Han Yao 韓瑤

In Chapter 92 of the Romance, when Zhuge Liang reaches Mianyang, Cao Rui, the ruler of Wei, sends the imperial son-in-law Xiahou Mao to gather the troops and horses of the various routes of Guanzhong to resist him. While Xiahou Mao is gathering troops at Chang'an, Han De, a great general of Xiliang, arrives leading 80,000 troops from the various routes of the Western Qiang, and Xiahou Mao rewards him generously and makes him vanguard. Han De had four sons, the eldest Han Ying, the second Han Yao, the third Han Qiong and the fourth Han Qi, all thoroughly versed in martial arts and surpassing others in archery and horsemanship. Romance, Ch. 92 §1 · 4–5

Leading his four sons and 80,000 Western Qiang troops, Han De reaches Mount Fengming and meets the Shu army. With Han De riding out and his four sons ranged on either side, Han De berates them, asking how rebel traitors to the state dare invade their borders. Zhao Yun, greatly angered, singles out Han De for combat, and the eldest son Han Ying meets him but is speared and falls dead beneath his horse in fewer than three bouts. Romance, Ch. 92 §5–6

Seeing this, the second son Han Yao spurs his horse forward swinging his blade to fight, and Zhao Yun, displaying the tigerish might of his former days, meets him. When Han Yao cannot hold his own, the third son Han Qiong charges out levelling his sky-piercer halberd to attack from the flank, and the fourth son Han Qi, seeing that his two elder brothers cannot overcome Zhao Yun, also rushes up whirling a pair of sun-and-moon blades and surrounds him. Zhao Yun fights the three generals alone in their midst, and before long Han Qi is struck by the spear and falls from his horse, and a subordinate general from the Han ranks hurries out to rescue him. Romance, Ch. 92 §6–7

When Zhao Yun trails his spear and rides off, Han Qiong shoots three arrows in succession, but all are struck down by the spear; he then takes up his sky-piercer halberd again to pursue, but is hit in the middle of the face by a single arrow shot by Zhao Yun and falls from his horse dead. Then Han Yao spurs his horse and raises his precious blade to cut down Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun throws his spear to the ground, dodges the blade, captures Han Yao alive and returns to his lines, then rides out again, picks up his spear and cuts his way across the enemy ranks. Seeing that all four of his sons have fallen at Zhao Yun's hands, Han De, his courage shattered, is the first to flee back into his lines. Romance, Ch. 92 §7–8

When Deng Zhi leads the Shu army in a sweeping attack, the Xiliang troops are badly defeated, and Han De throws off his armor and escapes on foot. When Deng Zhi congratulates Zhao Yun, saying that to slay four generals by main force before the battle lines is a thing rarely seen in the world, Zhao Yun replies that since the Chancellor would not employ him because of his age, he had merely given a brief display of himself. Zhao Yun has men escort Han Yao away under guard and sends a report of the victory to Zhuge Liang. Han Yao's name does not appear in the Romance after this. Romance, Ch. 92 §11