as poor as they, and as he grew older
learned the humble trade of shoemaking, which he followed for some time
as an occupation, though he chafed in spirit at its wearisome monotony.
The boy had in him the seeds of better things, showing in his early
years a remarkable quickness in learning, and an energy that was not
likely to remain content with a humble position.

Seeing that his only chance of advancement lay in the military career,
and burning with spirit and courage, the ambitious boy soon deserted the
shoemaker's bench for the army's ranks. Here he showed such valor and
ability that he rapidly rose to the command of a company, and was in
time intrusted with a small independent body of troops. It was against
the pirate Sunghen that the young soldier was pitted, and during three
years he vigorously opposed that leader in his devastating raids. In
this field of duty he was repeatedly victorious, breaking the reputation
of the corsair, and so weakening him that his overthrow became easy.
This was performed by another leader, the defeat of Sunghen being so
signal that, despairing of escape, he leaped overboard and was drowned.

Lieouyu, having abundantly proved his ability, was now rapidly promoted,
rising in rank until he found himself in command of an army, which he
handled with the greatest skill and success. His final victory in this
position was against a formidable rebel, whom he fought both on land and
on water with a much smaller force, completely defeating him. The
emperor showed his sense of gratitude for this valuable service by
raising the shoemaker's boy to the rank of commander-in-chief of all the
armies of the empire.

In this exalted position Lieouyu displayed the same energy and ability
that he had shown in humbler commands. Marching from province to
province and from victory to victory, he put down the rebels whom the
weakness of the government had permitted to rise on every side. He had
not only rebellious bands, but disloyal princes of the empire, to
contend with. In one of his marches it was necessary to cross the great
province of Wei, north of the Hoang-ho, a movement to which Topa, prince
of the province, refused permission. Lieouyu, indignant at this
disloyalty, forced the passage of the stream, routed the army of the
prince, and pursued his march without further opposition, sending one of
his generals, named Wangchinon, against the city of Changnan, the
capital of the prince of Chin, who had