Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/112

 At the time appointed, the abbot took the brethren of his monastery with their horses, and stationing them in front of the whole army, cried with a loud voice "Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien, I, the old priest, adjure you to respond to the command of Heaven, and to follow the advice of men; if you do this, you will be allowed to return home, and avoid calamity and disgrace. If you will not listen to my words, then truly I fear you will run to destruction, and I should be grieved that such a brave hero should perish miserably in this place."

Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien being enraged, cried; "What is the advantage of so many words? Bring on your men and horses; I will this day see which of us is to gain the victory, or perish." The words were scarcely uttered, when he saw Chhoa-Tek-Tiong and Lau-Keng riding forward, flourishing their swords, and shouting the war cry; Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien in great wrath spurred on his horse, and engaged both men. After several encounters had taken place, Png-Toa-Ang galloped up, crying, "Here I am, I will take Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien." On hearing this, Leng-Thien left Chhoa, [sic] and, Lau, and rushed ou Toa-Ang, who after a few passes turned his horse, and led towards the mouth of the Hu-tek ravine, Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien being deceived by this stratagem, gave chase, and waved his whip for his men to follow.

When the abbot perceived that the Eleuths had entered the trap, he ordered the signal guns to be fired, and immediately, the two priests, O-Tek-Te, and Ma-Thiau-Heng, with their men, discharged incessantly their fire-arrows and sprung their mines; Heaven and earth were obscured by the blaze and smoke, and at one blow, more than 30,000 soldiers and 1,000 officers of the Eleuth army were annihilated.

Of the whole army, the General Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien alone escaped with his horse, and galloping into the mountain, he soon found the road so rugged and difficult, that he was obliged to dismount, abandon his horse, and walk like a common soldier, being only too happy to save his life, and comfort himself by thinking his time had not yet come.

The Eleuth little knew that by the Abbot's commands, the Generals Chhoa, Ma, Ng, and O were lying in ambush in the road; when these men saw Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien coming along, they could not help saying; "this excellent scheme of the Abbot is truly worthy of a spiritual being"! they then rushed forward, and under a discharge of their fire-arrows, the brave and heroic Pheⁿ-Leng-Thien succumbed to his fate, and perished miserably at their hands. The above event took place on the