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298 defence. However Fang Ts^ung-ch^ kept np a constant attack on his defensiTe policy, and in 1620 be was snperseded^ In the following year the advance of the Manchns and the &J1 of Liao-yang caused him to be recalled. His colleague ^ ^ ^ Wang Hna-ch£n insisted on an aggressive policy, and by a slight success won the support of the Court. In 1622 Wang was utterly defeated, and EUung withdrew all his forces to Shan-hai-kuan. Both Wang and Hsiung were imprisoned, and Wei Chung-hsien caused the latter to be executed on a charge of embezzlement and all his property and that of his relatives to be seized. In 1629 his innocence was established, and his son was allowed to bury his head.

Hsiung Tz'ŭ-lü (T. ^ ^). A.D. 1635-1709. A natiye of Hupeh. Graduated as chin shih in 1658, and first distinguished himself in 1667 by remonstrating with the Emperor on things in generaL In 1670, the favourite Ao-pai having fallen, he rose to be secretary in the Grand Secretariat and tutor to the Emperor. In 1673 he advised the Emperor against the abolition of the Three Feudatories, — a measure which led to the rebellion of Wu San-kuei and K£ng Ching-chung. He ultimately became President of the Board of Civil 0£Sce and Grand Secretary, and in 1705 he was permitted to give up his career and return to his home. His literary efforts were confined almost entirely to ex^^tical notes and essays on the Classics. Canonised as ^ jft.

Hsü Ch'ao  (T. ^ ^). A.D. 1646-1715. A native of Ch4en-t'ang in Chehkiang, whose father was a simple fisherman. He graduated as chin $hih in 1673, and rose by 1700 to be Governor of Honan. There he abolished the former heavy fees, improved irrigation, and generally reformed the administration. In 1706 — 7 he was in charge of important conservation works on the Yellow Biver; and in 1707 he was promoted to be President of the Board of Civil Office, in addition to being still Chancellor of