I was fifteen years old when I embarked on my first campaign. For fifty years have I wandered from battlefield to battlefield, podao in hand and smeared with dirt and blood. Even now in the Qin Army, I hold the longest service record amongst all its old Generals. Not a bad run if I say so myself. All that was left was a fitting conclusion to this long career. If that meant dying on the battlefield, then so be it. However,...Not...poison. Something like poison is no way for a General to die!!
Chou Tou was a General of the Qin Military that had the longest military service record among the kingdom's veteran generals. He died in battle during the Coalition War in 241 B.C. defending the gate of Kankoku Pass together with Kan Ki and Mou Gou against the Wei and Han armies. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of a Great General.
Chou Tou was dressed in armor befitting a General and wore the expression of a battle-hardened warrior. He had a gray hair, long mustache and a beard.
Personality[]
Chou Tou a serious and dedicated man, exhibiting a great amount of patriotism to his country of Qin. With mannerisms of a seasoned military veteran, he held unbreakable pride as a General of its military and would become outraged when the concept of patriotism was scorned by anyone. And boasted about symbols of said pride like Kankoku Pass. He had a great disdain for dishonorable tactics like Sei Kai's poisoning, he exhibits till his death. However, Chou Tou was shown to express utter respect and appreciation to those who earned it from him like he did with Kan Ki, even asking him to "become the greatest general in Qin" before his death despite his dislike for the man.
History[]
Presumably born in the soldier caste of the state of Qin, Chou Tou entered the Qin Military at the age of 15 and fought in numerous battlefields for over 50 years ever since his first campaign. He held the longest service record of all the Qin generals. One point, he met Mou Gou and became good friends with him and shared a mutual hatred/jealously towards the Six Great Generals due their incredible talents.
He was one of the two generals assigned to the Chu border to prevent an invasion. When the Chu invades Qin, the Chu 1st army of 50,000 slipped through the gap between his location and that of General Mou Bu. Later, he is seen at the Palace with the other Generals and officials discussing the strategy to repel the Six State invasion. General Chou Tou is assigned a section of Kankoku Pass to defend along with General Mou Gou and Kan Ki.
On the night of the third day of the battle of Kankoku Pass, during the stalemate, Chou Tou went to Mou Gou to talk about the Coalition Army's suspicious movements since the day before. They then begin to speak of their past, and how it's strange for the two to them to be defending Kankoku Pass, the last lifeline of Qin, instead of the Six Great Generals. And how they were unable to rise to the front during the golden age of King Sho and his Six Generals. Chou Tou then tells Mou Gou that he hated them, and Mou Gou admits he did too. They then begin to laugh and Mou Gou tells him that living to such an old age is a talent in itself. So, on that point, the two of them had managed to surpass them. Chou Tou agrees. Mou Gou then tells him old-timers such as them have roles that only they can fulfill. And if they are speaking purely of talent, then there are those such as Ou Sen and his own son, and there's no doubt they would not lose in that regard to even Qin's Six Generals. However, those two would not be able to hold Kankoku Pass, because they do not possess enough "weight." Which is why Shou Hei Kun had the two of them posted there, along with Qin's number one general at turning the tables Kan Ki. Mou Gou proceeds to tell him that if that is the will of the heavens, then he will gladly abide by it. That the heavens would still organize such a grand stage for such an old man. He then tells Chou Tou to etch their names into history together.
The next day he is poisoned by Sei Kai's attacks. A lot of his men are poisoned and die at the moment, but he seems unharmed. Later on, it is revealed that the poison he has been struck by will kill him in 3 days. As he departs to join Kan Ki's charge against Han army's HQ to kill Sei Kai the commander-in-chief and leaves Mou Gou in total charge of the Kankoku wall, he salutes his comrades and expresses how it has been an honor to serve at his soldier's side for such a long time. He apologizes to them for being so stubborn and not wanting to die by poison, but on the battlefield.
“
You still don't understand, do you, Sei Kai!? No, it's unthinkable that you would! A man like you who has never fought in battle who spends his days tinkering with underhanded poison...What would you know of a person's strength!? What would you know of a General's strength!? You imbecile!! A commander does not show his back and flee!!
”
—Chou Tou to Sei Kai before cutting down the Han General.
Cutting through the enemies, he reaches Sei Kai and cuts him down, however, he dies very a few moments afterward, but his body is stop from falling to the ground by Kan Ki.
Chou Tou was the oldest general in the Qin military who served in the army since the age of 15, making him one of the most experienced commanders in the entire state.[1]
Physical Abilities[]
Glaive Mastery: Though great in age, Chou Tou was still adept with a glaive and an incredibly fearsome fighter. Despite being struck by Sei Kai's poison, he managed to keep fighting through sheer force of will, even being able to ignore his wounds and his fatigue in order to summon a final burst of power to break through Han's defenses and slay both Na Kon and Sei Kai.
Leadership[]
Chou Tou was a commendable leader and was able to command his men well in battlefields. His men were willing to follow him into a sea of enemies, knowing that they might not make it back alive, during the Battle of Kankoku Pass. His soldiers were also noted to be so strong that it shocked Kan Ki's own men in battle.[2]
Tactical Abilities[]
Due to his long military experience, Chou Tou showed a considerable tactical ability. He was able to repel one of Wei's siege towers created by Go Hou Mei though switching defense tactics to ground battle tactics.
Quotes[]
[Replies to Sei Kai] Sei Kai:"Impossible! Why haven't you died from the poisoned arrows!?Chou Tou:
“
You still don't understand, do you, Sei Kai!? No, it's unthinkable that you would! A man like you who has never fought in battle who spends his days tinkering with underhanded poison... What would you know of a person's strength!? What would you know of a General's strength!? You imbecile!! A commander does not show his back and flee!!
”
(Chapter 303, page 10–11)
“
You are addicted to the sensation of emerging victorious through your own cunning....and that is...a trait shared by many exemplary Generals. It's irritating but... you have... the talent too. I won't grovel to you, but... promise me this. Become the number one General in Qin. Kan Ki. I leave Qin... to you."
Chou Tou passing on his final words and will to Kan Ki.
Chou Tou falls in battle.
Chou Tou's body being stopped from falling by Kan Ki.
Trivia[]
Like Mou Gou, Chou Tou resented and hated the Six Great Generals.
While it was never confirmed, it is likely that Chou Tou was promoted to Great General after death. While he was alive, he was never officially stated to be Great General (only after he's death) and his official rank in the first Databook was shown to be General.
