The History of Korea (vol. 1 of 2)Hulbert, Homer B. (Homer Bezaleel)
History
The History of Korea (vol. 1 of 2)
Hulbert, Homer B. (Homer Bezaleel)
Korea -- History
Revolt in Sil-la.... Ko-gu-ryŭ invaded.... Sil-la invades Păk-je....
China decides to aid Sil-la.... war between Păk-je and Sil-la....
relations with China.... league against Sil-la.... China diverts
Ko-gu-ryŭ’s attention.... traitors in Păk-je.... Sŭng-ch’ung’s
advice.... Chinese forces sent to Păk-je.... portents of the fall of
Păk-je.... conflicting plans.... Sil-la army enters Păk-je....
Păk-je capital seized.... Păk-je dismembered.... end of Păk-je....
disturbances in Păk-je territory.... Ko-gu-ryŭ attacks Sil-la....
final invasion of Ko-gu-ryŭ planned.... Păk-je malcontents....
combination against Ko-gu-ryŭ.... siege of P‘yŭng-yang raised....
Pok-sin’s fall.... Păk-je Japanese defeated.... governor of
Ung-jin.... Buddhist reverses in Sil-la.... Sil-la king takes
oath.... Nam-gŭn’s treachery.... the Mal-gal tribes desert
Ko-gu-ryŭ.... the Yalu defended.... Chinese and Sil-la forces march
on P‘yŭng-yang.... omens.... Ko-gu-ryŭ forts surrender.... Ko-gu-ryŭ
falls.
Tong-man, the Queen ruler of Sil-la, died in 645 and was succeeded by
her sister Söng-man. The Emperor confirmed her in her accession to the
throne. It began to look seriously as if a gynecocracy was being
established in Sil-la. Some of the highest officials decided to effect a
change. The malcontents were led by Pi-un and Yŭm-jong. These men with a
considerable number of troops went into camp near the capital and
prepared to besiege it. For four days the rebels and the loyal troops
faced each other without daring to strike a blow. Tradition says a star
fell one night among the loyal forces and caused consternation there and
exultation among the traitors. But the loyal Gen. Yu-sin hastened to the
Queen and promised to reverse the omen. That night he prepared a great
kite and fastened a lantern to its tail. Then he exhorted the soldiers
to be of good cheer, sacrificed a white horse to the deities of the land
and flew the kite. The rebels, seeing the light rising from the loyal
camp, concluded that Providence had reversed the decree. So when the
loyal troops made their attack the hearts of the rebels turned to water
and they were driven over the face of the country and cut down with
great slaughter. That same year the Emperor again planned to attack
Ko-gu-ryŭ but the baleful light of a comet made him desist.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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