Shi Chao (died December 305 CE) was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was active during the War of the Eight Princes, siding with the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, and the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong. He participated in numerous key conflicts throughout the civil war before dying in battle in 305.
Shi Chao | |
|---|---|
| 石超 | |
| General Who Uplifts Military Might (奮武將軍) | |
| In office 304–? | |
| Monarch | Emperor Hui of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Cangzhou, Hebei |
| Died | December 305 Xingyang, Henan |
| Relations | Shi Bao (grandfather) Shi Chong (uncle) Shi Xi (brother) |
| Parent | Shi Qiao (father) |
Life
editBackground
editShi Chao was a native of Nanpi County in Bohai Commandery and the son of the Jin official, Shi Qiao (石喬). His grandfather, Shi Bao, and uncle, Shi Chong, were influential ministers of Jin. In 300, the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun launched a coup in the capital, Luoyang and became Emperor Hui of Jin's regent. Later, Sima Lun's powerful advisor, Sun Xiu framed Shi Chong and Shi Qiao for conspiring against the regime and had them executed. Shi Chao and his brother, Shi Xi (石熙), were able to sense the danger beforehand, so they escaped Luoyang before they could be killed. They went to Yecheng, where Shi Chao offered his service to the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, and became his General Who Breaks and Charges.[1]
Coalition against Sima Lun
editIn 301, after Sima Lun usurped the throne, the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong started a coalition to restore Emperor Hui. Sima Ying joined the coalition and appointed Shi Chao as one of his vanguard generals. In response, Sima Lun sent his generals, Sun Hui (孫會), Shi Yi (士猗) and Xu Chao (許超) to intercept Sima Ying's army with 30,000 soldiers. At Huangqiao (黃橋, in present-day Wen County, Henan), the vanguard troops led by Zhao Xiang (趙驤) were initially defeated by Shi Yi and Xu Chao. However, Shi Chao and the others later attacked and defeated Sima Lun's army at the Gu River (湨水; southeast of present-day Jiyuan, Henan), causing his generals to abandon their soldiers and flee.[2]
In May 301, Sima Lun was overthrown in a coup, and Sima Ying would occupy Luoyang the following month. However, Sima Jiong was still struggling against Zhang Hong (張泓) and others at Yangdi (陽翟, modern Yuzhou, Henan). Sima Ying sent Shi Chao and Zhao Xiang to assist him, and after they arrived, all of Sima Lun's generals surrendered.[3] For his contributions, Shi Chao was made a marquis. In 303, he was appointed General of Inspiring Martial Might to help subjugate the Jingzhou rebel, Zhang Chang, but before he and Sima Ying's other generals could act, the rebellion was quickly put down.[4]
Campaign against Sima Ai
editShortly after, Sima Ying and the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong began a campaign against the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, who was acting as Emperor Hui's regent in Luoyang. Shi Chao was made Central Protector of the Army and placed under the command of Lu Ji to attack Luoyang. When Emperor Hui moved his army to Goushi (緱氏; in present-day Yanshi District, Henan), Shi Chao advanced towards him and prompted him to retreat. Later, Lu Ji's forces were badly defeated at the Jianchun Gate (建春門) by Sima Ai, resulting in high casualties and several generals captured, but Shi Chao was able to escape the scene.[5]
Sima Ai was eventually arrested and executed in 304, leading to Sima Ying becoming Prime Minister and Crown Younger Brother. While Sima Ying stayed in Yecheng, he appointed Shi Chao as General Who Uplifts Military Might before sending him and the other generals with 50,000 soldiers to occupy the twelve gates of Luoyang.[6]
Battle of Dangyin and war with Wang Jun
editHowever, not long after Sima Ai's defeat, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue raised an army to campaign against Sima Ying. One of his allies, Chen Zhen (陳眕), brought his army to the Yunlong Gate (雲龍門) in Luoyang and issued an edict to inform the ministers and people to prepare for the campaign. Shi Chao was still in Luoyang at the time, and he once again fled to Sima Ying.[7]
As Sima Yue's coalition approached Yecheng, Sima Ying sent Shi Chao with 50,000 men to oppose them. Shi Chao was able to catch Sima Yue by surprise and routed him at Dangyin, also killing the general Ji Shao. He also managed to capture Emperor Hui, who had followed Sima Yue on the campaign, and sent him to Yecheng.[8] Although Yue was defeated, Sima Ying was then threatened by an alliance between the Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun and the Duke of Dongying, Sima Teng. Sima Ying sent Shi Chao to resist them, but he was defeated by Wang Jun's general, Qi Hong, at Pingji (平棘, in modern day Zhao County, Hebei).[9]
Death
editWang Jun and Sima Teng captured Yecheng, forcing Sima Ying and his officials to escape to Luoyang with only a few men. While he was defending Yecheng, Sima Yong had sent his army to occupy Luoyang, so after he arrived at the city, Yong stripped him of his power. Thus, Sima Ying and his subordinates, including Shi Chao, were placed under Sima Yong's command. In 305, Sima Yue formed a coalition against Sima Yong after the latter forcibly moved Emperor Hui from Luoyang to Chang'an. Sima Yong sent Shi Chao to assist his ally, Liu Qiao in Yuzhou by acting as his reserves in Heqiao (河穚; southwest of present-day Mengzhou, Henan). In December, Shi Chao fought Sima Yue's forces led by the Prince of Fanyang, Sima Xiao and Liu Kun at Xingyang, but was killed in battle.[10]
References
edit- ^ (喬字弘祖，曆尚書郎、散騎侍郎... 又以有穢行，徙頓丘，與弟崇同被害。二子超、熙亡走得免。成都王穎之起義也，以超爲折衝將軍...) Jin Shu, vol.33
- ^ (成都王穎前鋒至黃橋，爲孫會、士猗、許超所敗，殺傷萬餘人，士衆震駭... 穎帥諸軍擊之，大戰于湨水，會等大敗，棄軍南走。穎乘勝長驅濟河。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (及穎入京都，誅倫。使趙驤、石超等助齊王冏攻張泓于陽翟，泓等遂降。) Jin Shu, vol.59
- ^ (成都王穎之起義也，以超爲折衝將軍，討孫秀，以功封侯。又爲振武將軍，征荊州賊李辰。) Jin Shu, vol.33
- ^ (石超進逼緱氏。冬，十月，壬寅，帝還宮... 機軍大敗，赴七里澗，死者如積，水爲之不流。斬其大將賈崇等十六人，石超遁去。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (穎遣奮武將軍石超等率兵五萬屯十二城門，殿中宿所忌者...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (陳昣等挾惠帝北伐，超走還鄴。) Jin Shu, vol.33
- ^ (超眾奄至，王師敗績，矢及乘輿，侍中嵇紹死於帝側，左右皆奔散，乃棄天子于槁中。超遂奉帝幸鄴。) Jin Shu, vol.85
- ^ (浚以主簿祁弘爲前鋒，敗石超于平棘，乘勝進軍。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (琨遂與虓引兵濟河，斬石超於滎陽。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.