
| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 杨怀, 楊懷, Yáng Huái |
| Other name | Dương Hoài |
| INFORMATION | |
| Died | 212 |
| Death Reason | Executed and beheaded by Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) for a failed assassination plot at F Pass (涪关; ải Phù) (212 AD) |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Liu Zhang's Forces |
| Battles | Boshui Pass, Luo Castle, Jia Meng Gate, Chengdu |
Here is the exhaustive biography, ancestral background, historical records, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative for Yang Huai (楊懷) (d. 212 AD), a valiant military general serving under the regional governor Liu Zhang during the late Eastern Han Dynasty who defended the passes of Yi Province against Liu Bei’s invasion.
Defense of Boshui Pass & Execution by Liu Bei
Yang Huai served as a general under Liu Zhang, alongside Gao Pei, tasked with guarding the strategic passes of Yi Province. Initially stationed at Boshui Pass (or F Pass) to defend against external threats such as Zhang Lu’s army, Yang Huai and Gao Pei later confronted Liu Bei when the latter turned his ambitions toward seizing Yi Province. In historical accounts and the novel alike, when Liu Bei advanced into western Sichuan under the guise of an ally, Yang Huai and Gao Pei recognized his treacherous intentions. They conspired to fake their surrender and assassinate Liu Bei during a farewell banquet at the pass. However, Pang Tong saw through their plot, and Liu Bei’s forces captured them. Refusing to submit and condemning Liu Bei’s betrayal of his own kinsman, Yang Huai and Gao Pei were summarily beheaded.
Yang Huai (楊懷) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Guarding the Northern Passes
Tasked alongside Gao Pei with guarding Boshui Pass and preventing hostile incursions from Zhang Lu in Hanzhong.
Conspiracy at F Pass & Execution
Conspires with Gao Pei in Chapter 62 to fake a surrender and assassinate Liu Bei, but the plot is exposed by Pang Tong, leading to their immediate capture and execution.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Narrative
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yang Huai appears prominently in Chapters 60 and 62 as a fiercely loyal general of Yi Province who bravely attempts to eliminate Liu Bei to protect his master Liu Zhang, earning legendary status for his uncompromising defiance.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Yang Huai on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Gao Pei (高沛, Cao Phái): A fellow general under Liu Zhang who served alongside Yang Huai in defending the northern passes of Yi Province and acted as his co-conspirator in the failed 212 AD assassination plot against Liu Bei.
Enemies
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): The warlord who invaded Yi Province in 212 AD; he ordered the execution of Yang Huai after the general’s assassination plot was exposed.
- Pang Tong (庞统, Bàng Thống): The strategist serving Liu Bei who successfully identified the treachery of Yang Huai and Gao Pei, leading to their immediate capture and death.
- Fa Zheng (法正, Pháp Chính): A former subordinate of Liu Zhang who defected to Liu Bei and provided the intelligence and strategic guidance that facilitated the conquest of Shu, directly undermining Yang Huai’s defensive efforts.
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ): The warlord of Hanzhong whose hostile incursions necessitated Yang Huai’s initial deployment to the northern passes of Yi Province.
Other
- Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): The regional governor of Yi Province and Yang Huai’s sovereign, to whom Yang Huai remained fiercely loyal until his death in 212 AD.
In Novel
Chapter 60
- Yang Huai (杨怀, Dương Hoài): Military commander under Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương) stationed alongside Gao Pei (高沛, Cao Bái) to guard the strategic fortress of Fu Pass (涪水关).
Chapter 62
- Yang Huai (杨怀, Dương Hoài): Conspired with Gao Pei (高沛, Cao Bái) to assassinate Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) during a farewell presentation at Fu Pass, but their concealed daggers were detected by Pang Tong (庞统, Bàng Thống), resulting in their immediate capture and execution.
In History
Summary
- Yang Huai (杨怀, Dương Hoài) was a military officer serving Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương) in Yi Province. He was associated with the defense of Baishui Pass.
Year: 212 AD
- Yang Huai (杨怀, Dương Hoài) and Gao Pei (高沛, Cao Bái) were ordered to accompany Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) and later attempted to kill or restrain him when Liu Bei was preparing to leave for the front.
Historical Record
- Yang Huai (杨怀, Dương Hoài) was a real historical officer. Liu Bei had both Yang Huai and Gao Pei executed after taking control of them. The novel preserves and dramatizes this episode.















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