HIAKGPING ATTACKED. 31 lost time. The Liao, never a small river, was therefore a mighty one ; and the current and tide, never weak, were very powerful. Jien had, therefore, to retire ; all his battling being in vain. Thereupon Yuen set himself up as Yen Wang, and assumed the title of Shanyu of the Hienbi, whom he summoned to his standard to march with him to plunder Wei. Hence the present expedition, which was now certainly justifiable ; but was as much as ever opposed by the Wei ministers. The emperor, however, was inflexible. The opposition against this expedition arose chiefly from the difficulty of transporting grain and other necessaries from the capital, Loyang * 4000 li to Liaotung. The emperor, in reply to their arguments, simply asked what line of defence Yuen was likely to adopt They said he had three coursea His best plan would be to forsake his walls, retire into the wilds, and thus weary the army before striking & blow ; his second best plan was to contest the crossing of the Liao river ; and his third and worst, to stake the issue on holding the city. The emperor agreed, and then asked the time necessary for the successful termination of the war. To this they replied, that in the most untoward circumstances a year would suffice. Yuen heard of the formidable preparations made against him, and in his terror sent messengers to implore the aid of Woo. So bitter was still the feeling against his former treacheiy, that many demanded the heads of these messengers in revenge for Jang Ur. But minister Yang urged that though this would be good revenge, it would be bad policy; and at his recommendation the messengers were sent home again. It was July when the Wei army got to the Liao river. They found that Yuen had prepared for them, having sent an army of several myriad men to fortify themselves, with an earthen rampart 20 f li north to south, along the river bank. The various generals, second in command, urged an instant crossing
- Near the modem Kaifung f oo, in Honan, which provinoe, with Shantong, formed
the best part of the Wei kingdom. fTnen history. Tsin history has 70 li, but this seems too long a line, unlesa there were detadied bodies spread over so great a distance.
