He gazed around , listened on all sides , and then slid down to report to the king . ` Sire , I have obeyed your orders . Far away I saw the Island of Busan . The king is a mighty monarch , but full of pride , harsh and cruel . He sits on his throne and declares that no prince or king on earth is good enough for his lovely daughter , that he will give her to none , and that if any king asks for her hand he will declare war against him and destroy his kingdom . ' ` Has the king of Busan a great army ? ' asked King Archidej ; ` is his country far off ? ' ` As far as I could judge , ' replied Simon , ` it would take you nearly ten years in fair weather to sail there . But if the weather were stormy we might say twelve . I saw the army being reviewed . It is not so very large -- a hundred thousand men at arms and a hundred thousand knights . Besides these , he has a strong bodyguard and a good many cross-bowmen . Altogether you may say another hundred thousand , and there is a picked body of heroes who reserve themselves for great occasions requiring particular courage . ' The king sat for some time lost in thought . At last he said to the nobles and courtiers standing round : ' I am determined to marry the Princess Helena , but how shall I do it ? ' The nobles , courtiers and counsellors said nothing , but tried to hide behind each other . Then the third Simon said : ` Pardon me , your Majesty , if I offer my advice . You wish to go to the Island of Busan ? What can be easier ? In my ship you will get there in a week instead of in ten years .
But ask your council to advise you what to do when you arrive -- XXXXX one word , whether you will win the princess peacefully or by war ? '
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