Dayan Khan - Early Conflicts With China

Early Conflicts With China

While the Golden Horde lost its power in Russia in 1480, the Mongol raids on Chinese borderlands under Ming Dynasty became virtually constant. Under Dayan Khan they reached a new level of organization.

Dayan Khan intended to maintain good relations with Ming Dynasty of China at first. His envoys were sent to sign open-trade contract with gifts, but one of them was killed by the Ming court, so he launched military expeditions into the Ming China. Dayan Khan as a mature ruler had no interest in joining the Ming's tribute system.

Dayan Khan allied with the Monggoljins under Toloogen and Khooshai of Ordos. With Dayan Khan and Mandukhai's movement to the Eight white yurts in Ordos in 1500, they launched a massive attack on Ningxia and conquered some lands. At first their invasion caused trouble to the Ming Chinese but Yu, the officer of the Ming Dynasty, and his commander Wang ambushed the Mongols and organized unexpectedly vigorous counter attack to capture Dayan Khan the next year. Barely escaping the Ming attack, Dayan Khan relocated to the Kherlen River, yet large-scale raids all along the frontier continued through 1507.