THE STORY
In the reign of the Emperor Tu Chung of the Sung Dynasty,(A.D. 1264) China was invaded by the Yuan hordes of Kudlai Khan, desendant of Gengis Khan and last Great Khan of the invincitble Mongols who had by this time over-run countless countries both in Asia and Europe.
Chia Shih Tao, depraved Deputy Prime Miniser who had usurped the power of the throne, indulged in idle pastimes and turned a deaf ear to the dire distress of the nation as the strategio City of Hsiang Yang in Hupeh Province was slowly being reduced to a state of exhaustion by an enemy siege of three yrears.
In answer to an impeachment contained in a hundred thousand words pretition submitted to the Emperor by Wen Tien Hsiang, leading scholar and statesman, thru the Prime Minister Kiang Wan Li, Chia distorted reports of victory over the invaders and forced bodh of his accusers to go into temporary retirement.
Wen returned to his native home at Luling, seemingly pessimistic and seeking for pleasure but secretly preparing for an armed uprising of the people to save the Country. He was ably assisted by the clever and beautiful Hsieh Soo Soo, one of the girl dancers hired by him to delude Chia and his vigilants pies with a show of dissipation
Meanwhile Hsiang Yang had fallen under the strain of a long siego and relentless onslaughts from the enemy, Chia, unable to keep the bad news from the Emperor any longer, went forth reluetantly to meet the Yuans with an inferior army. He was badly beaten, banished and finally killed by his custodian, a man whose father he had murdered.
Wen in his retreat at Luling was now summoned by the Emperor to defend a falling Empire.
Waging a losing but heroic war, he proposed to make a stand in 4 principal cities, which proposal was heartily endorsed by the newly appointed Prime Minister Wu Chien but opposed by the Deputy prime Minister Chen Yi Chung and his chique of corrupt countries who clamored for peace at any cost. Chun was superseded by Wen who had now assumed the post of C-1C.
In spite of Wen's gallant efforts to save the day for the dynasty, the Yuan troops made their way to the gates of Ling An, the Capital, compelling the two young princes to flee with their tutor, the elder statesman Lu Shiu Fu.
Trying to take Ling An by ambush tactics, Pai Yen, leader of Yuans, made an offer to parley for peace with a plenipotentiary of the Sung Government in his Headquarters. Wen fell for the trap and was asked by Pai to surrender unconditionally.
This he resolutely refused but just as he was remonstrating with Pai, the rest of the Sung ministers had arrived with an appeal for peace tantamount to a complete capitulation. He severely reprimanded his coutryme for their traitorous act but could not help according to the request of Pai, who secretly admired him for his courage, to continue the so called peace parleys in Peking. Wen now a virtual prisoner in the hands of Pai was being sent under escort to Peking by boat in company with Lu Wu, Li Mao and Tu Hu, three of his most trusted subordinates.
Thru the death-defying devotion of these three and the bravery of the patriotic boatman Yu Yuan Ching, who toget her with Lu Wu gave up their own lives to effect his escape, he was able to go to Chingchow and Yangchow, both of which cities were unoccupied by the enemy but hostile to him due to the price set on his head by the traitorous ministers in Ling An who had now branded him as a spy.
His only hope now was to go to Wenchow, where the two princes had been set up at the head of a new government, but the distance and difficulties ahead of him were appalling if not insuperadle, Overcoming untold hazards and hardships he finally arrived at his destination to rally the remnants of a once powerful army and succeeded in scoring one victory after another against the Yuans,
He was reunited with his family and the ever faithful dancing girl Hsieh Soo Soo, only to part with them again on the eve of a great and decisive battle in which he was unwittingly captured by the enemy. General Tu Hu was likewise captured in trying to protect him and bater committed suicide.
Mme. Wen after having entrusted their only son to the loving care of the loyal Soo Soo also took her won life.
The elder stateman Lu Shiu Fu with the infant king in his arms plunged into a watery grave over a cliff which has since been enshrined by the Chinese.
With the death of Lu and the King, last lincal descendant of the House of Sung, the Sung Dynasty came to an abrupt end and the Yuan Dynasty was firmly established with Kub lai Khan as Emperor of all China.(A.D.1280).
Wen was held captive for three long years in Peking, amid squalor and privations unbearable to any ordinary person., and died at the hands of the executioner after the Yuan Emperor had failed to win him over by alternate threats of