great that they were
everywhere regarded as public enemies, hated and execrated by the
people at large. But the career of the "Crimson Eyebrows" was near its
end. The emperor sent against them an army smaller than their own, but
under the command of Fongy, one of the most skilful generals of the age.
His lack of numbers was atoned for by skill in manoeuvres, the
brigands were beaten in numerous skirmishes, and at length Fongy risked
a general engagement, which ended in a brilliant victory. During the
crisis of the battle he brought up a reserve of prisoners whom he had
captured in the previous battles and had won over to himself. These,
wearing still the crimson sign of the brigands, mingled unobserved among
their former comrades, and at a given signal suddenly made a fierce
attack upon them. This treacherous assault produced a panic, and
Fanchong's army was soon flying in disorder and dismay.

Terms were now offered to the brigand chief, which he accepted, and his
army disbanded, with the exception of some fragments, which soon
gathered again into a powerful force. This Fongy attacked and completely
dispersed, and the long and striking career of the "Crimson Eyebrows"
came to an end.

[Illustration: A CHINESE PAGODA.]

_THE CONQUEST OF CENTRAL ASIA._

The Chinese are the most practical and the least imaginative of the
peoples of the earth. During their whole four thousand years and more of
historical existence the idea of military glory seems never to have
dawned upon their souls. They have had wars, abundance of them, but
these have nearly all been fought for the purpose of holding on to old
possessions, or of widening the borders of the empire by taking in
neighboring lands. No Alexander, Caesar, or Napoleon has ever been born
on Chinese soil; no army has ever been led abroad in search of the
will-of-the-wisp called glory; the wild fancy of becoming lords of the
world has always been out of touch with their practical minds.

If we consider closely the wars of China the truth of what is here said
will appear. The great bulk of them have been fought within the limits
of the empire, for the purposes of defence against invasion, the
suppression of revolt, the overthrow of the power of feudal lords, or in
consequence of the ambition of successful generals who coveted the
throne. The wars of external conquest have been singularly few,
consisting principally in the invasion of the domain of the Tartars, to
whi