1841.
The Rebellion of the Yellino Caps.
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99.
eunuchs,—that class of weak, low, and depraved courtiers,—into the councils of the state. It was the emperor Hwan who began this course of degeneracy, and the dire consequences of it were gradually evinced during the reign of his successor, more weak than himself. Soon after Ling had ascended the throne, signs most strange and alarming appeared in the heavens and on the earth, all portentous of some approaching calamity. The sagacious and patriotic of the princes knew full well the occasion of all this, and presumed to warn their sovereign of a crisis at hand. His own fears were to some de- gree excited, but they were speedily dispelled by the craft of the eunuchs, who induced their master to degrade those ministers, who had dared to remonstrate with imperial majesty. Finding that their opportunity had now come, the eunuchs formed themselves into a body of counselors, called the shìh chang she, or "the ten constant attendants," and, enjoying the emperor's implicit confidence, they took the reins of government into their own hands. Having thus briefly pointed out the causes of future calamities, the historian, like a patriot, sighs over the weaknesses of his sovereign and the misfor- tunes of his country, Alas, my father! The imperial government waxed worse every day, until there was universal disaffection, and marauders rose up like wasps."
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At this time, when the country had become disposed for change, a leader appeared in a family of the principality of Keuluh. In this family there were three brothers, whose surname was Chang. Chang Keo, the eldest of them, was chief in the insurrection, to which he bad been incited by an interview with a singular personage, who gave himself out to be one of the mountain genii. This sage of Nanhwa called Chang Keo aside, and put a book into his hands, at the same time announcing that he was to be the "liberator mundi,” and threatening the worst of evils, if he should decline his appoint- ment. On this, the stranger vanished. Keo took the book and de- voted himself to its study, till at length he gained superhuman power, and was able to control the elements of nature.
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It happened, that in the eighteenth year of Ling's reign, and in the first month, a pestilence broke out, and raged furiously among the people. During that plague, Chang Keò rendered himself po- pular, in curing large numbers by the successful use of magical papers and charm-waters, and increased his own influence by send- ing forth, to every part of the country, men who had been inspired by him, with supernatural virtue to overcome the same distemper. In This way he gained the confidence of myriads, who were disposed by
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