CHAPTER VIII
FIRST PROTECTOR OF CHINA
The first Hegemon or Protector of China and his own vassal kingdom of Ts'i—Limits of Ts'i and ancient course of the Yellow River— Absence of ancient records—Shiftings of capital in the ninth century B.C.—Emperor's collapse of 842 and its effect upon Ts'i— Aid rendered by Ts'i in suppressing the Tartars—Inconsiderable size of Ts'i—Revenges a judicial murder two centuries old—Rapid rise of Ts'i and services of the statesman—philosopher Kwan-tsz— The governing caste in China—Declares self Protector of China 679 B.C.—Tartar raids down to the Yellow River in Ho Nan-Chinese durbars and the duties of a Protector—Ts'in and Ts'u too far off or too busy for orthodox durbars—Little is now known of the puppet Emperor's dominions—Effeminate character of all the Central Chinese orthodox stales—Fighting instincts all with semi- Chinese states—Struggle for life becoming keener throughout China