Zhao Chou

Zhao Chou (; 824–889) was a warlord late in the Chinese Tang dynasty, whose power base was at Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan). He was a reliable ally of Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (jiedushi) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), and his son Zhao Yan became a son-in-law of Zhu's and an official of Later Liang after Zhu established the new dynasty.

Background Zhao Chou was born in 824, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong. His ancestors had originally been from Tianshui, but by Zhao Chou's time had served for three generations as army officers at Chen Prefecture. His great-grandfather was named Zhao Bin ; his grandfather was named Zhao Yingqi ; and his father was named Zhao Shuwen . It was said that Zhao Chou was strong in his youth. When Zhao Shuwen served on the campaign against the rebel warlord Liu Zhen of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) during the reign of Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wuzong, Zhao Chou served under him with distinction, and subsequently was given an officer position in the army of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, then headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), which Chen Prefecture belonged to.

During the subsequent reign of Emperor Xizong, the Tang realm was thrown into chaos due to agrarian rebellions. Zhao Chou again served with distinction on a campaign against the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi. It was said that the soldiers at Chen wanted Zhao to be their commander, and so they submitted a request to the military governor of Zhongwu; after the military governor relayed their request to Emperor Xizong, Emperor Xizong commissioned Zhao as the prefect of Chen.

In spring 883, Huang, under the pressure of the Tang general Li Keyong, abandoned Chang'an and fled east. He initially attacked Tang's Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered at Cai Prefecture , also in modern Zhumadian); the military governor of Fengguo Circuit, Qin Zongquan, submitted to Huang and joined his forces to Huang's. Huang then sent his general Meng Kai to attack Chen Prefecture. Zhao Chou initially feigned weakness to draw Meng in, and then ambushed Meng, killing him. Huang, angry over Meng's death, put Chen under siege for months, but could not capture it, and during the siege, Zhao made repeated surprise attacks against Huang's army. He also sought aid from the nearby military governors; among those, Zhou Ji the military governor of Zhongwu, Shi Pu the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu all sent aid. However, they were all unable to lift the siege that Huang's army was putting on Chen. Fearing the strength of Huang's army, they sought aid from Li Keyong, who had by then been made the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). Li Keyong crossed the Yellow River south and engaged Huang's army. Fearing Li Keyong's strength, Huang lifted the siege on Chen after some 300 days, in summer 884.

In 888, after Zhu repeatedly defeated Qin, Qin's own subordinates overthrew him and delivered him to Zhu, who delivered him to Chang'an to be executed. After Qin's defeat, Emperor Xizong bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi on Zhao and also made him the military governor of Zhongwu, moving the capital from Xu Prefecture to Chen.

By that time, however, Zhao was very ill. He entrusted the matters of the circuit to his brother Zhao Chang and submitted a petition, seeking retirement. As a result, Emperor Xizong issued an edict making Zhao Chang the military governor of Zhongwu. Zhao Chou died soon thereafter.

Notes and references

New Book of Tang, vol. 189. History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 14. New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 42. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 255, 256, 258.