“””...When they invaded Japan ...”””
Purely in self interest. After all, who kills a valuable working slave?
I reject your thesis that the Mongols weren’t that bad as long as you gave up freedom. They were tolerant to the religious freedom of the 20% they didn’t slaughter…oh boy. (Or whatever % in conquered areas).
Here is an idea..maybe they would have had more religious freedom of their chosen religion if their countries were not conquered by domination bent and murderous Mongols?
They killed so many people the earths climate actually changed a little:
https://news.mongabay.com/2011/01/how-genghis-khan-cooled-the-planet/
And they certainly did land on a Japanese island:
‘ The Yuan invasion forces set off from Happo (合浦,Modern day Masan), Korea on 2 November 1274 (October 5 in the lunar calendar).[12][13][14] Two days later they began landing on Tsushima Island. The principal landing was made at Komoda beach near Sasuura, on the northwestern tip of the southern island.”
They also landed at Hataka Bay which is on a main Island Kyushu:
“ The Yuan fleet crossed the sea and landed in Hakata Bay on 19 November, a short distance from Dazaifu, the ancient administrative capital of Kyūshū. The following day brought the Battle of Bun’ei (文永の役), also known as the “First Battle of Hakata Bay”.
Conlan argues that the History of Yuan’s account of the battle suggests that both the Japanese and Yuan forces were of similar size. Conlan estimates that both armies numbered around 3,000 each (not including the Yuan sailors) during this battle[21] while Japanese historians estimate 6,000 defenders on the Japanese s”
Oh and lastly you are also mistaken on the uniquely religious freedom nonsense. Way before the Mongols the Persians were tolerant: “ Cyrus, was tolerant of all the religious sects and cults of the people he conquered”.
So did Buddhism and they didn’t even have to mass murder and rape first:
“ Aspects of Buddhist religious thought, which originated in India, also justified peacefulness and toleration. Ashoka (r. c. 273–232 B.C.E.), the last emperor of the Mauryan dynasty in India, renounced war and promoted Buddhism while remaining tolerant of other religions.”
You remind and amaze me again at how people can be defenders of the Genocidal Mongols.