who would rather see us go than come.

Let us go first.

Don't stand on the threshold. It brings bad luck.

Please stand.

A welcome return after all these years.

I was afraid you were prevented from coming because of an accident or a war.

Both of these caused delays and Persia was in revolt.

Is that why you didn't take those hundred priests with you?

The Pope had only just been appointed.

He will soon send you ten times as many men.

Rome embraces you in friendship and opens her heart to you.

His Holiness wrote you this fraternal letter.

Brotherly? Is he my equal?

He is the leader of our worldwide faith.

His faith is now world-wide...

if it is accepted in my kingdom.

We have protected these gifts in times of war...

and they symbolize the respect our Father has for you.

Strange.

I know of no other faith...

that uses an instrument of torture as an art object.

And as a symbol of power.

We also have the rare gift you requested.

His Holiness sends you a bottle of oil from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Kneel, Marco.

Is this oil from the lamp that burns on the tomb of your Christ?

That's right.

We could travel through your realm with golden passes...

but we have averted the dangers...

with the powers of this oil.

This is certainly a rare gift.

I will receive it with respect.

You have brought more people of your race with you.

My servant and my son. He brought the oil from Jerusalem.

My son and your servant.

If he serves me as well as his father and his uncle, I shall be satisfied.

How old is he? - 21.

You are faithful, you have kept your word and returned...

and that is an honorable achievement.

Your possessions and wealth are kept here.

You take double the amount back with you.

You have to translate the Pope's letter and we have a lot to discuss.

I give the Holy Oil to Empress Chabi for safekeeping.

Master Marco, you've already brought the oil this far...

that this end can still be added.

Come on along.

Walk backwards.

Here it is at last. I've been praying and hoping for this for so long.

Did you bring this? - Yes, I did.

From the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Can this oil really work miracles?

In many cases, yes, but only if you believe in it.

If you embrace our faith. - I'd love to.

Nayan, the khan's nephew, has told about Christ.

He told me about this oil...

and about the Holy Father, the Pope.

It's a pity he didn't send his priests with him.

We also have Christian priests...

but they are against the Pope and know nothing about Rome.

I asked the Khan for this Holy Oil...

that I need for a specific purpose.

Come on.

I had this cabinet made for it.

But I thought it would always remain empty.

Have you spoken to the Pope yourself?

He greets the great khan and his entire family.

I want to know everything about it and about Rome too.

If you only knew how often I've dreamed about it.

About the palaces, the golden churches...

Come sit next to me.

Nayan has heard much about the Holy City...

and it is his dearest wish to pray at the tombs of Peter and Paul...

who died for Jesus.

Is it as beautiful there as Nayan claims?

I only dreamed about it.

I wanted to go too, but there was no Pope, so it didn't happen.

I met the new Pope in Acre.

The pilgrims told me a lot about Rome.

Rome is one big cathedral.

It is a forest full of churches and bell towers.

There are walls around it...

and the most precious jewel is the Pope's palace.

A thousand rooms with mirrors that reflect light.

A dark night turns into a summer day.

There is a river that runs through the city and shines like gold.

In the tomb you see the footprints of Jesus...

who appeared to Peter when he was about to leave Rome.

I want to know all those stories. I want to learn so much.

Every year the pilgrims are allowed to see a piece of the cross...

and then thousands of voices rise up.

Nayan was right. That city is actually heaven on earth.

We don't have a city like that in China.

China is so different. You can't compare miracles.

If you like a girl... - Sit in front of her yurt...

until she asks you to come in.

How does it work in your country?

You strike up a conversation with her brother or sister.

My sister is not among them, but I know some brothers.

They belong to the great khan, they are part of his family.

He has more than one wife, as you know.

You shouldn't take too much hay on your fork.

We'll just stick to watching.

What's your name? - Chinkin.

I am... - Marco.

Son of Niccolo and nephew of Matteo Polo.

Who is he? - The khan's eldest son.

The heir to the throne.

Wonderful.

The prince invites you to sit with him.

Go on, Marco.

Tasty.

Who is that? - A special man.

His name is Lu-Tse-Yu and he is the head of the imperial printing house.

What exactly is that?

I know that you copy books by copying them by hand.

The Han Chinese invented machines...

which can be used to copy thousands of books at a time.

Look. This is a so-called almanac.

The Imperial Astrologer's predictions for each day of the year.

It comes out every year before the end of summer.

Every Chinese person has one.

It serves as a guide in life and protects you from misfortune.

All our books and texts come from the Han Chinese.

We Mongolians don't have an alphabet.

We learn our history, stories and poems through our songs.

One generation passes them on to the next.

People in this country are lucky. Everyone can learn to read here.

Books here are not just for the few, as in my country.

Everything is so serene and beautiful here.

Everything is in perfect harmony.

Yet, if you listen closely, you can hear...

the vague rumbling of a war that disturbs this harmony.

What kind of war?

China is currently divided into two.

The north and these areas are ruled by the Great Khan.

The ruler of the south is Emperor Tu-Tsong of the Sung Dynasty.

While we are celebrating here...

the Great Khan's troops advance south...

to attack the strongholds of the Sungs.

Much blood of our brothers will be shed.

Let us offer this drink to Natigai, our god.

To peace.

Come on, Marco.

I can find some saddles and tents.

I'm glad you showed no fear.

I've seen a lama ascend, so what the shaman did didn't surprise me.

Not even when that cobra hissed at you?

I wondered how he could make us see and hear something that wasn't there.

You're here, but your mind keeps wandering. Where are you?

Please pardon me.

What is that thing?

An instrument that marks the hours. It measures the passage of time.

Fantastic. Then you're no longer dependent on the sun.

Are you always so easily distracted?

No, but it's something new. All new things fascinate me.

Where was that lamasery? Point it out.

There.

And that was the road that...

No, that is not correct.

That road is wrongly drawn. - Are you sure?

Yes, the mountain pass was blocked by boulders. We had to go through that valley.

Your father and uncle didn't remember that anymore.

Empress Chabi is right.

She says you remember more of your travels than any other traveler.

I remember what interests me.

Are you uncomfortable?

I'm not used to this attitude. - I'd already noticed that.

You can sit or stand as you wish, but only when we are together.

Tell me. What interests you?

Most things. People's customs and beliefs.

Their way of life. All kinds of things. - Like?

Their farming methods.

The way they care for the sick and the elderly, and what they teach children.

Their trade goods: cotton in Kashagar, pearls in Baghdad, and so on.

Whether they're mining metal or gemstones, or something as strange as asbestos.

A kind of cloth that doesn't burn. It looks like salamander skin...

but it is a mineral from which they weave threads.

I saw it in the Tsiangyang Mountains.

The wild sheep of the Pamir Mountains with their six palm-long horns.

And the yak whose tail you praise so much.

The reason why stories and legends are created.

That which makes a people strong or weak, determined or insecure.

can you remember all that?

I also make notes. What regional products are...

how many days the journey through the area took, the distance between cities...

and there are also... - Yeah, what?

Every place, every city sends signals to your eyes.

The way the paths and streets run.

Neat groups of trees, regular plough tracks in the fields.

This shows that people like order and are proud of their work.

At home in Venice my mother always said:

The laundry that is hung up tells something about every family.

Look how that's adjusted.

You can tell they are proud by the care with which it is done...

despite their poverty.

They called those clothes the family banners.

Do you hear that, Chinkin?

These are the signals that the eye and ear can pick up...

if they are guided by an attentive mind.

Dit soort informatie heeft een ruler nodig om 'n volk te hebben.

The way they live within the walls of their home...

and their talent for working the land.

If there is a food shortage somewhere...

Do you also know where there might be a surplus?

We need accurate data and we need to study it.

We need to know more about our country and our people.

Some Khan zegt gave…

Kaidu? What does he say?

That a ruler must keep traveling. - And what else does my cousin say?

I hope I'm not saying anything wrong. - Go ahead.

Kaidu said that good Mongolians are always close to their horse.

That makes them invincible.

Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you.

He meant well. I know. Don't be afraid.

There are so many people who tell me what they want to hear.

I find it refreshing to meet someone who talks to me freely.

I admire Kaidu. He's a Mongol through and through.

But he doesn't understand this.

I'm going to tell you something now that you must remember well.

You Chinkin, because you will one day become my successor.

And you, Marco, because you might become his servant.

And that is this:

You can conquer the world from a saddle, but you cannot rule it.

Everything is still fresh in your memory...

so report to Mr. Phags-pa.

Tell him everything you know.

Our cartographers know their trade, but some maps are outdated.

Change whatever you feel necessary. I'll reward you for it.

It is a return favor for what you did for my father and uncle.

He is a favorite of the Empress...

and won the friendship of Chinkin and the Great Khan.

Favorites have something new to offer, but are quickly forgotten.

The Khan and the Empress are merely fascinated...

by the charm, the cleverness and the wit of this stranger.

The Empress pretends that he was sent by her new god.

I wish the Polo brothers had brought their priests.

I had defeated and humiliated them with the power of our faith.

But instead they took this young man...

and their superstitions.

The khan's archers.

Their bows are useful in battle and hunting, but cumbersome to wield.

They're incredibly good. I want to try them.

Pull.

To shoot.

I can't get it to move backward. - It takes time to learn.

But you can do it, Chen Pao. Shoot!

I'm not allowed to do that, sir. I'm Chinese.

I don't mind. - I'm Chinese.

I'm Venetian. That doesn't matter.

We are not allowed to use weapons.

I want to learn this. The bow and the horse make the Mongols so strong.

By delving into traditions, I want to get to know the Chinese people...

And I want to tell my people about it. - And then your armies come here?

Have a seat.

His Holiness the Pope, the Grand Khan of my faith...

says that you should build bridges between people.

So that they can understand each other and live together in peace.

We can learn from each other. - Yes, sir. How can I help you?

Don't call me master anymore. I have orders to serve you.

Fine, but when we're together, call me Marco.

If that's your job, most...

Yes, and now teach me this. I always thought I was good at archery.

You should not hold the bow in front of you and pull the string towards you.

What should I do then? - The opposite.

You hold the bow next to your ear, grab the string and then push the bow away from you.

Success.

Prince Chinkin wishes to speak with you.

My friend Chinkin. I owe him a great deal.

I've heard that, but be careful not to get too intimate with them.

Life at court is not so easy.

The mighty Phags-pa distrusts us and our Western influence.

Evenals Yelu Zhu...

the chancellor whose relatives have been servants of the khans since Genghis.

Weigh your words on a gold scale. I mean, don't say too much.

We have been well received here because we have behaved wisely.

Don't jeopardize our position with the Grand Khan by being too familiar.

There is too much at stake.

Help. Chen Pao, come here.

All of you.

Help him hold.

Chen Pao, come here. Come back. Help me.

Open your mouth.

Bite. Bite hard.

Good job. Try to relax.

Calm down. It'll be okay.

Take him with you.

You shouldn't move him or he'll get another attack.

We'll take him to the great Kublai.

Who could have thought?

In this empire founded by my grandfather Genghis Khan...

he is torn to pieces, like an ox by a pack of hungry wolves.

The Imperial Guard has strict orders...

to anyone who witnessed such an attack...

and anyone who happened to hear anything about it...

to be put to death immediately.

The guard is looking for the servants.

As soon as they find him, he will be put to death, along with the others.

And then we have you.

At least you're not begging for mercy.

That makes it easier, and you tried to help him.

But I know that you actually despise my son now.

That is not true.

Chinkin is my friend. I don't despise him. Why should I?

He gave me his friendship as a token of welcome.

My only true friend and traveling companion Giulio died on the way.

I haven't had a boyfriend since then.

I thought Chinkin...

You are wrong.

You act as if epilepsy is contagious.

So many have had this. Famous men too.

Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, the noble Roman.

Alexander, the emperor?

It's just a condition. It didn't affect their lives in any way.

The two greatest generals who ever lived. Everyone reveres them.

They both suffered from epilepsy. Father Anselmo taught us that at school.

He said it's nothing to be ashamed of.

In ancient times it was considered a sign of superiority.

My son has the mark of exaltation.

Master Marco will henceforth hold an honourable position at my court.

He can visit me anytime...

and his orders must be obeyed.

It looks like you lost your belt.

Take this one.

The spirits in the air are restless.

Perhaps the unsettled weather has caused the recent chaos.

Should I ask the shamans to control the clouds?

No, the summer season is over.

We return to Khan-balik.

There is Prince Chinkin with his mark of exaltation.

He seems to have recovered. He will never fully recover.

He cannot become a worthy successor to the great Kublai.

Chinkin loses his Mongolian nature.

His mind is poisoned by the ideas of the strangers.

Lady Chabi wants to convince the Great Khan...

of the miraculous power of the oil of the Christian god.

Beware of superstition.

The Grand Khan sees it as a game, but Chinkin is weak.

And he is receptive to a faith that glorifies weakness.

Something needs to be done about this. This negative influence needs to be removed.

This dangerous bond must be broken.

Marco, come with me. We'll ride ahead.

The wall starts in the north.

They say he's 6 million steps tall...

and in some places so wide that an ox cart can drive over it.

This is truly unimaginable.

Who built it? - By the Chinese.

1000 years ago to protect the northwest from the barbarians.

Barbarians? - The desert barbarians. The Mongols.

Now it is only a monument, a relic from the past.

You asked who built the Great Wall.

People will say it was the Emperor of China.

The son of heaven, but that's not right.

It was built by hundreds of thousands of slaves. Prisoners.

One hundred years of forced labor.

Several thousand of them died.

Their tomb is this wall.

The stones are laid with their blood.

They were the builders. To them belongs the glory.

There's a story about a beautiful woman named Meng Chiang Nu.

Her husband had been sentenced to forced labor at the wall.

She wanted to visit him one last time.

When she discovered he had worked himself to death...

were her cries of grief so poignant...

that a crack appeared in the wall that was never closed again.

What a sad story. - And that's not all.

Chen Pao has been killed.

Your Chinese servant, Chen Pao...

What's wrong with him?

He was put to death.

The Great Khan's order to spare his life came too late.

You have understanding for people with different beliefs.

So why are you so strict with your Chinese subjects?

I have no desire to succeed my father prematurely.

But one thing is certain for me.

When it's my turn, I'd like to try to teach everyone...

that we belong to one people.

Our only hope for the future is...

that others and we ourselves no longer consider the Mongols...

as proud conquerors of other lands.

But as the sons of that one motherland China.

Can't the Great Khan do that now? - It's too early.

The Khan does not dare to give the Han Chinese high offices.

And what about the chief printer? Lu-Tse-Yu. Your father has a lot of respect for him.

Because he is a learned man.

Teachers, philosophers, artists and poets.

Thousands of them serve the Great Khan.

But in the important positions sit Mongolians and foreigners...

who are loyal in their own interests.

If the Great Khan is driven out, so will they.

Foreigners like my father, my uncle and myself?

Yes, but there is a difference between foreigners and strangers.

A friend is never a stranger.

Many foreigners hold high positions. Achmet is supreme.

The man who rules?

He is the regent when my father is not staying in Khan-balik.

What kind of person is he? - He's a Turkmen.

A capable man. He fulfills all my father's wishes.

You will meet him tomorrow when we are welcomed in Khan-balik.

Khan-balik, autumn 1275

I have the honor to bring you some good news.

General Bayan and your troops have defeated the last Sungs.

Emperor Tu-Tsong has fled, leaving behind the empress and her child.

The entire south is now united under your rule.

A great country with one ruler, the most powerful country under the sun.

Great Khan...

the banners of the defeated Soeng bow to your victory.

Arise, Bayan, sword of our empire.

From today on, you will gain control over the areas you have conquered.

I appoint you regent. In the name of my grandson Timur...

to whom I will entrust the throne that belonged to the Soeng.

So this is the Master Marco about whom we hear such promising things.

My son, Lord Achmet is our benefactor and protector.

And your friend too, I hope. Please sit down.

One rarely meets advisors who know so much about trading...

as your father and your uncle, young sir.

You have a very good reputation to uphold.

Everything I know, I learned from them.

Well spotted. A sharp mind.

The developments in the spice and silk trade are interesting.

During our journey we made contact with traders in many countries.

My son wrote it all down.

As you just noted, he is extremely clever.

Now that the south has been conquered...

we can tap into countless new markets and resources.

I may have an assignment for you soon too, Young Mr. Polo.

Although you have been added to the court of Prince Chinkin.

The Prince has great respect for you, as does the Grand Khan.

He says you're the only one who ever corrected him.

I forgot who I was talking to.

Undoubtedly.

I would advise you not to do it too often.

I have seen noble heads roll for lesser offenses.

But if you ever need help or advice...

then please knock on me first rather than on anyone else.

Glorious days await the empire of the mighty Kublai.

The victory over the Soengs...

has convinced the Great Khan that his army is invincible.

His sword will not rest long in its sheath.

Soon he will be raising it high into the air again...

above the forest of his banners and flags.

The Juan dynasty will triumph again.

Phags-pa should give you a task in the Imperial Archives.

You will become a real scholar.

A lama monk in Pamir told me I could travel with my spirit.

It helps if I rewrite my notes.

I heard horses all morning.

New horses have arrived from Shijiazhuang. They are wonderful.

That's why I thought about traveling.

I could almost smell the dusty roads.

Do you want to leave? Had enough of Khan-balik yet?

Of course not. I don't know the Khan-balik outside these walls at all.

Everything is so peaceful and calm here.

So imperial.

I struggle with not having anything to do.

My father and uncle are busy with all kinds of new projects.

Soon you'll have something to do too. My father has plans for you.

What then? - I can't say anything about it yet.

Phags-pa sent word that we should attend the council meeting.

Apparently my father is preparing another military action.

As you can see, peace and quiet don't last long here.

Are you sure I should come too?

That meeting isn't starting yet. Come on, I'll take you outside.

This is an anti-poisoning agent. Look.

We have company.

This is the roof of Khan-balik.

Here the best astronomers gather...

to study the sun and the moon, and to consult the stars.

No one here is planning a wedding or a business trip...

without first looking at the alignment of the stars.

Now it's our turn.

Would you like to consult the stars?

No, I don't want to know anything about my future.

My friend wants to ask you how happy his days with us will be.

And how long will the peace last.

These are the signs of heaven.

Dark clouds race across a cobalt blue sky.

The mighty wind of the gods blows in the sails.

With eyes that can't see...

you will behold a dark, mutilated night.

High in the rising sun the dragon burns.

The Great Khan's banner flaps in the sea.

What does that mean? - Listen.

We mustn't try the stars' patience. Let's go.

Almost anything can be cured with those needles.

Two families gathering for a wedding.

One family has lost a son, the other a daughter.

The families are here to unite the spirits of the children.

They burn the images of the children and they then become one.

Their brothers and sisters bring them gifts.

They always have enough toys and treats.

Thus these people thwart the attempt of death...

to deprive children of the joy of life.

Be good.

You must pray to your God who died on the cross.

For days I have been plagued by dreams full of sadness and fear.

A heavy storm awaits us.

Marco's God has heard your prayers for me.

He will also protect our peace. - We don't know the word peace.

It's just an illusion. A dream from which you wake up sadly.

The empire needs peace now that it encompasses all of China.

The Khan realizes this. His wish has come true.

He has old wounds that his pride won't heal.

I've seen the seasons come and go...

but there is always a new border to be crossed...

or a new land to be conquered.

There is a distant land, a realm of islands.

There seems to be an abundance of gold and precious stones there.

He has already tried to conquer it once.

Tried? - The invasion was ill-prepared.

Our ships became scattered and that led to their demise.

Which country was that?

It is called Japan-kwo, or the archipelago.

This is a beautiful vase, don't you think?

And these too. They were made by a man from there.

He was wounded and brought here as a prisoner of war.

He started sculpting things. Animals, bowls, and vases.

I was impressed with his work.

I made sure he was released and given a house and a studio.

That man is the only thing I know from Japan-kwo.

Unfortunately, I disagree with you, great Kublai.

But if this is your command, it would be best for us to strike at Kiushu.

A surprise attack by 20,000 or 30,000 men...

on their defenses.

Always a new wave of soldiers.

I don't want to make the same mistakes.

The first time, the landing and the attack seemed so easy.

I was told they would be surprised. That they were only fighting among themselves.

And then it turned out we had nowhere to go anymore.

Their swords before us and the sea behind us.

Won, the admiral of my fleet, has prepared an attack plan.

He knows the enemy. In Korea, we fought the Japanese for years.

They attacked our shores. With your help, we can defeat them.

You conquer the archipelago.

Three thousand ships will sail from my ports.

Great Khan, our army must be commanded by a Mongol.

Of course, General Bayan. We fight as brothers.

Won leads the fleet and the brave Argan the army.

Together, as brothers, we will defeat the enemy.

From Kiushu we attack the other islands.

They are separated by the sea, and it must remain that way.

Like two pieces of iron...

which are melted down in a furnace into a sword and shield.

My envoys are on their way to the Prince of Japan-kwo and his regent.

I have demanded their surrender. Now I await their response.

Japan will submit.

Even there they must have heard of my victory over Soeng.

Follow me.

All the branches of the great Genghis family tree are reunited here today.

Noble people...

the King of Korea, our brother and ally...

Admiral Won, commander of the Korean fleet...

consisting of 3000 ships.

Kaidu Khan, my nephew.

He governs the vast central steppe region.

Bektor Khan, leader of the nomadic families in Changzhou.

And his son Kasar...

the best of our young warriors.

Nayan, a descendant of the great Genghis...

my ancestor.

He has chosen a new god who has a cross as a sign.

A god from far away.

And yet he too is a powerful ally of the Mongols.

You already know the others.

You all know how many of our brave fighters...

lie unburied at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Japan.

The insult to Genghis Khan's successors has not yet been avenged.

My envoys are on their way.

We will soon know whether the islands want to submit...

or want to wage a new war.

Great Khan, this is our weak point.

A Mongol is not a warrior without his horse.

You mean you're willing to fight as far as your horses can get.

Kaidu thinks the sea will make his men weak.

The noble Kaidu and the wise Yeli-Zhu adopt a cautious stance.

Caution is a good quality.

But everyone here knows the problems of the many regions within our empire.

Floods and epidemics in the north...

and hunger in the war-ravaged south.

War is never a solution.

Well, if the victory is rewarded with gold.

More gold than any other empire has ever possessed.

Who has ever been there to determine that?

We have only been introduced to the iron of Japan...

and not with his gold.

Phags-pa, you said that there are people of your faith living on those islands.

They're spinning a prayer roll, just like you. What do you think is wise?

Kaidu's warnings are justified...

but Achmet's eye reaches far.

What he sees fills our hearts with hope.

Perhaps the final word should come from the stars.

The last word comes from my emissaries.

The final decision is mine.

And no one else.

Thanks, Jacope. - I still prefer kumis.

Can I talk to you for a moment?

I have a surprise for you. What's that?

Just you wait. Something Chinese.

Finally, out in the fresh air. At least here you can breathe.

I know how you feel. Sometimes I can't stand it anymore between those walls.

Then I feel like a prisoner in a golden cage.

I have bad news for you. We have to go back to the cage.

We are your prisoners, Marco.

It's wise of your father...

that he takes every opportunity to leave Khan-balik.

Where did he go this time?

He is on his way by ship along the Keizerskanaal to several port cities.

With a load of spices from India.

You have now seen that Kublai no longer lives like a Mongol.

He dresses like a Chinese, his nails are painted...

and he smells like a woman.

The great Kublai is a wise man.

He follows many customs and respects them all.

He also deals with the gods in the same way.

He accepts all religions. If only he practiced one himself.

Do not force your faith and your cross on others.

I agree with Kaidu Khan. The Mongols don't accomplish anything at sea.

Empress Chabi agrees. She says that the Japanese people possess many virtues.

Enmity yields little. - It's a rich country.

Everyone knows that they have golden temples and mountains of precious stones and silver.

How do they know that? You yourself said there's never been a merchant there.

The astrologers don't predict much good either.

These are theories. We're talking about reality.

And Achmet has his informants.

Here's my surprise. What is it?

Dough strings with butter and herbs. A Chinese delicacy.

Just put them down there. They look like boiled beans.

Enjoy! - One of our favorite dishes.

Awesome. How did you do that?

You are supposed to eat it like this.

This is the house of Saiamon, the potter.

Who are you?

My name is Marco Polo. I serve the Great Khan.

I have seen your work.

My vases are my everything.

Thanks to them I have a roof over my head and I get a bowl of rice every day.

Take a seat, my friend.

Can you work in the dark? - For me...

There is no darkness or light. No night and no day.

Empress Chabi already said that you were injured.

To my eyes. Now my hands are looking in front of me.

Do you know Mrs. Chabi? - She showed me your work.

Now I admire it even more.

I am privileged. Darkness does not exist for me.

I chase him away with my hands.

I have learned to understand sounds and voices.

I like your voice.

I need something from you.

The few vases I still have are already destined for someone.

There's not enough time. I'll come buy something another time.

I want to ask you something about your country, the archipelago.

Why?

I sense fear in your voice. A threat.

No, you hear a desire to learn...

and to distinguish truth from falsehood.

It seems you are as blind as I am.

I have to rely on my memories now.

My people are divided among themselves because of many things:

Disputes over religion and land ownership...

warlords who envy each other and always want to fight for more.

Then there is the pride of the noble families.

The warriors we call samurai.

They are both magnanimous and cruel.

Born fighters. They never give up their fight.

One against another. One family against another.

How could a country so divided repel a Mongol attack?

These fingers are different, aren't they? But notice.

Now they form a fist. United and strong.

When our country is attacked, we forget all our mutual disputes.

Everyone obeys the prince and his regent, the shikken...

and his top general, the sh�gun.

Then it's as if Japan has a heart.

A foreign power will not be able to subdue our people.

The only ruler we accept is our own prince.

If our country needs to be defended, we are prepared to make any sacrifice.

Even if we have to miss the sight of the sun.

Please, listen to me.

An astrologer saw this omen in the stars:

dark clouds race across a cobalt blue sky.

The mighty wind of the gods blows in the sails.

With eyes that can't see...

you will behold a dark, mutilated night.

The mighty wind of the gods blows in the sails.

High in the rising sun the dragon burns.

The Great Khan's banner flaps in the sea.

There is a storm that only our gods can summon.

We call it the Kamikaze, the wind of the gods.

Who frees all the demons from the sea.

Kublai's flags will be swallowed up by raging waves.

They will flutter in a deadly current at the bottom of the sea.

Go to your khan and oppose his plans. I see too many dead.

Let reason prevail.

Doubts, uncertainties, discussions. All that is behind us.

The Emperor of Japan-kwo has let us know his answer.

My envoys have been beheaded.

We have only one choice left: war.

Until the enemy is wiped out and all its fortresses are destroyed.

Don't be guided by anger alone.

We are all prepared, as always, to fight the enemy...

but we do not start a fight against our better judgment.

We need to discuss this in more detail. I beg you. Listen to them.

Forgive me, Great Khan, noble folk.

We've heard that even the stars are against this venture.

An astrologer said... - Shut up, all of you.

I'm tired of your excuses and caution.

It's all fear and cowardice.

You are prepared to fight, but not at sea.

But the world that has been given to us consists of land and water.

The noble Argan and Admiral Won are in joint command.

They will lead our troops to victory.

Our answer to Japan-kwo is war.

War.

War.

Apply hot and with a cloth.

How is my lord's stomach today? And his legs?

My Chinese yin-yang doctor tortures me to take away the pain.

A very clever method.

I'll never forget the first time you wore your hair like that.

Spread out like a raven's wing.

“Your hair is more beautiful than my horse's mane,” you said.

The best compliment a Mongolian can give you.

I've been neglecting you, Chabi.

I have been far too busy with state affairs and with my plans.

Life can be so painful sometimes.

Our son Chinkin raised his voice at me today.

I'm worried about our son. He seems to be getting weaker and weaker.

It's like his illness is always lurking.

I know. I chose not to punish him.

I had to make a very tough decision today.

Over Japan-life?

Is another war coming?

Just put it down here.

Japan-kwo has shed blood again.

They beheaded the envoys I sent on a peace mission.

Yes, peace. I have requested their peaceful surrender.

A generous gesture. It should have been an easy conquest.

You're getting old when you start talking about easy conquests.

The crossing is the hardest, but after that it's easy.

At least if... - If what?

If the gods help me.

Your god too.

In the old days, your Mongolian soul would call upon the spirits in the blue sky...

before you decided to call it superstition.

Then I was still young, and in love with you, like an innocent foal.

Call them for me again. Just like old times.

I don't trust the astrologers.

The stars of Japan-kwo are too high and too far for their tired eyes.

See what you can glean from the milk I spill.

What do you see? What does it portend?

It predicts that you will build a large fleet...

to sail with it to Japan-kwo.

I already knew that. But then? What does this mean?

It means that where milk and a cat meet...

an exchange takes place. - Who is the cat?

When men act, something is wasted.

Milk or blood or semen.

Then the cat appears from above. You ask who the cat is.

The cat itself won't tell you. Although it knows best.

can you solve this riddle?

I asked you for help.

It is not wise to try to look into the future.

According to my mother, the cat was the god of time or history.

You are just the waster of the milk.

Take my advice. Leave Japan-kwo alone.

I wanted to talk to you personally.

The khan was impressed with you. He respected you and liked you.

But now you've seen how dangerous and unpredictable his anger can be.

He was furious. He thinks you influenced Chinkin.

I'll be frank with you. I expect you to be discreet.

Phags-pa has decided that you are keeping Chinkin from his duties...

and you poison his mind with strange ideas.

Ideas as strange as you are. I know it's not right.

The khan wants you to leave Khan-balik for a while.

He wanted to send you to your friends in the north.

At my insistence, you will now be given a more important task in the south.

I'm sure your father will agree.

You made no secret of the fact that you wanted to travel again.

Now you can. You'll also get the chance to utilize that talent for observation...

that the Khan admires so much. - In what way?

You will be joining a group of tax collectors...

conduct a census in the areas between Hanzhou and Yanzhou.

I don't know anything about taxes, and I don't know those areas.

Your uncle Matteo is going with you.

He will be a good companion and advisor to you.

His experience in trading will be useful in your assessments.

Remember what happened here.

Use your natural gifts, but don't rush into things.

And be careful. Apparently there's unrest in Yanzhou.

I know the governor of Yanzhou. He'll help you.

Oddly enough, sometimes lack of experience is actually useful.

It prevents you from digging too deep and disappearing into the darkness.

In time you will understand all this better.

For now, you need to keep two things in mind:

The treasury is almost empty and needs to be replenished as much as possible.

And you must not give your trust to anyone.

Not even to people who seem like your friends.

Fortunately, I know the chief tax collector of Yanzhou.

He will give you advice. His name is Talib. You can trust him.

When are we leaving? - Tomorrow morning.

The Khan is aware. You no longer need to have an official audience with him.

He has too much on his mind.

Prince Chinkin is also very ill again. It looked so hopeful.

Man can hope, but God decides. We can only be His servants.

I am grateful to you and hope that my son will prove worthy of your trust.

It's going to be an amazing experience.

The south is rich and has many trade routes that we do not yet know about.

I've heard that there are wise men living in the hills...

who have succeeded in turning metal into gold.

If you discover their secret, I want to be the first to hear it from you.

Then all our problems will be solved.

A Chinese artist shows the beauty of the tiger in his drawing...

and not his bloodlust.

For him a tree is every tree and a flower is every flower.

I think only the Chinese can fully understand that.

I understand.

Maybe I'm Chinese too.

I'll have to miss our classes for a while.

They're sending me on a trip. - I know. To the south.

I have to go collect the taxes.

Achmet thinks it's better if I leave Khan-balik. At least for a while.

They want to separate you and me.

Achmet and Phags-pa see it this way:

The further you are from my father and me, the better.

Why? - I told you.

He's afraid that you and my mother will influence the Great Khan and me in this way...

that we prefer your faith over his.

I wish I understood him better. It's simple. He's a fanatic.

He will not rest until everyone in our kingdom is Buddhist.

Everything is justified to that end.

Help me.

You know you shouldn't move. Rest is the best medicine for you.

Just a few steps. To that tree over there.

We do nothing against their power play.

Achmet sends you south. Phagspa supports his decision.

The two rivals agree on this.

They see you as a pawn on a chessboard.

No idea who benefits most from this move.

Remember that the pawn is the last to discover this.

I'd love to go with you. - I'd like that too.

Make sure you're well again when I get back.

When a Mongol chieftain or his son feels his end is approaching...

he is taken to a tree and leaned against it...

to take the measure of his body.

Then the tree is hollowed out.

When the chief dies, he is buried deep underground in the tree.

And a new young strong tree is planted on the site of his grave.

My father has decided that I should live in Shangtu.

He thinks the country air will do me good.

He also chose a new bride for me.

But I think I've already found my tree.

Kokachin, my bride-to-be.

An epitome of youthfulness and zest for life.

Now I have to pretend to be a man who thinks he will recover...

and who believes that he can still build a future.