Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/73

RV 68 (PORTRAIT OF AN EMPEROR)

The greatness of a leader is measured by the caliber of the men about him. A nation to flourish in the sun cannot be under the thumb of one man, even though it be a Celestial thumb on the hand of "The Son of Heaven." Ming Huang, greatest of Emperors, knew this and was influenced by it. In his court were poets, artists and musicians. Among the poets were many generals who were not puppets who danced to the strings and tune of a master. They were able to lead and reason independently. When faced with a severe test, they were equal to it. Witness the case of General Chang Shou-kuei, on the occasion of the attack on Bishbalik. The Turkic tribes surged down upon him while he was putting the old fortifications in order. He was ill-equipped, his stores of arms had not arrived, defeat stared him in the face. Quickly, he got together a banquet attended by his officers which was held on the city wall in plain view of the tribes sweeping down upon him. They had expected resistance, they were confused by this blatant show of indifference. They reasoned that if the officers could banquet on the wall with so little concern, the forts must contain so many soldiers willing and ready to resist, that successful attack would be impossible. For a while they watched from a safe distance. The merrymaking was so uproarious they could not doubt its genuineness. To go forward would mean defeat. The heart was deadened within them as though by a macabre drug, and a drug RV 68 (68)