Qutu Tong is a descendant of Xianbei people. Originally, he was a general serving for the Sui Dynasty. In his early years, he was sent to Liangzhou by Emperor Wen of Sui to inspect the horse trading run by local governors and generals. He discovered serious corruption in the horse market that involved hundreds of people in local government and the local army. The emperor was extremely angry and planned to execute all people involved in this corruption. Many other officials in the central court agreed with the emperor's decision. However, Qutu Tong thought that although those people were guilty, it was too brutal to kill them all. He said to the emperor that human lives were way more important than horses. He would sacrifice his own life in order to save hundreds of lives, so that people would not criticize the emperor for his brutality. The emperor was impressed by Qutu Tong's argue and gave his pardon to those hundreds of people. Qutu Tong was promoted to a higher position in the army after Emperor Yang of Sui took the throne. When the emperor was in the frontline against Goguryeo or touring the southern China along the Grand Canal, Qutu Tong was responsible for defending the de facto vice capital city of Luoyang. In 613, Qutu Tong took part in the battle that defeated the rebellion army led by Yang Xuangan near Luoyang. In 614, Qutu Tong suppressed the peasant uprising led by Liu Jialun in Yan'an. In 618, Li Yuan established Tang Dynasty and attacked the region guarded by Qutu Tong. Initially, Qutu Tong was able to defeat the Tang's army led by Liu Wenjing. However, due to the short of supply and the low morale of soldiers, Qutu Tong was defeated by Tang's army. Qutu Tong and Sang Xianhe submitted to Tang Dynasty after this battle, and was promoted to be the chief minister of the Ministry of Wars by Emperor Gaozu. Soon after that, Qutu Tong became a follower to Li Shimin, the then Prince of Qin. With Li Shimin, Qutu Tong took part in many battles during the unification war. In the later half of 618, Li Shimin defeated Xue Renguo, the warlord based in Jincheng, during the Battle of Qianshuiyuan. After this battle, many Tang generals grabbed treasures from Xue Renguo's warehouse, but Qutu Tong refused to join them. He was thus praised by the emperor. From 619 to 620, Li Shimin defeated Liu Wuzhou, the warlord stationed in northern Shanxi. Quto Tong took part in this campaign. In 621, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji led Tang forces to attack Wang Shichong, the warlord in Luoyang. Qutu Tong played a significant role in this campaign. When Li Shimin was making an inspection tour at Xuanwuling, he was ambushed by Shan Xiongxin, the best general serving for Wang Shichong. Yuchi Jingde, another Tang general, saved Li Shimin and defeated Shan Xiongxin at Xuanwuling. Qutu Tong took this chance to launch an attack to Wang Shichong's headquarter. This attack caused remarkable damage to Wang's army, and Qutu Tong successfully captured Chen Zhilve, one of top generals in Wang's army. In 621, Dou Jiande, another warlord based in Hebei, led his army marching towards Luoyang trying to save Wang Shichong. Li Shimin led 3000 elite soldiers defeated Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass. During the same time, Qutu Tong played a big role in assisting Li Yuanji in besieging Luoyang so that Wang Shichong could not join forces with Dou Jiande. After the Battle of Hulao, Qutu Tong was rewarded the highest military achievement, and was promoted to the Grand Commander of Shaandong Military Circuit. When the rivalry between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, the crowned prince, was heating up, Qutu Tong chose to stick with Li Shimin. He supported Li Shimin during the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626 that won Li Shimin the crown of emperor. Li Shimin further promoted and rewarded him after the incident. In 628, Qutu Tong died in Luoyang. In 634, Qutu Tong was listed as one of 24 founding officials of Tang Dynasty and had his portrayal exhibited on the Lingyan Pavilion.
