575 Fu An 傅安 (T. 志道). Died A.D. 1429. A Supervising Censor, who was dispatched in 1385 with two other Censors and a eunuch named 劉惟 Liu Wei, to open communications with the nations of Central Asia. They traversed the desert of Gobi and reached Hami; thence on to Karakhodjo and Ilbalik, the ancient capital of Kuldja. Their mission was successful as far as Samarcand, the various places visited acknowledging the suzerainty of China. There however they were imprisoned until 1407. The survivors, including only 17 of their original escort of 1500 men, were then sent back and were well rewarded on arrival. Fu An and his companions went on six missions altogether, chiefly to Samarcand, Bishbalik and Herat, until in 1415 Fu An retired to wait on his aged mother.
576 Fu Ch'ai 夫差. Died B.C. 473. Son of Prince Ho Lü of the Wu State, to the throne of which he succeeded in B.C. 495. With Wu Yüan as his Minister he maintained for a long time a successful struggle with the rival State of Yüeh, then under the rule of Kou Chien, and defeated his enemy's army in the great battle of 夫椒 Fu-chiao; but at length he fell a victim to the craft of Fan Li, Kou Chien's famous Minister (see Hsi Shih). His kingdom was overthrown, and he himself was driven to commit suicide.
577 Fu Chieh-tzŭ 傅介子. 1st cent. B.C. A famous commander under the Emperor Chao Ti of the Han dynasty. Although fond of study, at fourteen years of age he threw his writing-tablets aside, saying with a sigh, "'Tis in foreign lands that a hero must seek renown; how can I let my life pass away as an old bookworm?" At that time the rulers of the 龜兹 Kuei-tzŭ and 樓蘭 Lou-lan countries had killed some Chinese envoys; and with a view to punishing them, Fu volunteered to proceed as envoy to Ferghana or Khokand. As a result of his mission he slew, some say by stratagem, the ruler of Lou-lan; and when he
