His ancestors had originally been from Tianshui, but by Zhao Chou's time had served for three generations as army officers at Chen Prefecture.
When Zhao Shuwen served on the campaign against the rebel warlord Liu Zhen of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) during the reign of Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wuzong, Zhao Chou served under him with distinction, and subsequently was given an officer position in the army of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, then headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), which Chen Prefecture belonged to.
[3] In spring 883, Huang, under the pressure of the Tang general Li Keyong, abandoned Chang'an and fled east.
Fearing the strength of Huang's army, they sought aid from Li Keyong, who had by then been made the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi).
[3] However, after Huang Chao's subsequent death,[3] Qin Zongquan did not resubmit to Tang authority; rather, he began pillaging some 20 prefectures around his circuit, and would eventually declare himself emperor of a new state.
After Qin's defeat, Emperor Xizong bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事) on Zhao and also made him the military governor of Zhongwu,[5] moving the capital from Xu Prefecture to Chen.
As a result, Emperor Xizong issued an edict making Zhao Chang the military governor of Zhongwu.