untouched. The Tong Haks took up arms again, only to be defeated by the Japanese.
The Japanese, victorious on the field of battle, were equally so in the terms which they secured by the treaty of Shimonoseki, which ceded to them a large portion of Southern Manchuria and the Island of Formosa. China abjured all interest in Korea and paid an enormous indemnity. This was a great surprise to the Koreans, who had not lost faith in China. The Japanese, elated and intoxicated with their success, put forth every effort in their power to control affairs in Korea.
At this time (1895) there were two strongly opposing factions in the Korean court — one led by the ex-regent, father of the king, and the other led by her Majesty the queen. The queen was a woman of very bright mind and a strong will, and withal somewhat of a statesman that "needeth not to be ashamed." Her enemies could not control her, and her power with the king and his cabinet was undisputed. The ex-regent lost no time in making friends of the Japanese, and through them blocked much that the king desired to do for the reform of his government. Conditions were so strained that Japan recalled Count Inouye, Minister to Korea, and appointed Marquis Miura in his stead. The Marquis entered upon his new duties with a determination to get some of the factions out of the way at any cost. Here again the ex-regent lost no time in making an alliance with the new minister and his staff.
In the meantime the king was virtually a prisoner in
