288 COBEI. was forwarded to the Corean king, complaining that two Chinese vessels had been welcomed in Corean waters^ and strictly forbidding such conduct for the future. The king was also commanded to cease from slaying his people, and rather to calm them by useful and wise administration ; — an admonition not out of place now, if one half the stories of official atrocities spoken of in that overcrowded land be true. A deputation had been sent to Funghwang chung some time before, to examine into the truth of a charge made by the Corean king * against two of his own ministers, who were said to be in secret communication with the Chinese. The charge was proved ; for Tsooi Mingji and Lin Chingye, two of the principal ministers^ had, in the temple of ancestors at Fingyang, with Lin Shangho, the governor of that province, forwarded a letter to the Chinese. They were now handed over to the above ambassage, along with the messengers who delivered the letters and presents. They were all punished ; — Mingji was imprisoned ; Chingye fled ; his wife was imprisoned ; and Shangho was degraded. The Corean king had sent eight messengers with presents of silver, rice, ginsheng, and friendly letters to the Manchus. The messengers sold the presents at Timgchow in Shantung, s&id in Ningyuen. The king put these men to death. In the end of the year he sent soldiers to Taidsoong, who were met^ welcomed^ and feasted. Thus terminated the struggling of the ancient Corea against the fetters imposed upon her by the upstart Manchu kingdom. The Coreans had a third of their tribute remitted in 1643, after the death of Taidsoong ; and in the following year, when sending home the king's son, who had gone to Peking to have his title to the crown confirmed, a half was remitted, and a pardon proclaimed to all in Corea who were condemned to die» Kanghi, Yoongjung, and Kienloong, frequently remitted the tribute, demanding only a tithe, treating the Coreans like
- In the Doong hwa loo this and several remarkB of a similar nature already made,
seem to imply that the hereditary ministers lorded it over the king, ^i^ch is probable enough.
