Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/191

 SHIP BUILDINO. 16T sometimes contrasted, with many conquerors belonging to Christian coontriea In the autumn of 646, Qaisoowun sent in tribute, but hift " words were false if fair/' for his spies were never out of Chinese- soil, and he never desisted from warring on Sinlo. Hence his tribute was rejected, and the emperor had frequent thoughts of repeating his Corean campaign. A very serious ilhiess put all such thoughts away for a time. But with returned health and a new year, his thoughts again reverted to the subject, and again his ministers opposed him as strongly and directiy as they dared. They hinted that a few years of good government in the country already acquired, would bring the north of the Taloo to his feet. But next month (April) he sent an army of over 10,000 across the sea under Niw Jinda, the Taotai of " Chingchin," (supposed to be a kingdom 300 li east of the sea I) ; and another of 300O under Li Shuji, now nominated Taidsu and Liaotung Taotai, both to march in by Sinchung, and to practise assiduously naval warfare. They thought it best to practise on Corean soil, doubtiess with the private sanction of their lord. Niw Jinda fought a hundred batties, in all of which he was victor. At Jaili ohung, his army encountered a Gaoli host of 10,000, utterly routing and slaying: 2,000 of them. In order to be ready for striking a good blow, the boat carpenters of twelve Chow or Sub-Prefectures of Eiangnan (south of the Tangtsu) were impressed to build several hundred large- vessels ; each being 100 Chinese feet long, and half as many broad. Tet the ambassadors of the Gaoh king were received a few months after, though hostilities of that semi-piratical kind were still carried on. In May, a body of 5000 Qaoli cavalry and in^Emtry was defeated at Tishan ; and a night attack by 10,000 Gaoli on the ships was repulsed This obstinacy of Gaoli, in prolonging the unequal struggle, angered the emperor ; and he began scheming to raise an army of 300,000 to crush this tiresome little neighbour. His only obstacle was the earnest oppositioot of his ablest ministers, who pressed him to leave Gaoli alone ie look after her own business; for that it was a great pity U>