54 HISNBI. Whang heard of the plot^ but did not believe it He sent messengers, however, to make enquiry. They got to Hwang- shwi* (river), to which Tin had ak^eady marched. Yin had these spies seized and put to death ; but he himself fell back on Pinggwo, apparently not meeting the encouragement he had expected by the way. As soon as Whang discovered the truth, he sent off several of his generals against the revolted Tin, who, however, completely defeated them. The result of this victoiy was that the commandant dF Liaotung city-^the chief fort of Liaotung, and not far fix)m the present Liaoyang — declared for Tin. Many men from the defeated army joined him; and the remainder, faithful to Whang, were therefore unable to enter the city. The other officials, scattered over Liaotung, followed the example of the chief city, and all the former province of Han was now united to that of Tio. Liao, King of Dwan, rejoiced in Tin's good fortune ; and his northern neighbour, Tuwun, was none the less pleased with this blow to Moyoong. Liao, Shanyu of Dwan, to take advantage of the strain on Whang, had an army sent against Tooho, which, however, had to retire. He then sent Lan, his younger brother, with one of Han's men as guide, to attack the city of Liwchung, which was north of Tingchow. But the city was well defended, and again Lan had to retire. Liao upbraided him for his inefficiency, and ordered him back. For twenty days and nights he rested not irom his works, raising mounds to overtop the walls, and preparing scaling ladders. The repeated sallies of the besieged cost him over 1,000 men ; but in spite of all he could do, the city was as strong as ever. Whang at length sent his brother Ean to raise the sieges,
- North-east of Jichnng and 400 li from Tingchow, and in the neighbourhood of
Hiendoo, a dty of the Han dsmasty. Apparently the Liao west of Kaiynen, which is even now called the 8ira or " Yellow *' Biver by the Mongols. The river 400 11 from Tingchow, or the modem Kingchow, would be either the Outer T.i f|^ to the east of Sinmintwnn, a region then nnder Dwan ; or the united Liao at Sancfaaho near Newchwang, which is the more likely position, as it was in the direct Una between Finggwo or Kaichow and Tingchow.
