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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
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horsemanship; and first distinguished himself in B.C. 99 by leading a small force to the relief of Li Kuang-li, who was surrounded by the Hsiung-nu. Although numbering about one hundred in all, they broke through the cordon and accomplished the dangerous mission. Chao himself received over twenty wounds; and when the Emperor saw his scarred body, his Majesty at once appointed him to an important post. Siding with Ho Kuang in the elevation of the Emperor Hsüana Ti in B.C. 73, he was rewarded by being ennobled as Marquis. He subsequently led a campaign against the Tangut tribes, and won many of them over to allegiance. He was the originator of the 屯田 system of military settlements, under which the settlers contributed by taxes or by service to the expenses of administration in return for their allotments. He was canonised as 壯, and his portrait was hung in the 未央 Wei-yang Hall.

151 Chao Fei-yen 趙飛燕. Died B.C. 6. Daughter of a musician named 馮萬金 Fêng Wan-chin, she was trained as a dancing-girl; and her grace and lightness were such that she received the name of Fei-yen "Flying Swallow." At her father's death, she and her sister 合德 Ho-tê took the surname of Chao, and found their way to the capital. There she was seen in B.C. 18 by the Emperor Ch'êng Ti, when his Majesty was roaming the city in disguise. The two girls were forthwith placed in the Imperial seraglio; and Fei Yen became favourite concubine, to the exclusion of the famous Pan Chieh-yü. In B.C. 16 she was raised to the rank of Empress Consort, Ho-tê being honoured with the title of 昭儀 Lady of Honour; but on the death of the Emperor she was driven by Palace intrigues to commit suicide.

152 Chao Fu 趙復 (T. 仁甫. H. 江漢). Born about A.D. 1200. A native of Tê-an in Hupeh. Graduated as chin shih in 1234; and having no desire to take office, he opened a school in his native District. In 1235 he was taken prisoner by the Mongol invaders,