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 (劉顯), assassinated him and defect 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 started mourning ritual for his father. 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 almost immediately charmed by Yao Xiang's personality and