Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/119

 go's death. 95 by the Young " Emperor '* Wei, who was deeply grieved on account of his uncle's severe illness ; for he had learned to love him as a man^ as well as to trust him as a counsellor. He was also greatly alarmed for the future of his kingdom, which had been hitherto so ably sustained against numerous and powerful foes, by the vigorous and wise administration of the dying Prime Minister. He, therefore, enquired minutely as to the proper mode^ of carrying on the Government, when he should be left entirely to his own guidance. Qo answered as minutely ; and drew attention to the fact> that not internal administration alone, however excellent, was needful; for both Tsin and Chin were constantly spying out the frontier, and making ready for territorial aggrandisement This able man and good soldier then passed away, leaving no successor. For Ping assumed the control of affairs, and the youxi^ Wei was apparently of too weak a mind to carry out the measures proposed by Go. Prince Woo was left at the head of his army as before, ignored by Ping. This conduct of Pmg gave rise to some unpleasantness ; and if there was strife at court before, the selfish conduct of Ping, and the apparent weakness of the young ruler, greatly exaggerated the confusion. Tsang, Longan Prince, well aware that Ping was weak, jealous, and unfit for the position he had assumed, at a time when all the resources of the kingdom would be strained to meet the attacks of Tsin on the east and south, and Chin on the west, — ^formally memorialised the throne, praying that Go's counsel should be carried out, and Prince Woo recalled from the camp to take the helm of state. Ping refused to listen ; but shortly thereafter got Joong, younger brother of the emperor, nominated Daauma, or Prime Minister ; thus securing to him- self the real if not the nominal power. Just then the Emperor of Tsin was under the spell of a literaiy man, Fang, who was giving him a medicine, the eating of which would ensure him life for ever. He daily ate the medicine, which so stupefied him, that he could not attend to business, which had to be transacted by his mother. Was this opium? The Chinese in Manchuria began opium imder the