Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/132

 108 IHPSBIAL TEN. over Liaotung and the three Corean kmgdom& It was now 80 powerful, and its lord so ambitious, that he longed at once to let slip his million soldiers on Tsin, — ^sure of swamping that power, and again re-imiting all China under his own rule. He was, therefore, mortified at the firm opposition of his ministers, who declared that the soldiers were worn down by their past exertions, and unfit for so arduous a task ; while the people were restless under their heavy taxation. He waited for two years, when his heart was made as proud as Nebuchadnezzar's ever was ; for sixty-two independent tribes, from the east of Mongolia to the west of Turkestan, acknowledged him their lord, by sending embassies and presenting tribute. This was proof sufficient that others as well as himself regarded him as virtually the Master of China. To gain the actual mastery, he would delay no more than one other year ; and therefore, in 383, he collected an army at Changan of 600,000 foot, and 270,000 horse, determined to strike a bold and terrific blow for universal empire. Before this army started, many of his ministers again conspired to have Woo Wang dismissed from all office, because they knew not how he would act They were never sure of his Allegiance, though alwajrs sure of their own jealousy of him. But spite of all, Woo Wang was placed over the van of 250,000 men, along with YaDgping Duke ; but Wang Mung was not there. The line of march covered by this anny, from the head of the van to the tail of the rear, was over a thousand li, or three hundred miles. Woo Wang was successful in taking a number of cities ; but in December he was overwhelmed by the crowds of fugitives rushing into his camp from another portion of the army, which had crossed the Whi river, got defeated, lost 15,000 men, and fled across the river, hotly pursued by the power of Tsin. For, though Tsin was full of internal trouble and never ending wars, it made a mighty heave to throw oflF these invaders from without Tsin now got to Chinggang, thirty li east of Showchwun, where a terrific battle took place, and Chin power was shattered to fragments. Broken up as they were, scarcely a third of that