Yao Yizhong (280 – April 352[1]), posthumously honored as Emperor Jingyuan, was a Qiang military general of the Later Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
Starting out as a refugee leader during the Disaster of Yongjia, Yizhong later submitted to Later Zhao in 329, where he became a favorite general of the state's third ruler, Shi Hu.
After his death in 352, his fifth son Yao Xiang led his family to join the Jin dynasty (266–420) before becoming a roving warlord in the Central Plains.
His ancestor, Tianyu (填虞) harassed the western regions during the time of Emperor Guangwu of Han's reign between 57 and 58 AD but was eventually driven out by the general Ma Wu.
[5] In 330, the Jin rebel Zu Yue involved in Su Jun's rebellion fled to Later Zhao, seeking their protection.
Shi Le entertained him initially but deep down he was not fond of Zu Yue, and even his close advisor Cheng Xia urged him to execute him and his family, believing that they could not be trusted.
Yao Yizhong supported Cheng Xia's idea, sending Shi Le a memorial that states, "Zu Yue was a rebellious thief in Jin who drove the Empress Dowager to death and was not loyal to his lord.
Shi Hu acted out Yizhong's advice of moving the powerful families of Longshang to the capital region and appointed him Grand Commander of the Western Qiang.
He and his family were relocated to Shetou (灄頭; southeast of present-day Zaoqiang County, Hebei), Qinghe Commandery where he was tasked with supervising the Qiang tribes.
On one occasion, the brother of Shi Hu's favorite concubine, Zuo Wei (左尉), trespassed into his camp and harassed the soldiers.
The guards rallied under their captain Liang Du (梁犢) and marched east to capture Luoyang, defeating many Zhao generals along the way.
Their desire to return home had turned Liang Du and his men into treacherous thieves, and their wicked acts alone warrants their capture.
This old Qiang requests a fervent vanguard to deal with them in one fell swoop.Shi Hu immediately made Yizhong Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Palace Attendant, and General Who Conquers The West.
Yizhong joined the Grand Commander Shi Bin at Xingyang, where he took Liang Du's head and destroyed the remaining rebel forces.
Yizhong and the Di general Pu Hong both wanted the strategic position of Guanyou (關右, west of present-day Tongguan County, Shaanxi).
Yizhong sent Yao Xiang to lift the siege, but not before asking him to swear that he would capture Ran Min, and contacted the state of Former Yan to send reinforcements.
Former Yan sent Yue Wan and together with Yao Xiang and Shi Kun (石琨), they attacked Ran Min from three sides, dealing him a major defeat.
[17] Shi Zhi and his ministers were later assassinated by a defector named Liu Xian, allowing Ran Min to occupy the city.
Yizhong died shortly after at the age of 72 and was succeeded by Yao Xiang, who marched with his followers south to formally join Jin.