Originating from Bing province in modern-day Shanxi, the Qihuo branched out to parts of Hebei and Henan during the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians, where they acted as semi-autonomous militia forces for the Jin.
In addition to the perpetual state of war, famines and natural disasters were also frequent occurrences in the north, displacing many of the civil population.
These refugees would form groups to better defend themselves against threats, and either fled southwards where the situation was more stable or opted to remain in the north by occupying fortified settlements (塢堡; wubao) and other strategic locations.
Later that same year, Li Yun, Bo Sheng and the others aided Sima Yue in lifting the siege of the Jin capital, Luoyang from Han forces led by Liu Cong and Wang Mi.
As Liu Cong retreated, the Qihuo managed to defeat Wang Mi at Xinji (新汲, in modern Fugou County, Henan).
[3] When Sima Yue departed from Luoyang with the imperial army in 310, Li Yun, serving as his Dragon Soaring General, was one of his confidants who he left behind to monitor the near-defenseless capital and Emperor Huai of Jin.
After relations broke down between Sima Yue and his general, Gou Xi, who was conspiring with the emperor to depose the prince, Chen Wu was one of the Qihuo who sided with the latter.
While he initially considered killing the surrendered Qihuo soldiers, he quickly changed his mind after he found that his old friend, Guo Jing, was one of their general.
However, in 313, Bo Sheng captured Jin's Administrator of Bohai, Liu Ji (劉既) and brought with him 5,000 troops to surrender to Shi Le.
During Zu Ti's northern expedition that same year, Chen Chuan sent Li Tou to assist him against a rival warlord, Fan Ya (樊雅) at Qiao.
[1] From hereafter, the Qihuo became less active but continued to make sporadic appearances in history as they maintained their presence in Hebei and Henan for roughly a century.
[1] In 354, Guo Chang (郭敞) and other Qihuo generals north of the Yangzi river rebelled against Jin, capturing the Interior Minister of Chenliu, Liu Shi (劉仕) and surrendering the commandery to the Qiang warlord, Yao Xiang.
[5] During the reign of Fu Jian of the Former Qin dynasty (357–385), one member of the Qihuo, Xia Mo (夏默), was appointed as the Gentleman of the Left Garrison.