Yan Rou

Yan Rou (onyomi: Sen Jou) is an officer of the three kingdoms era who served several lords. Regardless of the lord he served, Yan Rou typically worked as an ambassador between the Han people and the northern nomadic tribes (primarily the Wuwan and Xianbei). He filled this roll due to the trust he'd garnered with the tribes due to living among them as a hostage in his youth. Cao Cao is said to have considered him like a son, courting much favor from him and from Cao Pi.

Roles in Games
Yan Rou first appears in Dynasty Warriors 6  at Guandu. He is one of the lieutenants of Yan Liang and as such, joins him in the initial assault on the temporary forts, Baima and Yan. In Dynasty Warriors 7, lies in ambush for Cao Cao, striking at him once exposed in the first wave of attackers.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms game series has included Yan Rou since its sixth game. He typically has decent stats in the low seventies. His stats and skills tend to favor administration, but he can also lead mounted archers decently, in a nod to his upbringing among the Wuhaun.

Historical Information
The exact origins of Yan Rou are unknown, but it is known that he hailed from Guangyang Commandery, You Province. When he was still a child he was abducted and raised in the Wuhuan (Wuwan) tribes. During his upbringing, Yan Rou earned the chieftain's trust, making him quite valuable to anyone who wished to parley with these northern tribesmen. The Han political leader turned regional warlord (despite not actually engaging much war) Liu Yu gained an excellent relationship with the Wuhuan people, which was brokered through Yan Rou.

In 193, the rival warlord Gongsun Zan, although technically a subordinate of Liu Yu, killed him in an ambush and seized the lands Yu controlled. Gongsun Zan had a terrible relationship with the Wuhuan, abusing their beliefs to slaughter them in battle. Such aggression and arrogance sat poorly with many of Liu Yu's former allies, leading Liu He to rise in rebellion to Gongsun Zan.Yan Rou helped negotiate an alliance between Liu He, Xianyu Fu, and the rising warlord Yuan Shao on behalf of the Wuhuan. Yan Rou and Xianyu Fu successfully defeated and killed Zou Dan of Gongsun Zan's forces in 195.

They, however, could not defeat Gongsun Zan on their own, and it took the forces of Yuan Shao, led by Qu Yi, to finally break the military might of Gongsun Zan. As part of this joint operation, Yan Rou slew Xing Ju, who held the title of protector of the Wuhuan, and took the official's title for himself. Once the dust settled and Gongsun Zan and Liu He were gone, Yuan Shao assumed control of You Province. He affirmed Yan Rou's new title, earning good will to keep negotiations with the Wuhuan open. Yan Rou proved instrumental in keeping good relations between the two factions, even securing some of the Wuhuan cavalry to serve under Yuan Shao.

During the Guandu campaign, Cao Cao sent emissaries to all of Yuan Shao's allies to try and turn them against Shao. While his long standing ally Xianyu Fu agreed to join Cao Cao's side, Yan Rou remained loyal. This change, however, alarmed Yuan Shao, who feared losing Yan Rou would cost him all of the Wuhuan. These concerns proved false, as Yan Rou remained loyal to the Yuan clan until around the fall of the city Ye and the death of Yuan Tan, in 205. After this crushing defeat, Yan Rou submitted to Cao Cao, bringing many Wuhuan over with him. As a reward, Cao Cao made him a Secondary Marquis.

Cao Cao was recorded as taking a liking to Yan Rou, showing him much favor and commenting that he would like his own sons to be like Yan Rou. When Cao Cao looked to finish off the Yuan Clan in You Province, Yan Rou served as guide and strategist on how to approach the holdout Wuhuan forces still serving Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. After the battle of Mt. Bailong was a smashing success for Cao Cao, other Xianbei tribal leaders, including the very influential Ke Bineng and Bu Dugan, went to Yan Rou to mediate their submission to Cao Cao.

In the following years, Yan Rou continued to serve Cao Cao in the north, working with the Xianbei tribes for the most part. In 211, Tian Yin and Su Bao rose in revolt in Hebei. Cao Pi sent Jia Xin, Yan Rou, and Ke Bineng to squash out the rebellious soldiers. Ke Bineng fought alongside Yan Rou during these battles, with Jia Xin operating on his own. In 220, when Cao Pi ascended the imperial throne, Yan Rou was promoted to General Who Crosses the Liao, expanding his authority in regards to the Xianbei. No known record contains any further history on Yan Rou's life.