Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/297

 CHINESE TO THE BESCUE. 273 that all the lands east of the Tonggasg river and Pingyang, already under Japanese arms, should remain in their possession. They were willing to renounce all claim to the lands westwards of that river. They thus demanded the ancient Sinlo and Baiji The President of the Board of War at last understood that peace could be obtained only after war. He, therefore, prepared a considerable force, which he placed under Li Yoosoong and his lieutenant-general, who had been well trained, and had proved their prowess in the suppression of the rebellion of Ninghia. Yoosoong found it extremely hard marching past the magni- ficent ranges of Funghwang shan, on the top of one peak of which are the ruins of an ancient Corean city, — ^but got to Pingyang and the Tonggang, in Feb. 1593. He found Pingyang well protected on the south-west by the Tonggang, on the west by a mountain ; while the Japanese, most brilliantly dressed, occupied the most important post, — ^an eminence on the north of the city. Li attacked this eminence, and quickly drew off as if in flight, to tempt the Japanese to follow him ; which they did at night, when he drove them back with, considerable losa Two days later he made a general and determined assault on the city, and a desperate fight ensued, in which Li^s horse was killed under him, and in which his tenacious bravery alone prevented his men from flight He mounted a fresh horse, and plunged into the thickest of the meled At length the walls were scaled, the Chinese poured into the city, and the Japanese crossed the Tonggang at night, retreating eastwards. They were pursued by Li, and turned upon him, wounding and all but taking him. The battle was fought with surpassing bravery on both sides, and was a drawn one. Li was, however, compelled to retire on Gaichimg, as he found it impossible just then to force his way to the capital In April, Li surprised great stores of rice, &a, which compelled the Japanese to treat The Chinese agreed to recognise Siwgi as Japanese king, on condition of the total withdrawal of Japanese troops and claims from Corea. The Corean king sent as ambassador — ^to congratulate Siwgi on the recognition by China s