The Emperor acceded to this suggestion, and demanded of the assembled nobles, which of the Ministers they could recommend to take command of the army and lead it forth? The nobles thus replied: " At the present time it will be impossible to find amongst the court officials, an able Minister who dare undertake this heavy responsibility. We would therefore recommend Your Majesty to issue an Edict, and order it to be circulated and posted in every province, country, and district of the Empire, to the effect that whoever will obey the proclamation and subdue the Eleuth Tatars, no matter whether they be officials, common people, women, children, Buddhist or Taoist priests, they shall receive 10,000 taels of gold, and be appointed Earls over 10,000 families; this will certainly have the effect of bringing forward men of the highest talent to respond to the call of our Sovereign Lord."
The Emperor was exceedingly pleased with the proposal, and at once issued an Imperial Edict, which was speedily distributed throughout the whole Empire. There was no place under Heaven which the proclamation did not reach. Now, in a range of mountains called Kiu-Lien, in the district of Toan Leng in Hok-Kien, there was a monastery, named Siau Lim Si, containing 128 priests, who on hearing of the above edict, went to the place where it was posted, and finding that it was genuine, they, after consulting together, took down the copy of the proclamation. Some person informing the Imperial Commissioner of this, he called all the priests, and they being assembled, he addressed them as follows: "Are talent and ability to be found amongst you priests, are there amongst you any who dare to comply with the Emperor's edict, and come forward to conquer these Western barbarians"? All the priests respectfully replied, "Let there be no doubt in your Excellency's mind on this subject. The old saying is: 'Talents and ability dwell amongst the priesthood.' Our brethren are in all 128 persons, and without the assistance of an Imperial soldier, we will conquer these Eleuths; even if their camp be 100 li[1] in extent, we will destroy it, and not leave as much as an inch of straw remaining."
The official on hearing these words was exceedingly delighted, and ordered the priests to return to their monastery, and pack up their baggage, preparatory to a start on the morrow towards Peking, where they would be permitted to behold the sacred person of the Emperor.
- ↑ About 30 miles.
