Five Dynasties · General

Du Zhongwei 杜重威

First attested AD 946; died AD 948

Passages: 8
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Du Zhongwei was a general.

Life and dates

Death

AD 948 高祖崩
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 74

Attested activity

AD 946 遂與重威降於契丹
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passages 63, 65, 70
AD 948 高祖崩
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 74

Career and standing

campaign commander 招討使
AD 946 遂與重威降於契丹 · Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 69

Places and affiliations

AD 946 遂與重威降於契丹
At Weizhou 魏州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 65

Events and relationships

Surrendered
AD 946 遂與重威降於契丹 · Military · Commander · At Zhongdu 中渡
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 70
Relation Colleague of · Person Li Shouzhen (李守貞)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passages 65, 69

Assessments and attributes

Assessment disloyal and resentful, unfit for command · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 64

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 63

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 52Volume 52 Miscellaneous Biographies 32: Du Zhongwei, Li Zhouzhen, Zhang Yanze · 8 passages

是時，出帝遣人以書招趙延壽使歸國，延壽詐言思歸，願得晉兵為應，而契丹高牟翰亦詐以瀛州降，出帝以為然，命杜重威等將兵應之。 At that time the Deposed Emperor sent a letter summoning Zhao Yanshou to return to the state. Yanshou falsely claimed he wished to return and asked for Jin troops to coordinate, while the Khitan Gao Muhann also falsely offered to surrender Yingzhou. The Deposed Emperor believed them and ordered Du Zhongwei and others to lead troops in response.

初，晉大臣皆言重威不忠，有怨望之心，不可用，乃用守貞。 Earlier Jin ministers had all said Zhongwei was disloyal and nursed resentment and should not be used; so Shouzhen was employed instead.

是時，重威鎮魏州，守貞嘗將兵往來過魏，重威待之甚厚，多以戈甲金帛奉之。 At that time Zhongwei held Weizhou. Shouzhen often led troops passing through Wei, and Zhongwei treated him very generously, giving him many weapons, armor, gold, and silk.

守貞謝曰：「皆重威與臣者。」 Shouzhen apologized, "It was all given me by Zhongwei."

因請與重威俱北。 He then asked to go north together with Zhongwei.

於是卒以重威為招討使，守貞為都監，屯於武強。 In the end Zhongwei was made campaign commander and Shouzhen overall supervisor, and they encamped at Wuqiang.

契丹寇鎮、定，守貞等軍於中渡，遂與重威降於契丹。 The Khitan raided Zhen and Ding. Shouzhen and the others encamped at Zhongdu, then surrendered to the Khitan along with Zhongwei.

高祖崩，杜重威死，守貞懼，不自安，以謂漢室新造，隱帝初立，天下易以圖，而門下僧總倫以方術陰幹守貞，為言有非常之相，守貞乃決計反。 When Gaozu died and Du Zhongwei was killed, Shouzhen was afraid and ill at ease. He thought the Han house was newly established, Emperor Yin had just acceded, and the empire would be easy to seize. A monk under his patronage, Zonglun, used occult arts to work on Shouzhen privately and told him he had the countenance of one destined for extraordinary rule. Shouzhen then resolved to rebel.