Five Dynasties · Official and General

Chongtao 崇韜

First attested AD 925; died AD 926

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Chongtao was an official and General.

Life and dates

Death

AD 926 明年正月
Killed · Cause Skull smashed · Agent Person Id Li Huan (李環) · At Shu 蜀
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 215, 221

Attested activity

AD 925 to AD 926 莊宗聞崇韜欲留蜀…明年正月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 207, 215, 221

Career and standing

Pacification Commissioner 招討使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 218

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 207, 218
At Chengdu 成都 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 208
At Two Sichuans 兩川 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 211

Events and relationships

Prepared withdrawal
AD 926 明年正月 · Military · Commander · With Ren Yuan (任圜)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 215

Assessments and attributes

Assessment accused-of-disloyal-intent · Mode allegation Speaker Li Congxi (李從襲)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 208

Source notes

Congxi and others alleged disloyal intent; Zhuangzong judged the rumor unverified
Field loyalty · Witness Person Id Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 208, 213
Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 207

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 14Volume 14: Taizu of Later Tang's Family · 11 passages

莊宗聞崇韜欲留蜀，亦不悅，遣宦者向延嗣趣繼岌班師。 Hearing that Chongtao wished to remain in Shu, Zhuangzong was also displeased and sent the eunuch Xiang Yansi to urge Jiji to withdraw the army.

延嗣至成都，崇韜不出迎，及見，禮益慢，延嗣怒，從襲等因告延嗣崇韜有異志，恐危魏王。 At Chengdu Chongtao snubbed Yansi; Congxi accused him of plotting against the prince.

劉皇后涕泣請保全繼岌，莊宗遣宦官馬彥珪往視崇韜去就。 The empress wept for Jiji; Zhuangzong sent Ma Yan’gui to watch Chongtao.

是時，兩川新定，孟知祥未至，所在盜賊聚山林，崇韜方遣任圜等分出招集，恐後生變，故師未即還。 The two Sichuans were newly pacified; Meng Zhixiang had not yet arrived; bandits still gathered in the hills; Chongtao was sending Ren Yuan and others to recruit them, fearing later trouble, so the army did not return at once.

皇后不得請，因自為教與繼岌，使殺崇韜。 She wrote her own order to Jiji to kill Chongtao.

明年正月，崇韜留任圜守蜀，以待知祥之至，崇韜期班師有日。 Next first month Chongtao left Ren Yuan in Shu and prepared to march.

彥珪至蜀，出皇后教示繼岌，繼岌曰：「今大軍將發，未有釁端，豈可作此負心事！」 Yan’gui showed the order; Jiji said: “We are marching—how can we murder our marshal!”

從襲等泣曰：「今有密敕，王茍不行，使崇韜知之，則吾屬無類矣！」 Congxi wept: “Disobey and we are all dead when he learns of it!”

繼岌曰：「上無詔書，徒以皇后手教，安能殺招討使？」 Jiji said: “There is no imperial edict—only her note.”

詰旦，從襲以都統命召崇韜，繼岌登樓以避之。 At dawn Congxi summoned Chongtao; Jiji hid on the tower.

崇韜入，升階，繼岌從者李環撾碎其首。 Chongtao entered; Li Huan shattered his skull.