Mongols Destroy Western Xia

After uniting Mongolia, Genghis Khan first turned toward Western Xia and Jin. Western Xia lay on the Mongols' road south and controlled the Hexi Corridor; before attacking Jin and the Western Regions the Mongols had to remove the threat from Western Xia. From 1205 Genghis Khan attacked Western Xia six times. In 1209 Mongol troops besieged the Xia capital Zhongxing (present-day Yinchuan, Ningxia) and flooded it with Yellow River water; Western Xia was forced to offer a princess and sue for peace, submit to the Mongols and agree to send troops to help in their wars. Western Xia appealed to Jin for help, but because of old conflicts the Jin emperor refused, saying “when enemies attack each other, it is good fortune for our state”, and Song, Xia and Jin never united against the Mongols. Later Western Xia refused to join the Mongol western campaign and made peace with Jin, angering Genghis Khan. In 1226, returning from the western campaign, Genghis Khan personally led a great army against Western Xia a sixth time, taking Khara-Khoto, Ganzhou, Suzhou, Xiliang and other places, defeating the main Xia force at Jiudu on the Yellow River and besieging Zhongxing. The Xia capital was besieged for half a year, its food ran out, and it suffered earthquake and plague. In summer 1227 Genghis Khan fell gravely ill near the Liupan Mountains and soon died. On his deathbed he left instructions to keep his death secret, to kill the Xia ruler and his officials after their surrender, and to pass through Song territory in allying with Song to destroy Jin. That year the last Xia emperor, Li Xian, came out and surrendered and was killed by the Mongols, and Western Xia fell after about 190 years.