1842.
History of the Ming Dynasty.
595
from Malacca and then one from Bengal, a sufficient proof of the fame of his exploits. After several campaigns into the desert the emperor perceived the hopelessness of pursuit; but in order to leave behind him a proof of his valor, he erected a pyramid to witness to the extent of his conquests. He returned after having spent the greater part of his existence in waging war, and died on reaching the fron- tiers in the year 1425.
Kienwan had, in the meanwhile, been going from one place to another, and his existence becoming known, he attracted the jealousy of the usurper.
The latter had him carefully watched, without
inflicting the least injury upon him, until his name was consigned to oblivion and contempt.
洪熙 Hunghi, known in the hall of ancestors as
仁宗
His son Jintsung, had often acted as his father's deputy, and on his accession
to the throne published a general amnesty, but he lived too short a
time to develop his character. His son 宣德 Siuente (called after
his death
son
Tienshun.
Siuentsung) assumed the reins of government in A. D. 1426. He revived the war with Cochinchina, in which the Chi- nese armies were usually annihilated, after having, according to the report of their generals, achieved the most splendid victories. He was, however, a lover of peace, and when his uncle endeavored to usurp the throne, he managed matters so adroitly, that the plot- ter was compelled to come of his own accord to render homage and confess his crime. The even tenor of his life leaves but little for his chroniclers to record, and he died in 1436, leaving the empire to his
Yingtsung, whose reign was at first called E
正統 Chingtung, and afterwards
He w's a boy of eight years of age, and his mother became regent during his minority. Fondly attached to an eunuch of the name of Wangchin, the child plead hard to save his life, when about to suffer the punishment due to his crimes. It was during his minority, that the unfortunate Kienwan was discovered, and brought to court to undergo examination. This worthless scion of the great Hungwú, had wandered about as a vagrant from one province to the other for forty years, and although no accusation could now be brought against him, he was still looked upon as a dangerous person, and therefore confined within the palace, where he died unregretted and
unknown.
A portentous storm was meanwhile brewing in the north. An ambitious Tartar chief, of the name of Yesien, had made many incur-
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