Han Sui
Yan Xing was from Jincheng Commandery (), which is around present-day Yuzhong County, Gansu. He started his career as a military officer under the warlord Han Sui. When conflict broke out between Han Sui and another warlord Ma Teng, Yan Xing engaged Ma Teng's eldest son Ma Chao in a fight and nearly killed him by piercing him with a spear; the shaft broke so the tip only grazed Ma Chao's head.