Editing Mercenary Tao (section)

==Biography==
Mercenary Tao, born in Age 459, played a significant role in the ''Dragon Ball'' series, particularly during the Red Ribbon Army Saga. He was born two years before the King Piccolo Wars, in which his older brother, Shen, participated. In the anime, Tao was a student at Master Mutaito's training academy, where he often outperformed his brother, sparking a rivalry between them that grew over time. A trivial incident involving a spilled bowl of rice was enough to cause a rift between the two. Though it is never explicitly explained, Tao appears to have attained some form of immortality, as he lived for over 200 years and began his career as a mercenary at the age of 279.

Tao also crossed paths with Mr. Satan and the Master of Satan Castle at a bar in South City, where they mocked his hairstyle. In retaliation, Tao killed the master and severely injured Mr. Satan. Despite his brutal nature, Tao was a mentor to young Tien Shinhan during his time with the Crane School and had a significant influence on Tien's development.

===Dragon Ball===

====Red Ribbon Army Saga====
Tao's most famous appearance came during the Red Ribbon Army Saga, when he was hired to eliminate Goku, who was disrupting the Red Ribbon Army's plans by defeating their operatives and taking their Dragon Balls. When [[General Blue]] failed his mission, Commander Red offered him a chance at redemption by challenging Tao. Tao, arrogantly confident in his abilities, promised to defeat Blue without using his hands or feet. True to his word, Tao easily evaded Blue’s attacks and killed him with a precise strike using only his tongue, proving his value to the Red Ribbon Army.

Instead of using an aircraft to reach Goku, Tao famously threw a pillar from the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters and rode it to the Sacred Land of [[Korin]]. Upon arrival, he confronted Goku and Bora, a guardian of the land who had previously defended against the Red Ribbon Army. Despite Bora's strength and determination, Tao effortlessly overpowered him and killed him by impaling him with his own spear.

Seeing  Bora's death enraged Goku, who attacked Tao. However, despite Goku's strength, Tao easily defeated him with his Dodon Ray technique, believing he had killed him. Tao only recovered three Dragon Balls from Goku's backpack and did not realize that Goku had survived the attack, thanks to the Four-Star Dragon Ball hidden under his outfit.

After Tao's uniform was damaged by Goku’s Kamehameha, he traveled to a nearby town, intimidating the local tailor into making a new uniform for free. Over the three-day period, Tao also forced the townspeople to provide him with luxuries like a hotel room. During his stay, a sniper attempted to assassinate him, but Tao effortlessly deflected the bullet with his slipper. When the tailor finished the uniform and asked for payment, Tao refused, saying that paying would damage his ruthless reputation. Instead, he offered to kill someone for the tailor, who declined. Tao then killed the tailor with a Pressure Point Attack.

Once Tao’s uniform was completed, he returned to the Sacred Land of Korin to retrieve the missing Dragon Ball. Upa attempted to defend the land by throwing an axe at Tao, but Tao dodged and attacked Upa, demanding information about the Dragon Ball’s location. When Upa refused to answer, Tao threw him at Korin Tower, only for Goku to rescue him. Tao, surprised by Goku’s survival, engaged him in a rematch. However, Goku, who had trained with Korin by climbing the tower, was much stronger than before, and Tao couldn’t land any hits on him.

In desperation, Tao drew his sword, but it was broken in a clash with Goku’s Power Pole. Realizing Goku had become too powerful, Tao decided to climb Korin Tower himself to obtain the Sacred Water, believing it would grant him the same strength. Tao managed to ascend the tower and encountered Korin, who recognized Tao’s malicious intentions. Korin tricked Tao by giving him the useless Sacred Water, making Tao believe he had become stronger. Tao left the tower and descended on the Dark Nimbus.

When Tao challenged Goku again, he performed only slightly better, but still could not defeat him. Tao, not wanting to damage his reputation, pretended to surrender. As Goku was distracted, Tao threw a grenade at him, planning to kill him. However, Goku quickly kicked the grenade back, causing it to detonate near Tao, seemingly killing him.

====Piccolo Jr. Saga====
In the [[Piccolo]] Jr. Saga, Tao is rebuilt as a cyborg after his defeat at the hands of Goku, with the help of his brother Shen and the money he earned as an assassin. Now known as Cyborg Tao, he enters the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament with the goal of exacting revenge on Goku and Tien Shinhan. During the preliminary rounds, he brutally defeats [[Chiaotzu]], revealing his intent to kill Tien for betraying him and to seek retribution from Goku for ruining his reputation.

When Tao faces Tien in the tournament, they have a tense standoff. Tao struggles to find any weakness in Tien’s stance and attacks, but Tien easily dodges and counters, knocking Tao to the ground before he can even comprehend what happened. Recognizing that Tien has become much stronger, Tao reluctantly gives him credit. Despite this, Tao refuses Tien’s offer to leave the tournament to avoid embarrassment, as Tien still respects him for teaching him how to fight.

Determined to win by any means necessary, Tao resorts to underhanded tactics. He uses a concealed knife to slash Tien’s chest, permanently scarring him. Tien denounces Tao for losing his honor and the pride of a warrior. Although Tao is disqualified for using a weapon, he ignores the rules and continues fighting, openly admitting that he only entered the tournament to kill Tien and Goku, not to win. He even threatens to kill the tournament announcer when asked to leave the ring.

Tao attempts to use his Super Dodon Wave against Tien, believing it will finish him off. However, Tien effortlessly nullifies the attack with a Kiai and then knocks Tao unconscious with a single punch. Tien then carries the defeated Tao to his brother, Master Shen, who leaves the tournament in disgrace, carrying Tao away.

===''Mystical Adventure''===
In Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure, Tao is known as General Tao, one of the main antagonists alongside his brother, Master Shen. Together, they plot to take control of the kingdom of Mifan, ruled by Emperor Chiaotzu. To further their scheme, they have Pilaf, Shu, and Mai create a Global Dragon Radar, and after its completion, Tao attacks the [[Emperor Pilaf|Pilaf]] Gang. Using the radar, Tao and Shen manipulate Chiaotzu's army into collecting the Dragon Balls for them by secretly stealing his beloved "wife" Ran Ran.

When Lieutenant Blue nearly exposes their plot by revealing where Ran Ran is hidden, Tao kills him just before the start of Chiaotzu's tournament. During the event, Tao is ordered to kill Bora in front of the crowd. Easily dodging Bora's attack, Tao throws him into a spear held by a statue, killing him. Enraged by Bora's death, Goku attacks Tao, but after his clothes are damaged by a Kamehameha, Tao retaliates with a Dodon Ray, blasting Goku far away to Korin Tower.

After changing his clothes, Tao heads to where Goku landed, using a pillar from the castle as transportation. On his way, he passes through Penguin Village, where he is humorously knocked off the pillar by [[Arale Norimaki|Arale]]'s rock throw. After falling, Tao tries to ignore Arale, but Goku arrives and a confrontation begins. However, Arale and the Gatchans tie Tao’s ponytail to a tree, stopping him momentarily. After freeing himself, Tao uses the Dodon Ray on Arale, only to find it has no effect. The Gatchans retaliate by shooting beams at Tao, and he resumes his fight with Goku.

Tao tries to fake a surrender by shaking Goku's hand and then steals Goku's Dragon Ball. He flees in a vehicle from a capsule and launches two missiles at Goku and Arale. However, both Goku and Arale deflect the missiles back, causing them to destroy Tao’s vehicle, killing him in the process.


===Dragon Ball Z===

====Cell Saga====
In the [[Cell]] Saga of the anime, Tao makes two notable appearances, though he is absent from the manga.

In his first appearance, Tao is working as a personal bodyguard for Mr. Borbonne, who runs a shelter claiming to protect people from Cell. Their scheme is disrupted when Gohan arrives in the village. Mr. Borbonne's regular bodyguards fail to stop an elderly martial artist, Mr. Lao, so Tao is called in to handle the situation. After a brief fight, Tao has Mr. Lao on the ground and prepares to finish him with the Super Dodon Wave. Gohan steps in to protect the old man, blocking the attack. When Tao recognizes Gohan’s resemblance to Goku, he becomes fearful. Initially relieved when Gohan tells him his name, Tao's fear returns after learning Gohan is Goku's son. Realizing he's in over his head, Tao cuts down a pine tree to escape, quitting his job as Borbonne's bodyguard.

In Tao’s second appearance, he is hired by Vodka, a gangster who wants to use the Dragon Balls to become emperor of the world once Cell is gone. When Goku arrives to retrieve two Dragon Balls Tao has collected, Tao initially doesn't recognize him in his Super Saiyan form. After Goku reveals his identity, Tao is shocked to see his former rival grown up. Goku greets Tao amicably despite their past, and Tao, getting over his shock, proposes a challenge. Tao gives Goku a set of puzzle rings, claiming if Goku can solve them by dawn, he will receive the Dragon Balls; if not, Tao will take Goku’s Dragon Balls. While Goku works on the puzzles, Tao steals his jacket, which contains Goku’s Dragon Balls, and flees with Vodka and his gang.

However, after solving the puzzle rings, Goku uses Instant Transmission to teleport to Tao's location, catching up to him effortlessly. Tao and Vodka can only watch in shock as Goku, unaware of their deception, politely retrieves his Dragon Balls with no further resistance. Tao’s last concern is whether he is still getting paid for his failed attempt.