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36 to the west of the present province of Shense, was of great size, extending beyond the Oxus and Jaxarles. These people were fierce, barbarous, and warlike, their principal strength consisting in hordes of irregular cavalry. To them neither the highest mountains nor the swiftest streams proved serious impediments, for their agile ponies surmounted the one and swam the other. Eegular tactics employed against such a foe were useless, for they never waited until an army large enough to overwhelm them could be assembled. The Emperor, however, took the barbarians completely by surprise, and his armies thus gained a victory which they would hardly have succeeded in doing had the enemy been prepared. But now came the question of stopping their future inroads into the Empire. To effect this, Che-hwang-te determined to construct a work which should exceed in grandeur everything that the world had ever seen, and should endure into remote ages as a lasting memorial of his greatness. This was the building of the famous Great Wall, a full description of which will be given in another chapter.

But whilst engaged in superintending this enormous work, the literati of the Empire provoked the monarch by their dislike to the smallest innovation, and their anxiety to restore all ancient customs. Le-sze, the prime minister, always ready with a remedy, counselled his master to put an end for once and all to their impertinent remarks by burning all the ancient books. His advice was taken, and an edict issued for the destruction of every volume in the country excepting only those which treated of scientific