The part, which Fusan played in this war, materially assisted the
invading hosts of Japan. A settlement at Fusan, which had been founded
long since by the retainers of the Daimio of the island of Tsu-shima,
assisted by itinerant traders and deserters from the numerous expeditions
which visited its shores, had grown to such dimensions that when the
force was descried off the harbour upon the morning of May 25th, 1592,
Fusan was already in their possession. This circumstance gave the
troops immediate facilities for disembarkation, and, in the subsequent
vicissitudes of the next six years’ campaign, expedited the progress of
the war. The position of Fusan speedily made the place a base of supplies
to the army of operation and a repairing yard for the Japanese fleet
after their disastrous engagement with the Korean ships, in an attempt
to co-operate with the victorious forces, which Konishi and Kuroda had
assembled before Pyöng-yang. After the conclusion of the first invasion
and the Japanese retreat from the north, before the combined strength
of the Chinese and Koreans on May 22nd, 1593, Fusan became one of the
fortified camps upon the coast, where the Japanese armies passed the
winter in sight of the shores of their own land. The negotiations, which
were opened in the following year, and shifted alternately between the
camp of the Commander-in-Chief at Fusan and the Courts in China and
Japan, failed.
Even at this date Japan was anxious to establish her power in Korea by
obtaining possession of the southern provinces. Foiled in this attempt,
she renewed her attack. Fusan again became the seat of the councils of
war, and the base for the second invasion. The operations began with the
siege of the Castle of Nan-on, in Chyöl-la province, upon the morning of
September 21st, 1597. Twelve months later, the Japanese were withdrawn
from Korea, and the war came to its close. Two hundred years passed
before Korea recovered from the desolation of this conflict, which was
one in which the loss of three hundred thousand men was recorded.
Moreover, the Japanese retained Fusan, a perpetual evidence of their
victory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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