"  However  reckless  the  ambition  of
Hidrioshi  may  have  been,  the  valor  of  his
soldiers  was  incontestable,  and  the  plains
that  encircled  the  ancient  capital  of  Corea
still   bear   testimony   to    many    a   deed   of


320


COREA   AND   THE   WAR.
chivalry  which  the  decendants  of  the  me-
diaeval heroes  would  rejoice  to  emulate.
"  How  anxiously  and  ardently  the  signal
to  resume  the  march  was  looked  for,  no  one
could  bear  witness  to  more  surely  than  I,
for  in  the  first  two  weeks  of  this  month  I
several  times  traversed  the  camp  that  lay
crouching,  I  might  say,  along  the  southern
border  of  the  Taitong  and  through  the
valley  below,  and  heard  on  all  sides  impa-
tient murmurs  of  restlessness  and  agitation,
which  would  have  risen  to  complaining  cries
but  for  the  loyal  faith  of  the  soldiers  in  the
resolution  and  sagacity  of  their  leaders.
"During  the  first  ten  days  of  September
several  changes  were  made  in  the  disposition
of  the  troops,  and  various  small  commands
were  transferred  to  increase  the  effectiveness
of  the  onset  to  come.  But  the  general  plan
underwent  no  alteration.
Supplies  Cut  Off.
"General  Nodsu  advanced  to  the  front
and  assumed  the  direct  management  of  af-
fairs. Reconnoitring  parties  made  frequent
examinations  of  the  belt  of  land  between  our
van  and  Ping- Yang,  which  was  found  com-
pletely devastated  by  the  ravages  of  the  Chi-
nese, The  supplies  which  should  have  been
provided  the  Chinese  from  Chefoo  had  been
cut  off  for  some  time  by  the  Japanese  ships
and  the  Coreans  were  compelled  to  give  up
everything  that  could  contribute  to  the  sus-
tenance of  the  hungry  multitude.
