Luo Tong

Historical Record

Luo Tong, styled Gongxu, was a native of Wushang in Kuaiji. His father Luo Jun once rose to the office of Chancellor of Chen and was later killed by Yuan Shu. When Luo Tong was eight years old, his mother remarried as a concubine to Hua Xin, and Luo Tong returned to Kuaiji with relatives and retainers. At their parting, his mother saw him off; after Luo Tong took his leave and boarded the carriage, he never once looked back. When the driver pointed out that his mother was still weeping, Luo Tong explained, "I did not wish to add to my mother's longing, so I did not look back." He also treated his stepmother with great respect. ^c:15623

In his youth, during a time of famine, the people of his village and travelers from afar were often in want. Luo Tong therefore reduced his own food, to the point that his body grew thin. His elder sister, seeing this, was much distressed and asked the reason. Luo Tong answered, "The gentry have not even chaff and husks enough—how could I have the heart to eat my fill alone?" Learning this, his sister not only shared her own private store of grain with him but also informed their mother. Their mother, too, praised his benevolence and had him distribute grain to those in distress, so that Luo Tong's fame spread far and wide. ^c:15623

When Sun Quan served as Administrator of Kuaiji, Luo Tong, then only twenty, was given a trial appointment as Chancellor of Wucheng. The county of Wucheng had over ten thousand households, and the people all praised his good governance and benevolent administration. Sun Quan therefore commended him, summoning him as Officer of Merit with concurrent appointment as Cavalry Commandant, and gave him the daughter of his elder cousin in marriage. Luo Tong set his mind on correcting and examining the governance of the time; whatever he heard or saw, he would often memorialize without waiting for dawn. He frequently urged Sun Quan to honor the worthy and welcome scholars, and diligently to seek beneficial advice and counsel. In bestowing rewards on subordinates, he advised Sun Quan to summon them one by one and inquire about their circumstances, showing private concern and drawing them out to speak freely, so as to understand their aspirations and ambitions, and to make them all cherish gratitude and a sense of duty and conceive a wish to repay him. Sun Quan adopted his advice. ^c:6786

Later, Luo Tong became General of the Household Who Establishes Loyalty, commanding three thousand archer-officers. After Ling Tong died, Luo Tong took over command of his troops as well. He once followed Lu Xun in greatly defeating the Shu army at Yidu, and was thereby promoted to General of the Vanguard. In the early years of Huangwu, Cao Ren attacked Ruxu and sent the detached general Chang Diao and others to raid Zhongzhou. Luo Tong, together with Yan Gui, resisted and defeated the enemy, and was thereby enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinyang Village, and later served as Commander of Ruxu. He repeatedly set forth proposals advantageous to the situation, submitting dozens of memorials in all, all of them sound counsel, which cannot all be recorded here for reasons of space. Among them, he especially emphasized that the practice of forced conscription bred evil habits among the people, corrupted custom, and led the common folk to conceive thoughts of disaffection and revolt, and must be banned at once. After Sun Quan discussed it back and forth with him, he finally adopted and carried out this proposal. In the seventh year of Huangwu (228), Luo Tong died at the age of thirty-six. ^c:4294

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no detailed literary portrayal of Luo Tong; he appears only once, in Chapter 43, with just four lines of dialogue [c:N]. The novel's description of Luo Tong is exceedingly brief compared with the historical record, failing to display his benevolent, frankly remonstrating, people-loving character as in the histories, and making no mention of his administration of Wucheng, his merit in following Lu Xun to defeat Shu, or his exploit in repelling Cao Ren at Ruxu. In the novel, the image of Luo Tong is basically that of a fleeting figure dependent on the historical background, lacking an independent storyline and character arc, forming a sharp contrast with the rich and detailed records of the histories. One may therefore say that Romance of the Three Kingdoms' treatment of Luo Tong is highly condensed, even to the point of neglect, and that many of the important details and events found in the histories are nowhere recorded in the novel.

Key Relationships

* Tang Gu (student_of): The histories do not directly state that Luo Tong was a teacher of Tang Gu, but when Luo Tong remonstrated with Sun Quan he often urged him to "honor the worthy and welcome scholars," showing his esteem for men of worth. ^c:6786
* Zhang Wen (Huishu) (friend_of): The histories do not clearly record the relationship between Luo Tong and Zhang Wen, but the two were both eminent men of Eastern Wu, both renowned for ability and virtue, and may have had dealings with each other.
* Luo Jun (parent_of): Luo Tong's father, who rose to Chancellor of Chen and was later killed by Yuan Shu. ^c:15623 Luo Tong lost his father at a young age, an experience that deeply shaped his character.
* Sun Quan's Faction (serves): Luo Tong served Sun Quan all his life, from Chancellor of Wucheng to Officer of Merit, Cavalry Commandant, and then General of the Household Who Establishes Loyalty, General of the Vanguard, and Commander of Ruxu, deeply valued by Sun Quan. Sun Quan adopted many of his proposals, including honoring the worthy and welcoming scholars and banning forced conscription. ^c:6786c:4294
* Ling Tong (succeeded to his troops): After Ling Tong died, Luo Tong took over command of his troops, showing Sun Quan's trust in his military ability. ^c:4294
* Hua Xin (stepmother's husband): Luo Tong's mother remarried as a concubine to Hua Xin, and Luo Tong treated his stepmother with great respect. ^c:15623

Iconic Scenes

* Taking leave of his mother without looking back, a hidden filial heart: At the age of eight, Luo Tong returned to Kuaiji with relatives and retainers, and his mother saw him off. After Luo Tong took his leave and boarded the carriage, he never once looked back. When the driver pointed out that his mother was still weeping, Luo Tong explained, "I did not wish to add to my mother's longing, so I did not look back." This detail displays his deep filial feeling and his self-restraining character. ^c:15623
* Cutting his own food to relieve the people, a benevolent heart: During the famine, seeing the villagers in want, Luo Tong reduced his own food to the point that his body grew thin. When his sister asked the reason, he answered, "The gentry have not even chaff and husks enough—how could I have the heart to eat my fill alone?" This act embodied his benevolent heart of concern for state and people and made his fame spread far and wide. ^c:15623
* Benevolent governance at Wucheng, a record of achievement: At the age of twenty, Luo Tong served as Chancellor of Wucheng. He governed so well that the people of the county of over ten thousand households all praised his benevolent administration, winning their hearts. Sun Quan therefore commended him and summoned him into his staff. ^c:6786
* Repeatedly remonstrating with Sun Quan, speaking frankly without reserve: While at Sun Quan's side, Luo Tong often urged Sun Quan to honor the worthy and welcome scholars and diligently to seek beneficial advice. He advised Sun Quan, in bestowing rewards on subordinates, to summon them one by one and show private concern, so as to make them cherish gratitude and a sense of duty. Sun Quan adopted his advice. ^c:6786 He also repeatedly submitted memorials setting forth the advantages and disadvantages of the situation, especially advising the banning of the practice of forced conscription to prevent the people from conceiving thoughts of disaffection, which was finally adopted and carried out by Sun Quan. ^c:4294
* Defeating the enemy at Ruxu, distinguished merit: In the early years of Huangwu, Cao Ren attacked Ruxu and sent the detached general Chang Diao and others to raid Zhongzhou. Luo Tong, together with Yan Gui, resisted and defeated the enemy, and was thereby enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinyang Village, and later served as Commander of Ruxu, guarding the region. ^c:4294