Hu Yan was strongly supportive of the Jin position prior to the battle and even interpreted the Duke of Jin's dream—in which the Duke of Chu bent him over and began sucking out his brains—as a favorable omen.
Hu Yan sangat mendukung posisi Jin sebelum pertempuran dan bahkan menafsirkan impian Adipati Jin—di mana Adipati Chu membungkukkannya dan mulai mengisap otaknya—sebagai pertanda baik.