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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
863


it was then that Prince Chao Hsiahg, the son of his half-sister, at his instigation adopted the title of ^ ^ Western Emperor. In 278 two new provinces in Hnpeh and northern Hnnan were canred ont of Ch'n, and in 275 the new capital of Wei, the modern E'ai-f(gng Fn, which was almost all it had left, was besieged. Richer than his master, he kept all strangers ont of Ch4n lest he himself should be superseded, and he and his sister the Dowager ruled the country. For forty years he wielded almost supreme power, but his successful career was cut short in 266 by a decree of banishment to ^ Jang in Honan, of which he had been made Marquis in 291 ; and soon afterwards he died of mortification at being supplanted by Fan ChU.

WeiKao ^^ (T. Ifft,^). A.D. 745-805. A natire of 2280 Wan-nien in Shensi, who distinguished himself by his resistance to Chu Tz'ti and subsequently rose to be Commander-in-chief. In 785 he was appointed to relieve his father-in-law, ^ ^ ^ Chang Yen-shang, who had previously treated him with contempt, of the Governorship of modern SstLch'uan. He travelled thither under the name of ^ |^ Han Ao, and somewhat astonished his haughty relative when he exhibited his Imperial credentials. He ruled Sstich'uan with a firm hand for twenty-one years, constantly at war with the Turfan tribes, of whom he is said to have killed in battle 480,000, as well as 1500 generals, besides beheading over 5000 prisoners and capturing some 20,000,000 head of cattle and sheep and 6,000,000 arms and miscellaneous articles. He was ennobled as Prince, and canonised as J^ ^.

Wei K'o 1^ ^. 6th cent. B.C. A commander of the Chin State, 2281 whose father had in early years besought him^ always to take care of a favourite concubine. In his last moments however the dying man begged Wei E'o to bury the girl alive with him, a request which his son disregarded on the ground that the first injunction