Yao Xiang

The year of Yao Xiang's birth is a matter of controversy. It is said that he was born in 331 as the fifth child of Yao Yizhong's 42 children. However, Yizhong's 24th son, Yao Chang, was born the same year as Yao Xiang, leading some to believe that either Xiang or Chang's recorded birth year was an error. His father Yao Yizhong was a trusted general of Later Zhao. 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.[1] His first recorded military action was in 350 amidst the aftermath of Ran Min's usurpation of the Later Zhao government. He fought against Yizhong's colleague, the Di leader Pu Hong, over the strategic location of Guanyou (關右, west of present-day Tongguan county, Shaanxi) but was badly routed.[2]

Later that year, Yao Yizhong was appointed the Prime Minister of the Right. As he looked for an heir, many of his subordinates and followers pushed for Yao Xiang but Yizhong declined, as Xiang was only the son of his chief wife and was not the eldest. Eventually, as support for Yao Xiang grew, Yizhong gave in and chose Xiang as his heir. Xiang was also appointed by Shi Zhi as Commissioner Bearing Credentials.[1]

In 351, Shi Zhi was besieged by Ran Min. Yao Yizhong sent Yao Xiang to lift the siege but before going, Yizhong told his son to promise him that he would capture Ran Min for massacring the Shi clan.[3] Yao Xiang arrived in Yecheng 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 decided to face Yao Xiang outside the city, This proved to be a mistake as 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. Yao Yizhong was angered by this and punished Yao Xiang by a hundred floggings.[4]

Shi Zhi would die the same year after his subordinate Liu Xian (劉顯) assassinated him and defect to Ran Min. Yao Yizhong submitted to the Jin dynasty and received a number of titles. Yao Xiang himself received General Who Pacifies the North and a few other positions for himself. The following year, Yao Yizhong passed away. Before his death, he advised his son to join the Jin dynasty 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 give out appointments. He continued his way down south encountering Former Qin forces and suffered a defeat at Matian (麻田, east of present-day Luoyang, Henan). In the battle, Yao Xiang's horse died, so Yao Chang gave up his horse to him to allow him to escape but fortunately for the two reinforcements came in time. He arrived at Xingyang, where only then he started mourning ritual for his father.[5]

Yao Xiang sent five of his younger brothers to the Jiankang as hostages. The court accepted them and stationed Yao Xiang at Qiao (譙; present-day Bozhou, Anhui). The southlands were quick to be charmed by Yao Xiang's personality and respected him. Around this time, Yao Xiang visited the Jin official Xie Shang at Shouchun. Xie Shang recognised Yao Xiang despite him wearing a headscarf and the two easily befriend each other.[6]

At the time of Yao Xiang's entry into the Jin dynasty, Yin Hao was already carrying out his northern campaign against Former Qin. Yao Xiang and Xie Shang attacked Xuchang while Former Qin's Heavenly King Fu Jiàn sent Fu Xiong and Fu Jing (苻靚) to fight them. Xie Shang was defeated at Chengqiao (誠橋; near Xuchang) at Ying river causing him to retreat to Huainan. Yao Xiang abandoned his baggages to escorted Xie. The defeat forced Yin Hao's return to Shouchun and demote Xie Shang.[7]

In 353, Yao Xiang believed that Former Qin and Former Yan had both grown strong, and to attack them would only result in defeat. Instead, he decided to set up military agricultural farms along the Huai river to train troops and strengthen Jin's frontier for the future.[8] Yin Hao grew wary of Yao Xiang's growing influence and wanted to kill him. Yin Hao sent assassins against Yao Xiang but they were very impressed by Xiang that they instead revealed their plans, although most likely did not reveal Yin Hao's involvement. Yin Hao then sent a general named Wei Jing (魏憬) to surprise attack Yao Xiang but he was killed by Xiang.

With his plans to kill him both failing, Yin Hao decided instead to move Yao Xiang somewhere else. He planned to replace Yao Xiang with Liu Qi (劉啟) and move him from Qiao to Litai (蠡台, in present-day Shangqiu, Henan).[9] Meanwhile, Yao Xiang was worried as he noticed that Wei Jing's sons and brothers were constantly roaming around Yin Hao's base in Shouchun. Yao Xiang sent his advisor Quan Yi to discuss the issue with Yin Hao. The two men's meeting confirmed the animosity between both sides as Yin and Quan argued with one another regarding Yao's actual motives.[10]

When Yin Hao marched north again, Yao Xiang served as his vanguard. However, Yao Xiang now had the intention to break away from Jin. When Yin Hao's army were close to Yao Xiang, Yao fled north during the night but also set ambushes as he predicts the Jin army would pursue him. When Yin Hao heard of Yao Xiang betrayal, he quickly rushed to stop him just as Yao wanted. The results were devastating for Jin as Yao Xiang killed thousands of their forces and claimed their supplies that they had abandoned. He left his brother Yao Yi to guard Shansang (山桑; in present-day Mengcheng County, Anhui) while Yao Xiang returned south to Huainan.[11]

Yin Hao sent Liu Qi and Wang Binzhi (王彬之) to stop Yao Xiang but they were both killed, and Shao Slope (芍陂; in present-day Shou County, Anhui) was captured. Yao Xiang crossed the Huai river and camped at Xuyi where he received the surrender of thousands of refugees and officials. He instructed his newfound followers to farm and start silkworm cultivation while he sent envoys to Jiankang denouncing Yin Hao and apologising for his decision to rebel. In response, the Jin court sent Xie Shang to defeat Yao Xiang, in hopes that their friendship could convince Yao Xiang to surrender. [12]

The following year, Yao Xiang submitted to Former Yan and was appointed Inspector of Yuzhou and Duke of Danyang by Murong Jun.[13] Later, Jin's Interior Minister of Chenliu Liu Shi was captured by Guo Chang and Qihuo commanders, who offered Yao Xiang to surrender Jin's territories north of the Yangtze river. This caused the Jin court to panic as losing the territories would leave the capital exposed to Yao Xiang.[14]

In 355, Yao Xiang declared himself Grand Chanyu and Grand General. He marched north at the advice of his followers and captured Xuchang from Jin despite an early defeat at Waihuang (外黃).[15]

The next year, Huan Wen was appointed by Jin as Grand Commander of the Expeditionary Force to campaign against Yao Xiang. Meanwhile, Yao Xiang attempted to capture Luoyang from the warlord Zhou Cheng (周成). He could not make a breakthrough even after a month of siege, and his Chief Clerk Wang Liang (王亮) advised him to retreat but he refused, stating that Luoyang would be valuable to hold.[16] Soon enough, Huan Wen arrived at the Yi river. Yao Xiang broke off his siege to defend against Huan Wen. Yao Xiang sent Huan Wen a letter, stating that he is willing to surrender back to the Jin dynasty. Huan Wen however rejected it, replying back that he is more interested in recovering the Central Plains, not in capturing him. The two fought at the river, with Huan Wen emerging victorious and Yao Xiang retreating north of Luoyang.[17]

Yet, his defeat did not encourage many to surrender to Huan Wen. While Yao Xiang retreated, men in Luoyang abandoned their families to join Yao Xiang, and when rumours of Yao Xiang's death circulated, the people of Xuchang and Luoyang mourned him. As Yao Xiang fled west, Huan Wen gave chase and received the surrender of one of Yao Xiang's officer, Yang Liang (楊亮). Huan Wen asked him what kind of man Yao Xiang is, to which he said, "Yao Xiang has divine wisdom and a broad mind, just like Sun Ce, but in valor and martial prowess he surpasses even the latter".[17]

Yao Xiang reached Pingyang, where he received the surrender of the Inspector of Bingzhou, Yin Chi (尹赤), who also happened to be one of his former subordinate. He then captured Xiangling (襄陵: in present-day Sui County, Henan) but was repelled by Former Qin's general Zhang Ping. Yao Xiang negotiated peace with Zhang Ping by swearing an oath of brotherhood, and the two forces withdrew from each other.[18]