Zhao Jingzhong

Biodata

Background / History

Zhao Jingzhong was Wei Zhongxian’s adopted son, but contributed substantially to driving him out after his downfall. Zhao expected to become the East Depot’s next director once Wei Zhongxian left Ming. Instead, the emperor appointed Wan Yulou, a trusted servant from his childhood 3 5.

Unable to match Wan Yulou’s strength or imperial favor, Zhao suppressed his ambitions for years. He nevertheless led the largest faction of Wei Zhongxian’s surviving followers, recruited martial artists, and maintained close ties with the Embroidered Uniform Guard 2 3 5.

Appearance

• Youthful, handsome appearance — Described as a handsome young man when introduced on the East Depot drill ground 5.
• Red python robe — Worn while practicing martial arts and during his attack on Li Zhong’s residence 5 7.
• Double-ended spear — His characteristic weapon; carried wrapped in black cloth before the confrontation with Li Zhong 5 7.

Personality

Zhao is intensely ambitious and treats the directorship as a position he should already have inherited. Upon hearing of Wan Yulou’s death, he immediately declares that his opportunity has arrived, without first asking how Wan died. He resolves to kill anyone competing for the vacant office 5.

His methods combine bribery, threats, and contempt for rivals. He offers rewards to secure the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s support, forces Ding Xiu into an assassination contract, and threatens Ding Xiu’s junior martial brother to prevent him from fleeing. He dismisses Li Zhong as a flatterer unworthy of command 5 6 7.

Although wary of Yu Huatian, Zhao fails to understand the West Depot director’s plans. Once his bid for power collapses, he joins the fighting to kill West Depot personnel out of resentment before attempting to leave the capital 5 9.

Abilities & Skills

Xiantian Martial Arts

• Possesses years of martial training and can react to a surprise attack by sweeping his spear behind him to intercept a saber 9.
• Uses internal energy to reinforce his attacks and stabilize injuries sustained in combat 8.
• Cannot overcome Liu Xi’s Grandmaster defenses; a feigned opening draws him into a palm strike that leaves him vomiting blood 8.
• Is substantially weaker than Ding Xiu, especially after being injured; Ding Xiu disarms him and later overwhelms his prepared defense 9 10.

Spear Techniques

• Practices with a double-ended spear and uses it throughout the East Depot succession battle 5 7 8 9.
• His choice of weapon interests Zhao Tong, another double-ended spear wielder, who initially wants to test Zhao’s techniques 9.
• Recovers his dropped spear by kicking it into his hand before making a final attack on Ding Xiu 10.

Recruitment and Political Maneuvering

• Builds a personal force containing several first-rate martial artists and roughly a dozen second- and third-rate fighters. Its only Xiantian experts before outside assistance are Zhao himself and Wei Ting 6.
• Secures Lu Wenzhao’s assistance by promising promotions of at least one rank if he becomes director 9.
• Plans to eliminate Li Zhong first, then use bribery to consolidate control of the East Depot 5.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Double-ended spear — Primary weapon, used against Li Zhong’s defenders, Liu Xi, and Ding Xiu 7 8 10.
• Red python robe — His documented official attire 5 7.
• Silver — Used to hire Ding Xiu for Li Zhong’s assassination and purchase additional help against Liu Xi 6 8.

Relationships

• Wei Zhongxian — Adoptive father and former faction leader. Zhao helped drive him out after his downfall despite their family connection 3 5.
• Wei Ting — Junior martial sister and trusted operative. She delivers intelligence, seeks outside assistance, and fights beside him. Her distraction upon witnessing his death allows Zhao Tong to fatally strike her 5 6 10.
• Wan Yulou — Superior who blocked his expected succession and kept his faction suppressed 2 5.
• Li Zhong — Deputy director and immediate succession rival; Zhao arranges his assassination 5 6 7.
• Liu Xi — Rival division chief who waits for Li Zhong’s murder before attempting to execute Zhao as a traitor 8.
• Lu Wenzhao — Embroidered Uniform Guard ally recruited for the attack on Li Zhong. He abandons Zhao when Yu Huatian offers a chance to withdraw 7 9.
• Ding Xiu — Hired assassin who kills Li Zhong, then kills Zhao under a separate contract with Yu Huatian 6 7 10.
• Yu Huatian — Enemy who exploits the succession struggle and pays two thousand taels for Zhao’s death 3 6 10.
• Zhu Youjian / Prince Xin — Secretly directs Lu Wenzhao to support Zhao’s succession, intending to win Zhao over afterward. The context does not establish that Zhao knows of this plan 15.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Bid for the East Depot Directorship

After learning of Wan Yulou’s death, Zhao orders preparations to kill Li Zhong and recruits the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He also hires Ding Xiu for one hundred taels upfront and another hundred upon completion, unaware that Yu Huatian subsequently offers Ding Xiu two thousand taels to kill him 5 6.

Zhao leads the nighttime assault on Li Zhong’s residence. When his own fighting fails to secure a quick victory, he calls on Ding Xiu, who kills Li Zhong with a single saber strike. Believing the directorship secured, Zhao orders a withdrawal, but reinforcements obstruct the exit 7.

Liu Xi’s Intervention

Liu Xi arrives and uses Li Zhong’s assassination as grounds to condemn Zhao. Zhao attacks him, only to discover that his rival has reached the Grandmaster Realm. After suffering a serious injury, he pays Ding Xiu for further assistance; their combined attacks briefly wound Liu Xi 8.

The advantage disappears when Liu Xi’s reinforcements join the battle. Zhao attempts to stop Liu Xi from draining Wei Ting’s internal energy, but the attackers are driven back until Yu Huatian intervenes 8.

Betrayal and Death

Yu Huatian surrounds the residence, and Lu Wenzhao’s group withdraws. Zhao mistakes Ding Xiu’s decision to remain for loyalty. As Zhao lunges at Zhao Tong, Ding Xiu attacks from behind and knocks away his spear 9.

Zhao offers to buy his own life, but Ding Xiu insists on completing Yu Huatian’s contract first. Zhao’s counterattack fails, and his attempt to flee ends in decapitation 10.

Aftermath

Duan Tianya’s report and Yu Huatian’s imperial testimony attribute Zhao’s death to Yu Huatian, although Ding Xiu performs the killing. The emperor appoints Cao Zhengchun as acting East Depot director, ending Zhao’s succession bid and Prince Xin’s plan to exploit it. Almost all surviving experts from the former factions subsequently submit to Cao 12 13 15 18.

Notable Quotes

“Our chance has come!” 5

“I want to buy my own life. Name your price!” 10