Having received this order, they went back to their monastery, and each of them having packed up his things, and buckled on his weapon, the whole body started next morning in the train of the Commissioner.
In a short time, they arrived at the capital, and were accommodated by the Commissioner, at the Hall of the Military Board, where he told them to stay till next morning, when they would have an Audience of his Sacred Majesty.
In the 5th watch, about 3 A. M.[1] the Emperor being seated on his throne, the Commissioner approached, and prostrating himself, said, "your servant having reverently received your Majesty's command to summon together brave heroes from every place under heaven, he, in circulating the Edict, fortunately found, in the Kiu Lien Mountains, a monastery containing 128 Buddhist priests, all of whom are perfect in the Civil and Military arts and exercises, and they boast that without using the Imperial soldiers, they will at sight exterminate the Eleuths, as easily as a person can wave his band; your minister has brought them to the gate of the Palace, where they are now awaiting your Majesty's decision."
The Emperor ordered the priests to be brought before him, and on seeing their manly and robust appearance, he was much pleased; while they were yet in the Palace, His Majesty appointed them to the rank of generals, and presented them with a sword, on which were engraved the characters Jit, and San,[2] the inscription being of triangular form.
His Majesty also appointed the minister Teⁿ-Kun-Tat to act as Commissary General, and Commissioner to accompany the Army.
On the day following, having sacrificed to the standards, the army was set in motion, having received the Imperial command to march forward.
Now at this time, the barbarians were besieging the frontier town of Tung-Kuan, and when the army of relief arrived, the beleaguered generals Lau and ’Ng were on the walls; they suddenly saw a body of Imperial Soldiers approaching, which they knew must be a force sent to their assistance, so at once
