Editing Xiongnu (section)

===== Former Zhao (319–329) =====
During Jin Zhun's rebellion, the Han loyalists that escaped the massacre acclaimed [[Liu Yao]] as the new emperor. In 319, he moved the capital from Pingyang to his base in Chang'an and renamed the dynasty as Zhao. Unlike his predecessors, Liu Yao appealed more to his Xiongnu ancestry by honouring [[Modu Chanyu]] and distancing himself from the state's initial positioning of Han restoration. However, this was not a break from Liu Yuan, as he continued to honor Liu Yuan and [[Liu Cong (Han-Zhao)|Liu Cong]] posthumously; it is hence known to historians collectively as [[Han-Zhao]]. That same year, Shi Le proclaimed independence and formed his own state of Zhao, challenging Liu Yao for hegemony over northern China. For this reason, Han-Zhao is also known to historians as the Former Zhao to distinguish it from Shi Le's [[Later Zhao]].

Liu Yao retained control over the [[Guanzhong]] region and expanded his domain westward by campaigning against remnants of the Jin, [[Former Liang]] and [[Chouchi]]. Eventually, Liu Yao led his army to fight Later Zhao for control over [[Luoyang]] but was captured by Shi Le's forces in battle and executed in 329. Chang'an soon fell to Later Zhao and the last of Former Zhao's forces were destroyed. Thus ended the Han-Zhao dynasty; northern China would be dominated by the Later Zhao for the next 20 years.{{sfn|Grousset|1970|pp=[https://archive.org/details/empireofsteppesh00prof/page/57 57–58]}} The Chuge people would remain a prominent ethnic group in northern China for the next two centuries.