| The name Genghis Khan probably makes many people think of conquering warriors on horseback leaving burning cities and piles of dead bodies behind them. 成吉思汗之名可能会使许多人想起征伐骁勇策马远离，在他身后只留下焚毁的城市与遍野堆积的尸骸。 While there is no doubt that Genghis Khan was the leader of a highly efficient killing machine, there was much more to him than military skill. 无疑，成吉思汗率领着一支高效率杀戮机器般的军队，除了军事才能，他还有更多值得注目的地方。 He was also a talented politician with excellent diplomatic abilities. 他也是位杰出外交能力的优秀政治家。 In the 1160s, the tribes of the Central Asian steppes were almost constantly at war with one another. 12世纪60年代，中亚大草原的部落长年征战不休。 In the middle of the chaos, one of the tribal leaders had a son named Temujin. 在混乱之中，其中一个部落的首领有个儿子名叫铁木真。 When the boy was nine years old, his father was poisoned by enemies. 在他九岁时，父亲被敌人毒害。 The tribe then abandoned the family, leaving them to survive by eating rats and insects. 于是该部落抛弃了这家人，他们只好靠吃老鼠与虫子才勉强度日。 Despite his difficult childhood, Temujin grew up strong enough to claim his hereditary position as tribal leader. 尽管童年生活很艰苦，长大后的铁木真却英勇威武，并成功夺回部落首领的世袭地位。 He became adept at forming alliances, as well as fighting battles. 他擅长与其它部落结盟，并精通打仗。 By 1206, all the Mongol tribes were ready to recognize him as supreme leader. 到1206年，蒙古各部落都愿意认定他为最高统领。 |
