12 THE NORTHERN FRONTAGERS OF CHINA.

Hia chau, Sui chau, In chau, Yeou chau and Tsing chau
(op. cit. p. 131).
Tai chau, pre

si,
The following year Tien the governor

of
memorial, which he stated that Hia chau had

in
sented

a
always been deemed one the gateways the empire, and

of

of

he
tsien;

Li
was very imprudent

of ki
that hand over

to

to
it
it
also disapproved the latter taking the name Chao pao

of
p.
ki

(id. 132).
the Uighurs sent
In

an
embassy

to
1001 ask assistance
against Chao pao was ki, who
pressing them hard. The
Empire,

of
latter continued harass the north
to the and the

tsi
year Emperor Chang inquiries

to
same the sent hien make
on

the spot these depredations. He reported

as
to

that the
district Lingu was very isolated, very difficult
of

succour and

to
very costly guard, and that
to

to
continue hold would
to

it
endanger the lives 70,000 people. officer,
of

Another named
Ho leang, reported very differently. He said the country

of
Lingu circumference, and was pro
in

was more than 1000

li
by
all

the Hoangho
on

it or
tected sides Yellow River and the
neighbouring mountains, and that ought protected

be
against the Tartars, who would draw great advantages from to
(id. pp. 141–142). The Emperor was much embarrassed by
it

these contradictory reports, and remitted the matter

to
his
council, which was similarly embarrassed; some were for with
drawing from, others for retaining the district. The Emperor
determined upon preserving the status quo, and sent Wang
chao there, with ample powers and 60,000 men, cavalry and
infantry. 1002 Chao pao ki, whose power daily increased,
In

large part the Tibetans, and,

of

to

won over forestall the

a

the Imperial court about himself, marched with

of

decision
a
by

large army against Ling chau.

It

was defended brave

a

officer named Pei tsi, but was not prepared for resistance, and
before succour could arrive, Chao pao fiercely.
ki

attacked
it

Having taken the town,

tsi

he

Pei killed
in

was the breach.

Siping fu,
its

change
of

i.e. “town
to

determined
to

name the
western peace.” He wished the people
of

these countries
to
by

p.

feel that peace was secured his presence (id. 143). The
Lu ku tribe,
of

next year Pan chi, the chief the tribe

lo