Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/238

 214 KITAN. conviction that Looshan was preparing for rebellion. Li Lin was with the emperor when this bold speech was uttered^ and became extremely angry at the imputation on his friend's honour. Joongsu was general of north of the (Yellow) river, and with the aid of several excellent subordinate officers, among them at least one Elitan, he kept Toofan at bay, — on one occasion annihi- lating a raiding Toofan army, by a simultaneous front and rear attack. The capital of the Toofan was their^ only strong city. The Chinese general did not march against it, inasmuch as the capture of so strong a city would cost him more men than the conquest was worth. His caution was made the ground of a charge against him of neglect of duty, and the emperor ordered him to attack the city. He saw the emperor in person, and said that he had not attacked the place, because its capture was oTno practical utility, while it would cost many lives. Another officer imdertook to take the city ; and Joongsu refused to act as second in command, because the assault would throw away so many good lives for nothing. Though supported by one or two able ministers, his enemies gained the day, and he was sent to fill a secondary post in a distant part of the empire. Another brave officer, originally a Corean, was similarly served. These instances will serve to show the relationship between these soldiers of fortune and the emperor in the eighth century. Indeed, the same state of matters existed a century earlier ; for from the beginning of the Tang dynasty, the Chinese common soldier, without distinction of parentage, rank, race, or education, carried a '^ marshars baton in his knapsack.'^ Success and applause had long intoxicated Looshan. His conduct had, for years, caused uneasiness and suspicion as to his intentions, in the minds of the ministers. As early as 747, being in the presence of the emperor, who had all along treated him with uniform kindness, the imperial heir came in, and while all the ministers made their customary obeisance, Looshan failed to take any notica His neglect was pointed out to him, when he excused himself as a man ignorant of proper etiquette. But when the emperor stated that he himself, as heir, had always