Yan Xiang

Historical Record

Yan Xiang was the Registrar under Yuan Shu. In the winter of the second year of Xingping (195 CE), when Emperor Xian of Han had retreated in defeat at Caoyang, Yuan Shu gathered his subordinates, intending to declare himself emperor. He told them that the House of Liu was in decline, the realm in turmoil, while the Yuan family had produced the Three Excellencies for four generations and deeply won the hearts of the people, and that he wished to comply with the Mandate of Heaven and ascend the throne. Faced with Yuan Shu's inquiry, none of the company dared answer; only Yan Xiang stepped forward and spoke frankly in remonstrance ^c:3995.

Yan Xiang cited the Zhou dynasty as his example, pointing out that from Houji down to King Wen the Zhou had accumulated virtue and merit and already held two-thirds of the realm, yet still submitted to the Yin-Shang. He then compared Yuan Shu with the Zhou, holding that though Yuan Shu's family was illustrious for generations, it fell far short of the Zhou at its height; and that the House of Han, though already in decline, had not reached the tyranny of King Zhou of Yin. He therefore made clear that Yuan Shu ought not to declare himself emperor ^c:3995.

On hearing Yan Xiang's remonstrance, Yuan Shu was silent and displeased, but did not at once burst out. In the end, however, he adopted the prophetic-mandate theory of Zhang Jiong of Henei, usurped the title, and declared himself emperor, styling his dynasty "Zhong." After declaring himself emperor, Yuan Shu appointed the Grand Administrator of Jiujiang as Intendant of Huainan, established the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers, and sacrificed to Heaven and Earth. His life grew ever more dissolute and extravagant: his harem of several hundred all wore fine silks and feasted on rich food, while his soldiers suffered cold and hunger, so that the Jiang-Huai region was reduced to destitution, even to the horror of people eating one another ^c:3995.

After declaring himself emperor, Yuan Shu was defeated in turn by Lü Bu and Cao Cao, and finally turned to his retainers Lei Bao and Chen Lan at Mount Qian, only to be refused. In his fear and helplessness, with nowhere to turn, he intended to surrender the imperial title to Yuan Shao and to go to Qing Province to seek refuge with Yuan Tan, but fell ill and died on the way ^c:3995. The histories give no clear record of Yan Xiang's whereabouts after Yuan Shu declared himself emperor.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yan Xiang's image is largely consistent with the historical record, likewise cast as a loyal minister bold enough to remonstrate directly. In chapter 17 of the novel, Yuan Shu, holding vast lands and ample grain in Huainan and possessing the Imperial Hereditary Seal pledged by Sun Ce, conceived the ambition of usurping the throne. He gathered his ministers to deliberate, declaring that the Han founder had been no more than a village headman before winning the realm, that now the fortunes of Han were spent, that the Yuan family had produced the Three Excellencies for four generations and deeply won the hearts of the people, and that he wished to comply with the Mandate of Heaven and ascend the throne ^c:6567.

At this, the Registrar Yan Xiang stepped forward, standing against the rest, and frankly said "It cannot be." He cited the precedent of King Wen of Zhou, who had accumulated virtue and merit and already held two-thirds of the realm yet still submitted to the Yin-Shang, pointing out that though Yuan Shu's family was illustrious it fell far short of the Zhou at its height, and that the House of Han, though in decline, had not reached the tyranny of King Zhou of Yin. He therefore firmly opposed Yuan Shu's declaring himself emperor, holding that it "absolutely must not be done" ^c:6567.

Hearing this, Yuan Shu flew into a rage and retorted that the Yuan surname descended from Chen, and so from the great Shun, that as Earth succeeding Fire it answered to its destiny. He further cited the prophecy "The one who replaces Han shall be the high one upon the road," and claimed that his own courtesy name "Gonglu" (Lord of the Road) answered precisely to this prophecy. Possessing moreover the Imperial Hereditary Seal, not to declare himself emperor would be "to turn his back on the Way of Heaven." Yuan Shu was adamant, declaring, "My mind is made up; whoever says more shall be beheaded!" ^c:6567 Though Yuan Shu displayed great displeasure and menace at Yan Xiang's remonstrance, Yan Xiang's frank outspokenness highlighted his loyal and upright character. In the novel, Yan Xiang does not appear again after this remonstrance, and his fate, as in the histories, is left unstated.

Key Relationships

* Yuan Shu (advises_in): Yan Xiang was Yuan Shu's Registrar, and when Yuan Shu intended to declare himself emperor, he frankly remonstrated with him ^c:3995. Though his remonstrance failed to stop Yuan Shu from declaring himself emperor, his loyal and upright character is reflected in both the histories and the novel. Yuan Shu was "silent and displeased" ^c:3995 or "angrily said" ^c:6567 in response to Yan Xiang's remonstrance, showing Yuan Shu's intolerance of dissenting opinion.
* Yuan Shu's Faction (advisor): As Yuan Shu's Registrar, Yan Xiang was one of the important advisers within Yuan Shu's faction. When the faction faced major decisions, he was able to offer his own views; though his advice went unheeded, his position and duties made him an advisory figure within the faction ^c:3995.

Iconic Scenes

* Frankly remonstrating against Yuan Shu's declaring himself emperor: This is Yan Xiang's best-known iconic scene. When Yuan Shu gathered his ministers, intending to usurp the throne, all the ministers dared not speak; only Yan Xiang stepped forward, citing King Wen of Zhou's service to King Zhou of Yin and forcefully arguing the impossibility of Yuan Shu's declaring himself emperor. He pointed out that though Yuan Shu's family was illustrious, it fell short of the Zhou at its height, and that the House of Han, though in decline, had not reached the tyranny of King Zhou of Yin. This act fully displays Yan Xiang's loyal, upright character and his courage to remonstrate directly ^{c:3995 c:6567}. Though Yuan Shu was "silent and displeased" ^c:3995, and even in the novel threatened that "whoever says more shall be beheaded" ^c:6567, Yan Xiang's remonstrance remains the most brilliant stroke of his career.