Yan Liang - in Fiction

In Fiction

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Shao gave high praise to Yan's prowess in battle. Faced with the indomitable enemy Hua Xiong, Yuan lamented, "If I had either Yan Liang or Wen Chou here, I would have nothing to fear."

This comment foreshadows the first appearance of Yan in chapter 25, where he was deployed by Yuan Shao as commander of a vanguard force to take Boma in a conflict with rival warlord Cao Cao. Cao quickly drew a light force and came to its defense. True to his lord's compliments, Yan slew two of Cao's generals, Song Xian and Wei Xu, and injured Xu Huang on the first day of encounter.

As suggested by his advisor Cheng Yu, Cao then summoned Guan Yu, whose service he had for the time being. The next day, as Yan's army lined up on the battlefield, Guan sat with Cao on a hilltop and looked down. From afar he saw Yan sitting on a chariot under the army standard. Leaping onto the Red Hare, Guan galloped straight into the enemy ranks, which broke before him like waves before a swift vessel. Before Yan could fight back, he was struck down by Guan. Guan severed Yan's head, tied it to the neck of his steed, and rode back unhindered.