s future
seat. This act of the emperor won him the highest commendation from his
subjects, the Chinese looking upon respect to and veneration of parents
as the duty surpassing all others and the highest evidence of virtue.

Siaho, the palace-builder and war minister, had been specially favored
in this giving of rewards, much to the discontent of the leading
generals, who claimed all the credit for the successes in war, and were
disposed to look with contempt on this mere cabinet warrior. Hearing of
their complaints, Kaotsou summoned them to his presence, and thus
plainly expressed his opinion of their claims:

"You find, I am told, reason to complain that I have rewarded Siaho
above yourselves. Tell me, who are they at the chase who pursue and
capture the prey? The dogs.--But who direct and urge on the dogs? Are
they not the hunters?--You have all worked hard for me; you have pursued
your prey with vigor, and at last captured and overthrown it. In this
you deserve the credit which one gives to the dogs in the chase. But the
merit of Siaho is that of the hunter. It is he who has conducted the
whole of the war, who regulated everything, ordered you to attack the
enemy at the opportune moment, and by his tactics made you master of the
cities and provinces you have conquered. On this account he deserves the
credit of the hunter, who is more worthy of reward than are the dogs
whom he sets loose upon the prey."

One further anecdote is told of this emperor, which is worth repeating,
as its point was aptly illustrated in a subsequent event. Though he had
won the empire by the sword, he was not looked upon as a great general,
and on one occasion asked Hansin, his ablest officer, how many men he
thought he (the emperor) could lead with credit in the field.

"Sire," said the plain-spoken general, "you can lead an army of a
hundred thousand men very well. _But that is all._"

"And how many can you lead?"

"The more I have the better I shall lead them," was the self-confident
answer.

The event in which the justice of this criticism was indicated arose
during a subsequent war with the Tartars, who had resumed their inroads
into the empire. The Heung-nou were at this period governed by two
leading chiefs, Mehe and Tonghou, the latter arrogant and ambitious, the
former well able to bide his time. The story goes that Tonghou sent to
Mehe a demand for a favorite horse. His kinsmen advised him to refuse,
but Mehe sent the horse,