Zhao Qi

Historical Record

Concerning Zhao Qi (styled Binqing), there is at present no clear historical material. In the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* and other official histories, no detailed account of his life, of his appointments and dismissals from office, or of any specific actions is to be found. This means that, in the verifiable historical documents, Zhao Qi was not a figure of activity or particular note. We therefore cannot construct a trajectory of his life or appraise his historical contributions from the historical record.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Zhao Qi (styled Binqing), holding the office of Grand Coachman, appears during the period of Dong Zhuo's autocratic rule. He first appears in Chapter 7, at the time when Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were locked in fierce battle at Panhe. Dong Zhuo's strategist Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo that both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were heroes of the age, and suggested that Dong Zhuo, borrowing the authority of the Son of Heaven's edict, send envoys to reconcile them, in hopes that the two would feel grateful for Dong Zhuo's grace and yield to him. Dong Zhuo greatly approved of this advice ^c:6430.

Dong Zhuo thereupon sent the Grand Tutor Ma Midi and the Grand Coachman Zhao Qi, bearing the edict, to Hebei. On their arrival, Yuan Shao personally went out a hundred li to welcome them and reverently received the edict. The next day, Ma Midi and Zhao Qi went to Gongsun Zan's camp to proclaim the edict. Through their mediation, Gongsun Zan sent an envoy with a letter to Yuan Shao, and the two sides finally came to terms. Having completed their mission, Ma Midi and Zhao Qi returned to the capital to report to Dong Zhuo ^c:6430.

In the novel's narrative, Zhao Qi's role is reflected chiefly in his identity as Dong Zhuo's envoy, carrying out the task of reconciling Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. His appearance serves to drive the plot forward and to display Dong Zhuo's strategy of using the Son of Heaven's authority to intervene in the strife of the regional lords. The novel does not delve into Zhao Qi's personal character, political stance, or later development; his image is rather flat, serving mainly the overall narrative of Dong Zhuo's faction. There is no historical record of Zhao Qi performing such deeds; this episode is entirely the novel's literary invention.

Key Relationships

* Dong Zhuo's Faction: In the novel, Zhao Qi is a member of Dong Zhuo's faction, holding the office of Grand Coachman. Sent by Dong Zhuo, he went together with the Grand Tutor Ma Midi to Hebei to convey the Son of Heaven's edict and mediate the conflict between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. His action directly served Dong Zhuo's political aim of consolidating his own authority and influence by intervening in the strife of the regional lords ^c:6430 (novel-only).

* Ma Midi: In carrying out the reconciliation mission, Zhao Qi was the colleague and partner of the Grand Tutor Ma Midi. The two went together to Hebei to proclaim the edict to Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan and brought about a truce between the two sides. Their relationship was based on a shared mission and on belonging to the same political faction (Dong Zhuo's) ^c:6430 (novel-only).

* Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan: As Dong Zhuo's envoys, Zhao Qi and Ma Midi made contact with both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. They conveyed the Son of Heaven's edict to the two lords and successfully induced both sides to cease fighting and come to terms. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were the direct objects of Zhao Qi's errand ^c:6430 (novel-only).

Signature Scenes

Reconciling the Battle of Panhe by edict: Zhao Qi's most signature scene is his going, as Grand Coachman, together with the Grand Tutor Ma Midi, by Dong Zhuo's order and bearing the Son of Heaven's edict, to Hebei to mediate the war between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan at Panhe. In this scene, Zhao Qi displayed his identity as an envoy of the court and successfully brought about a truce between the two great lords. Yuan Shao "went out a hundred li to welcome them and twice bowed to receive the edict," and Gongsun Zan too "sent an envoy with a letter to Yuan Shao, and they came to terms with each other," fully reflecting the importance of this reconciliation and its impact on the situation of the time. This event not only displays Dong Zhuo's strategy of using the authority of the Son of Heaven, but also leaves Zhao Qi a brief yet definite mark in the novel ^c:6430 (novel-only). This scene is the only action of Zhao Qi described in detail in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, and is the whole of his characterization.