Page:The passing of Korea.djvu/142

 The rebel army entered the capital, and for a time Yi Kwal played at king, though his sway never extended far from the walls of Seoul. At last a loyal general managed to bring him to a standing fight, and he was chased from the capital and finally decapitated.

The Manchus were not satisfied with the way Korea fulfilled her engagements to pay tribute, and was suspicious that she favoured the Ming power. This led to recriminations, and at last, in 1627, the long-dreaded invasion took place. An army of thirty thousand Manchus crossed the Yalu and bore down upon Seoul. The King fled again to his island retreat, and from that point of vantage made an abject submission to the Manchus, and sealed the compact in blood by sacrificing a black bull and a white horse, and taking a solemn oath to be true to his new suzerain. The text of the Manchu and Korean oaths respectively were as follows:

"The second King of the Manchus makes a treaty with the King of Korea. From this day we have but one mind and one thought. If Korea breaks this oath, may Heaven send a curse upon her. If the Manchus break it, may they likewise be punished. The two kings will have an equal regard for truth, and they will govern according to the principles of religion. May Heaven help us and give us blessings."

"This day Korea takes oath and forms a treaty with the Kin kingdom. We swear by this sacrifice that each shall dwell secure in the possession of his own lands. If either hates and injures the other, may Heaven send punishment upon the offending party. These two kings have minds regardful of truth. Each must be at peace with the other."

Everyone except the Manchus knew that these were hollow protestations on Korea's part, and the Japanese hastened to send secret promises of military aid in case Korea wished to make war upon the Manchus. The Chinese Emperor also sent encouraging words, which still further unravelled Korea's allegiance to the new power across the Yalu.