The Japanese now made their appearance again in Ch‘ung-Ch‘ŭng Province and took the town of Kong-ju. The Korean forces under Gen. Pak In-gye were there routed but not till their leader had been thrown from his horse and killed. Then an army under Gen. Ch‘oé Yŭng met them at Hong-san. The general rushed forward ahead of his men to attack the marauders and was wounded by an arrow in the mouth but he did not retire from the fight. The result was a glorious victory for the Koryŭ forces. The Japanese were almost annihilated. Some time before this the king had sent an envoy Na Heung-yu to Japan to ask the interference of the Japanese Government against the pirates, and the reply was now brought by the hand of a Japanese monk Yang Yu. It said. “The pirates all live in western Japan in a place called Ku-ju and they are rebels against us and have been for twenty years. So we are not at fault because of the harm they have done you. We are about to send an expedition against them and if we take Ku-ju we swear that we will put an end to the piracy.” But the pirates in the meantime ravaged Kang-wha and large portions of Chŭl-la Province. Chapter XII. A Mongol proposal.... “The Revellers”.... friends with the Mongols.... Gen. Yi takes up arms against the Japanese.... victorious.... envoys to and from Japan.... gun-powder.... defeat turned into victory by Gen. Yi.... fire arrows.... vacillation.... prophecy.... Japan helps Koryŭ.... jealousies.... a reckless king.... Gen. Yi’s stratagem.... a triumphal return.... the emperor loses patience.... a coast guard.... stone fights.... heavy tribute.... the capital moved.... Japanese repelled.... lukewarm Koryŭ.... a disgraceful act.... Gen. Yi victorious in the north.... the emperor angry.... Japan sends back Koryŭ captives.... a skillful diplomat.... fine sarcasm.... a grave error.... victory in the northeast.... untold excesses.... “Old Cat”.... tribute rejected. Toward the close of 1377 the Mongol chieftain In-puk-wŭn sent the king a letter saying, “Let us join forces and attack the Ming power.” At the same time he sent back all the Koryŭ people who had been taken captive at various times. The king’s answer was a truly diplomatic one. He said, “I will do so if you will first send the king of Mukden to me, bound hand and foot.” We need hardly say that this request was not granted.