was said to have saved the world from destruction by destroying nine of the ten suns which once shone over the world. He was said to have become a tyrant after his wife Chang'e stole his elixir of immortality and ascended to the moon. Separately, he appeared as a historical figure in records such as the Bamboo Annals, where he conquered the Xia capital Zhenxun during the early years of the reign of. Han Zhuo was originally from the state of Hai. He was a relative or "minor functionary" of Bo Ming, lord of Han, but was dismissed. He joined Houyi's court and ingratiated himself to its ladies. Liberal in his gifts and unwilling to do the daily drudgework of rule, Houyi entrusted him with greater and greater responsibility while he focused on his archery. Ultimately, Han Zhuo became Houyi's "chancellor" and performed most of the duties of government. He is said to have usurped Houyi during the 8th year of the reign of Taikang's nephew at the instigation of Houyi's wife. In one account, the pair waylaid him as he was returning from a hunt; in another, Han Zhuo bludgeoned him to death with help from Xuan Qi; in another, he was waylaid by his own retainers led by his closest pupilPangmeng ; in a fourth, he talked the palace staff into turning on the king and killing him. Houyi's body was prepared as a meal for his son or sons, who refused to eat it and were killed. Their bodies were displayed at the gates of Qiong. Houyi's wife Sable Fox then became Han Zhuo's consort and bore him two sons, Ao or Jiao and Yi. As ruler, Han Zhuo conquered two other states but their refugees gathered with the Ge under a man named Mi who espoused the cause of Shaokang, who claimed to be the long-lost son of the deposed Xia king Xiang by his escaped wife Min. In some accounts, Han Zhuo was killed by a Kuei minister while in battle with the Xia refugees. In others, he was first succeeded by his son Ao, remembered as a strongman and revered as the "Arrogant King", a culture hero credited with the invention of ships and numbered among the Kings of the Water Immortals. Han Jiao was killed by Xiang's son.
