Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/850

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
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1126, when the capital was threatened (see Chao Chi) and the populace in confusion , he rushed into the Emperor's presence and Tolunteered to quell the disturbance. His Majesty took a sheet of paper, and on the spot appointed him Vice President of the Board of War; and armed with this authority he succeeded in fulfilling his promise. He was sent afterwards on seyeral occasions as envoy to the Chin^ Tartars; in 1138, to bring back the remains of the two Emperors who had been carried into captivity; and again in 1140, when the Tartars had repudiated the treaty and were violating Chinese territory. The Chin* Emperor wished Wang Lun to take service under him; but the latter proudly replied that he was an envoy and not a renegade. Several efforts were made to coerce him, and at length orders were given to have him strangled. Wang bribed the messengers to wait awhile; and then dressing himself in his hat and robes, he made obeisance towards the south and sub- mitted to his fate. His body was afterwards given up to his son, and he was canonised as J^^ "Ijf .

Wang Mang J ^ (T. g ^). B.C. 83-A.D. 23. A nephew 2203 of the consort of the Emperor Yilan Ti of the Han dynasty, and commonly known as 'Hhe Usurper.*' Through the influence of his aunt he was appointed to high office, and ennobled in B.C. 16 as Marquis. In B.C. 6 he became President of the Board of War, but got into trouble over the accession of the Emperor Ai Ti, and resigned. He was soon restored to favour, and together with the Empress Dowager arranged in A.D. 1 the succession of the Emperor P'ing Ti, who was only nine years old. Five years later he married his daughter to this boy, and thus raised her to the rank of Empress, he himself being further ennobled as Duke. In A.D. 6, upon the death of the Emperor P'ing Ti, whom he is said to have poisoned, he placed upon the throne the two-year-old great-grandson of the Emperor Hstlan Ti, who is known in history as ^^ ^ ^ Ju