Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/157

■^™»^ REBELLIONS. 133 of labour required to carry it over a country lately flooded, and across roadless mountains and rivers/gave rise to misery beyond conception ; and the number of those who died beneath their loads became so alarmingly great, that the emperor had six hundred thousand "Deer" or small carts provided, each of which could carry one dan and a half. These, too, broke down on account of the bad roads. The terrible sufferings of the people, aggravated by the heartlessness of their " father and mother,'^ as the emperor is called, drove numbers into rebellion. These took up their head quarters at Changbaishan, now Changshan hien of Tsinan foo. Arms of any kind were forbidden the people ; but arms were soon made, and the " rebels " foraged for food to keep them from starving. Other people suffering in the same manner formed into bands and became "robbers/' to save themselves from the starvation which obedience to selfish and needless whims of an absolute autocrat brought upon them. The previous campaign against Toogoohwun, in the west of China^ had exhausted the treasury ; and the strain on the people, by such enormous taxation, over a second year of faming, would be so terrible, that all his ministers urged the emperor to delay ; but their reasons were urged in vain. When the army was collected together, the emperor proudly asked how Gaoli could oppose it One minister, who was himself to accompany the army, replied that the army might take Gaoli, but that it would be highly advisable for the emperor to remain in his capital The advice roused the anger of the emperor, and nearly cost the official his head. The army consisted of twenty-four divisions ; each under its own general, and with its appointed route and destination. The emperor chose Choolo and five hundred Tookv^ for his guard ; proving that he was not quite sure of his own people. The army consisted of a right and left wing ; each of twelve divisions. The left was to march for Lowfang, Changling, Junhai, Gaima, Jienan, Nansoo, Liaotung, Htientoo, Fooyu, Chaosien, Wojoo, and Lolang. The first three places were under the jurisdiction