Yadan 雅丹

In Chapter 94 of the Romance, Guo Huai tells Cao Zhen that if they ask the Qiang lands for help and promise peace through a marriage alliance, the Qiang will strike the Shu army from the rear, and Cao Zhen follows his advice. Che Liji, King of the Western Qiang, has sent tribute every year since the time of Cao Cao, and under him are the civil official Chancellor Yadan and the military officer Marshal Yueji. The Wei envoy first calls on Yadan, presents gifts and explains in detail his request for help, and Yadan brings the envoy before the king. Romance, Ch. 94 §1–2

Yadan says, 'We have long had dealings with the state of Wei, and now Commander-in-Chief Cao asks for help and even promises a marriage alliance, so it is only right that we agree.' Che Liji follows his advice and has Yadan and Yueji raise 150,000 Qiang troops; carts sheathed in iron plates and studded with nails are loaded with provisions and weapons and drawn by camels or by mules and horses, and these are called the iron-chariot troops. The two take leave of the king and advance on Xiping Pass, and Han Zhen, the Shu general guarding the pass, urgently reports to Kongming. Romance, Ch. 94 §3–4

Kongming sends Ma Dai, who knows the nature of the Qiang well, as guide, together with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and 50,000 picked troops, but the Qiang troops part to either side and release their iron chariots, which surge forward like the tide while bows and crossbows loose all at once, and the Shu army is badly defeated. Kongming comes to Ma Dai's camp with Jiang Wei, Zhang Yi, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao; saying that snow is about to fall, he places Guan Xing and Zhang Bao in ambush, tells Jiang Wei to fall back and flee when the iron-chariot troops come, and leaves only flags standing to no purpose at the entrance of the camp. Romance, Ch. 94 §4–7 · 12–14

At the end of the twelfth month heavy snow does indeed fall, and when the Qiang troops reach the camp, only the sound of a zither is heard within and only flags stand on every side. When Yueji grows suspicious and dares not advance, Chancellor Yadan says, 'This is a cunning ruse of Zhuge Liang, who has merely set up a sham force to sow doubt, so we may attack.' When Kongming takes up his zither, mounts a carriage and flees, and the small carriage turns into the woods, Yadan tells Yueji that with troops like these there is nothing to fear even if there is an ambush, and leads the main army in pursuit. Romance, Ch. 94 §15–16

Even when it is reported that Shu troops are emerging from behind the hills, Yadan says, 'Even if there are a few small ambushes, what is there to fear!' and simply urges his men and horses onward. On the snow-covered mountain road the Qiang soldiers all fall into pits and trenches, and the iron chariots following behind, unable to stop, trample one another. As Guan Xing and Zhang Bao loose their crossbows and Jiang Wei, Ma Dai and Zhang Yi strike from behind, Marshal Yueji is cut down by Guan Xing, and Chancellor Yadan is captured alive by Ma Dai and sent under escort to the main camp. Romance, Ch. 94 §17–18

Kongming rebukes his guards and has them untie his bonds, gives him wine to calm his fright and comforts him with kind words, and Yadan is deeply moved by his virtue. Kongming says that his lord is the Emperor of the Great Han, asks why they have instead aided the rebels, and tells him to tell his lord to bind themselves in lasting alliance as neighbouring states and not to listen to the words of rebels. He returns all the captured Qiang soldiers, carts, horses and weapons and sends them back to their country, and they all bow in thanks and depart. Yadan's name does not appear again in the Romance after this. Romance, Ch. 94 §19–20