Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/93

 MIND. 69 which his less able adversary presents him — ^who, by stratagem or forethought, can surprise and disconcert his enemy — ^is as sure of victory when fighting with swords and javelins, as when concentrating the fire of parks of artillery. The few soldiers of Fanchung, referred to above, would have fled, but, by a sentence or two from their undaunted commander, they fell into their places, were obedient, and therefore successful. So of the large armies. Whang could judge the best point, the most expeditious manner, and the most critical time, for setting his troops in motion ; and a smaller number of troops counted for more in his hands, than a larger under any of his adversaries. The warfare of the " Middle " and of the " Former " ages was, in this respect, what the warfare of the Latter ages is. Mind has always been, mind will always be, master, whether the age is Gold, Silver, or Iron. Jao Wang could easily have collected an army of half a million men, as the servant of the magician summoned the Spirit, but it is another matter to command an army of that number ; and it depends on the head of that army whether it is to be an army — ^a well knit, compact, and workable unit — carrying all beL it, or a disorderly rabble, more dangerous to itself and its friends than to its foes. It is more easy to collect half a million men than to command them. Jao Wang's army, from these or whatever reasons, did not sweep Whang and his soldiers into the Gulf of Liaotung, nor even drive them out of Loongchung ; though we shall meet it again. But he sent a fleet across the gulf to Anping of Yen in Liaotung. The men who manned this fleet were Tsingchow men, with the addition of men taken off the island of Woo when passing it These took the city of Anping ; and to prevent the loss of Liaotung from that quarter. Mo Yoong Go was ordered to hurry on and take Pinggwo, where Yin had been governor, but which had been abandoned since. Go had already been successful as a com- mander, and it was believed he could spring into Pinggwo. And he did ; and protected the old residents, and welcomed all new comers; while he so belaboured the various Gaogowli armies, which had come to retake the city, that they ceased marching his way.