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.
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.
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.
[3] 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).
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.
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.
Yao Xiang's group finally arrived in Jin at Xingyang, where only then he commenced the traditional mourning ritual for his father.
After hearing of Xie Shang's defeat, Yao Xiang abandoned his baggages to escort him to safety at Que Slope (芍陂; south of present-day Shou County, Anhui).
Instead, he decided to set up military agricultural farms along the Huai River to train troops and strengthen Jin's frontier for the future.
[9] Meanwhile, Yao Xiang became increasingly worried as he noticed that Wei Jing's sons and brothers were constantly visiting Yin Hao's base in Shouchun.
When Yin Hao's army were close by, Yao Xiang pretended to flee north during the night while setting up ambushes for pursuing Jin forces.
Yao Xiang's ambushes devastated Yin Hao's army as they killed and captured thousands of their forces.
Yin Hao was forced to abandon his supplies and weapon before retreating to Qiao, allowing Yao Xiang to claim them for himself.
Soon, Yao Xiang crossed the Huai River and camped at Xuyi, where he gathered thousands of refugees and officials under his wing.
He instructed his followers to farm and start silkworm cultivation while he sent envoys to Jiankang denouncing Yin Hao and apologising for actions.
In response, the Jin court positioned Xie Shang at Liyang, in hopes that his friendship with Xiang would be enough to win him back.
[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, a refugee leader named Guo Chang (郭敞) rebelled against Jin and captured Tangyi Commandery (堂邑, north of modern day Luhe District, Nanjing) along with its Interior Minister, Liu Shi (劉仕).
Yao Xiang agreed, and along the way, he fought with the Jin general Gao Ji (高季) at Waihuang (外黃, east of modern day Qi County, Henan).
[15] The next year in 356, Huan Wen was appointed by Jin as Grand Commander of the Expeditionary Force to campaign against Yao Xiang.
At the same time, Yao Xiang led his army to capture Luoyang from the warlord Zhou Cheng (周成).
His Chief Clerk Wang Liang (王亮) advised him to retreat, but he refused, refuting his argument by claiming that Luoyang would make a valuable stronghold.
[16] Soon enough, Huan Wen arrived at the Yi River, and Yao Xiang was forced to break off his siege in order to face him.
Huan Wen, however, rejected him, replying, "I have come to recover the Central Plains and pay respect to the imperial tombs, so for that, I have no business with you.
"[25] Meanwhile, Deng Qiang knew that Yao Xiang was flustered by his recent defeats to Huan Wen and Zhang Ping.
He proposed a plan to Fu Huangmei in which he would lead his troops straight into Xingcheng, making loud noises with their drums and wildly waving their flags to lure Yao Xiang out.
One in particularly is Hu Juezhao (胡觉照), a history professor at the Xi'an Municipal Party Committee School, who claimed in an interview in 2010 that the mausoleum actually belongs to Yao Xiang.