Dou Tai

Dou Tai was a Xianbei from Hanshu County (捍殊縣), Da'an Commandery (大安郡; in present-day Shouyang County, Shanxi). His great-grandfather, Dou Luo (竇羅), was assigned as the commander of the Tongwan garrison, so his family resettled in the northern border. Growing up, Dou Tai became skilled at horseriding and archery, and was described as brave and full of strategy.

According to the Book of Northern Qi, before he was born, Dou Tai's mother had a dream of a sudden thunderstorm with signs of rain, and that she went to the courtyard to watch. Seeing lightning, thunder and raindrops, she then woke up in a cold sweat and found that she was pregnant. When it was time to give birth, she had difficulties delivering the baby and became afraid. A witch said, "If you wet your skirt while crossing the river, you will have an easy birth." She followed her advice and went to the river and saw a man, who told her, "You will give birth to a son, but you must move to the south." Dou Tai's mother obliged, and she soon gave birth to him.^[1]

When the revolt of the Six Garrisons broke out, Dou Tai's father, Dou Le (竇樂) and his brother were killed while fighting under the commander of Huaishuo garrison, Yang Jun (楊鈞) against Poliuhan Baling. Dou Tai carried their remains and went to join the Wei commander, Erzhu Rong, who made him a general. He rose to the rank of General of Xiangwei and Chief Controller of the Imperial Guard. In 528, Dou Tai followed Erzhu Rong to Luoyang during the Heyin Incident, and he was later promoted to General of the Tiger Guards and Chief Controller of the Vanguard. ^[2]

After Erzhu Rong installed Emperor Xiaozhuang to the throne, Dou Tai was awarded the office of Colonel of Trainee Archers and Counsellor Remonstrant for his contributions in decision-making. In 529, he followed Erzhu Rong in his campaign against the rebel, Xing Gao in the Shandong region. His merits in the campaign earned him the rank of General Who Assists the State and General of Valiant Cavalry. He was also enfeoffed the Founding Viscount of Guang'a County.

In 530, the general, Gao Huan was appointed the Inspector of Jin province. Gao Huan requested to the court to transfer Dou Tai under his command to govern the provincial capital and discuss military affairs. The imperial court agreed and Dou Tai became Gao Huan's general.^[1]

In October 531, Gao Huan rebelled against the Erzhu clan in Xindu and acclaimed Yuan Lang as the new emperor of Wei. To quell his uprising, Erzhu Dulü and Erzhu Zhongyuan brought their armies to Yangping (陽平; in present-day Qingfeng County, Henan), where they were joined by Erzhu Zhao, while Erzhu Shilong stayed behind in Luoyang. Though they were cousins, there was known animosity between Zhao and Shilong. As Zhongyuan was Shilong's brother and Dulü was a close ally of Shilong, Dou Tai proposed to Gao Huan a strategy of sowing discord among the Erzhus. They spread a rumour within the enemy camps that Shilong and his brothers were planning to attack Zhao, along with another rumour that Zhao was colluding with Gao Huan to kill Shilong. The plan was a success, as both Dulü and Zhongyuan left in fear without a fight, allowing Gao Huan to defeat Erzhu Zhao on his own at the Battle of Guang'a.^[3]

In 532, Gao Huan decisively defeated the Erzhu clan at the Battle of Hanling, scattering their forces. He installed Emperor Xiaowu to the throne, who elevated Dou Tai's peerage to the Founding Duke of Guang'a County and promoted him to Foundational General and Minister of Palace with Equal Rank to the Three Excellencies. He was also appointed Inspector of Xiang province.

In the aftermath of Hanling, Erzhu Zhao managed to flee and form a new base at Xiurong (秀容, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), dividing his forces to guard the strategic passes and often sending his troops out to conduct raids. On four occasions, Gao Huan publicly announced his intention to campaign against Erzhu Zhao, but he never follow up on his threats. Seeing that Gao Huan was merely bluffing, Erzhu Zhao relaxed his vigilance. As the new year approached, Gao Huan predicted that Erzhu Zhao would be hosting a feast, so he sent Dou Tai with elite cavalry to attack Xiurong. Dou Tai travelled over 300 miles in one day and one night, and Gao Huan later followed him from behind. In 533, Dou Tai secretly entered Erzhu Zhao's courtyard. The enemy soldiers were too fatigued and intoxicated from the eating and drinking, and when they saw Dou Tai's men, they all panicked and fled. Dou Tai's forces chased after them to Chihong Ridge and routed them, causing Erzhu Zhao to kill himself.^[3]

For his achievements at Chihong Ridge, Dou Tai was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, Household Counsellor with Silver Seal and Blue Tassel and Palace Attendant. He was later appointed General of the Chariots and Cavalry Inspector of Xian province and then Inspector of Wei province.

In 534, as conflict broke out between him and Gao Huan, Emperor Xiaowu sent his generals Jia Xianzhi (賈顯智) and Husi Yuanshou (斛斯元壽) to pacify Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan). In response, Gao Huan sent Dou Tai and another general, Moduolou Daiwen to Huatai as well. Dou and Jia's forces met at Changshoujin (長壽津; in present-day Puyang, Henan), where Jia secretly negotiated his surrender and withdrew his soldiers. When the commander, Yuan Xuan (元玄) saw that they were withdrawing, he promptly fled back to the emperor and requested for reinforcements. Xiaowu sent the Grand Chief Controller, Hou Yishao (侯鰤紹) to fight them. They fought east of Huatai, where Jia surrendered to Dou with his troops and Hou Yishao was killed in battle.^[4]