Qutu Tong
Qutu Tong (557 - 628), titled Duke of Jiang, Xianbei name Tandouba (坦豆拔), was a general in Sui and Tang dynasties of China. He was listed as one of 24 founding officials of Tang Dynasty honored on the Lingyan Pavilion due to his contributions in wars during the transitional period from Sui to Tang.
Qutu Tong | |
|---|---|
屈突通 | |
| Huya General | |
| In office unknown – 597 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Wen of Sui |
| Grand Commander of Imperial Guard Army | |
| In office 597 – c.608 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Wen of Sui Emperor Yang of Sui |
| General of Left Xiao Guard Army | |
| In office c.608 – 613 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Yang of Sui |
| General of Left Xiaoji Guard Army | |
| In office 613 – 618 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Yang of Sui |
| Chief minister of Ministry of Wars | |
| In office 618 – 621 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Gaozu of Tang |
| Grand Commander of Shaandong Military Circuit | |
| In office 621 – 626 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Gaozu of Tang |
| Chief minister of Ministry of Works | |
| In office 626 – 628 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Taizong of Tang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 557 Chang'an |
| Died | November 628 Luoyang |
| Father | Qutu Changqing |
| Occupation | General, Official |
| Xianbei Name | Tandouba (坦豆拔) |
| Title | Duke of Jiang (蒋国公) |
| Posthumous name | Zhong (忠) |
Personal life
Qutu Tong is a descendant of Xianbei people. Originally, he was a general serving for the Sui Dynasty. In his early years, he was sent to Liangzhou by Emperor Wen of Sui to inspect the horse trading run by local governors and generals. He discovered serious corruption in the horse market that involved hundreds of people in local government and the local army. The emperor was extremely angry and planned to execute all people involved in this corruption. Many other officials in the central court agreed with the emperor's decision. However, Qutu Tong thought that although those people were guilty, it was too brutal to kill them all. He said to the emperor that human lives were way more important than horses. He would sacrifice his own life in order to save hundreds of lives, so that people would not criticize the emperor for his brutality. The emperor was impressed by Qutu Tong's argue and gave his pardon to those hundreds of people.[1]
Qutu Tong was promoted to a higher position in the army after Emperor Yang of Sui took the throne. When the emperor was in the frontline against Goguryeo or touring the southern China along the Grand Canal, Qutu Tong was responsible for defending the de facto vice capital city of Luoyang. In 613, Qutu Tong took part in the battle that defeated the rebellion army led by Yang Xuangan near Luoyang.[2] In 614, Qutu Tong suppressed the peasant uprising led by Liu Jialun in Yan'an.[3]
In 618, Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang) established Tang Dynasty and attacked the region guarded by Qutu Tong. Initially, Qutu Tong was able to defeat the Tang's army led by Liu Wenjing. However, due to the short of supply and the low morale of soldiers, Qutu Tong was defeated by Tang's army. Qutu Tong and Sang Xianhe submitted to Tang Dynasty after this battle, and was promoted to be the chief minister (Shangshu) of the Ministry of Wars by Emperor Gaozu.[4] Soon after that, Qutu Tong became a follower to Li Shimin, the then Prince of Qin. With Li Shimin, Qutu Tong took part in many battles during the unification war. In the later half of 618, Li Shimin defeated Xue Renguo, the warlord based in Jincheng, during the Battle of Qianshuiyuan. After this battle, many Tang generals grabbed treasures from Xue Renguo's warehouse, but Qutu Tong refused to join them. He was thus praised by the emperor.[5]
From 619 to 620, Li Shimin defeated Liu Wuzhou, the warlord stationed in northern Shanxi. Quto Tong took part in this campaign. In 621, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji led Tang forces to attack Wang Shichong, the warlord in Luoyang. Qutu Tong played a significant role in this campaign. When Li Shimin was making an inspection tour at Xuanwuling (the imperial tomb of Northern Wei dynasty, which is to the north of Luoyang), he was ambushed by Shan Xiongxin, the best general serving for Wang Shichong. Yuchi Jingde, another Tang general, saved Li Shimin and defeated Shan Xiongxin at Xuanwuling. Qutu Tong took this chance to launch an attack to Wang Shichong's headquarter. This attack caused remarkable damage to Wang's army, and Qutu Tong successfully captured Chen Zhilve, one of top generals in Wang's army.[6]
In 621, Dou Jiande, another warlord based in Hebei, led his army marching towards Luoyang trying to save Wang Shichong. Li Shimin led 3000 elite soldiers defeated Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass. During the same time, Qutu Tong played a big role in assisting Li Yuanji in besieging Luoyang so that Wang Shichong could not join forces with Dou Jiande. After the Battle of Hulao, Qutu Tong was rewarded the highest military achievement, and was promoted to the Grand Commander of Shaandong Military Circuit.[7]
When the rivalry between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, the crowned prince, was heating up, Qutu Tong chose to stick with Li Shimin. He supported Li Shimin during the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626 that won Li Shimin the crown of emperor. Li Shimin further promoted and rewarded him after the incident.[8] In 628, Qutu Tong died in Luoyang. In 634, Qutu Tong was listed as one of 24 founding officials of Tang Dynasty and had his portrayal exhibited on the Lingyan Pavilion.
Family
Father:
- Qutu Changqing: A local governor of Qiongzhou in Northern Zhou dynasty
Brother:
- Qutu Gai: County magistrate of Chang'an. Well known for his strictness in law enforcement.
Sons:
- Qutu Shou: Succeeded the title Duke of Jiang
- Qutu Quan: Guoyi Commandant; Local governor of Yingzhou
Grandson:
- Qutu Zhongxiang: Local governor of Yingzhou
References
- Old Book of Tang：开皇中，为亲卫大都督，文帝遣通往陇西检覆群牧，得隐藏马二万余匹。文帝盛怒，将斩太仆卿慕容悉达及诸监官千五百人，通谏曰：“人命至重，死不再生，陛下至仁至圣，子育群下，岂容以畜产之故，而戮千有余人？愚臣狂狷，辄以死请。”文帝嗔目叱之，通又顿首曰：“臣一身如死，望免千余人命。”帝寤，曰：“朕之不明，以至于是。感卿此意，良用恻然。今从所请，以旌谏诤。”悉达等竟以减死论。
- New Book of Tang：大业中，与宇文述共破杨玄感，以功迁左骁卫大将军。
- New Book of Tang：安定人刘迦论反，众十余万据雕阴。通发关中兵击之，次安定，初不与战，军中意其怯。通阳言旋师，而潜入上郡。贼未之觉，引而南，去通七十里舍，分兵徇地。通候其无备，夜简精甲袭破之，斩迦论并首级万余。
- Old Book of Tang：军至潼关，为刘文静所遏，不得进，相持月余。通又令显和夜袭文静，诘朝大战，义军不利。显和纵兵破二栅，惟文静一栅独存，显和兵复入栅而战者往覆数焉。文静为流矢所中，义军气夺，垂至于败。显和以兵疲，传餐而食，文静因得分兵以实二栅。又有游军数百骑自南山来击其背，三栅之兵复大呼而出，表里齐奋，显和军溃，仅以身免
- Old Book of Tang：从平薛仁杲，时贼珍用山积，诸将争得之，通独无所取。帝闻，曰：“清以奉国，名定不虚。”特赉金银六百两、彩千段。
- Old Book of Tang：判陕东道行台左仆射，从讨王世充。时通二子在洛，帝曰：“今以东略属公，如二子何？”通曰：“臣老矣，不足当重任。然畴昔陛下释俘累，加恩礼，以蒙更生，是时口与心誓，以死许国。今日之行，正当先驱，二儿死自其分，终不以私害义。”帝太息曰：“烈士徇节，吾今见之。”
- Old Book of Tang：及窦建德来援贼，秦王分麾下半以属通，俾与齐王围洛。世充平，论功第一，拜陕东道大行台右仆射，镇东都。
- Old Book of Tang：数岁，征拜刑部尚书，通自以不习文法，固辞之，转工部尚书。隐太子之诛也，通复检校行台仆射，驰镇洛阳。贞观元年，行台废，授洛州都督，赐实封六百户，加左光禄大夫。
- New Book of Tang：二子寿、诠，寿袭爵。太宗幸洛，思通忠节，故诠以少子拜果毅都尉，赐粟帛恤其家，终瀛州刺史。诠子仲翔，神龙中，复守瀛州。