Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/275

268 campaign, and therefore they fought with flails. The Silla army was beaten, and Pèkché made booty of their arms, so that the Pèkché weapons were as efficient as ever, and Thang did not dare to come in. Pok-sin and the others at length got together their countrymen, and with them held the Royal city. The people of the land paid honour to them, saying:—"The Minister Pok-sin! The Minister Chă-chin!" It was only Pok-sin who, by the admirable military expedients which he invented, raised up the country, which was already ruined.

Winter, 10th month. Kwisil Pok-sin, Minister of Pèkché, sent the Minister Kwi-chi and others with a present to the Empress of over one hundred Thang prisoners. These are now the men of Thang of the two districts of Fuha and Kata-agata in the province of Mino. They also asked for troops and requested assistance. At the same time they prayed that the Prince Yö Phung-chyang might be given back [one book says:—"Minister Kwi-chi is the Talsol, Chyöng-chin"], saying:—"The men of Thang, leading after them our maggot-pests, came and wasted and harassed our territory. They overturned our Government and took prisoners our Sovereign and his Ministers.

King Wichă, of Pèkché, his wife Eun-ko, his son Nyung, etc., and his Ministers, viz. the Prime Minister, Chhyön Pok-kuk, Pyön-syöng, Son-teung, and others, over fifty persons in all, were captured by General Su on the 13th day of the 7th month, autumn, and sent away to the Land of Thang. This was perhaps what was denoted by the causeless bearing of arms.

Now the people of the Land of Pèkché, putting their trust afar off in the Emperor's protecting care, have assembled together anew, and formed a kingdom. We now humbly beg that we may be allowed to wait upon the Prince Phung-chyang, who was sent by Pèkché to be in attendance at the Celestial Court, and to make him the Ruler of the Country, etc., etc."

The Empress made an order, saying:—"We learn that in