Tao Qian faction 陶謙

Tao Qian, courtesy name Gongzu, was a native of Danyang. He served as Magistrate of Lu and Inspector of You Province, became a Consultant (yilang) and took part in the army of the General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Wen, campaigning west against Han Sui. When the Yellow Turbans happened to rise in Xu Province, the court made Tao Qian Inspector of Xu Province, and he attacked the Yellow Turbans, defeated them and put them to flight. Zang Ba of Hua County in Taishan Commandery also followed Tao Qian in defeating the Yellow Turbans and became Cavalry Commandant. Records, Wei 8 §24Records, Wei 18 §20

When the provinces and commanderies raised troops during Dong Zhuo's disorders and the Son of Heaven made Chang'an his capital, cutting off communication with the four quarters, his Headquarters Officer (zhizhong) Wang Lang and his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Zhao Yu and others urged Tao Qian, citing the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, to exert himself for the royal house. Tao Qian had Zhao Yu go to Chang'an bearing a memorial, and the Son of Heaven, commending his intent, made Tao Qian General Who Pacifies the East. Tao Qian was transferred to be Governor of Xu Province and enfeoffed as Marquis of Liyang, while Zhao Yu became Administrator of Guangling and Wang Lang Administrator of Kuaiji. Records, Wei 13 §44–45Records, Wei 8 §25

At this time Xu Province had a large and prosperous population and ample grain, and many displaced people gathered there. But Chen Shou wrote that Tao Qian abandoned the right way and acted on his own feelings. He kept at a distance Zhao Yu, a famous scholar of Xu Province, because he was loyal and upright, while he kept close and trusted Cao Hong (曹宏) and others, slanderous and wicked petty men, so that punishments and government lost their balance, many good people suffered harm, and because of this the province gradually fell into disorder. Records, Wei 8 §25–26

Ze Rong of Danyang gathered several hundred followers and placed himself under Tao Qian, and when Tao Qian put him in charge of transporting supplies for Guangling and Pengcheng, he killed people at will, cut off the supplies sent from three commanderies and took them for himself, using them to build Buddhist shrines on a grand scale. Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, greatly disliked Sun Ce, as the Biographies of Sun Jian and Sun Ce record. Records, Wu 4 §8Records, Wu 1 §25

When Yuan Shu fell out with Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan stationed Tao Qian at Fagan to press Yuan Shao, but Cao Cao, attacking together with Yuan Shao, defeated them. When Que Xuan of Xiapi gathered several thousand men and called himself Son of Heaven, Tao Qian at first raised troops with him, took Hua and Fei in Taishan and plundered Rencheng, but later he killed Que Xuan and absorbed his followers. Records, Wei 1 §24 · 26Records, Wei 8 §26

Cao Cao's father Cao Song, who had taken refuge in Langya during Dong Zhuo's disorders, was killed by Tao Qian, and so Cao Cao set his heart on attacking east to take revenge. In the autumn of the 4th year of Chuping (193), when Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian, took more than ten cities and fought a great battle at Pengcheng, Tao Qian's troops were routed, and the dead numbered in the tens of thousands, so that the Si River was stopped from flowing. Tao Qian withdrew to hold Shan, and Cao Cao, short of provisions, returned. Records, Wei 1 §26 · 28Records, Wei 8 §27

When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province, Tao Qian sent envoys to report the emergency to Tian Kai, and Tian Kai and Liu Bei came together to the rescue. When Tao Qian added 4,000 soldiers of Danyang to Liu Bei's forces, Liu Bei left Tian Kai and went over to Tao Qian, and Tao Qian memorialized making Liu Bei Inspector of Yu Province and had him stationed at Xiaopei. Records, Shu 2 §8–9

In the summer of the 1st year of Xingping (194), Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian again, took five cities and conquered territory as far as Donghai. On his way back he defeated Tao Qian's general Cao Bao and Liu Bei, who blocked him east of Tan County, took Xiangben, and killed many people wherever he passed. Tao Qian, afraid, wanted to flee back to Danyang, but just then Zhang Miao rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu, and Cao Cao went back to attack Lü Bu. Records, Wei 1 §28Records, Wei 8 §28

That year Tao Qian died of illness. When his illness became critical, Tao Qian told his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Mi Zhu, 'No one but Liu Bei can bring peace to this province,' and when Tao Qian died, Mi Zhu, honoring his last command, led the people of the province to welcome Liu Bei from Xiaopei. Cao Cao wanted to take Xu Province while it was left open by Tao Qian's death, but Xun Yu dissuaded him, saying that even though Tao Qian was dead, Xu Province would not easily fall. Records, Wei 8 §28Records, Shu 2 §9Records, Shu 8 §21Records, Wei 10 §9 · 11

When Liu Bei did not dare to take it on, Chen Deng of Xiapi said that this province was thriving and rich, with households numbering a million, and asked him to condescend to take charge of its affairs. When Liu Bei suggested giving the province to Yuan Shu at Shouchun, Chen Deng said that Yuan Shu was not a lord who could bring order out of chaos, and Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, also urged him on, saying that Yuan Gonglu was merely dry bones in a tomb. Liu Bei at last took charge of Xu Province. Records, Shu 2 §9–11

In his assessment in Records of Wei 8, Chen Shou said, 'Tao Qian was muddled and disorderly and died in anxiety,' and wrote that, together with Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Du and others, he held provinces and commanderies as his stronghold yet was worse than a common man, so that there was truly nothing about them worth discussing. Records, Wei 8 §71