Yao Xiang (331?–357), courtesy name Jingguo, posthumously honored Prince Wu of Wei, was an ethnic Qiang warlord during the Sixteen Kingdoms and Jin dynasty (266–420) in Chinese history. He was the fifth son and heir of the Later Zhao general Yao Yizhong. After the destruction of Zhao and the death of Yizhong in 352, he went south to serve under the Jin dynasty. However, due to animosity between him and the Jin commander, Yin Hao, he broke away and roved the Central Plains to establish a base while fighting against Jin and the Former Qin. Although he suffered major losses from time to time, his charismatic personality allowed him to win and keep the support of the people wherever he went. In the end, he was killed in an ambush in 357 while fighting Qin forces at Sanyuan. After his death, his brother, Yao Chang, surrendered to Qin and became one of its generals. In 384, he rebelled and established the Later Qin, posthumously honouring Yao Xiang as a prince in the process.
Service under Later Zhao
Early life and career
The year of Yao Xiang's birth is a matter of dispute. It is recorded that he was 27 years old when he died in 357, meaning that he was born in 331. However, his younger brother, Yao Yizhong's 24th son, Yao Chang, was recorded to be 64 years old when he died in 393, indicating that Yao Chang was born earlier than he was. Thus, there had likely been an error by historians when recording his age.
Yao Xiang was eight chi five cun tall (6 ft 8 In) and even in his youth, he was very popular among the gentry and common people for his talents and hospitality. His first recorded military action was in 350 amidst the aftermath of Ran Min's takeover of the Zhao government. He fought against Yizhong's former colleague, the Di leader Pu Hong, over the strategic location of Guanyou (關右, west of present-day Tongguan County, Shaanxi) but was badly defeated.
Ran Wei-Later Zhao War
Later that year, Yao Yizhong was appointed the Prime Minister of the Right. As Yizhong looked to establish an heir, many of his subordinates and followers pushed for Yao Xiang. Yizhong declined, as Yao Xiang was not the eldest son. However, support for Yao Xiang continued to grow, so Yizhong eventually accepted their demand. Yao Xiang was later appointed by the Zhao ruler, Shi Zhi, as Commissioner Bearing Credentials.
In 351, Shi Zhi was besieged by Ran Min in Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai, Hebei). Yao Yizhong sent Yao Xiang to lift the siege, but not before telling his son to swear that he would capture Ran Min for massacring the Shi clan. Yao Xiang arrived in Xiangguo with assistance from Shi Kun (石琨) and Former Yan's general Yue Wan. Yao Xiang defeated Ran Min's general Hu Mu (胡睦) at Zhanglu (長蘆, in present-day Cangzhou, Hebei). As the three forces approached, Ran Min went out to give battle. Yao Xiang, Shi Kun and Yue Wan attacked Ran Min from three sides while Shi Zhi came out to attack from behind. Ran Min suffered a terrible defeat but managed to escape. Though Yao Xiang was victorious, he did not fulfill his promise, so Yizhong punished him with a hundred floggings.
Flight to the south
Shi Zhi died later that same year after his subordinate, Liu Xian, assassinated him and defected to Ran Min. Shi Zhi's death marked the end for Later Zhao, so Yizhong decided to submit to the Jin dynasty. After their submission was accepted, Yao Xiang was appointed General Who Pacifies the North and a few other positions. In 352, Yao Yizhong died, and before his death, he advised his sons to join Jin in the south now that the Shi clan had been destroyed. Yao Xiang succeeded his father but kept his death a secret.
He attacked the counties of Fagan (發乾; present-day Guan County, Shandong), Yangping (陽平; present-day Shen County, Shandong) and Yuancheng (元城; present-day Daming County, Hebei) before stopping at Que'ao Crossing (碻磝, in present-day Chiping District, Shandong) to hand out appointments. He then continued his journey, encountering Former Qin forces and suffering a defeat at Matian (麻田, east of present-day Luoyang, Henan) along the way. At Matian, Yao Xiang's horse was shot, so Yao Chang gave his horse to Xiang to allow him to escape. Fortunately for the two, reinforcements arrived in time to save them. Yao Xiang's group finally arrived in Jin at Xingyang, where only then he commenced the traditional mourning ritual for his father.