翟超 / Zhai Chao (late Han)

Overview

翟超 / Zhai Chao is the Shanyang commandery official in Hanji 872 who places 张俭 in a supervisory role and is punished after Zhang challenges 侯览’s local abuses.

Current Profile

The source gives Zhai Chao a compact but structurally important role. He is not the main remonstrant or executioner; he is the appointing superior whose local enforcement chain hits palace-protected power. By appointing Zhang Jian as an eastern-area supervisory official, Zhai Chao enables the investigation of Hou Lan’s seized property, overbuilt houses, and lavish tomb construction.

When eunuch retaliation reaches 汉桓帝, Zhai Chao is punished alongside 黄浮. His case shows how liability can move upward from the acting official to the superior who authorized or enabled enforcement.

Key Characteristics

• Commandery-level official whose appointment of Zhang Jian makes anti-Hou-Lan enforcement possible.
• Local superior exposed to palace retaliation after a subordinate attacks eunuch-linked abuses.
• Collateral punishment case in the same field as Huang Fu’s execution of Xu Xuan.
• Source-scoped bridge between local governance and Huan-era eunuch politics.

Evidence

• Appointment role: Hanji 872 says Zhai Chao appoints Zhang Jian as eastern-area supervisory official.
• Enforcement consequence: Hanji 872 says Zhang Jian then investigates and attacks Hou Lan’s illegal wealth and buildings.
• Punishment: Hanji 872 says Emperor Huan punishes Zhai Chao after eunuch complaint reaches court.
• Remonstrance context: Hanji 872 has Chen Fan defend Zhai Chao and Huang Fu as officials who acted against harmful power.

Qualifications

The page is limited to Zhai Chao’s Hanji 872 role. The source does not reconstruct his full career or specify every administrative step between Zhang Jian’s memorials and Zhai Chao’s punishment.

What Changed

• Hanji 872 creates Zhai Chao’s canonical page as the appointing official exposed by Zhang Jian’s enforcement against Hou Lan.

Relationships

• 张俭 - subordinate or appointee whose enforcement action creates Zhai Chao’s exposure.
• 侯览 - eunuch power figure whose abuses are targeted in Zhai Chao’s commandery field.
• 汉桓帝 - ruler under whom Zhai Chao is punished after eunuch complaint.
• 陈蕃 - high official who defends Zhai Chao in memorial.
• 宦官庇护下的地方暴行 - related pattern where law enforcement against protected actors rebounds on officials.