The sovereign, thoroughly humiliated, purchased peace by a gift of five hundred young men, five hundred beautiful girls, three thousand horses and an immense quantity of silks and gold.

Genghis Khan retired to the north with his treasures; but soon again returned, and laid siege to Pekin, the capital of the empire.

With the energies of despair, though all unavailingly, the inhabitants attempted their defense.

It was the year 1215 when Pekin fell before the arms of the Mogol conqueror.

The whole city was immediately committed to flames, and the wasting conflagration raged for a whole month, when nothing was left of the once beautiful and populous city but a heap of ashes.
Leaving troops in garrison throughout the subjugated country, the conqueror commenced his march towards the west, laden with the spoils of plundered cities.