Yan Pu

Historical Record

Yan Pu, courtesy name unknown, was a man of Baxi commandery. In the late Han period he served Zhang Lu, who held Hanzhong as an independent warlord. Zhang Lu commanded more than a hundred thousand households in Hanzhong, with fertile land, defensible terrain on all sides, and formidable strength. When Zhang Lu's subordinates, having found a jade seal buried in the ground, wished to honor him as King of Hanning, Yan Pu strongly remonstrated. He pointed out that if Zhang Lu could support the Son of Heaven from above, he could rival the achievements of Dukes Huan and Wen; failing that, he could still preserve his wealth and rank like Dou Rong. He held that Zhang Lu, governing by imperial mandate and making his own appointments, was already enough to hold a region independently and need not rush to declare himself king, lest he invite disaster. Zhang Lu followed his advice^[1].

After the rebellion of Han Sui and Ma Chao, tens of thousands of people from the region west of the passes fled to Hanzhong by way of the Ziwu Valley, further strengthening Zhang Lu's power^[1]. Later, when Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong and Yangping Pass had fallen, Zhang Lu wished to surrender at once. Yan Pu, however, again counseled him, suggesting that Zhang Lu would do better first to attach himself to forces such as Du Huo and Pu Hu, hold out against Cao Cao, and surrender when the moment was ripe—this way he could win greater merit. Zhang Lu adopted this strategy and turned instead toward the South Mountains, entering Bazhong. During the withdrawal, Zhang Lu's attendants wished to burn the treasury of valuables, but Zhang Lu stopped them, saying that his true intent was to submit to the state, that this retreat was to avoid Cao Cao's edge and not out of malice, and that therefore the treasury should be left for the state. After Cao Cao entered Nanzheng, he greatly praised Zhang Lu for this and sent men to console him. Zhang Lu finally surrendered with his whole household, and Cao Cao treated him with the courtesy due a guest, appointing him General Who Guards the South, enfeoffing him as Marquis of Langzhong with a fief of ten thousand households. At the same time, Zhang Lu's five sons and Yan Pu and the others were all enfeoffed as full marquises^[2].

According to Pei Songzhi's commentary citing Xi Zaochi's appraisal, Cao Cao rewarded Yan Pu precisely to make plain his merit in counseling Zhang Lu not to declare himself king, demonstrating clear rewards and punishments and encouraging submission. During the Huangchu era, Yan Pu's rank and fief were increased, and he was included among those summoned with ceremonial courtesy. More than ten years later, Yan Pu died of illness. His grandson Yan Zuan later served as Marshal of the Western Rong^[2].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yan Pu is further developed as an important adviser to Zhang Lu, repeatedly offering counsel at critical moments, though not always heeded. He first appears after Cao Cao defeated Ma Chao, when Zhang Lu, fearing Cao Cao would encroach on Hanzhong, intended to style himself King of Hanning to resist Cao Cao. At this point Yan Pu again remonstrated, pointing out that Hanzhong was populous, rich in goods and grain, defensible in terrain, and that after Ma Chao's recent defeat tens of thousands of people from Xiliang had poured into Hanzhong. He suggested that Zhang Lu would do better first to seize the forty-one prefectures of Liu Zhang in Yi Province as a base, and only then declare himself king. Zhang Lu was delighted with this advice and consulted with his younger brother Zhang Wei about sending out troops^[3].

Later, when Liu Bei attacked Yi Province, Liu Zhang sent an envoy to Zhang Lu begging for aid and promising to cede twenty prefectures in return. Yang Song, persuaded by Liu Zhang's envoy Huang Quan, brought Huang Quan to see Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu, tempted by the gain, was moved and wished to send troops to help. Yan Pu, however, again remonstrated, pointing out that Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu were enemies for generations, and that this plea for aid was merely a deceitful offer to cede land in a moment of crisis, which should not be heeded^[4]. But this time Zhang Lu did not follow Yan Pu's advice.

When Cao Cao's great army bore down on Hanzhong, Zhang Lu in his panic summoned his civil and military officers to discuss a response. Yan Pu recommended Pang De of Nan'an, noting that Pang De had once followed Ma Chao, had stayed behind in Hanzhong because of illness, and, having received Zhang Lu's care and support, could be sent out to fight Cao Cao^[5]. However, when Zhang Lu finally decided to go out of the city to fight Cao Cao, Yan Pu again counseled him not to give battle, but Zhang Lu would not listen. The result was that Zhang Lu's army was routed, and when it fell back to the city wall, Yang Song shut the gates and refused to let it in. With nowhere to turn, Zhang Lu at last surrendered to Cao Cao. Mindful of Zhang Lu's good deed in sealing up the treasury, Cao Cao treated him generously, appointing him General Who Guards the South, and Yan Pu and the others were all enfeoffed as full marquises^[6]. In the novel, Yang Song was executed for betraying his lord in pursuit of glory, forming a sharp contrast with Yan Pu's loyalty.

Key Relationships

* Zhang Lu (advises_in): Yan Pu was an important adviser to Zhang Lu, repeatedly offering counsel at critical moments. The histories record that he counseled Zhang Lu not to style himself King of Hanning, and advised him, when Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong, first to avoid his edge and then surrender to win better treatment^[1],^[2]. In the novel, he also advised Zhang Lu to take Xichuan first before declaring himself king, and urged Zhang Lu not to trust Liu Zhang's plea for aid^[3],^[4].
* Cao Wei (defected_to): Yan Pu surrendered to Cao Cao together with Zhang Lu and was thereby enfeoffed as a full marquis^[2],^[6]. His loyalty and wisdom were recognized by Cao Cao, who held him up as a model of one who understood the principles of reward and punishment^[2].

Iconic Scenes

* Counseling Zhang Lu not to declare himself king: This is a representative scene for Yan Pu in both the histories and the novel. When Zhang Lu wished to style himself King of Hanning, Yan Pu—on the basis of Hanzhong's favorable terrain, its people, and its formidable strength—counseled him not to rush to declare himself king lest he invite disaster, suggesting instead that Zhang Lu emulate Dukes Huan and Wen, or Dou Rong, and preserve his wealth and rank. Zhang Lu followed his advice^[1]. In the novel, he advised Zhang Lu to take Xichuan first before declaring himself king^[3] (novel-only).
* Counseling Zhang Lu to avoid Cao Cao's edge before surrendering: When Cao Cao's great army bore down and Zhang Lu wished to surrender outright, Yan Pu advised him first to avoid Cao Cao's keen edge, attach himself instead to other forces, and only then surrender, so as to win greater merit. Zhang Lu adopted this advice and thereby gained Cao Cao's generous treatment and rewards^[2].
* Recommending Pang De to fight Cao Cao: In the novel, when Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong, Yan Pu recommended Pang De to Zhang Lu, holding that he could withstand Cao Cao's generals^[5] (novel-only).