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Upon the elevation of Liu Hsiu to the throne, he received a high military post and in 38 he was finally ennobled as Marqais. Later on he was employed against the Hsinng-nu, with whom he fought many bloody battles.

2209 Wang Fa ^ ^. 6th cent. A.D. An alchemist of the Liang dynasty, who took up his abode in modern Fuhkien. During a very severe famine he used to make quantities of gold, with which he bought rice for distribution amongst the poor.

2210 Wang Pi 3E ^ 0^- If fii)- A.D. 226-249. A native of Shan- yang in Eiangsu, contemporary with Chung Hui. He was a great student, and wrote a commentary on the Canon of Changes and another on the 2ao Ti Ching, then known as Lao Tzu.. At the early age of 24, he had risen to be secretary in a Board.

22U Wang Piao-ohih ^^,:t (T. M :^). Died A.D. 877. A loyal statesman under the Emperor Chien WSn of the Chin dynasty, and a steadfast opponent of the great Huan W£n. By the time he was twenty, his beard and whiskers were white, from which he was popularly known as ^ ^ ^ • It was he who secured the accession of the Emperor Hsiao Wu, and he acted subsequently as joint Minister of State with Hsieh An. The latter declared that he knew no one of equal capacity in dealing with the difficult questions of State. Canonised as ^.

2212 Wang Po ^ |^ (T. •^^). A.D. 648-676. A native of Chiang^-chou in Shansi. He was a most precocious scholar, already composing at the age of six, while at nine he had studied the History of the Han Dynasty by Yen Shih-ku and had pointed out not a few defects. At sixteen he took his degree. His talents soon attracted the attention of the Emperor, and he was employed in preparing the dynastic annals; but he incurred his Majesty *8 displeasure by a satire upon the cock-fighting propensities of the Imperial princes. Dismissed from office he took refuge in SstLch^uan,