In the war which ensued, victory attended his arms throughout, and at length he entered Nanking, the capital, in triumph.

And now begins one of those romantic episodes which from time to time lend an unusual interest to the dry bones of Chinese history.

In the confusion which followed upon the entry of troops into his palace, the young and defeated emperor vanished, and was never seen again; although in after years pretenders started up on more than one occasion, and obtained the support of many in their efforts to recover the throne.

It is supposed that the fugitive made his way to the distant province of Yunnan in the garb of a Buddhist priest, left to him, so the story runs, by his grandfather.

After nearly forty years of wandering, he is said to have gone to Peking and to have lived in seclusion in the palace there until his death.