Zhao De

Biodata

History

Raising Zhao Long

Zhao De and his wife indulged their only son from childhood, allowing Zhao Long to become a notorious wastrel who bullied residents and seized women. Zhao De also helped force Lin Wan'er into marriage with his son after Zhao Long ruined her previous betrothal 1 2.

He had previously sent the young Zhao Long to Azure Yang Temple for a month of discipline. The temple's beatings and compulsory chores frightened Zhao Long so badly that merely mentioning another stay could make him back down 2.

Attempts to Discipline His Son

After Chen Fan possessed Zhao Long, Zhao De questioned his apparent son about killing a woodcarving seller. He asked whether the loose ends had been handled, then condemned the scandal and damage to the household's reputation. Hoping to correct Zhao Long's behavior, he arranged a year at Azure Yang Temple under Daoist Xuanli. Chen Fan's calm apology and immediate agreement left him suspicious and bewildered 2.

When Chen Fan returned a month later and reported that Zhao Long's body could not cultivate, Zhao De lowered his expectations: he would be satisfied if his son simply stopped causing trouble. He initially dismissed news of Black Wind Mountain's attacks on merchants, but became alarmed when the bandits threatened Zhao Long directly 7 8.

Zhao De ordered his son to remain within Qinghe County and sought military action against the bandits. Securing the county commandant's cooperation required financial promises, while Zhao De personally compensated robbed merchants. Finding his son enjoying himself afterward—and treating those sacrifices as nothing more than a magistrate's duty—left him deeply disheartened. He ordered Zhao Long back to the temple, forbidding his return without permission until Zhao De's death 8 9.

He later sent a conciliatory letter claiming that the bandits had been eliminated and Zhao Long's mother was bedridden from missing him. Chen Fan suspected the illness was merely a pretext to bring him home. During the return journey, Black Wind Baleful Intent attacked the carriage, killing Zhao Long's attendants and triggering Chen Fan's transfer into the bandit chief's body 12 13.

Campaign Against Black Wind Mountain

After the abandoned carriage and dead attendants were discovered, Zhao De concluded that his missing son had been killed. Overcome with grief, he demanded that County Commandant Zhang Cheng destroy Black Wind Mountain within three days. He pledged the Zhao Household's money for the campaign and tenfold compensation for every soldier killed or wounded 15.

More than five hundred county soldiers marched against the mountain. The bandits ambushed their first assault at One-Line Sky, leaving over a hundred soldiers dead. Rather than abandon the campaign, Zhao De maintained a siege and repeated attacks for more than half a month, inflicting losses on the bandits while suffering heavier casualties himself 16 17 18.

The campaign collapsed as provisions and morale dwindled. According to Smiling Tiger's report, news that Zhao Long's three wives had fled with their dowries and valuables caused Zhao De to vomit blood and faint. The remaining soldiers carried him back to Qinghe County overnight 20.

Su Xin's Pursuit and the Gold Reward

Zhao De later assisted Li Zhong's squad from the Prince of Xiushan's Residence, reporting that Su Xin was hiding in Qinghe County. He guided the guards to the Courtyard of Red Delights, where an informant had placed her. Su Xin escaped after fighting Li Zhong, who blamed Zhao De for the failure; the terrified magistrate collapsed and wet himself 38 39 40.

Before the guards departed, Zhao De privately approached Chen Fan, now occupying Lin Shou's body. Zhang Cheng had told him that Lin Shou executed Black Wind Baleful Intent. Believing his son's murderer had finally been punished, Zhao De tearfully gave him fifty taels of gold. He remained unaware that his apparent son, the bandit chief, and the rewarded executioner had all successively housed Chen Fan 40.

Appearance

• Build and age: A plump, middle-aged man, identified as being in his fifties 38 39.
• Face: Strongly resembles Zhao Long, but has substantially more wrinkles and a more authoritative bearing 2.
• Dress: Wears official robes when conducting government business 9 15 38.
• During his bereavement: His hair and beard become disheveled, and his normally controlled expression gives way to tears and rage 15.

Personality

Zhao De combines fierce parental devotion with years of enabling his son's misconduct. His response to the woodcarver's murder focuses on concealment, public criticism, and the Zhao Household's reputation. Nevertheless, his fear for Zhao Long is genuine, and he spends money, sacrifices dignity, and ultimately risks a costly military campaign to protect or avenge him 2 8 9 15.

His authority depends heavily on whom he faces. At home, he scolds, threatens, and smashes valuable objects in anger. Before Li Zhong, he becomes ingratiating and fearful, eager to gain credit but unable to withstand the commandant's fury after Su Xin escapes 8 9 38 39 40.

Abilities & Skills

Administrative Authority and Financial Influence

• Military mobilization: Can demand action from the county commandant and commit household funds to military expenses, though obtaining cooperation also requires negotiation and financial incentives 8 9 15.
• Temple patronage: Controls Azure Yang Temple's annual incense funding, identified as three thousand taels. Chen Fan repeatedly invokes this leverage to secure favorable treatment while posing as Zhao Long 4 10.
• Local intelligence: Receives an informant's report identifying Su Xin's hiding place and passes it to the prince's guards 38 39.

Brushwork

• Copies a landscape painting with forceful, assured brushstrokes when Chen Fan first meets him in the study 2.

Relationships

• Zhao Long — His only son and intended heir; their relationship deteriorates despite Zhao De's efforts to discipline and protect him 2 9.
• Zhao Long's mother — His wife; both parents indulged their son. Her reported illness provides the reason for recalling Zhao Long from the temple 2 12.
• Lin Wan'er — His daughter-in-law, whose forced marriage he helped arrange 1 2.
• Daoist Xuanli — The temple contact whom he arranges to oversee Zhao Long's instruction 2 4.
• Xuanyangzi — Azure Yang Temple's master and a Martial Dao expert with whom Zhao De has prior dealings 2.
• Zhang Cheng — The county commandant whom he orders to avenge Zhao Long; later supplies the news that prompts Zhao De's reward to Lin Shou 15 40.
• Li Zhong — A commandant from the prince's residence whom Zhao De assists during the failed attempt to capture Su Xin 38 39 40.