Yan Baihu
Encyclopedia
Yan Baihu was a bandit leader active in the Wu
region during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
.
was appointed as the Governor of Yang province, the White Tiger was approached and bribed by Liu to support him against the powerful warlord Yuan Shu
, who had a large army over the Huai river valley.
, White Tiger Yan successfully re-established or even increased his private army to tens of thousand, composed of elite Shanyue people and bandits, to prepare a final showdown with the young Sun Ce. Besides being the head of a loose confederation of bandits and local officials, Yan formed an alliance with a warlord, Wang Lang
, who had plenty of food supplies that can afford the alliance's soldiers.
Despite Yan's preparations, Sun Ce was able to outwit Wang Lang and took his supply base through tactic; with the provisions gone, the White Tiger and Wang Lang were defeated by Sun. Yan then fled into the deep hills, and continued to encourage the Shanyue people to oppose Sun Ce's reign.
and then fled to Wang Lang
to seek help.While seeking the help of Wang Lang, however, his army was defeated by Ling Cao
and his son, Ling Tong
. During Yan's retreat, Dong Xi
caught up with him, however, and slew him. Dong Xi then sent Yan Baihu's head in a box to Sun Ce.
Historically, it was likely that White Tiger Yan was defeated by Sun Ce's vanguard Ling Cao, however, he did survive the rout, and at least lived up to the time of Sun Ce's assassination.
Wu (region)
Wu is a region in the Jiangnan area , surrounding Suzhou, in Jiangsu province and Zhejiang province of China. It is also the abbreviation of several kingdoms based in Wu. The two largest cities in the Wu region today are Shanghai and Hangzhou...
region during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
The White Tiger among bandits
Baihu was not Yan's real name, but a nickname given to him due to his physical prowess or skin color; thus his name should be translated to "White Tiger Yan". According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, the White Tiger held gigantic influence among the Shanyue tribes and even Han officials in the Wu area. When Liu YaoLiu Yao
Liu Yao , courtesy name Yongming , was the final emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. He became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup. However, the empire was soon divided in half, as the general Shi Le declared...
was appointed as the Governor of Yang province, the White Tiger was approached and bribed by Liu to support him against the powerful warlord Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the imperial court in 189. He was said to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother...
, who had a large army over the Huai river valley.
Clash with the Little Conqueror
After Liu Yao was defeated by Yuan Shu's ally and subordinate, Sun CeSun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
, White Tiger Yan successfully re-established or even increased his private army to tens of thousand, composed of elite Shanyue people and bandits, to prepare a final showdown with the young Sun Ce. Besides being the head of a loose confederation of bandits and local officials, Yan formed an alliance with a warlord, Wang Lang
Wang Lang
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty and a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty.-Early life...
, who had plenty of food supplies that can afford the alliance's soldiers.
Despite Yan's preparations, Sun Ce was able to outwit Wang Lang and took his supply base through tactic; with the provisions gone, the White Tiger and Wang Lang were defeated by Sun. Yan then fled into the deep hills, and continued to encourage the Shanyue people to oppose Sun Ce's reign.
In fiction
In the novel, Yan Baihu was attacked by Sun CeSun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
and then fled to Wang Lang
Wang Lang
Wang Lang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty and a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Through his granddaughter's marriage to Sima Zhao, he would become great-grandfather of Sima Yan, who later became the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty.-Early life...
to seek help.While seeking the help of Wang Lang, however, his army was defeated by Ling Cao
Ling Cao
Ling Cao was a military officer serving under the warlord Sun Ce during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the father of Ling Tong.-Early life:...
and his son, Ling Tong
Ling Tong
Ling Tong was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his service to the Sun family since his childhood, and throughout his entire life, he had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of Eastern Wu...
. During Yan's retreat, Dong Xi
Dong Xi
Dong Xi was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He hailed from Yuyao county, Kuaiji commandery , and entered Sun Ce's camp when the later pacified Jiangdong...
caught up with him, however, and slew him. Dong Xi then sent Yan Baihu's head in a box to Sun Ce.
Historically, it was likely that White Tiger Yan was defeated by Sun Ce's vanguard Ling Cao, however, he did survive the rout, and at least lived up to the time of Sun Ce's assassination.