Total War Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Tao Qian is a Chinese name; the family name is Tao.

For the faction, see Tao Qian (faction).

Tao Qian is a unique legendary Strategist hero in Total War: Three Kingdoms. He leads his own faction, Tao Qian, in 182 and 190.


Description[]

Tao Qian is a diligent and sincere governor with an eye for those who have the true interests of the people at heart. Having thwarted an invasion from Cao Cao with help from Liu Bei, the two began a friendship that would influence Liu Bei's own style of governance.


General Information[]

Attributes[]

Main Article: Attributes (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Expertise: 53
    • -7% construction cost (administered commandery)
    • +11 melee evasion
  • Resolve: 47
    • +10% general's health
    • +1k population growth (administered commandery)
  • Cunning: 111
    • +47% ammunition (own retinue)
    • +11 military supplies (own army)
  • Instinct: 48
    • +6% melee damage
    • -2% recruitment cost (this army)
  • Authority: 81
    • +3 satisfaction (faction-wide, if leader, heir or prime minister)
    • +3 unit morale (own retinue)


Background[]

Main Article: Background (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Benevolent Arbiter

  • +10 expertise
  • +20 cunning
  • +30 authority
  • +1 resilience
  • +2 available administrator positions (if leader, heir, or prime minister)
  • +2 available assignments (if leader, heir, or prime minister)
  • +50% income from family estates (if faction leader)
  • +5% replenishment for garrisons (faction-wide, if leader, heir or prime minister)

Values Diplomacy, Commends Trustworthiness.


Unit Statistics[]

  • Morale: 40
  • Melee Toughness: 11
  • Ranged Toughness: 13
  • Melee Power: 5
  • Hit Points: 9k
  • Melee Charge Bonus: 26
  • Melee Attack Rate: 15
  • Base Melee Damage: 683
  • Armour-Piercing Melee Damage: 161
  • Base Melee Evasion: 11%
  • Base Armour: 15%
  • Speed: 109


Traits[]

Main Article: Traits (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Pacifist
    • +4 cunning
    • -4 instinct
    • +1 mustering turns (armies in administered commandery)
    • +5% income from all sources (administered commandery)
    • Values Kindness, Values Diplomacy, Opposes War
  • Philanthropic
    • +2 resolve
    • +6 authority
    • +2 public order (faction-wide, if leader, heir or prime minister)
    • Values Charity, Opposes Intimidation, Loathes Greed
  • Distinguished
    • +6 instinct
    • +2 authority
    • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator
    • Admires Attractiveness, Admires Refinement


Skills[]

Main Article: Skill (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Composure
    • +8 cunning
    • Enables: Fire Arrows (own retinue)
    • Enables: Night Battles (this army)
  • Wisdom of the River
    • +4 cunning
    • +4 authority
    • Ability: Wisdom of the River
  • Scholarship
    • +8 cunning
    • +10% character experience (this army)
    • +40% income from commerce, silk and spice (administered commandery)
  • Intuition
    • +8 expertise
    • +25% chance of evading capture post-battle
    • +15% income from industry (administered commandery)


Abilities[]

Main Article: Ability (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Wisdom of the River (Active Debuff)
    • Can use if:
      • Not on Elephant
    • -100% Melee Evasion
    • -100% Armour
    • Range: 50m
    • Duration: 30s
    • Cooldown: 120s


Ancillaries[]

Main Article: Ancillary (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Noble's Sword
    • Base Melee Damage: 643
    • Armour-Piercing Melee Damage: 161
    • Melee Attack Rate: 30
    • +9 authority
    • +5 satisfaction
  • Tao Qian's Armour
    • Base Armour: 15
    • +15 cunning
    • +6 instinct
    • +12% speed
  • Black Horse
    • Speed: 97
    • Mass: 1.5k
    • +2 cunning


Guanxi[]

Main Article: Guanxi


Gallery[]


Biography[]

Born in Danyang commandery in 132 AD, Tao Qian grew up as the son of a minor official. His father died while Qian was still young, leaving his family without much means to make their ends. Tao Qian subsequently became the gang leader of a local group of hooligans until he was noticed by Gan Gong, a local nobleman. The latter was impressed by Qian's wit and offered his daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for Tao's service.

Now married, Tao Qian set upon a path to maturity. He spent many days with his nose buried in all matters of tomes and books, eventually becoming quite the scholar, though he was still quick to anger. Nonetheless, he was deemed Filial & Incorrupt and subsequently recruited to be an Imperial Secretary, also gaining control over Lujiang. Despite occasionally ruffling feathers at court, Qian was recognized for his skill and was appointed as the Inspector of Yu province. He was ultimately recalled to deal with Yellow Turbans in Liang province but was recalled once more and made the Inspector of Xu province in the east.

Tao Qian defeated any and all Yellow Turbans in Xu province, then publicly pledged to turn it into a safe haven from the chaos that had gripped China after the collapse of the Han dynasty. This brought many refugees to Xu. Some of the more talented ones were recruited by Qian and integrated into his administration or military, though the man had no intentions to expand beyond his present territory. Interestingly, he did partake in a minor rebellion against Dong Zhuo and Li Jue in 191, sending a couple thousand troops and trying to form a second coalition, though none would join him. By 193, Li Jue had either forgotten about the move or didn't care, as he made Tao Qian the official governor of Xu.

Yet, despite the promotion, in 193 Tao Qian's streamlined administration had all but collapsed, as the number of refugees flowing into the safe haven of Xu became unmanageable. Meanwhile, many of Qian's bureaucrats turned corrupt, exploiting the chaos in Xu for their own benefit. Finally, to make matters worse, the powerful warlord Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was killed in a highway robbery in the territory of Tao Qian. The events around the death of Coa Song remain a mystery to this day, but Qian claimed innocence, stating that the attack had been carried out by a rogue officer.

Either Tao Qian was lying, and he had killed Cao Song on purpose and stolen his wealth, or he was telling the truth but could no longer control his own subordinates. Either way, Cao Cao had made up his mind, and the entirety of his military might came raining down on Xu province. Cao Cao's war against Tao Qian became one of the bloodiest sub-conflicts of the period, as Cao Cao was out for revenge. His troops slaughtered anyone they encountered, and civilians died in the hundreds of thousands. The death toll was significantly inflated due to the number of refugees that had flocked to Xu in earlier years.

Tao Qian's realm collapsed, and the governor was forced to flee. Eventually, he joined up with Liu Bei, and they tried to defend the eastern edges of Xu province. However, Cao Cao's invasion would come to an abrupt stop, as the warlord was forced to turn around to deal with the rebellion of Lü Bu in his home province. Liu Bei managed to reclaim a good portion of Xu, but Tao Qian would never be able to regain his power, dying shortly after to illness.


Advertisement