Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/296

 272 COBEA. His abilities raised him from post to post^ and innmnerable jhyours made him a devoted adherent of the governor. Sinahang was murdered ; and the former slave so effectually avenged his death, that he was made his successor. He extended his authority over six provinces in the west and south-west of Japan, and he ultimately became Tycoon, with the title Taiko-Sama^ His name in Japanese history is Fashiba: the Chinese called him Ping Siwgl It was in Siwgi's name that a Japanese army sailed from the rendezvous of Dooima dao* (island) into Fooshan of Corea, where they broke up the Corean army there. Army after army came from the eight Do or provinces of Corea> all of whom were annihilated. The Corean king, a weak debauchee, had fled before a blow was struck, from Hanchung to Pinyang, and then to Yichow or Aichow on the Yaloo, fix)m which he crossed the Yaloo into Chinese soil and implored Ming protection. His second son was left in charge of the capital, but was unable to save it ; for the Japanese were soon masters of it, together with Linjin, Bundao, and Bongda. The Japanese army was soon reinforced ; while a Chinese army was sent eastwards in response to the call of the king. This army got to the neighbourhood of Pingyang, but was completely defeated. The commander in chief, when reporting the loss at Peking, pleaded for a larger body of troops to put down the powerful Japanesa This prayer was warmly opposed by the President of war, who had all along objected to the movement of forces towards Corea^ as an expen- diture of blood and treasure wholly profitless to the well being of the empire. He had perhaps not dreamed that Fashiba had designs on the dragon throne. He therefore, instead of an army, sent Shun Weijing a Chikiang man, who, it is most likely, could talk Japanese ; for there was then constant intercourse, by way of Formosa, between Japan and Chikiang. This man was to feign to be a deserter from the Chinese, and to sound the Japanese as to the possibility of peace. He returned to Peking with the roply that if the Chinese desired peace they could have it on condition «This Ma island is that point of Japan nearest Corea; Fooshan was the first Coarean port opened to Japan by the recent treaty.