THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA - 8
The Great Wall and the Manchu conquest of China

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

While he was defending the border in the East, a famous robber chief named Li Dsuchung, at the head of a large army, laid siege to Peking and finally captured the city. Sangwei's father was made prisoner, and was commanded to write a letter to his son, ordering him to submit to the robber chief to save his father's life. This, in accordance with Chinese teaching, as a dutiful son Sangwei was bound to do; but just at the critical moment he learned that a robber had taken Yuenyuen. He was so enraged at this, that he renounced his father, resented the advances of the self-styled emperor, and wrote a most remarkable letter to the Manchus, inviting them to join with him in rescuing the Chinese throne from the bold usurper. It was an alliance with the enemies of his people; but he knew that he could not alone defeat Dsuchung and also keep the Manchus out of the country. It was virtually a surrender of the Dragon Throne by the only Chinese general who was powerful enough to protect it. Dsuchung, knowing nothing of the alliance, marched against Sangwei, and a battle was fought at Shan Hai Kuan. The sudden and unexpected accession of the fresh Manchu army at a critical moment in the battle resulted in a complete victory for the allies. Dsuchung was panic-stricken, and fled with his entire robber army to Peking. There they gathered all the valuables they could hastily lay hands upon, placed them in carts, and continued their flight, closely pursued by Sangwei. Dsuchung beheaded Sangwei's father and all his family, but when he was about to kill Yuenyuen to complete his revenge, she said: "You had better not. If you kill me, he will pursue you with still greater fury." She was spared; and one day the lovers met on the river-bank near Kiang-chow, where they were married, and the robbers had a few days' respite from pursuit. Thus the Manchus were enabled to pass the Great Wall at the eastern end, where Sangwei could have guarded the pass indefinitely; and perhaps, had it not been for the alliance proposed by him, the Manchus would never have conquered China. The battle of Shan Hai Kuan gave the Chinese general a bride and the Manchus a dynasty which they have held for two centuries. Upon such slender threads do the destinies of nations hang. Read on The Great Wall of China... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Romyn Hitchcock The Great Wall - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Forgotten Wonders: The Great Wall of China Great Wall of China Great Wall of China - Wikipedia The Great Wall @ National Geographic Magazine China-Wall Great Wall China Pictures Great Wall of China on Encyclopedia.com Great Wall, China Great Wall of China