Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/233

214 Marquis of Jang (Wei Jan) and of the queen-dowager. In B.C. 266 Wei Jan fell, and Fan Chü took his place, being ennobled at the same time as Marquis. Shortly afterwards, Hsü Ku was sent on a mission to Ch'in, having no idea that the powerful Minister known as Chang Lu was none other than his old victim. Before receiving him, Fan Chü, dressed in rags, paid him a private visit. "What!" cried Hsü Ku, "Is Fan Chü reduced to this?" Thereupon, in pity, the former took off his own robe and placed it on Fan Chü's shivering body, and otherwise showed him kindness. This saved his life; but Wei Ch'i did not escape so easily. Fan Chü pursued him with such relentless vigour that he was at last driven to cut his own throat. From this time the aggressive policy of the Ch'in State was steadily pursued, and by B.C. 259 all Shansi was annexed. In the same year Fan Chü was beguiled by the King of Chao into making peace, though the Chao State was in extremities, on the ground that Po Ch'i would probably take all power out of his hands. This led to a breach between Po Ch'i and Fan Chü; and in the following year, when another campaign was organised against Chao, the former refused to conduct it, alleging ill-health as his excuse. Serious defeats ensued; a check was given to the designs of Ch'in; and from that time the influence of Fan Chü began to wane. Upon the advice of 蔡澤 Ts'ai Tsê, who succeeded him, he retired into private life, B.C. 255.

  Fan Ch'un-jen 范純仁 (T. 堯夫). Son of Fan Chung-yen. On one occasion, when returning home with a boatload of grain, he fell in with a friend, named Shih Yen-nien; and learning that the latter was in difficulty about the burial of three relatives he at once presented him with all the grain, to help defray expenses. Further, when he heard that two of Shih's daughters were still unmarried he handed over the boat too as a 