HURDEB. 113 came. A fire broke out in the camp of Wei^ however ; and a Yen man^ who had joined the volunteer army of Wei as a spy, declared it was the act of the garrison* Wei's army^ therefore, retired in confusion ; afraid of further and more serious night sallies. But the Yen army which pursued was again and again defeated ; and large numbers of them perished by the cold winds. Sindoo or Tahing j^ad fallen, with other cities, to Wei; and the internal divisions and weaknesses of Yen a second time wrecked their empire ; all the south of which had fallen to Wei by the year 401. Shung, the grandson of Chooi, now reigned in Loongchung ; his territory having shrunk before the fierce rays of the sun of Wei to its original barbarian extent He had, in 400, to send an army against Qaogowli, which had renounced allegiance, and declared independence. Shimg^s army took Sinchtmg and Nansoo,* with 5,000 families, prisoners; but had to return without making a thorough conquest. Shung was obnoxious to many of his officials, whom he believed should be executed as traitors to their country. These engaged five hundred men to murder him. They burst open the palace gate by night, and entered with a loud shout, which wakened Shung out of his sleep. He had already given proofs of uncommon bravery ; and it was on these the general public rested their hopes for the welfare of their country. He got up ; and, with the men near him, so vigorously belaboured the conspirators, that they were glad to find the gate still open. All except one, who hid himself in the king's bedchamber, where he lay still till the gates were aU bolted, and the sound of the last footstep had died away ; and when all the inmates of the palace were sound asleep, this bold conspirator stole out of his hiding place quietly, advanced to the couch, and struck the sleeping king. It was only in the morning at dawn, when going to present their respects, that the ministers found a new " emperor." This was both an evidence and a cause of weakness ; a weakness of which Gaogowli took instant advantage. For, having retaken Sinchung and Nansoo,
- South of Kaichow of Liaotnng. (See Map II. )
H
