The Kingdom came to an end in 1253 at the hands of Kubalai Khan, the famous Mongol, grandson of Chenghis Khan, Kubalai, the famous Mongol , grandson of Genghis Khan, Kubala's efforts in the southwest were part of a great strategy by the Mongols to subdue the Song Dynasty  first taking Yunnan ,then pressing attack from both the north and west and south, leaving an empty land, Kubalai Khan's successes were in part due to the help of tough Muslim mercenaries from Persia and Central Asia; he sent these troops to Yunnan, partly to keep them out of mischief, far from the northern capital, but also to regulated the southwest, The Muslim settlers also to repopulate the southwest. The Muslim settlers also served as the emperor's watchdog s against any movement for independence.