Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/181

 BURNING TOWER. 167 galloped with it to the foot of the wall, and threw it down on the rising mound. This sort of conduct in the east or the west is a piece .of affectation ; but so wise is man, that nine-tenths of the beholders lose themselves in admiration. For twelve days and nights there was no rest for Shuji, and less for the garrison; but the city stood out stoutly. The emperor himself led so many men up to the city wall, that they were several hundreds deep. Yet, though their shouts "rent the heavens and rocked the earth,^' they were likely to suffer the same fa,te as Yang^s men. But the emperor ordered some men forward with torches fixed to long poles, to apply to the south* west gate tower, as there was a strong south-west wind at the time. This set the tower a blazing ; and so thick was the smoke there, that the garrison could not see what was going on in its vicinity. Under shelter of this smoke, the Tang men scaled the wall ; and notwithstanding a fierce defence, the city was taken, with over 40,000 Coreans, besides the soldiers. The Coreans lost over 10,000 slain in the city, and as many soldiers were taken prisoners. Baiyen* city was next attacked. The imexpected fall of liaotung must have paralyzed the Gaoli, but as soon as the siege of Baiyen was reported, an army of 10,000 m^n started from Woogoof (Jiung, to raise the siege. This army was opposed by Chimi Holi, at the head of 800 capital horse. Holi galloped into the midst of the advancing Oaoli, and was soon wounded in the back by a spiked, three-pronged spear. The emperor's charioteer rushed in and carried him off He had his wounds bound up ; and then, himself infuriated and his men enraged, they galloped madly, pell-mell, into the Corean host The impetuous charge staggered, then broke up the Oaoli ; who mins of a stone walled city on the north bank of the Taidsu. t Woogoo gang or river is described thus : Leaving Tongchow (of Shantung) you go across to Woohoo island; then 600 11 east by Chingni poo, Hingyin poo, Shuyin gang, Toto Wan, yon come to Woogoo gang. But as these names are all ancient, we cannot trace them. Woogoo city could not be very far east from Baiyen; sa that the river Woogoo may not impossibly be the Tang.
 * It is now called Tenchow, and is 60 li nortix-east of Liaoyang ; there are the