Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 615

1842.

History of the Ming Dynasty.

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were taken and retaken; the imperial generals the while, always giving a flaming account of their victories. But the result of all their valor was, that the young monarch was reduced to great straits, and to appease his clamorous uncle, he degraded his two ministers, but kept them still as his principal advisers. But matters grew worse and worse every day, and recourse was again had to negotiations, in which, as both parties tried to outwit each other, no treaty could be concluded, and affairs remained as they had been. The prince of Yen, perceiving that his nephew was easily frightened, and that the repeated losses which his army had suffered, had reduced him to the most helpless condition, already resolved to decide the quarrel by force of arms, and boldly marched towards the capital, which was then kept at Nanking. As for the battles between the two parties, which are related with much pomp, we verily believe, that the im- perialists only tried who could rnn best, and that it was not much else than a contest for pedestrian honors. The troops of Yen ap- proaching the Yángtsz' kiáng, threw the whole court into consterna- tion, and Kienwan considerately recommended negotiations, in order to delay their advance until more forces could arrive. He made choice of an intelligent lady, a relative of the prince of Yen, who of- fered him the rule over one half of the empire, in order to settle the dispute. The wary rebel was well aware that this proposal was merely intended to amuse him, and declared, that all he wished was to see the emperor's counselors punished, after which he would return home. With his customary energy, he iminediately crossed the river and took possession of two gates of the city, and confidently waited the issue of his movements. Kienwan was in the greatest consternation, and was about to commit suicide, when his confidential adviser suggested, that it would be better to turn monk and thus pre- serve his life. To strengthen this proposal, the courtier produced a sealed box, which he pretended was bequeathed by Hungwa, with injunctions only to open it in the last extremity. When the seal was removed, it was found to contain the robes of a priest with all the requisites for becoming a hósháng. The youth immediately sat down and was soon transformed into a bonze; his ministers seeing this, imi- tated the illustrious example, and the ci-devant monarch's statesmen were soon seen leaving the gates of Nanking on their way to a clois- ter. The empress, however, could not outlive this disgrace and stabbed herself. The palace was immediately burned, and a ru- mor spread, that the emperor had fallen a sacrifice to the flames. But Kienwan secretly withdrew, and was met by a priest, who told

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