"The latest pearl set in the Great Khan's crown"

Khan the owner of the Invisible Cities? He doesn't even care about the beauty or descriptions used in each section, of each chapter of the book. He is so ignorant and stubborn, the lack of experiences and knowledge gives him vulnerability to loose all the lands he "achieved". It's obvious the true leader and owner of the cities is Marco Polo, he knows them from head to toe and has memories unlike the Khan. In chapter 5 after Polo described new cities to Kahn, the emperor asked for a description of the city Polo had never dared to describe, Venice.

"There is still one of which you never speak."

Marco Polo bowed his head.

"Venice," the Khan said.

Marco smiled. "What else do you believe I have been talking to you about?"

The emperor did not turn a hair. "And yet I have never heard you mention the name"

And Polo said: "Every time I describe a city I am saying something about Venice."

"When I ask you about other cities, I want to hear about them. And about Venice, when I ask about Venice." (86)

                  

Even though Marco Polo is the helper of the emperor, the competition between the two is obvious. Yet I find it annoying that Polo doesn't do anything to change that, it's obvious of who should be the leader of the empire. After all, the correct leader would rise the land economically, socially and politically, still Marco Polo does nothing to gain power and stays being a "helper".

Do you believe Marco Polo feels fear? Does Khan have so type of power over him?