The Ming dynasty compares favourably in point of duration with most of the imperial houses that preceded it; but long before the middle of its third century it began to show signs of decay.  In Korea [Page 139] it came into collision with the Japanese, and emerged with more credit than did its successor from a war with the same foe, which began on the same ground three centuries later.  In the northeast the Mings were able to hold the Manchus at bay, notwithstanding an occasional foray; but a disease of the heart was sapping the vigour of the dynasty and hastening its doom.  Rebellion became rife; and two of the aspirants to the throne made themselves masters of whole provinces.  One depopulated Szechuen; the other ravaged Shansi and advanced on Peking.  Chungchen, the last of the Mings, realising that all was lost, hanged himself in his garden on the Palatine Hill, after stabbing his daughter, as a last proof of paternal affection (1643).

[Page 140] CHAPTER XXVI

THE TA-TS’ING DYNASTY, 1644—­

The Manchus, Invited to Aid in Restoring Order, Seat their Own Princes on the Throne—­the Traitor, General Wu San-kwei—­Reigns of Shunchi and Kanghi—­Spread of Christianity—­A Papal Blunder—­Yung-cheng Succeeded by Kienlung, who Abdicates Rather than Reign Longer than his Grandfather—­Era of Transformation

The Manchus had been preparing for some generations for a descent on China.  They had never forgotten that half the Empire had once been in the possession of their forefathers, the Kin Tartars; and after one or two abortive attempts to recover their heritage they settled themselves at Mukden and watched their opportunity.  It came with the fall of the Mings.

Wu San-kwei, a Chinese general whose duty it was to keep them in bounds, threw open the gate of the Great Wall and invoked their assistance to expel the successful rebel.  His family had been slaughtered in the fall of the capital; he thirsted for revenge, and without doubt indulged the hope of founding a dynasty.  The Manchus agreed to his terms, and, combining their forces with his, advanced on Peking.  Feeling himself unable to hold the city, the rebel chief burnt [Page 141] his palace and retreated, after enjoying the imperial dignity ten days.

General Wu offered to pay off his mercenaries and asked them to retire beyond the Wall.  Smiling at his simplicity, they coolly replied that it was for him to retire or to enter their service.  It was the old story of the ass and the stag.  An ass easily drove a stag from his pasture-ground by taking a man on his back; but the man remained in the saddle.  Forced to submit, the General employed his forces to bring his people into subjection to their hereditary enemy.  Rewarded with princely rank, and shielded by the reigning house, he has escaped the infamy which he deserved at the hands of the historians.  A traitor to his country, he was also a traitor to his new masters.  He died in a vain attempt at counter-revolution.