Yüeh-chou, the region of Chehkiang was afflicted by famine caused by drought and locusts, and the price of grain went up. His brother officials forbade the raising of prices; but Chao Pien pursued a different policy. He proclaimed in his district that every one with grain to sell might raise the price as he pleased; the consequence being an influx of supplies which made provisions abundant at a low rate. His example is still appealed to as that of a saviour of the people in times of distress. It is also recorded of him that every night he was accustomed to robe himself and with offerings and incense to submit to Almighty God the events of the day. An act which he could not thus submit, he would hesitate to perform. Canonised as 清獻.
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Chao Ping 趙昺. A.D, 1271-1279. The youngest son of Chao Ch'i, and the ninth and last Emperor of the Southern Sung dynasty. On the death of Chao Shih in 1278, most of the officials wished to disperse and give up the hopeless struggle against the Mongols; but Lu Hsiu-fu induced them to proclaim this boy, and aided by Chang Shih-chieh, kept up some semblance of a Court. Being hard pressed at 碙洲 Kang-chou (see Chao Shih), the Sungs moved to the stronger position of Yai-shan, an islet in a bay some 30 miles south of the city of 新會 Hsin-hui in Kuangtung. They had still over 20,000 followers, and 1,000 vessels. Towards the end of 1278 Canton was abandoned, and Wên T'ien-hsiang, who had been heroically struggling in northern Kuangtung, was captured through the treachery of a subordinate. Early in 1279 the Mongols under Chang Hung-fan beleaguered the last stronghold of the Sungs by land and sea. Shut up in their ships, which they formed into a compact mass and fortified with towers and breastworks, the patriots, deprived of fresh water, harassed by attacks during the day and by fire-ships at night, maintained the unequal struggle for a month. But when, after a long day's fighting, Lu Hsiu-fu
