his army to conquest after conquest
in the great oases of Western Turkestan, subduing kingdom after kingdom
until no less than fifteen had submitted to the power of his arms, and
his victorious army stood on the far-distant shores of the Caspian
Sea,--the Northern Sea, as it is named in Chinese annals.

To cross this sea would have brought him into Europe, which continent
had never dreamed of invasion from the mysterious land of Cathay, on the
eastern horizon of the world. Panchow's ambition was not yet satiated.
There came to his mind the idea of crossing this seeming great barrier
to his victorious career. He had, with his army, overcome innumerable
difficulties of waterless deserts, lofty mountain ranges, great rivers,
and valiant enemies. Thus far his progress had been irresistible, and
should a mere expanse of water put an end to his westward march?

He was checked by dread of perils in the unknown land beyond. The people
on the borders of the Caspian represented that salt sea as being far
more formidable than it really was. They dilated on its width, the vast
mountains which lay beyond, the fierce tribes who would render a landing
difficult and dangerous, and the desert regions beyond the mountains,
until Panchow reluctantly gave up his scheme. He had already been for
several years warring with savage nature and barbarous man, and had
extended the dominions of his emperor much farther than any Chinese
general had ever dreamed of before. It was time to call a halt, and not
expose his valiant followers to the unknown perils beyond the great
inland sea.

The army remained long encamped on the Caspian, coming into
communication through its envoys with the Roman empire, whose eastern
borders lay not far away, and forming relations of commerce with this
rich and powerful realm. This done, Panchow led his ever-victorious
warriors back to their native land, to tell the story of the marvels
they had seen and the surprising adventures they had encountered.

That Panchow was moved by the mere thirst for military fame may well be
doubted in view of what we know of the character of the Chinese. His
purpose was perhaps the more practical one of opening by force of arms
new channels of trade, and overcoming the obstacles placed by the
Parthians and other nations of Asia in the way of freedom of commerce.
On his return to China he found himself the idol of the people, the
trusted friend of the emperor, and the most revered and