Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/165

 SILENT BETBEAT. 141 Chinese camp, whose causes are easily discoverable, the siege was prosecuted with unabated ardour, and repelled by the Coreans with undiminished vigour. The Emperor had just got completed an earthen rampart sixty paces wide, close to and flush with the city wall, and a high storied movable tower on eight wheels, higher than the city wall, whence missiles could be thrown down into the city; and these were about to be put in action, and would infallibly have taken the city, when a breathless messenger hurried into the camp by night and brought in news of the rebellion of fang Hiiengan, President of the Board of Sites, who was besieging the Swi capital with a large volunteer army. The Emperor was cowardly as he was obstinate, and in his terror gave immediate orders to forsake the camp with every thing in it, just as it stood. So well was the order carried out, and so far had the army gone by daylight, that the Gaoli observed no change, beyond the unusal respite from fighting. It was mid-day ere they ventured to inspect the formidable Chinese camp ; but though not a soul was visible, as everything was in its place, they feared a trick, and permitted the second day to appear, ere curiosity got the better of fear. So great was their caution, that it was the third day ere they discovered the Chinese army making preparations to recross the Liao. After keeping at a distance for a time, they became more numerous, and ventured up to the rear, which they found very weak and ill guarded. They were too late, however; for their increasing numbers cut down only a thousand men before the whole army was across. Hoor was, fortunately for Emperor Yang, still at Laichow, and Yii Wun was hurriedly recalled; for Yang's volunteer army had run up to a hundred thousand men in a few days. He' was defeated^ however, and committed suicide to escape the hands of the executioner. His was not the only rebellion, though the most formidable, from the object of attack and the rank of the leader. For universal disaffection foimd vent in universal rebellion, and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fighting bands or armies spread disorder and terror over every province. And this