How did the Mongols use spies and propaganda before attacking cities?

Under the leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongols utilized spies and propaganda as essential components of their military strategy to demoralize enemies and secure victories without always resorting to direct combat.12

Before launching an attack on a city, the Mongols typically employed the following tactics:

• Surrender Demands: They routinely offered peace and requested voluntary surrender. If a city accepted, the population was generally spared, and soldiers were often incorporated into the Mongol forces as federates.1
• Psychological Warfare: The Mongols expertly planted rumors regarding the size and ferocity of their cavalry forces. This propaganda was intended to break the enemy's will to resist by creating an image of an unstoppable, overwhelming army.2
• Intelligence and Consequences: The use of spies allowed the Mongols to gather critical information about their targets. If a city chose to resist, the Mongols responded with severe consequences, including wholesale slaughter or enslavement, which served as a brutal deterrent to other cities considering opposition.1

These methods were part of a broader, highly effective approach to warfare that prioritized mobility, speed, and strategic psychological pressure.12