The evening world., 1894-10-10
HIDEYosHI THE JAPANESE.
His Invasion of the Hermit King
dom of Coren aud It's Results

dom OF COren ana It's Nesuhr.
The only authentic record OF pre-
vious invasion of Corea by the Japanese,
involving n war with China. Is that OF
1892. says the London Daily Telegraph.
/ Hldeyoshi, japanese OF ignoble birth.
but OF great military prowess, had
gained supreme power under the EN-
peror In his own country. He determined
to seek for fresh fields of military glory
In the neighboring kingdom of China
and to take up the gauntlet which had
been thrown down more than three GEN.
turtles before by Kublai Khan, when as
sisted by Corean troops, that Emperor
had attempted an invasion OF Japan In
1881. His first step was to found
quarrel with the Coreans on the fact
that the periodical embassies from Corea
bearing presents to the Japanese court
had for some years been intermitted.
After ENJOYS had been repeatedly sent
to Corea complaining OF this neglect. the
King of Corea at length despatched an
embassy to Japan with the customary
gifts. The envoy, however, was treated
with but scant courtesy by Hideyoshi,
and. In a farewell interview, the ulti-
mate aims OF the latter were revealed.
He had shortly before lost by death
| his only son, and, referring to this. he
shos tnst he VII Longer Ws,e
| sorrow, but, assembling a mighty host,
VII invade 1.-THE country of the Great
II will Ill.," were his grandiloauent
words, with the boar frost from my
sword the whole sky over the 400 prov
inces. My expectation Is that Corea
ship with your country depends entirely
| upon your conduct when l lead my
army against China"
| The invasion OF Corea arose from the
| inability or the Government to comply
| with Hideyoshi's request and take up
arms against her powerful neighbor. Ac-
| cording to the lowest Japanese estimate
the number OF troops that crossed over
onset the Japanese forces carried every
thing before them. and the King was
army took the field and in the first
general engagement the japanese troops.
after struggle lasting over two days,
retreated with loss of l,6Qo men. A
superior tactics, party to their skllful
use of the celebrated wo-handed sword,
the japanese gained decided victory.
The Winter rains put a stop to any
vigorous attempt to reap Its fruits, and
by the Spring both sides, having equally
suffered from lack Of supplies in a coun-
try, little able to support the burdens OF
double army Of occupation, were
anxious for peace.
The ineffective negotiations which fol-
lowed are very amusing: We see in
cause of the ill-feeling that has existed
between the two countries The Japan
csc envoy to Pekin. with much diff
Guilty, was persuaded to give his assent
to the following clauses of treaty;
]. Hideyoshi to receive investlture from
the Chinese Emperor. 2. The Japanese
to evaCuate Corea.
In accordance with this treaty a Chi
nese envoy was despatched to Japan
bearing with him the robes OF investi-
ture and crown. together with the
written deed. Hideyoshi gave n grand
banquet to the envoy, at which he pre-
ing the crown. He himself was unable
to read: but when the banquet had ter.
minated he called to his aid two learned
priests. and then for the first time un.
derstood to what he had committed him.
: We" SO the document runs, "spe
cially invest you with the dignity Of
ruler OF Japan, and have sent our com
mission for this purpose. We also sent
; you may, so far as custom Is concerned
be In agreement with our ancient GUS
, tom. Be careful to act in a name
; ter. BE grateful for the imperial favo
thus bestowed upon you. Follow al
ways our orders"
Hideyoshi's rage when he thus learne,
great, and the envoy was sent back I,
China in disgrace without an answer
and the war in Corea was resumed an,
carried on. with varying fortune, unit
to the struggle, ard the Japanese forces
were. in accordance TO his dying in
structions to his successor. finally with
drawn from the peninsula. Since thel
= the three sister kingdoms have, will
> slight exception, lived on terms of peac,
with each other.