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come forth, the great outer gate was dropped, and they were all buried alive. The entrance was banked np with earth, ai^d grasi and plants were sown to conceal it from view. See Hu Hcd.

1713 Shih Hung :^ % (T. :^ft). A.D. 814-335. The second son and successor of Shih Lo. He was forced to abdicate in favour of his cousin Shih Chi-lung, who ultimately put him to death.

1714 Shih Hung-ohao ^ 5/i H (T, >ft 7c ). Died A.D. 950. A native of ^ ^ Jung-ts6 in Honan, who was a fine athletic young man and could run as fast as a galloping horse. He attached himself to the fortunes of Liu Chih-yilan; and when the latter became first Emperor of the Minor Han dynasty, he was raised to high rank. During the absence of his Majesty on campaign he remained in charge of the capital, and prevented by his vigorous measures any attempt at sedition. Persons accused of spreading treasonable reports were brought before him; the charge was read out; and then he would make a sign with three fingers to the executioner, who straightway clove the culprit in twain. Later on, he was himself accused by his enemies of treason, and was suddenly seized and beheaded. He was essentially a man of blood and iron. He once expressed his contempt for civil administration and diplomatic methods as follows: — 'To give peace to the empire and put down rebellion, a great sword and a long spear are wanted; of what use is a hair awl?" alluding to the Chinese brush-pen.

1715 Shih I-chih ^ |& fg (T. j^ )JK. H. ^ jl). A.D. 1681- 1763. A descendant of Shih Ch'ung, who showed marvellous literary talents at an early age. He graduated as chin $h%h in 1700, and rose to be President of the Ceusorate in 1730. In the foUovring year he was sent to assist in the Sungar war, and until 1735 was in charge of Shensi. He became a Grand Secretary in 1744, bat retired in 1755 on a charge of nepotism. Two years later he met