WUN DEFEATED. 99 to stake the wellbeing of the State rather than, by yielding up the power they wielded so inefficiently, to sink into their proper insignificance. Ten had 50,000 men in the field; but as these were considered insufficient to stop Wun, a messenger was sent to Chin firom the Court to make the same request made by Tsang firom the army. King Jien summoned a council of his ministers to consider what should be done in the exceptional circumstances. The general concensus of opinion was decidely opposed to giving any help, but to let Yen stand or fall, as Yen had left them in similar circumstances. But Mung gave a totally different advice in private, saying that though Yen was inherently powerful, Ping was no fit opponent for Wun, who, by summoning Shantung in the east^ could swamp Yen; which result would have serious consequences for Chin ; for it could scarcely hold out against Tsin, if the latter were enlarged by all the lands and power of Yea His advice, therefore, was to support Yen so far as to prevent its becoming the prey of Wun ; and after the Tsin army was driven away, Chin could move in and take easy possession of the Yen land& Jien agreed that the suggested plan was the best ; and was so highly gratified with the wisdom of the advice, that Mung was nominated a Shomgshoo, or President of a Board. Dung was therefore sent on with 20,000 troops to Loyang to help in turning back Wun, who was rapidly advancing under the guidance of Yen deserters; just as any conquering army has been, and will be, conducted by any number of Chinese, if the reward is sufficiently tempting. In October, a body of 6,000 Yen men was sent firom Yuchow to make a flank movement, and cut off Wun's supplies. Dua, the Yen prince of Fanyang, sent forward 1,000 of his 10,000 men as his van. The commander of the thousand sent ahead 200, dividing the 800 into three ambushes. The 200 fell in with the van of the enemy, and, after a feigned defeat, began to flee, enticing Wun's van after them into the ambush ; and most of those who pursued were slain. From that moment Wun had to march, fighting in a desultory manner but gaining no decided
