200 KITAN. when they heard the drum ; and the sound of the horn was the signal to halt And, as the Tookiie and Kitan were formerly on good terms, Yunchi got into the Kitan border, by ordering the Tookiie to give out that they were on the way to Liwchung to attack the Coreans.* They therefore marched on to within 50 li of the Kitan camp, before the latter were aware of their real intentions. With a dash forward they took 40,000 men and women prisoners, the former of whom were slain, the ktter equally divided, with the seized cattle, between the Chinese and the Tookiie camps. The emperor was greatly rejoiced; and Yunchi was promoted ; for the Kitan had received so serious a blow, that their harrying raids were prevented for a considerable time. In 608, the Swi emperor sent 200,000 men to build the great wall from Yligoof eastwards. Just then, when the Swi had attained the acme of its power, not satisfied with having a splendid empire, which could be defended with ease against all comers, the emperor began to lay his plans for the conquest of Gaoli, which could have done him no harm as a foe; and infinitely small would be the gain of a thorough conquest He set the example, which lost his dynasty the throne, China millions of lives, and led into wars which cost millions more in the next reign.J We have seen the rapid and great growth of the Kitan since the Wei period. Coming to A.D. 648, we find that the Kitan acknowledged the supremacy of the Chinese court From the previous weakness of China^ they had found it hitherto more profitable to make ceaseless raids into Chinese soil The Tang emperor formed their eastern portion into the prefectural department of Soongmo, with nine sub-prefectures. Their chief was named Doodoo or governor. This Soongmo was north of, and not far from, Liwchung. The west Kitan were formed into
- Thifl shows the extreme western limit of Gaoli rtde, for Liwohmig waJS
immediately N. of Yingchow or Eliiigcbow. (Map II.) t " A gully wesu of Ytilin." This wall would extend to Shanhaigwan. J See chapters V. and VI.
