Life, death, and torture, I carried at my disposal.

I had a treasury and a treasurer, to say nothing of a regiment of scribes.

Awaiting me also was a full thousand of tax-farmers; who squeezed the last coppers from the toiling people.
The seven provinces constituted the northern march.

Beyond lay what is now Manchuria, but which was known by us as the country of the Hong-du, or "Red Heads." They were wild raiders, on occasion crossing the Yalu in great masses and over-running northern Cho-Sen like locusts.

It was said they were given to cannibal practices.