40 Facts About Wei Yan

Wei Yan, courtesy name Wenchang, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Originally a subordinate of the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty, Wei Yan rose through the ranks and became a general after Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province in 214.

Wei Yan was later appointed as the Administrator of Hanzhong Commandery and as an Area Commander in 219.

Wei Yan was from Yiyang Commandery, which covered parts of present-day Nanyang in southern Henan and parts of northern Hubei.

Wei Yan started his career as a foot soldier under the warlord Liu Bei, probably sometime between 209 and 211 when Liu Bei was in southern Jing Province.

Huang Zhong and Wei Yan scored many military exploits during the capture of Guanghan County.

Wei Yan's subjects nominated Zhang Fei, who strongly believed that he would most likely be chosen.

Wei Yan argued that the Ziwu Valley and its resources could support the Shu army's operations at least for a week.

However, Zhuge Liang rejected the plan because he thought that it was too risky, prompting Wei Yan to call Zhuge Liang a coward and complain that his talent was not put to good use.

When Chen Shou compiled the unofficial works on the history of Shu to write the Sanguozhi, he only mentioned that Wei Yan suggested to Zhuge Liang to split the Shu army into two, and the two forces would take two different routes and rendezvous at Tong Pass.

Later in 230, during the Ziwu Campaign, Wei Yan led some troops towards Yangxi and engaged the Wei forces led by and Guo Huai and Fei Yao, where Wei Yan managed to inflict a heavy defeat to them.

Zhang He, a veteran Wei Yan general, was killed in battle during this conflict.

In 234, Zhuge Liang launched the fifth Shu invasion of Wei, with Wei Yan leading the Shu vanguard force as one of the commanding officers.

Wei Yan reportedly had a dream that a horn grew on top of his head.

Wei Yan asked the dream diviner Zhao Zhi the meaning of this.

Whenever they got into heated quarrels, Wei Yan often drew his sword and brandished it in front of Yang Yi, who sobbed as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Yang Yi sent Fei Yi to meet Wei Yan and assess his intentions.

Wei Yan then asked Fei Yi to assist him in making arrangements for part of the Shu army to remain behind and continue with the campaign, while the rest would retreat back to Shu.

Wei Yan then let Fei Yi leave, but he immediately regretted his decision and went after Fei Yi, but could not catch up with Fei Yi in time.

Wei Yan then sent his subordinate to meet Yang Yi and the others, but was shocked to discover that all units were preparing to retreat in accordance with Zhuge Liang's final orders.

Wei Yan wanted to continue the battle even though Zhuge Liang had died, so he became furious when he heard of the retreat.

Wei Yan arrived at the southern valley first and ordered his soldiers to attack Yang Yi.

Wei Yan's men knew that their commander was in the wrong so they deserted.

Wei Yan was left with only his son and a few followers, and they fled towards Hanzhong Commandery.

Ma Dai executed Wei Yan, brought his head back, and threw it in front of Yang Yi.

Wei Yan was known for treating his soldiers well and for his bravery with valour that surpassed others.

Sun Quan had once remarked that once Zhuge Liang died, Wei Yan would prove to be an unreliable person.

Wei Yan desired to kill Yang Yi and the others who disagreed with him.

Wei Yan's death was explained in political terms in "Injustice to Wei Yan", a neoteric article by Zhu Ziyan, a history professor from Shanghai University.

Zhuge Liang ostracised Wei Yan and cracked down on him because he wanted to eliminate Wei Yan as a possible obstacle to his appointed successors.

However, Wei Yan was too powerful and could not be defeated in a single blow, hence the expeditions had to be carried out in a careful manner with guaranteed advances rather than going with daring but risky strikes which could lead to disasters like the Battles of Xiaoting and Fancheng.

Wei Yan estimated that he would reach Chang'an in ten days and scare Xiahou Mao into flight, leaving the grain in Chang'an's storehouses for Shu's taking.

Yi Zhongtian, in his Analysis of the Three Kingdoms, commented that both proponents and opponents of Wei Yan's plan had strong reasons.

However, Wei Yan's plan was very risky, as neither Xiahou Mao's retreat nor the timely arrival of the main Shu force led by Zhuge Liang could have been guaranteed.

The Shu general Jiang Wei Yan later dismantled the "Heavy Gate" fortification in favour of his own design.

The Wei Yan Shrine was initially demolished by the government but was rebuilt in 1995.

Wei Yan appears as a character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which romanticises the historical events leading to, and during the Three Kingdoms period, such as Wei Yan participation in the fictional Battle of Changsha.

Wei Yan surrendered to Liu Bei after killing his superior, Han Xuan.

Later, during the battle of Wuzhang plains, Wei Yan lured Sima Yi and his two sons, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao into a fire ambush.

Wei Yan is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.