Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 620

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History of the Ming Dynasty.

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he himself joined the army. But whenever the enemy approached, he retreated to the capital. Towards the end of his reign, another prince of the blood arose in arms against his authority, but his designs were crushed by his capture and death. From a census taken in his reign, it was ascertained, that China contained fifty millions of souls. Chingte died without children, and his cousin succeeded him in 1522, under the name of Kiátsing, known in the chronicles

as

世宗 Shitsung.

Kiatsing was not at the capital when the news of his nomination reached him, but on taking possession of the government his first act was an amnesty of all political offenses. There was only one grandee, whom he deprived of his office, and whose goods he confis- cated. When quietly settled on the throne, he gave himself poetry and song, and did nothing for the benefit of his people. The frontiers were constantly ravaged by the Tartars; disputes also arose in Cochinchina, but the emperor wisely hesitated to interfere.

up to

The Mongols had for a long time traded in cattle with the frontier towns, but difficulties arising, caused by the exactions of the officers, their chief Yenta was so irritated that he resorted to arms. Myriads of

peasants were driven captive into the desert, cities were burnt and the whole country laid waste. The marauder forced his way to the gates of Peking, and the helpless emperor was forced to permit them to hold fairs at certain times, but soon virtually annulled the per- mission by placing many restrictions upon the intercourse; which soon caused the resumption of hostilities.

Another enemy also appeared about this time. Some Japanese had in the reign of Hungwú committed piracy, and settled on the island of Tsungming, but their chief was finally forced to restrain his subjects, and pay tribute to China. Some commercial intercourse was however carried on by the two countries, and in 1539 an embassador was sent to Ningpo with a number of vessels to conclude a treaty for the opening of commerce. But the custom-house officers treated the envoy shamefully, and the irritated Japanese took signal revenge

upon

the Chinese. They were soon driven back to their ships, and a stipulation entered into, that henceforth only three vessels should come annually, and their crews not be permitted to come ashore. Mutual wants, however, produced a corresponding amount of smug- gling in the Chusan archipelago, in which the Chinese were conside rably the gainers. In one instance, in a vessel sent by the king himself, the supercargo having paid for his goods in advance, was cheated out of his money, and obtaining no redress, made an inroad