180 A Chinese Biographical Dictionarystumbled over one of the shackles and upset a large caldron, by

which Ghu was so severely burnt that he died of his injuries.

458 Chu-ko Chin (T. ^^). A.D. 173^241. Younger brother of the famous Chu-ko Liang. In the troubles which gathered around the close of the Han dynasty he attached himself to the fortunes of Sun Ch^dan, under whom he rose to high office in the Kingdom of Wu. At a conference between the rival leaders he met his brother face to face, but allowed no sign to escape him that he was dealing with other than a stranger. An attempt was once made to persaade Sun Ch'dan that he was in treacherous collusion with the enemy; whereupon the latter said, His oath is for life and death; he would no more desert me than I would desert him."

459 Chu-ko Liang (T. ^ |9 . Also known as g\ f| ^^). A.D. 181-234. A native ot }^ ^ Yang-tu in Shantung, whose father died while he was still a child and left him to the care of an uncle serving under YClan Shu. Thence he went to the district ruled by Liu Piao, and there much of his early life was passed. As a young man he showed signs of literary genius, occupying his leisure in versifying. He used to compare himself with the famous Euan Chung and Yo I, and one of his intimate friends recommended him to Liu Pei. The latter, then an unimportant adventurer, made three expeditions in A.D. 207 to the reed-hut where the future Minister, like another Cincinnatus, was leading a life of retirement. On the third occasion he obtained an interview, at which the recluse showed such wide knowledge of the empire and such a grasp of the needs of the times that Liu Pei was astounded, and declared that on receiving a promise of his services he felt the joy of a fish regaining its native element. At that juncture Sun Ch^tlan had a

strong position in Wu, while Ts'ao Ts^ao was in command of