Yue Yi was an officer of the State of Yan

Yan (state)

Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...

 during the Warring State period, also known as Lord Guojun. He was the son of the prime minister of the small nation of Zhongshan

Zhongshan (state)

Zhongshan was a Di state created by the nomadic Xianyu tribe in China during the later Zhou Dynasty, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di .)...

, but when Zhongshan was destroyed by Zhao's King Wuling, he was forced to wander from country to country. His talents were recognized by Yan's King Zhao, and he was made a minister. He served with great skill and helped forge the alliance with the nations of Zhao

Zhao (state)

Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...

, Wei

Wei (state)

The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...

, 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...

, Han

Han (state)

Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....

 and Qin

Qin (state)

The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...

 against the threat posed by Qi

Qi (state)

Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....

. He led the allied armies and crushed the Qi forces. The cruel King of Qi was driven away, and, except for two cities, the entire territory of Qi was brought under control. Soon thereafter, King Zhao suddenly died. Due to the scheming of Tian Dan of Qi, King Hui was suspected of involvement in the death and was exiled to Zhao. He left the service of King Zhao on amicable terms but continued to spend time there, and became an important figure in both Zhao and Yan.

Popular culture

Yue Yi is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei. In the Chinese classical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...

, Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....

 often compares himself with Yue Yi and Guan Zhong

Guan Zhong

Guǎn Zhòng was a politician and statesman during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. His given name was Yíwú . Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC.-Achievements:Guan Zhong modernized the Qi State by...

.