Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/50

 26 CHAOSIEN. be relied on ; and the northern Emperor determined to despatch an army into Liaotung, under the Governor of Tsingchow* and the Commandant of Yowchow.f One of his ministers strongly urged him to desist from this policy, and stop the expedition ; for that even if successful, Liaotung was insufficient to form a kingdom, and its resources inadequate to make wealth ; and if it was now hostile, it was only latently so ; but it would become an open foe, as soon as it heard of active movements against it Better first master the new and more formidable enemies, then take account of the remote ; for when the " tiger and the wolf meet one on the road, it is no time to attack the fox " ; but once remove the greater danger, the lesser will disappear of itself. To this advice the Emperor would not listen. The army was sent, for the order had been already given. It got defeated, and had to be disbanded, with the disgraceful brand of failure. But Hiang, Governor of Tsingchow, in Shantung, knew from the force and direction of the wind that Ho, who was then leaving Liaotung, would be driven right across the Gulf, and could land only on or about Chungshan, a mountain near Laichow. He therefore planted his men behind Chungshan mountain, and had not long to wait, for the stormy waves drove Ho and his fleet right across to their feet Ho was compelled to land, and was immediately attacked and slain with all his men. When the Woo Emperor heard of the calamity, he immediately sent for Fan to Court But the messengers found him just dead. They brought back his body, and buried it with every mark of respect In spite of the catastrophe of the horse-buying expedition, Swunyuen rightly believed that Woo would not be altogether ungrateful, if he proffered his allegiance ; and, unaware of what Wei might be preparing for him, he wisely considered it prudent to make Woo his ally, even if at the cost of apparently losing his independence. The messengers tendering his allegiance were right royally received by Woo, who, in the warmth of his pleasure, sent Jang Ur the Taichang, one of his
 * In Shantung. f The modem Peking.