respected him greatly. Around this time, Yao Xiang visited the Jin official Xie Shang at Shouchun. Despite Xiang wearing a headscarf, Xie Shang easily recognised who he was, and the two quickly became close friends. As general of Jin Yin Hao's first northern expedition At the time of Yao Xiang's entry into the Jin dynasty, the Jin commander, Yin Hao, was carrying out his northern campaign. Yin Hao's target at the time was to capture the city of Xuchang from the warlord, Zhang Yu. In July 352, Yao Xiang and Xie Shang attacked the city. In response, Former Qin's Heavenly King, Fu Jiàn, sent Fu Xiong and Fu Jing (苻靚) to repel them and receive Zhang Yu. Xie Shang was defeated at Chengqiao (誠橋; near Xuchang) at the Ying River, causing him to retreat to Huainan. 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). Once at Que, Xie Shang left all matters in Yao Xiang's hands. The defeat forced Yin Hao's return to Shouchun and led to Xie Shang's demotion. Escaping assassination 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. Meanwhile, Yin Hao began to worry about Yao Xiang's growing influence and was eager to get rid of him. Yin Hao had Yao Xiang's younger brothers imprisoned before sending assassins against him. However, the assassins all thought highly of Yao Xiang and instead revealed the plot to him. Soon, Yin Hao sent a general named Wei Jing (魏憬) to launch a surprise attack on Yao Xiang, but Wei Jing was defeated and killed instead. With both of his assassination plots having failed, Yin Hao decided to move Yao Xiang somewhere far from him. He had his general, Liu Qi (劉啟) stationed at Qiao and ordered Xiang to move from Qiao to Litai (蠡台) in Liang state. 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. Yao Xiang sent his advisor Quan Yi to discuss the issue with Yin Hao. The two men's meeting only confirmed their side's suspicion for