Yan Yan 嚴顏

In Chapter 63 of the Romance, as Kongming sets out for Xichuan, he gives Zhang Fei 10,000 elite troops and has him attack Bazhou and the west of Luocheng by the main road. Scouts report that Yan Yan, Administrator of Ba Commandery, is a famous general of the land of Shu who, though old, has lost none of his vigour, draws a stiff bow and wields a great broadsword. Earlier, on hearing that Liu Zhang had sent Fa Zheng to invite Liu Bei in, Yan Yan had beaten his breast and sighed that it was 'like sitting alone in the deep mountains and inviting a tiger in to protect oneself'. When Zhang Fei's army arrives, he musters the five or six thousand men and horses of his own command to prepare to meet the enemy, and cuts off the ears and nose of the soldier who comes to deliver Zhang Fei's demand to surrender and sends him back. Romance, Ch. 63 §32 · 35–36 · 38

Following a plan to hold fast and not go out, Yan Yan keeps only to the walls, and from a watchtower hits Zhang Fei's helmet with a single arrow. When Zhang Fei scatters his troops to cut firewood, Yan Yan disguises a dozen or so soldiers as Zhang Fei's woodcutters to spy, and on hearing that Zhang Fei will slip past by a byway, he says that the 'witless fellow' has fallen into his trap and goes out of the city at night to lie in ambush in the woods and cut off the rear. Romance, Ch. 63 §37–38 · 40 · 42–47

At the third watch, when Zhang Fei passes in the lead with the carts following behind, Yan Yan beats the drums and springs his ambush, but from behind him, to the sound of gongs, the real Zhang Fei falls upon him. The one who had passed first was a false Zhang Fei. Before ten bouts have been fought, Zhang Fei deliberately shows an opening, and when Yan Yan slashes down with his blade, Zhang Fei dodges aside, seizes his armour cords and captures him alive. Romance, Ch. 63 §47–49

Brought before Zhang Fei, Yan Yan refuses to kneel and rebukes him, saying, 'There are generals who lose their heads, but no generals who surrender,' and even at the order to behead him he says, 'If you would behead me, then behead me; what is there to be angry about?' Zhang Fei turns his anger to joy, unties his bonds himself, dresses him, seats him in the place of honour and bows to apologize, and Yan Yan, moved by his kindness and righteousness, surrenders. Romance, Ch. 63 §50–52

In Chapter 64, saying that the passes and forts as far as Luocheng are all under his command, Yan Yan becomes the vanguard, and to those who hesitate he says, 'Even I have surrendered, let alone you,' so that not a single battle is fought. Zhang Fei says that the forty-five passes and forts along the way are all Yan Yan's achievement, and Liu Bei takes off the golden chain-mail armour he is wearing and gives it to him. In Chapter 65, when Liu Bei becomes Governor of Yi Province, Yan Yan becomes General of the Front. Romance, Ch. 64 §1–2 · 9–10Romance, Ch. 65 §46

In Chapter 70, Huang Zhong, setting out to attack Zhang He, asks for the veteran general Yan Yan as his deputy. Yan Yan goes round by a byway to come out behind Zhang He's army and attacks from both sides, routing Zhang He, and tells Huang Zhong that Mount Tiandang is where Cao Cao stores his grain and gathers his fodder. Following Huang Zhong's plan, he lies in ambush in the mountains, sets fires and cuts down Xiahou De, who comes to put them out, and Zhang He and Xiahou Shang abandon Mount Tiandang and flee. Romance, Ch. 70 §26 · 29 · 31–32 · 45–46

In Chapter 71, Kongming sends Yan Yan to Langzhong in Baxi to relieve Zhang Fei and Wei Yan, and in Chapter 72 Wei Yan and Zhang Fei take Nanzheng while Yan Yan holds Langzhong in their place. The Romance does not record Yan Yan's death after that. Romance, Ch. 71 §2Romance, Ch. 72 §12