234 NUJUN. aod demanded that justice should even yet be executed. Su Magwang, the learned and stately author of the history we quote, enters a strong protest against the subterfuge of the emperor, — though those who know of Chinese modem policy, will see in the Tang emperor's tricks the exact counterpart of what has again and again appeared in recent CJhinese history. It was in the year 733, however, that the emperor got Munyi with an army to march against Bohai, whose king, Wooyi, no sooner heard thereof, than he at once advanced on Madooshan, of Black Water, and exterminated that city. Imperial orders were also sent to Sinlo to enter Bohai,* but Sinlo marched only too soon, for her troops had scarcely crossed the southern border of Bohai, before Wooyi, with his undivided forces, fell upon and slew the greater half of them. Munyi was, meantime, whiling^ away his time at Tientsin, probably unable to get his men to march. As he would not obey imperial commands to do away with himself, the emperor sent a band of Honan robbers against him, and had him killed. This will not seem so strange if we reflect that, according to Chinese writers, it has been a question with " brave " Chinese, from at least the beginning of the Tang^ dynasty, whether they should betake themselves to the robber haunts on the mountains, or to the emperor's regiments in the barracks. Indeed at the present, the difference between the twa is not very great. Chinese officers believe that many of their men have been robbers, and would be so again, did they regard it as safe as formerly. The chief difference between the two is- that when the soldier is underpaid, he robs in name of the emperor, and in virtue of his uniform ; the robber in his own name and by the dread of fire and sword. The very high wage of the foreign drilled troops will, we hope, inaugurate a better spirit and system.
- The position of Bohai is thus described : The south-east of the kingdom touched
the sea over against Japan ; to the south was the sea leading to Sinlo ; the tribute route was by the Yaloo. FooyU was between it and Kitan. The Maritime Pkt>- Tinoes, now Russian, would therefore compose most of the kingdom. Indeed,. Bohai would be, just then, coextensiye with Mooo. (Map II.)
