death, his wife set herself up as Regent for his nephew "^ ^j( P^ Shih-lieh-mfin, bat the Princes did not accepf this arrangement. The country was then worn ont with a great drought and by the exactions of the nobles. Warned by the general state of unrest, the chief men met in council in the summer of 1251, and ignoring Ogotai*s will, put Mangu on the throne.
L.
1079 Lai Chiin-ch'en ^ "^ g; . Died A.D. 697. An official of great power and influence under the reign of the Empress Wu Hou, who used to torture criminals by pouring vinegar into their noses. When Chou Hsing was accused of complicity in the treason of Ch4u Shfin- chi, Lai was commissioned to discover the real facts. At the arrival of these orders, Chou Hsing happened to be dining at Lai*s house; and the latter took occasion to ask him how he would deal with accused persons in order to extort confession. ^^I would place them,** replied Chou Hsing, *4n an earthen jar surrounded by live charcoal; and there is nothing which they would not confess.*' Thereupon Lai caused a jar to be prepared as above, and leading Chou Hsing to it, said, "Sir, there is a charge preferred against you. Oblige me by stepping into this jar.*' Chou Hsing confessed upon the spot. Denounced for receiving bribes, Lai was degraded and sent in 693 to a petty office in the provinces. The Empress soon pardoned him and appointed him Governor of Lo-yang, a favour he requited by entering into a treasonable conspiracy, which was revealed by a friend whom he had insulted. He was publicly beheaded, to the great joy of the people who loaded his body with indignities.
1080 Lai-t'a ^^. Died A.D. 1684. A Manchu, who served in the wars of the early Emperors of the present dynasty, and distinguished himself in the conquest of China and in the campaigns against the successors of Chang Hsien-chung and Eoxinga. He took a principal
