183 Beijing Operas - Yan Yan - Number 75

Yan Yan

Beijing Opera - "Passing through Bazhou"

Yan Yan with an old pink six-tenth face stars in the opera "Passing through Bazhou." Yan Yan was distinguished general from Yi Zhou, whose valor was said to be able to withstand a thousand men. In the sixteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (AD 211), he was appointed as Governor of Ba Prefecture by Imperial Protector Liu Zhang.

Yan Yan was against the plan of letting Liu Bei into Ba-Shu to attack Zhang Lu and advised Liu Zhang to keep the latter of the land. When Liu Bei eventually turned coat and attacked Liu Zhang instead, Yan Yan fought with Zhang Fei in Ba Prefecture. Yan Yan lost to Zhang Fei's strategy and surrendered his forces. Liu Zhang submitted to Liu Bei's army and the latter took over Yi Zhou. Yan Yan continued his service as General of the Vanguard under Zhuge Liang. When Kongming started his Northern Campaign, he appointed Yan Yan as Acting Military Counselor. He died of natural causes while in Zhuge Liang's service.