Qin and Han · Diplomat and Strategist

Li Yiji 酈食其

Died BC 204

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Yiji was a Diplomat and Strategist.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Alternate name	Li Sheng	酈生	Li Sheng

Life and dates

Death

BC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊
Boiled alive · Authority Tian Guang (田廣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 79

Attested activity

BC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 73-75, 77, 79

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Ping (平)
father 父 · paternal line
paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 82-84
Parent of Jie (疥)
son 子
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 82

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Tian Guang (田廣) · Extent s0077, s0078
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 77-78

Events and relationships

Won over qi cities
BC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊 · Diplomatic · Persuader · At Qi 齊 · Outcome More than seventy cities submitted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 74

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 73

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 7 passages

田廣以為然，乃聽酈生，罷歷下兵守戰備，與酈生日縱酒。 Tian Guang found this persuasive. He heeded Li Yiji, stood down the garrison at Lixia and disbanded his war preparations, and spent his days drinking freely with Li Yiji.

淮陰侯聞酈生伏軾下齊七十餘城，乃夜度兵平原襲齊。 When the Marquis of Huaiyin heard that Li Yiji had, merely by leaning on the crossbar of his carriage and speaking, won over more than seventy cities of Qi, he crossed his forces at Pingyuan by night and launched a surprise attack on Qi.

齊王田廣聞漢兵至，以為酈生賣己，乃曰：「汝能止漢軍，我活汝； When King Tian Guang of Qi heard the Han troops had arrived, he thought Li Sheng had betrayed him, and said: 'If you can stop the Han army, I will spare your life;

酈生曰：「舉大事不細謹，盛德不辭讓。 Li Yiji replied: 'In undertaking great affairs one cannot fuss over petty details; in abundant virtue one does not decline what is due.

齊王遂亨酈生，引兵東走。 The King of Qi had Li Yiji boiled alive, then led his troops in flight to the east.

高祖舉列侯功臣，思酈食其。 When Gaozu reviewed the marquises and their merits, he was reminded of Li Yiji.

酈食其子疥數將兵，功未當侯，上以其父故，封疥為高梁侯。 Li Yiji's son Jie had led troops on several occasions, but his merit was not yet worthy of a marquisate. The emperor, because of his father's sake, enfeoffed Jie as the Marquis of Gaoliang.