powerful subject
of the empire. He died in his eightieth year, enjoying a fame such as no
general of his race had ever before attained.

_THE SIEGE OF SINCHING._

When the great dynasty of the Hans, which had held supreme rule in China
for more than four hundred years, came to an end, it left that country
divided up into three independent kingdoms. The emperors who had once
ruled over all China found themselves now lords of its smallest
division, while the kingdom of Wei included the largest and most
populous districts in the realm. A war for supremacy arose between these
three kingdoms, which ended in the kings of Wei becoming supreme over
the whole empire and establishing a new dynasty, which they named the
dynasty of Tsin. Of this war we have only one event to relate, an
interesting example of Chinese fortitude and valor.

Shortly after 250 A.D. an army of the Han emperor, led by a general
named Chukwoko, settled down to the siege of a small walled town named
Sinching, held by three thousand men under the command of a leader named
Changte, whose fortitude and energy alone saved this place for the king
of Wei.

For ninety days the siege went on, the catapults of the besieging force
playing incessantly upon the walls, which, despite the activity of the
garrison, were in time pierced in many places, while several gaping
breaches lay open to the foe. Changte had defended the place
vigorously, no commander could have done more, and, as no sign of a
relieving force appeared, he could with all honor have capitulated,
thrown open the gates, and marched out with such dignity as the
victorious enemy would permit.

But this was not the view of his duty held by the valorous soldier. He
was one of the kind who die but do not surrender, and in his extremity
had recourse to the following ruse. He sent word to Chukwoko that, as
the place was clearly untenable, he was willing to surrender if he were
granted ten days more of grace.

"It is a law among the princes of Wei," he said, "that the governor of a
place which has held out for a hundred days, and then, seeing no
prospect of relief, surrenders, shall not be held guilty of dereliction
of duty."

Chukwoko gladly accepted this offer, being weary of his long delay
before this small post, and quite willing to save his men from the
perils of an assault. But, to his astonishment, a few days later he saw
fresh bulwarks rising above those which had been ruined by his eng