Yan Liang
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese: | 颜良 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 顔良 |
| Pinyin: | Yán Liáng |
| Wade-Giles: | Yen Liang |
| Zi: | None/Unknown |
Yan Liang (? – 200) was a military general under the powerful warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. He was slain by Guan Yu at the Battle of Baima.
Little is known about Yan Liang's life. The only historical records could be found scattered throughout the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, under the biographies of Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and Guan Yu. It was stated that Yan Liang was the most prominent and highest-ranking general under Yuan Shao.
In 200, Yuan Shao mustered an army boasting 100,000 in strength and marched on Xuchang, the new capital and base city of Cao Cao. To ensure a safe crossing of the Yellow River, Yuan Shao sent Yan Liang to attack Baima (白馬, northeast of present day Huaxian, Henan) as a diversionary tactic, despite advisor Ju Shou's (沮授) counsel that Yan Liang was too frivolous to handle the responsibility alone.
In a counter-tactic, Cao Cao moved his main force westwards along the Yellow River, diverting Yuan Shao's army in the same direction, but sent Guan Yu and Zhang Liao east to relieve the attack on Baima. Upon reaching Baima, Guan Yu saw from afar the standard on Yan Liang's chariot and urged his mount towards the latter. He impaled Yan Liang amid the mass of enemy troops, and brought back his severed head. Thus the siege of Baima was unravelled.
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[edit] Yan Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms period. In Chapter 5, Yuan Shao gave high praise to Yan Liang's prowess in battle. Faced with the indomitable enemy warrior Hua Xiong, Yuan Shao 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 Liang in Chapter 25, where he was deployed by Yuan Shao as commander of a vanguard force to take Baima (白馬). Cao Cao quickly drew a light force and came to its defense. True to his lord's compliments, Yan Liang slew two of Cao Cao's lieutenants, Song Xian and Wei Xu, in duels on the first day of encounter.
As suggested by advisor Cheng Yu (程昱), Cao Cao then summoned Guan Yu, whose service he had for the time being. The next day, as Yan Liang's army lined up on the battlefield, Guan Yu sat with Cao Cao on a hillock and looked down. From afar he saw Yan Liang sitting on a chariot under the army standard. Leaping onto the Red Hare, Guan Yu galloped straight into the enemy ranks, which broke before him like waves before a swift vessel. Before Yan Liang could react, he was struck down by his nemesis. Guan Yu severed Yan Liang's head, tied it to the neck of his steed and rode back unhindered.
He himself together with Wen Chou was discribe by Yuan Shao as the best fighter and frontline generals in his army.
[edit] Friends and Enemies
Yan Liang was very close to Wen Chou who along with him were the most favoured warriors under the power and authority of Lord Yuan Shao. Yan Liang's enemies were all in the other camps of Shu, Wu and Wei, not inside the walls of his own. Yan Liang and Guan Yu did not get along very well, for the very reason that Guan Yu tried to kill him and succeeded. But this probably would not have happened if Guan Yu had not been persuaded by Zhang Liao to come to the forces of Wei. Yan Liang died in the same battle as his close friend Wen Chou, at Guan Du.
[edit] References
- Chen Shou (2002). San Guo Zhi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5.
- Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0.
- Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.
[edit] See also
- Three Kingdoms
- Personages of the Three Kingdoms
- Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms
