[Vigilanteman]

No-one would advocate the slash and burn/take no prisoner response of the Mongols in the thirteenth century.

No one? By the close of Genghis Khan's reign, it was said that a virgin maiden could walk from one side of the vast kingdom to the other carrying a pot of gold balanced on her head and nobody dared molest her.

[jpsb]

"a virgin maiden could walk from one side of the vast kingdom to the other"

Not if Genghis saw her, 25% of all European/Asians have Genghis in there genes.

[TigersEye]

Exactly. Genghis Khan was ruthless in warfare but when the enemy surrendered the barbarity was over. The males were invited to become his soldiers and full citizens and the women and children were protected. The rule of law was then enforced equally and absolutely.

The Tibetan warrior king Songtsän Gampo, who conquered even greater amounts of land and peoples in the 5th century, was the same way. Utterly ruthless in war but when the fighting was over the conquered were taken in as equals. Unconditional surrender is required first though.