It would, no doubt, be now entirely true to say, that the sceptre wrenched from the mikado by the ziogoon, has in turn been wrested from the ziogoon by a council of state, and the supreme authority of Japan is now exercised by the president of the council, though the emperor is the John Doe in whose name he speaks. Kublai-khan, when he ascended the Mongol throne, determined upon an invasion of the Japanese empire from his dependency of Kaou-le. The better to pave the way for this proceeding, he sent an embassador with the following letter to Japan:— “The exalted emperor of the Mongols to the wang [king] of Niphon:— “I am the prince of a formerly small state, to which the adjacent lands have united themselves, and my endeavor is to make inviolable truth and friendship reign among us. What is more, my ancestors have, in virtue of their splendid warrant from Heaven, taken possessions of Hia dominions. The number of the distant countries, of the remote cities, that fear our power and love our virtue, passes computation. When I ascended the throne, the harmless people of Kaou-le were suffering under the calamities of war. I immediately ordered a cessation of hostilities, recalling the troops from beyond the frontiers to the encampment of their colors. The prince of Kaou-le and his subjects appeared at my court to give me thanks, and I treated them kindly, as a father treats his children. So I intend that your servants shall be treated. Kaou-le is my eastern frontier; Niphon lies near, and has from the beginning held intercourse with the central empire. But during my reign, not a single envoy has appeared to open a friendly intercourse with me. I apprehend that the state of things is not, as yet, well known in your country, whereupon I send envoys, with a letter, to make you acquainted with my views, and I hope we may understand each other. Already philosophers desire to see the whole world form one family. But how may this one-family principle be carried into effect, if friendly intercourse subsist not between the parties? I am resolved to call this principle into existence, even should I be obliged to do so by force of arms. It is now the business of the _wang_ of Niphon to decide what course is most agreeable to him.” A contemptuous silence was the only answer that the Japanese returned to this demand. The _ziogoon_ went immediately to work to put their coasts in a state of defence, while the _mikado_ had stated prayers offered up. The invaders, a hundred thousand strong, came as “the winds come when forests are rended,” and by the winds, as they came, their “navies were stranded.” The necks of those who escaped from shipwreck were severed by the Japanese blades, and three alone were spared to bear back to their country and the summer-state lord of Xanadu, the tale of disaster, and the fate of his armada. This was in October of the year 1280.