How did the Mongols use the wealth and skills of northern China after Yelü Chucai’s advice?

Following Yelü Chucai's advice, the Mongols utilized the wealth and skills of northern China by establishing a formal bureaucracy and a rationalized taxation system. This allowed them to access Chinese weaponry, which later enabled the conquest of the Song dynasty.12

The Mongol administration in China integrated Mongol military practices with a gradual reintroduction of Chinese traditions. Yelü Chucai, an advisor to Genghis Khan and Ögödei, persuaded Ögödei to spare the population of northern China to leverage their expertise. He was instrumental in creating the Central Secretariat, which centralized civilian administration and divided the territory into provinces responsible for regular taxation. This system included land and poll taxes, as well as sales taxes, and established monopolies on wine, vinegar, salt, and mining products, accumulating significant wealth for the Mongol court.12