Editing 1219 (section)

==== Mongol Empire ====
* Winter &ndash; [[Genghis Khan]] sends a Mongol army (some 20,000 men) under his eldest son [[Jochi]] and [[Jebe]] to cross the [[Tian Shan]] mountains ("Heavenly Mountains") to ravage the fertile [[Fergana Valley]], in the eastern part of the [[Khwarezm Empire]]. The Mongols suffer many losses but slip through the defensive lines and confuse the enemy who thinks this is Genghis' main force. [[Muhammad II of Khwarazm|Muhammad II]] dispatches his elite cavalry reserve to protect the fertile regions with force. Meanwhile, another Mongol army under his second and third sons [[Chagatai Khan|Chagatai]] and [[Ögedei Khan|Ögedei]] passes through the [[Dzungarian Gate]], and immediately start laying siege to the border city of [[Otrar]].<ref>Man, John (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', pp. 190–191. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* Mongol forces under Chagatai and Ögedei capture Otrar after a 5-month siege. The city becomes the first of many settlements to have its entire population slain or enslaved before it is razed to the ground. [[Inalchuq]], the Khwarezmian governor of Otrar, is captured and executed by pouring molten silver into his eyes and ears – an unlikely and unnecessarily expensive end.<ref>Man, John (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', p. 193. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* By letter, Genghis Khan summons [[Qiu Chuji]] ('''Master Changchun''') to visit him, to advise him on the medicine of immortality (the [[Philosopher's Stone]]).