Yan Yan

Yan Yan

Yan Yan (the year of birth and death is unknown), a military general at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was a subordinate of Liu Zhang at the beginning, and served as the prefect of Bajun. In the 19th year of Jian'an, Liu Bei attacked Jiangzhou, and Yan Yan was defeated and captured. Zhang Fei said to Yan Yan, "when the army arrives, why don't you surrender and refuse to fight?" Yan Yan replied: "Qing and other officials have no conditions to invade our state, but there are decapitated generals in our state, and there are no demoted generals." Zhang Fei was angry and ordered Yan Yan to be beheaded. Yan Yan expression unchanged said: "beheading will be beheaded, what is anger evil!" Zhang Fei admired Yan Yan's courage, so he released Yan Yan and took Yan Yan as his guest. Later, his deeds did not appear in official history.

(source: ye Xiong's biography of characters in the romance of the Three Kingdoms)

Life of the characters

Yan Yan was the prefect of Ba County, Liu Zhang, a herdsman of Yizhou, and Zhenjiang prefecture (now Yuzhong District of Chongqing). In the 17th year of Jian'an (212), Liu Zhang was intimidated by the threats of Cao Cao in the north and Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. He sent FA to Jingzhou (now Hubei) to welcome Liu Bei into Yizhou (now Sichuan). Yan Yanlian sighed: "this is sitting alone in the mountains with no way out, and releasing a tiger to protect himself." As Yan Yan expected, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang broke up in the 18th year of Jian'an (213 A.D.), and Pang Tong, the military strategist, died. Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun led Jingzhou soldiers to Sichuan for reinforcement. When the army arrived in Jiangzhou, Jiangzhou garrison general Yan Yan did not surrender. Zhang Fei conquered it, occupied Jiangzhou, and captured Yan Yan. Zhang Fei drank to Yan Yan: "when the army arrived, why don't you surrender and fight with me?" Yan Yan returned: "you have invaded our territory unreasonably. We have only decapitated generals here, but no surrender generals!" Zhang Fei was so angry that he ordered him to decapitate. Yan Yan kept his face unchanged and said in a loud voice, "decapitation is decapitation. What's your anger?" Yan Yan's heroism moved Zhang Fei, who released him and made him a guest of honor.

Character evaluation

Su Shi: he was against Liu Zhang, and his military intention was quite unjust. What is the reason for this. Liu Zhang is the master of mediocrity. Who can die. Yan Zi alone He Xian, talking about Xiaoao Qiaoji. When the country is dead, the monarch is in charge. Who will do it. Who carved stone, make me empty tears. I've lost my head forever. Su Zhe: the ancient stele is incomplete and unreadable. People from afar cherish it but can't bear to grind it. It's said that the character "qiansui" engraved on the stone by the former governor Yan was wrong. Yan Yan's life I don't remember, only remember the city broken Festival highest. I love Zhang feihao very much. Life and death in the army is no wonder. How can we win. I'm not afraid to die like Tsao! If a man is killed or not avoided, he will swallow the Yellow River with his strong Qi. In the face of danger and leisure, you can see the monument generously and think about the battle. Wen Tianxiang: head of general Yan (referring to Yan Yan) and blood of Ji Shi (referring to Ji Shao). Li Zhi: when a hero meets a hero, he can be the most hostile or the closest relative. Gai's two families are originally one family, so if they are separated, others will be separated, and if they are combined, they will be the same. Therefore, Yan Yan is interpreted by Yi De, and Yan Yan is not afraid of Yi De. No less than villains, the outside is the closest relative, the inside is the most enmity. Zhang Fei and Yan Yan are not the only ones who have made such a distinction. Luo Guanzhong: white hair lives in Xishu and is famous in the Qing Dynasty. Loyalty is like a bright sun, and the great spirit of the Yangtze River. Would you rather die decapitated than bend your knees? Bazhou veteran, the world is even more unparalleled. Wang Fuzhi: Huang Quan, Wang Lei, Yan Yan and Liu Bazhi want to refuse their ancestors. Wisdom is not wisdom, loyalty is not loyalty.

Tomb site

Where Yan Yan was buried after his death is unknown in the historical documents of the Three Kingdoms. But in the Song Dynasty, there were three Yan Yan tombs in Bashu area: one in Zhongzhou (now Zhongxian County of Chongqing), one in Bazhou (now Bazhong City of Sichuan), and one in Pengzhou (now Pengan county or Yilong County of Sichuan). The historical and cultural causes of "one man and three tombs" are: firstly, the confusion of historical place names; secondly, the embodiment of localism; thirdly, the need and promotion of honoring loyalty and righteousness. However, there is no reason to judge which of the three tombs is true or false.

Artistic image

Literary image

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yan Yan appears in Liu Bei's capture of Chengdu and in Hanchuan. If you are good at using hard bow and broadsword, you will have the courage to be invincible. He defended Bajun, fought with Zhang Fei, and later was captured by Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei asked: "the general is here. Why do you surrender and dare to lead the army to resist the enemy?" Yan would rather die than surrender. Zhang Fei was strong and released. He was the guest of honor. Yan Yan felt that he would surrender to Zhang Fei for his kindness. Zhang Fei asks Yan Yan Yan about his plan to enter Sichuan. Yan Yan doesn't think he can repay him, but he says that he doesn't need any swords or bows to capture him. Because all the passes in Luocheng are controlled by Yan Yan, who is the former army, and Zhang Fei is the leader of the latter. Every place he goes, he shouts out his surrender, and all the way is smooth. In the war of Luocheng, Huang Zhong fought with Wei Yanzheng and Wu Lan fought with Lei Tong, but Liu Bei was afraid. At this time, Zhang Fei and Yan Yan rushed to fight with Zhang Ren. Zhang Ren retreated from the garrison. Liu Bei wondered why Zhang Fei could come so quickly on the rugged road. Zhang Fei led out the old general Yan Yan, and Liu Bei gave him the gold lock armour. After several twists and turns, Wu Lan and Lei Tong surrendered under the counter attack of Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, and Wu Yi also surrendered before the battle under the capture of Zhao Yun. After Liu Bei led the Yizhou herdsman, he appointed Yan Yan as the former general. Yan Yan followed Liu Bei to attack Hanzhong and made many achievements.

Film and television image

In 1994, Wang Wenyou (episode 51) and Lin Zhonghua (episode 56) respectively played Yan Yan in the drama romance of the Three Kingdoms; in 2010, Li Xu played Yan Yan in the drama romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Chinese PinYin : Yan Yan