# Li Chang Yen — The Big Four character guide

> Li Chang Yen in The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Chang Yen

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-we-hear-more-about-li-chang-yen

## Who they are

A Chinese mastermind named as Number One of the Big Four, whose very existence is doubted by premiers and police until one quiet voice in the room says simply: I have heard of him.

## Relationships

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Li Chang Yen is a mastermind of the Big Four, a cunning and powerful adversary of Poirot.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Li Chang Yen is a mastermind of the Big Four, a cunning and powerful adversary of Poirot.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Li Chang Yen is a mastermind of the Big Four, a cunning and powerful adversary of Poirot.

## In the story

### [The Unexpected Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/i-the-unexpected-guest)

Named by the stranger as 'Number One' of the Big Four, described as the brains of the organization.

### [We Hear More About Li Chang Yen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/iii-we-hear-more-about-li-chang-yen)

Described as the mastermind behind global unrest and revolutions; controls a scientific force; never leaves his palace in Peking.

### [The Baited Trap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xii-the-baited-trap)

Referenced as the master; a servant claiming to act for him confronts Hastings.

### [The Mouse Walks In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xiii-the-mouse-walks-in)

Mentioned as the master who devises tortures, though not present in the scene.

### [In the Felsenlabyrynth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-felsenlabyrynth)

Absent but represented by an empty chair; commits suicide upon hearing of the disaster.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/li_chang_yen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters