Li Yiji
Encyclopedia
Li Yiji was an advisor to Liu Bang (later Emperor Gaozu of Han) during the Chu–Han contention.
, Henan
). He joined Liu Bang around 207 BC during the insurrection against the Qin Dynasty
. Liu Bang's rebel army was preparing to attack the city of Chenliu, when Li Yiji came to Liu's camp and requested to see Liu, identifying himself as a Confucianist
scholar. Liu Bang disliked scholars and did not want to meet Li Yiji. Li Yiji was furious and he shouted at the sentry, "You go in and tell the Duke of Pei (Liu Bang) that I'm a drinker from Gaoyang, not a scholar!" Liu Bang was pleased when he heard that a drinker wanted to meet him and he immediately prepared a feast to welcome Li Yiji.
Li Yiji chided Liu Bang for his rude behavior upon meeting the latter. Liu Bang was embarrassed and he apologised, and then asked Li Yiji for ideas on how to conquer Chenliu. Li Yiji returned to Chenliu and attempted to persuade the magistrate to surrender to Liu Bang, but the magistrate refused. Li Yiji then led his men to kill the magistrate and sent a messenger to Liu Bang. Liu Bang led his army to attack Chenliu and the Qin soldiers gave up when they saw that the magistrate had been killed. Liu Bang gained more than 10,000 new troops and many supplies after conquering Chenliu.
In 204 BC, during the Chu–Han contention, when Liu Bang was besieged by Xiang Yu
's forces in Xingyang
, Li Yiji suggested to Liu Bang to recreate the former states of the Warring States Period
and install the descendants of their royal families on their respective thrones. This plan was intended to help Liu Bang gain the support of the vassal states' rulers, who would help him in the war against Xiang Yu. Liu Bang initially applauded Li Yiji's idea, but he dismissed Li's plan later after listening to Zhang Liang's opinion that the states were more likely to support Western Chu
instead as Chu was superior to Han
in terms of military might.
Later that year, Li Yiji volunteered to persuade the rival Qi kingdom to surrender to Liu Bang. He travelled to Qi and managed to convince Tian Guang (King of Qi) to submit to Liu Bang. However, Liu Bang's general Han Xin
, who was initially ordered to attack Qi, was unaware of the change in plan. Following the advice of Kuai Tong, Han Xin made a surprise attack on Qi and conquered Lixia
and Linzi
(capital of Qi). Tian Guang felt that Li Yiji had betrayed him and he had Li boiled alive.
After Liu Bang became Emperor of China
, he conferred the title of "Marquis of Gaoliang" (高粱侯) on Li Yiji's son, Li Jie (酈疥).
Biography
Li Yiji was from Gaoyang, Chenliu (near present-day KaifengKaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). He joined Liu Bang around 207 BC during the insurrection against the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
. Liu Bang's rebel army was preparing to attack the city of Chenliu, when Li Yiji came to Liu's camp and requested to see Liu, identifying himself as a Confucianist
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
scholar. Liu Bang disliked scholars and did not want to meet Li Yiji. Li Yiji was furious and he shouted at the sentry, "You go in and tell the Duke of Pei (Liu Bang) that I'm a drinker from Gaoyang, not a scholar!" Liu Bang was pleased when he heard that a drinker wanted to meet him and he immediately prepared a feast to welcome Li Yiji.
Li Yiji chided Liu Bang for his rude behavior upon meeting the latter. Liu Bang was embarrassed and he apologised, and then asked Li Yiji for ideas on how to conquer Chenliu. Li Yiji returned to Chenliu and attempted to persuade the magistrate to surrender to Liu Bang, but the magistrate refused. Li Yiji then led his men to kill the magistrate and sent a messenger to Liu Bang. Liu Bang led his army to attack Chenliu and the Qin soldiers gave up when they saw that the magistrate had been killed. Liu Bang gained more than 10,000 new troops and many supplies after conquering Chenliu.
In 204 BC, during the Chu–Han contention, when Liu Bang was besieged by Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
's forces in Xingyang
Xingyang
Xingyang , is one of county-level cities of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. It is 15 kilometers in the west of Zhengzhou city and is the nearest city to Zhengzhou as well...
, Li Yiji suggested to Liu Bang to recreate the former states of the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
and install the descendants of their royal families on their respective thrones. This plan was intended to help Liu Bang gain the support of the vassal states' rulers, who would help him in the war against Xiang Yu. Liu Bang initially applauded Li Yiji's idea, but he dismissed Li's plan later after listening to Zhang Liang's opinion that the states were more likely to support Western Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
instead as Chu was superior to Han
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...
in terms of military might.
Later that year, Li Yiji volunteered to persuade the rival Qi kingdom to surrender to Liu Bang. He travelled to Qi and managed to convince Tian Guang (King of Qi) to submit to Liu Bang. However, Liu Bang's general Han Xin
Hán Xìn
Han Xin was a military general who served Liu Bang during the Chu–Han contention and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty...
, who was initially ordered to attack Qi, was unaware of the change in plan. Following the advice of Kuai Tong, Han Xin made a surprise attack on Qi and conquered Lixia
Lixia District
Lixia is a suburban district of the province of Shandong, China. It is administered by the subprovincial town of Jinan. It has an area of 100.89 km² and, in 2003, had 583,500 inhabitants.- External links :*...
and Linzi
Linzi
Linzi was the capital of Qi from 859 BC to 221 BC during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period in China. The ruins of the city lie in modern day Linzi District, Shandong, China. The city was one of the largest and richest in China during the Spring and Autumn Period...
(capital of Qi). Tian Guang felt that Li Yiji had betrayed him and he had Li boiled alive.
After Liu Bang became Emperor of China
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
, he conferred the title of "Marquis of Gaoliang" (高粱侯) on Li Yiji's son, Li Jie (酈疥).
Drinker from Gaoyang
The Chinese term gaoyang jiutu , which originated from the remark made by Li Yiji when Liu Bang refused to see him, is used to describe someone who indulges heavily in alcohol and behaves in a wanton and unrestrained manner.External links
Li Yiji on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....