Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/161

 COBEAN FABIUS. 137 anxious to see him immediately. Wunda was not at all anxious to hear the message ; but made off in the wrong direction, and was soon at the head of his army on the east bank of the Yaloo. He bad run great risks, and had deserved success. The trick greatly disconcerted both Joonggwan and Wun; and the former urged an instant attack with light troops, while yet their grain lasted ; his object being to acquire some renown by seizing Wundu. Wun was strongly opposed to any such move in their present circumstances; but Joonggwan angrily asked with what face could they again see the emperor, if with such an army they returned empty handed. From his manner, the other generals believed he had a good plan of operations, which he would develop in the face of the enemy. They, therefore, sided with him, and Wun was compelled to order the army to advance. The fact that he had judged so correctly the nature of the Corean general's visits would tend to cause the others to lean on his judgment Wundu, seeing the hunger-bitten faces of the Chinese, determined to give them exercise. Instead of engaging in a pitched battle, in which he would be overwhelmed, he carried cut the tactics of the petty vessels which scattered the Armada, — retreating, wheeling round, engaging, and again retreating. Seven sharp, but short, battles were fought the first day. The Chinese marched further and further away from their base; crossed the Sa river, and pitched camp on the hills 30 li from Pingyang, always closely watched by Wundu. If he thus proved himself a capable general, he must have greatly lacked experience I for he made frequent overtures to Wun to surrender with his army ; and this in the then condition of Wun's forces was simply absurd. He might have done so as a coarse joke ; but that he meant Wun to take his messages in good faith seems certain, from the fact that Wun found in the repeated proposals an excuse for retreating ; for he would not otherwise have dared to look his passionate master in the face. Hoor, not so bold jince, as before his defeat, was meantime to the south of the city no more than thirty miles from Wun; but the two commanders