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Du Zeng (died 28 June 319) was a Chinese military general and rebel of the Jin dynasty (266–420). In 312, he joined his fellow general, Hu Kang (胡亢), in rebelling against Jin from Jingling Commandery (竟陵, roughly modern Jingmen, Hubei), but later killed him and assumed leadership of the rebellion. Du Zeng was a thorn in the side of Jin as he often defeated their forces and held out in Jing province for many years. Eventually, he was decisively defeated by the general, Zhou Fang in 317, before being captured and executed in 319.

As subordinate of Sima Xin and Hu Kang

Du Zeng was from Xinye County in Nanyang Commandery and started his career under the Prince of Xinye, Sima Xin (司馬歆), son of Sima Jun, Prince Wu of Fufeng. Du Zeng was said to be a very strong man, being able to swim across a river while wearing armor. Under Sima Xin, he rose to the rank of Colonel of the Southern Man Tribes and was present when Sima Xin met his death at the hands of Zhang Chang in 303.

In c.February 312, in light of the Disaster of Yongjia back in July 311, Hu Kang, another general of Sima Xin, took the opportunity to gather men at Jingling Commandery and start a rebellion, declaring himself Duke of Chu. Du Zeng joined Hu Kang and became his provisional Administrator of Jingling. However, Hu Kang proved to be a paranoid leader and executed many of his generals. Du Zeng plotted to get rid of him, but feigned loyalty at first to gain his trust. In 313, Du Zeng supported Hu Kang's decision to campaign against the bandit Wang Chong (王沖). Du Zeng had artisans to tamper with Hu Kang's personal guards' weapons before secretly enticing Wang Chong to attack. Hu Kang sent out all his men against Wang Chong, leaving himself defenceless within the city. Du Zeng then assassinated him and declared himself General of the Household Gentlemen and acting Administrator of Jingling.

Leading the rebellion

Shortly after seizing power, Du Zeng wanted to enter an alliance with the Administrator of Nan Commandery, Liu Wu (劉務). When Liu Wu refused to marry his daughter to Du Zeng, Du Zeng had him and his family killed. Later that year, Wang Gong (王貢), a subordinate of the Jin general, Tao Kan, forged an order seemingly from his superior appointing Du Zeng as Grand Commander of the Vanguard. Wang Gong then killed Wang Chong and received Du Zeng's surrender. However, Du Zeng refused to answer a summoning from Tao Kan, which caused Wang Gong to panic. Fearing punishment, Wang Gong joined with Du Zeng and greatly routed Tao Kan. Tao Kan barely escaped with his life and was briefly demoted to a commoner.

In 315, Emperor Min of Jin sent Diwu Yi (第五猗) to Jing province, so Du Zeng welcomed him and made diplomatic ties by marrying his nephew to Diwu's daughter. Together, they occupied the area around the Han River. The same year, Tao Kan had defeated the powerful rebel Du Tao, and he set his target to defeating Du Zeng as well. Tao Kan besieged Du Zeng at Shicheng despite warnings from his Marshal Lu Tian (魯恬). Du Zeng had many cavalry units, and after secretly opening the city gates, they quickly broke through Tao Kan's formation. Once reaching the other side, they attacked Tao Kan's army from behind, and hundreds of his soldiers died after throwing themselves into the river. Following the battle, Du Zeng's generals gathered at Shunyang (尋陽, in present-day Xunyang, Jiangxi) where they saluted Tao Kan before leaving.

Du Zeng then attacked Xun Song (荀崧) at Wancheng to follow up his recent victories. Although Xun Song was outnumbered, his 12-year-old daughter, Xun Guan, was able to break out of the city and fight through Du Zeng's soldiers with a few hundred men to request for reinforcements. When Jin reinforcements arrived, Du Zeng was forced to lift his siege. Afterwards, Du Zeng asked Xun Song for permission to clear bandits around Dan River. Tao Kan sent a letter to Xun Song warning him not to trust Du Zeng due to his untrustworthy nature. However, Xun Song had very little troops and needed Du Zeng's assistance, so he did not heed Tao Kan's warning. As predicted, Du Zeng attacked Jin in Xiangyang instead, but was unable to take the city before withdrawing.

Later in the year, Tao Kan was detained by his superior, Wang Dun and forcibly assigned to Guang province. Many generals and officials in Jing felt that Tao Kan had been unfairly treated, and they were also reluctant to serve under his replacement, Wang Yi, who was Wang Dun's cousin. The general, Zheng Pan (鄭攀), led 3,000 soldiers to join up with Du Zeng at Yunkou (溳口; southeast of present-day Xinzhou District, Hubei). The two attacked Wang Yi and forced him to flee to Jiang'an. They then moved north join with Diwu Yi and defended their territory. Wang Yi sent several armies to campaign against the rebels, but Du Zeng defeated them in every bout.

In 317, Wang Dun sent Zhao You (趙誘) and Zhu Gui (朱軌) to help Wang Yi. Tao Kan's former generals were considering surrender at this point, a sentiment shared by Du Zeng. Thus, Du Zeng pledged to Wang Yi that he would defeat Diwu Yi to clear his name. However, after killing Diwu Yi, he later went to Yangkou (揚口, in present-day Qianjiang, Hubei) and placed Wang Yi under siege. Zhao You and Zhu Gui fought Du Zeng at Lake Nüguan (女觀, in present-day Zhicheng, Hubei) but the two were killed in battle. Du Zeng pressed on to Miankou (沔口, in present-day Hankou, Hubei), so Sima Rui responded by sending Zhou Fang to deal with him.

Zhou Fang and Du Zeng faced each other at Dunyang (沌阳, in present-day Wuhan, Hubei). Du Zeng knew that Zhou Fang was leading the central army and was wary of his abilities, so he focused on destroying Zhou's left and right flanks. Despite his success in doing so, Zhou Fang was able to maintain his army's morale. By noon, both of Zhou Fang's army's flanks had collapsed. Du Zeng then approached the centre when suddenly, Zhou Fang and his men started beating their drums. 800 of Zhou Fang's elite troops violently charged into Du Zeng's lines, killing and scattering them by the thousands. Zhou Fang pursued Du Zeng through the night until they reached Wudang, where Du Zeng held out for the next two years.

In 319, Du Zeng was caught in a surprise attack by Zhou Fang, causing chaos among Du Zeng's men. Overwhelmed, Du Zeng's generals arrested him and gave themselves up to Zhou Fang. Zhou Fang initially wanted to spare him as a prisoner but Zhao You and Zhu Gui's children, Zhao Yin (趙胤) and Zhu Chang (朱昌), wanted to avenge their fathers. Zhou Fang permitted them, so Du Zeng was beheaded. His body was later chopped up and consumed by Zhao Yin and Zhu Chang.

References

1. (五月...甲子，梁州刺史访及杜曾战于武当，斩之，禽第五猗。) Jin Shu, vol.06
2. Jin Shu, vol.38
3. (春，正月，....故新野王歆牙門將胡亢聚眾於竟陵，自號楚公，寇掠荊土，以歆南蠻司馬新野杜曾為竟陵太守。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88. The month corresponds to 25 Jan to 23 Feb 312 in the Julian calendar.
4. (杜曾，新野人，南中郎將蕤之從祖弟也。少驍勇絕人，能被甲游于水中。始為新野王歆鎮南參軍，曆華容令，至南蠻司馬。凡有戰陣，勇冠三軍。會永嘉之亂，荊州荒梗，故牙門將胡亢聚眾於竟陵，自號楚公，假曾竟陵太守。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
5. (亢後與其黨自相猜貳，誅其驍將數十人，曾心不自安，潛謀圖之，乃卑身屈節以事於亢，亢弗之覺，甚信任之。會荊州賊王沖自號荊州刺史，部眾亦盛，屢遣兵抄亢所統，亢患之，問計于曾，曾勸令擊之，亢以為然。曾白亢取帳下刀戟付工磨之，因潛引王沖之兵。亢遣精騎出距沖，城中空虛，曾因斬亢而並其眾，自號南中郎將、領竟陵太守。曾求南郡太守劉務女不得，盡滅其家。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
6. (王貢自王敦所還，至竟陵，矯陶侃之命，以杜曾爲前鋒大都督，擊王沖，斬之，悉降其衆。侃召曾，曾不至。貢恐以矯命獲罪，遂與曾反擊侃。冬，十月，侃兵大敗，僅以身免。敦表侃以白衣領職。侃復帥周訪等進擊杜弢，大破之，敦乃奏復侃官。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
7. (會湣帝遣第五猗為安南將軍、荊州刺史，曾迎猗於襄陽，為兄子娶猗女，遂分據沔漢。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
8. (時陶侃新破杜弢，乘勝擊曾，有輕曾之色。侃司馬魯恬言於侃曰：「古人爭戰，先料其將，今使君諸將無及曾者，未易可逼也。」侃不從，進軍圍之於石城。時曾軍多騎，而侃兵無馬，曾密開門，突侃陣，出其後，反擊其背，侃師遂敗，投水死者數百人。曾將趨順陽，下馬拜侃，告辭而去。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
9. (荀崧小女灌，幼有奇節。崧為襄城太守，為杜曾所圍，力弱食盡，欲求救于故吏平南將軍石覽，計無從出。灌時年十三，乃率勇士數千人，逾城突圍夜出。賊追甚急，灌督厲將士，且戰且前，得入魯陽山獲免。自詣覽乞師，又為崧書與南中郎將周訪請援，仍結為兄弟，訪即遣子撫率三千人會石覽俱救崧。賊聞兵至，散走，灌之力也。) Book of Jin, Volume 96
10. (旣至，敦留侃不遣，左轉廣州刺史，以其從弟丞相軍諮祭酒廙爲荊州刺史。荊州將吏鄭攀、馬雋等詣敦，上書留侃，敦怒，不許。攀等以侃始滅大賊，而更被黜，衆情憤惋；又以廙忌戾難事，遂帥其徒三千人屯溳口，西迎杜曾。廙爲攀等所襲，奔于江安。杜曾與攀等北迎第五猗以拒廙。廙督諸軍討曾，復爲曾所敗。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 89
11. (而大敗於女觀湖，誘、軌並遇害。曾遂逐暠，徑造沔口，大為寇害，威震江、沔。) Book of Jin, Volume 58
12. (元帝命訪擊之。訪有眾八千，進至沌陽。曾等銳氣甚盛，訪曰：「先人有奪人之心，軍之善謀也。」使將軍李恆督左甄，許朝督右甄，訪自領中軍，高張旗幟。曾果畏訪，先攻左右甄。曾勇冠三軍，訪甚惡之，自於陣後射雉以安眾心。令其眾曰：「一甄敗，鳴三鼓；兩甄敗，鳴六鼓。」趙胤領其父余兵屬左甄，力戰，敗而復合。胤馳馬告訪，訪怒，叱令更進。胤號哭還戰，自旦至申，兩甄皆敗。訪聞鼓音，選精銳八百人，自行酒飲之，敕不得妄動，聞鼓音乃進。賊未至三十步，訪親鳴鼓，將士皆騰躍奔赴，曾遂大潰，殺千餘人。訪夜追之，諸將請待明日，訪曰：「曾驍勇能戰，向之敗也，彼勞我逸，是以克之。宜及其衰乘之，可滅。」鼓行而進，遂定漢、沔。曾等走固武當。訪以功遷南中郎將、督梁州諸軍、梁州刺史，屯襄陽。) Book of Jin, Volume 58
13. (王敦遣周訪討之，屢戰不能克，訪潛遣人緣山開道，出曾不意以襲之，曾眾潰，其將馬俊、蘇溫等執曾詣訪降。訪欲生致武昌，而硃軌息昌、趙誘息胤皆乞曾以復冤，於是斬曾，而昌、胤臠其肉而啖之。) Book of Jin, Volume 100

• Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.

• 319 deaths
• Jin dynasty (266–420) rebels
• Jin dynasty (266–420) generals
• People executed by the Jin dynasty (266–420)