Zhao Tong 趙統
| Occupation | RNGeneral · Gentleman of the Tiger Guard | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Changshan Commandery Zhending County Unverified | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R1 |
Profile
Zhao Tong was a son of Zhao Yun of Shu-Han. Chen Shou's main text leaves only a single line about him at the end of the Biography of Zhao Yun, stating that he succeeded his father, rose to Gentleman of the Tiger Guard (Huben zhonglang) and acted as supervisor of the army (lingjun); it records nothing of his courtesy name, his deeds or his death. Records, Shu 6 §42
The Romance introduces him in Chapter 97 as the eldest son of Zhao Yun, General Who Guards the South. Together with Zhao Yun's second son, Zhao Guang, he came to the banquet at which Kongming was discussing the launch of a campaign and announced in tears that their father's illness had grown grave at the third watch of the previous night and he had died; the Later Sovereign made Zhao Tong Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and Zhao Guang a Standard General, and had them guard the tomb. Romance, Ch. 97 §4 · 7
The assessment at the end of the volume does not deal with him. In the Romance his name appears only in Chapter 97, one of the 120 chapters, and no chapter has his name in its title. Records, Shu 6 §44Romance, Ch. 97 §4
In the Records
Zhao Tong's father Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, was a native of Zhending County in Changshan State. He commanded the First Sovereign's cavalry, and when Chengdu was pacified he became General Who Assists the Army (Yijun jiangjun); in the 1st year of Jianxing (223) he became Central Protector of the Army and General Who Conquers the South and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang Village, and he was later transferred to General Who Guards the East. When the army withdrew after he fared badly at Ji Valley during Zhuge Liang's campaign in the 6th year of Jianxing (228), he was demoted to General Who Guards the Army, and he died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229); he was later posthumously given the title Marquis Shunping. Records, Shu 6 §39–41
In Chen Shou's main text Zhao Tong's name appears in only one line, at the end of the Biography of Zhao Yun: Zhao Yun's son Zhao Tong succeeded him, rose to Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and acted as supervisor of the army. The second son, Zhao Guang, a Standard General, followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed on the battlefield. Zhao Tong's courtesy name, deeds and year of death are not recorded, and the assessment at the end of the volume does not deal with him either. Records, Shu 6 §42 · 38–42 · 44
In the Romance
In Chapter 97 of the Romance, in the 9th month, in autumn, of the 6th year of Jianxing of Shu-Han, the Wei commander (dudu) Cao Xiu was badly defeated at Shiting by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu, and afterwards fell ill and died. When Eastern Wu sent an envoy asking Shu to raise troops and attack Wei, the Later Sovereign sent the letter to Kongming in Hanzhong to inform him, and Kongming, who was just about to launch his campaign with his grain and supplies all prepared, held a banquet, assembled his generals in force and discussed the campaign. Romance, Ch. 97 §1 · 3
Just then a great wind rose from the northeast corner and snapped the pine tree in front of the hall, and Kongming cast a divination and said it portended the loss of a great general. In the midst of the drinking, word came that Zhao Tong, the eldest son of Zhao Yun, General Who Guards the South, and his second son Zhao Guang had come to see the Chancellor, and Kongming, greatly startled, flung his cup to the ground, saying, 'Zilong is gone!' The two sons came in, bowed and wept, and said that their father's illness had grown grave at the third watch of the previous night and he had died. Romance, Ch. 97 §4
Kongming stamped his feet and wept, and sent the two sons to Chengdu to see the sovereign and report the death. The Later Sovereign wailed aloud, saying that when he was young he would have died amid the chaos of battle had it not been for Zilong, and at once issued an edict posthumously conferring on him the rank of Grand General and the posthumous title Marquis Shunping, and had him buried east of Mount Jinping at Chengdu and a shrine built where sacrifices would be offered in all four seasons. Romance, Ch. 97 §5
Recalling Zhao Yun's past merits, the Later Sovereign gave him a very lavish funeral and sacrifices, made Zhao Tong Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and Zhao Guang a Standard General, and had them guard the tomb forthwith. The two expressed their thanks and departed, and after this the Romance does not bring Zhao Tong on stage again. Romance, Ch. 97 §7
Where the Romance differs
Office: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, after Zhao Yun's death the Later Sovereign made Zhao Tong Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and had him guard the tomb together with Zhao Guang. Chen Shou's main text states only that Zhao Tong succeeded Zhao Yun, rose to Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and acted as supervisor of the army, and records neither when he received that office nor that he guarded the tomb. Romance, Ch. 97 §7Records, Shu 6 §42
His father's death: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, after Cao Xiu's defeat at Shiting in the 9th month, in autumn, of the 6th year of Jianxing, Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang came to the gathering at which Kongming was discussing the campaign and announced that their father's illness had grown grave at the third watch of the previous night and he had died. The Biography of Zhao Yun in Chen Shou's main text states only that Zhao Yun died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229), and records neither an illness nor the two sons announcing his death. Romance, Ch. 97 §1 · 4Records, Shu 6 §41
His father's posthumous honors: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, the Later Sovereign posthumously conferred on Zhao Yun the rank of Grand General and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Shunping. Chen Shou's main text records that he was posthumously given the title Marquis Shunping, and says only that posthumous titles were conferred on Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun and that the opinion of the time regarded this as an honor; it does not record a posthumous appointment as Grand General. Romance, Ch. 97 §5Records, Shu 6 §41
His younger brother Zhao Guang: In the Romance, Zhao Guang was made a Standard General together with his elder brother in Chapter 97 and set to guard the tomb, and does not appear again. Chen Shou's main text records that the second son, Zhao Guang, a Standard General, followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed on the battlefield. Romance, Ch. 97 §7Records, Shu 6 §42
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
- LEA4540−5
- STR4042+2
- INT3538+3
- POL3833−5
- CHA3840+2
- VIR5052+2
- ADP3840+2
- SCH3333±0
- DIP3335+2
- DIS3333±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
No ability differs by 10 or more — the Romance portrays this person much as the Records do.
10 similar abilities — show evidence
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Novel & History · Romance ch. 97 「镇南将军赵云长子赵统、次子赵广，来见丞相」 · Q124476924 · 「雲子統嗣…次子廣」
Family
| Parents | Zhao Yun Novel & History |
|---|---|
| Siblings | Zhao Guang Novel & History |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.