Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/307

 SECOND WAR 283 In January 1637, Mongol and Manchu forces were told off; some to keep watch over internal affairs, and some to guard the Liao and seaside from any possible Chinese attack. The army formed for the conquest of Corea numbered 100,000 men. Dorgun, who had been made Zooi chin-wang, with the Beira Haogo, was ordered to march from Kwandien through Changshan pass * with the left wing. Taidsoong himself led the right wing, which crossed the Jun gang, arrived at Gokshan city, received the keys of Dingchow and Anchow, and marched to Lingjingang, more than a hundred li north of the Corean capital; while a portion of the same wing, told off for the purpose, seconded them from the Han gang river, south of the capital The season had not yet arrived when the river should be frozen over ; but on the arrival of the carts and horses, it became fast frozen all of a sudden, and the whole army crossed over, which was, of course, a special miracle. Yii chin-wang Dodo, who led the van of the right wing, composed of fifteen hundred men, came up with the Corean picked soldiers, to the number of several thousands, and defeated them just outside the gate of the capital. The king- sent out messengers to welcome and to feast the enemy's soldiers, in order, doubtless, to gain some little goodwill ; while he himself, after sending away his queen and children with the principal ladies of the court to Ganghwa island, started off with his best troops to reinforce south Hanshan city.-f- The right wing now entered the capital, and was soon joined by Yii chin-wang and the Beira Yoto, who had taken Fingyang. The reinforced army marched against and surrounded south Hanshan. Thrice were relieving armies defeated ; and two sallies by the city army were driven back. Thereupon over three of Saima-ji; so that this wing could enter Corea at its remote north-west comer, while Taidsoong passed down by Fnnghwang-chung and entered by the west side. t Another name given to Han gang^ or "river/* is Hiwngjin gang, on which is TTatimIiaw city. By it all provisions enter the capital, and its preservation was of the first importance to the kingdom.
 * This long and geologically singular pass runs east from the rich minera district