Wei Yan - in Fiction

In Fiction

In the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is suggested that Wei Yan originally served as a mid-ranking military officer under the warlord Liu Biao, though this fact is historically unattested. Before the Battle of Changban, Wei Yan tried to revolt against Cai Mao, who had already surrendered to Cao Cao, to give the city of Xiangyang to Liu Bei. Liu Bei, however, didn't want to bring chaos to Xiangyang and chose to go to Jiangling instead. Wei Yan was not able to rendezvous with Liu Bei and became a subject of Han Xuan. Liu Bei later came to invade Han Xuan's city of Changsha, and Han Xuan became suspicious of his top general Huang Zhong amidst the battle and wanted to execute him. Wei Yan, outraged at Han Xuan's distrust, killed Han Xuan, rescued Huang Zhong, and surrendered the city to Liu Bei. While Zhuge Liang welcomed Huang Zhong, he ordered Wei Yan executed, saying that Wei Yan had the complexion of a traitor. Nonetheless, Liu Bei ordered Wei Yan's life to be spared and welcomed him into his forces.

Wei Yan became a valuable asset to Liu Bei's military, and he continued to serve Liu Bei's state of Shu Han well until Zhuge Liang died. At the eve of his death, Zhuge Liang predicted that Wei Yan would rebel, and so laid out a secret plan that would remove this threat after his death. Wei Yan openly rebelled with Ma Dai after Zhuge Liang died, as predicted. In one particular standoff between Wei Yan and Wang Ping, Wei Yan repeatedly shouted the challenge: "Who dares to kill me?" Unbeknownst to Wei Yan, Ma Dai was actually involved in Zhuge Liang's plan to remove Wei. Responding to Wei Yan's challenge, Ma Dai then sprung out from Wei Yan's own ranks and decapitated him.