Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/159

CHINESE XEBXES. 135 cleared ; so great was the ardour of the army, and so imperfect its discipline. It took two more days to lengthen the bridges sufficiently to touch the east side ; and that once done, the Chinese swarmed across, and soon compelled the Qaoli to prove their swiftness of foot The Gaoli left 10,000 of their men on the bank or fields before they got within the walls of Liaotung, as their city near the present Liaoyang, was called. The flying Qaoli were pursued to the veiy gates. But though the siege was warmly pressed, the defence was so stubborn that the spirit of the besiegers began to cool down ; yet they never failed in driving back every one of the numerous sallies of the besieged. Even after some months' siege, there was no impression on th^ walls, nor sign of yielding in the garrison. The sarcasms of the emperor could do no more than bring the colour into the cheeks of hia generals ; and after a more than usually bitter inuendo on their inefficiency and want of military spirit, he retired to a city west of Liaotung, as if ashamed of his men. Some of the other divisions had gone their several waya One army had been sent by sea from Laichow, which city bad alone to provide 300 vessels. The navy was large, as the land army was numerous; and the sea was covered with the ships on their way east to Pingyang. These ships had been built, as the grain had been stored, by compulsory labour, on the coasts of Shantung and Fukien, on the rivers Whang and Tangtsu. Both in the north and south of China myriads of lives were sacrificed in the incessant labour of the navy yards, where work did not cease with daylight This fleet of transports, now brought together at enormous expense to the country, in life as in money, was put under the command of General Hoor ; for there were no admirals, as there were no fighting ships. Hoor landed his men 60 li south of Pingyang, on the Beishwi, where a Corean army was posted. This army he attacked immediately, defeated, and pursued. His second in command urged caution in pursuit ; but Hoor was angiy at the cautious counsel, pushed rapidly ahead, came again up with the Gaoli