some
pretence, he was cut down in the audience-hall, the Prince of Wei, whom
he had placed on the throne, giving his consent to this act of
treachery. Thus was the death of Houchi quickly avenged.

_THE REIGN OF TAITSONG THE GREAT._

The history of China differs remarkably from that of Japan in one
particular. In the latter a single dynasty of emperors has, from the
beginning, held the throne. In the former there have been numerous
dynasties, most of them brief, some long extended. In Japan the emperors
lived in retirement, and it was the dynasties of shoguns or generals
that suffered change. In China the emperors kept at the head of affairs,
and were exposed to all the perils due to error or weakness in the ruler
and ambition in powerful subjects.

The fall of the great dynasty of the Hans left the way clear for several
brief dynasties, of whose emperors Yangti, the last, was a man of great
public spirit and magnificent ideas. His public spirit was expressed in
a series of great canals, which extended throughout the empire, their
total length being, it is said, more than sixteen hundred leagues,
Several of these great works still remain. His magnificence of idea was
shown in the grand adornments of Loyang, his capital, where two million
of men were employed upon his palace and the public buildings.

Yangti's son was deposed by Liyuen, Prince of Tang, and a new dynasty,
that of the Tang emperors, was formed, which continued for several
centuries at the head of affairs. The new emperor assumed the name of
Kaotsou, made famous by the first emperor of the Hans. But the glory of
his reign belongs to his son, not to himself, and it is with this son,
Lichimin by name, that we have now to do.

It had been the custom of the founders of dynasties to begin their reign
by the destruction of the families of their deposed rivals. The new
emperor showed himself more merciful, by pensioning instead of
destroying his unfortunate foes. His only vengeance was upon inanimate
objects. Lichimin, on capturing Loyang, ordered the great palace of
Yangti, the most magnificent building in the empire, to be set on fire
and destroyed. "So much pomp and pride," he said, "could not be
sustained, and ought to lead to the ruin of those who considered their
own love of luxury rather than the needs of the people."

While his father occupied the throne the valiant Lichimin went forth
"conquering and to conquer." Wherever he went victory wen