Career
Yao was one of the pivotal figures in the Qing government"s invasion of Taiwan. Born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang during the Ming dynasty. At age 20, he reputedly killed two soldiers who kidnapped a girl.
In 1663, Yao scored first in the local Civil Service Examinations, and became the county magistrate of Xiangshan County in Guangdong.
In 1674, Yao raised a small army of several hundred men to assist the Prince Kang in the fight against Geng Jingzhong, who had revolted against Manchu rule. He later became entrusted by the Kangxi Emperor, who eventually appointed him Viceroy of Minzhe during a campaign against Ming Dynasty loyalists on Taiwan.
Yao Qisheng appears in the Chinese television series Kangxi Dynasty.