besiegers were so overcome by their emotions and thoughts of home that next morning they raised the siege. He was a friend of Tsu T'i, whose military activity against the rebel Shih Lo he was anxious to rival. "I am pillowed," he wrote, "upon my arms, awaiting the dawn, in my desire to attack the enemy; yet I fear that Tsu T'i will be using his whip before me." He ultimately fell a victim to treachery on the part of the Hsien-pi Tartars, and was put to death. Canonised as 愍.
1323
Liu K'un 劉昆 (T. 桓公). Died A.D. 57. A native of 東昏 Tung-hun in Honan, who graduated as hsiao lien in A.D. 29 and then disappeared and set up as a teacher at Chiang-ling in Hupeh. When the Emperor heard of this he appointed him magistrate at Chiang-ling, and subsequently sent him to more important posts, in all of which his administration was eminently successful. Once, upon the occasion of a large fire, he knelt down and performed the kotow; whereupon the wind shifted and the fire was extinguished. When the Emperor asked him what virtue there was in his administration to bring about such a miracle, he modestly replied that it was pure chance. "Truly," cried the Emperor, "the answer of a superior man!" He rose to high office in the Imperial Banqueting Court, and when he retired from old age received a mansion to live in and an adequate pension.
1324
Liu K'un-i 劉坤一 (T. 峴莊). Born A.D. 1830. A native of the 新甯 Hsin-ning District in Hunan, who began his career as a salaried licentiate, but in 1855 entered the army. Promoted for his services to a civil post in 1856, he rapidly rose through various grades to be Judge in Kuangsi, taking up his appointment in 1863. In 1864 he was made a baturu for the recapture of 潯 Hsün-chou Fu from the rebels. In 1865 he became Governor of Kiaugsi; in 1875 acting Viceroy of the Two Kiang; and later on in the same year Viceroy of the Two Kuang. In 1879 he was
