Historic Tales: The Romance of Reality. Vol. 12 (of 15), Japanese and ChineseMorris, Charles
History
Historic Tales: The Romance of Reality. Vol. 12 (of 15), Japanese and Chinese
Morris, Charles
China -- History; Japan -- History
This vast host collected, the question of supplies presented itself as a
serious matter.
"Do not let that trouble you," said the emperor to his general. "I have
taken steps to provide for that, and promise you that provisions are
more likely to be wanting in my palace than in your camp."
The event proved the soundness of the old warrior's judgment and his
warlike skill. A great battle soon took place, in which Wang Tsein,
taking advantage of a false movement of the enemy, drove him in panic
flight from the field. This was soon followed by the complete conquest
of the principality, whose cities were strongly garrisoned by imperial
troops, and its rulers sent to the capital to experience the fate of the
preceding princely captives. The subjection of several smaller provinces
succeeded, and the conquest of China was at length complete.
The feudal principalities, which had been the successors of the
independent kingdoms into which the Chinese territory was originally
divided, were thus overthrown, the ancient local dynasties being
exterminated, and their territories added to the dominion of the Tsins.
The unity of the empire was at length established, and the great
conqueror became "the first universal emperor."
Hoangti the Great, as we may justly designate the man who first formed a
united Chinese empire, and to whom the mighty conception of the Great
Wall was due, did not exhaust his energies in these varied labors.
Choosing as his capital Heenyang (now Segan Foo), he built himself
there a palace of such magnificence as to make it the wonder and
admiration of the age. This was erected outside the city, on so vast a
scale that ten thousand men could be drawn up in order of battle in one
of its courts. Attached to it were magnificent gardens, the whole being
known as the Palace of Delight. Within the city he had another palace,
of grand dimensions, its hall of audience being adorned with twelve
gigantic statues made from the spoils of his many campaigns, each of
them weighing twelve thousand pounds.
The capital was otherwise highly embellished, and an edict required that
all weapons should be sent to the arsenal in that city, there being no
longer danger of civil war, and "peace being universal." This measure
certainly tended to prevent war, and "the skilful disarming of the
provinces added daily to the wealth and prosperity of the capital."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account