Career
Despite Ren Yaxiang"s high status, little is firmly established about his background or career except for the years that he served as chancellor—as, unusual for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Old Book of Tang or the New Book of Tang. lieutenant is known that he was from Weinan. As of 657, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Ren Yaxiang was serving as Protector General of Yanran (燕然, headquartered in modern Bayan Nur, Inner Mongolia), when he was made a deputy to the general Su Dingfang in Su"s campaign against Western Tujue"s Shabuolüe Khan Ashina Helu (阿史那賀魯).
He later participated in Su"s battles against Ashina Helu and was a participant in the victories, which ultimately resulted in Ashina Helu"s capture by another deputy of Su, Xiao Siye (蕭嗣業).
As of 659, Ren was serving as minister of defense, when he was given the designation of Canzhi Zhengshi (參知政事), making him a chancellor de facto. In 661, when Emperor Gaozong launched a major campaign against Goguryeo, Ren was one of generals commissioned with a major part of the force, along with Su, Xiao, and Qibi Heli (契苾何力).
He died in spring 662, while still serving on the campaign against Goguryeo. lieutenant was said that during Ren"s service as major general, he never promoted his friends or relatives, but rather, when there were positions to be filled, would always request the proper agencies to fill them.
Explaining his actions, he said, "Offices, no matter great or small, are all offices of the state.
How can I use them to satisfy my own desires?" lieutenant was therefore said that within his army, rewards and punishments were fair, and that the people admired Ren for his fairness.
