Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/77

 DUKE KWEI. 63 flight of bis own officials, who had held those places, now placed tinder the orders of Kwei. Kwei -made his son Han Governor of Liaotnng, and Yin of Pinggwo, — ^which was known afterwards, during the Sung dynasty, as the city of Jienan* of Gaoli These made excellent governors, fiat in 333, Kwei died full of honours and of years, having established an independent, compact, and formidable kingdom, consisting of the north-east comer of Chihli, all Liaosi, and most of Liaotung up to the Gaoli borders. Kwei was succeeded by his third son, Whang, who began his reign by enacting severe laws, which alienated many of his people, and caused general uneasiness. This apparently means that, hitherto, laws and modes of life were of a somewhat rude and misshapen kind, and that Whang began a system of civilization, approaching the Chinese form of life and govern- ment, which was as uncomfortable to the wild sons of the mountains, as western tights would be to the loosely clothed Chinaman. His brothers Han and Yin, who had already proved themselves able rulers, were much beloved by the soldiers, whom they had so often led to victory, and, doubtless, to booty ; and another brother, Li, was equal in sagacity to the father. It is said, and we can readily believe, that Whang was jealous of them, especially as they were all in a state of society where Whang's assassin would become his successor ; and they were aware of Whang's jealousy. Han said, with a sigh, that, during the time of his father, the first duke, he did his duty to the best of his ability, but that he could no longer remain where he was. Taking his son with him, he therefore fled to the Dwan Hienbi, as did his brother Yin from Pinggwo. Having been taught, by bitter experience, the ability of these men, the Dwan rulers received them with open arms, and were prepared to act generously towards them. Li and Yin, however, plotted to recover their proper position in their own land. The former urged Yin to compel Whang, by force of arms, to deal generously by them ; and Yin went to Pinggwo, raised forces, and marched westwards.
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