[ Given rank by Huang Hao. Talentless. Disbanded Jiang Wei’s defense of Qishan Hills.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Yen Yü (Wên-p‘ing)
Simplified Chinese: 阎宇 (文平)
Other Names: Yan Yun
Name Notes: Yan Yu’s name is incorrectly translated in the Brewitt-Taylor as ‘Yan Yun’.
Rank and Titles
General of the Right
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 115
Biography
Early in Deng Ai’s campaign into Shu, General of the Right Yan Yu, an man without merit or accomplishment, fawned on Huang Hao to reach a rank of importance. When he learned that Jiang Wei possessed command of the troops at Qishan Hills to defend against the incoming threat, he persuaded Huang Hao to petition the Emperor (Liu Shan) with a request that he be sent out as Jiang Wei’s replacement, giving him a chance to earn greater merit.
Liu Shan approved, and dispatched an envoy to recall Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei was faced with no choice but to comply, and arranged his retreat in such a way that Deng Ai did not dare to pursue, fearing a trap. Liu Shan did not meet with him despite ten days of efforts, so Jiang Wei went to meet with Xi Zheng of the Documents Department. Xi Zheng revealed to Jiang Wei the true reason of his recall, and theorized that Liu Shan realized the error of his mistake upon witnessing Deng Ai’s military prowess, and chose instead to hide from the situation, quietly dropping the matter.
Jiang Wei wished to kill Huang Hao, but Xi Zheng calmed him.