Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/447

 The Battles of Kokusenya

I

HE Emperor Shisō of the Ming dynasty of China was a feeble-minded and luxurious man. He kept a number of beautiful women in his palaces at Nanking, with whom he indulged in all kinds of sensual pleasures, both by day and night. The King of Tartary, taking advantage of the Emperor's weakness, made up his mind to undermine the Ming dynasty, and to take possession of the Empire. Therefore, with this end in view, he strenuously drilled his troops. But the imbecile Emperor was quite ignorant of the dark schemes of the Northern Chieftain; and he spent all his time enjoying himself in the harem with his concubines. Consequently the government of the Empire was entirely neglected, and it was an easy matter for the Tartar troops to march, at any moment, upon the castle.

Tei Shiryō, a trusted minister of the Emperor, 361