Yi Ji

Yi Ji is an officer who served both Liu Biao and Liu Bei. Originally a lowly scholar, Yi Ji followed Liu Biao into the Jing providence, where he eventually met and befriended Liu Bei. This friendship led Yi Ji to warn the future Shu leader of Hex Mark’s curse and Cai Mao’s assassination attempt. Yi Ji remained with Shu after the death of Biao and would go on to contribute to the creation of Shu’s legal system.

Role in Games
Yi Ji first appears in Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends as one of the bodyguards for Shu.

He comes back again as a full officer in the sixth title. Since this appearance, Yi Ji largely focuses as a defensive officer, staying near the main camp to defend from enemy officers. His primary appearances are at the battles of Changban and Fan Castle.

Dynasty Warriors 7 has Yi Ji also fight in Liu Biao’s army against Sun Jian. He also works as the partner officer for Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei at Changban. The eigth title reduced his role, having him join the first assault on Sun Jian under Liu Biao and serving his usual defensive role for both Changban and Fan Castle under Liu Bei.

Historical Information
Yi Ji, style name Jibo, was born in the Shanyang Prefecture, where served under Liu Biao at a young age. When Liu Biao recieved appointment as governor over Jing providence, Yi Ji followed him into the district. It was during his service in Jing providence that Yi Ji met Liu Bei, becoming friends with the aspiring conqueror. When Liu Cong, Liu Biao’s successor, surrended to Wei, Yi Ji to join Liu Bei at Xiakou, joining him officially with the fall of Jing. Jibo received the rank of Assistant Officer of the Household for his contributions to his new lord and was among the favored intellectual officers under Liu Bei.

He served as the messenger to Wu when Liu Bei was coordinating a two-pronged attack on Wei. During his meeting with Sun Quan, Yi Ji was tested by the leader of Wu. Sun Quan asked Jibo if his bowing upon entering was due to exhaustion from serving an incompetent lord. Yi Ji tactfully replied, "I just need to kneel down and pay my respects and then stand up. This isn't tiring to me." Such a swift and clever response gained him Sun Quan’s respect. Yi would continue to serve Shu past the death of Liu Bei, serving under Zhuge Liang as a law drafter, gaining the title of General of Illustrious Writing

Chen Zhou, author of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, wrote that Yi Ji, Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and Sun Qian were all refined and cultured men whose ideas were popular with the masses.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Yi Ji first appears in Romance of the Three Kingdoms’s chapter 34, where he warned Liu Bei about the bad omen his horse possessed, warning him that the animal would lead its rider to destruction. Liu Bei dismisses this warning, believing the power of fate to be stronger then one animal, gaining Yi Ji’s respect in the process.

He went on later in the chapter to warn Liu Bei of an impending assassination attempt by Cai Mao and his lackeys, provoking Liu Bei to take Zhao Yun along with him to the banquet where Cai Mao was plotting. Jibo proceeded to signal Liu Bei at the feast when he must escape or be slain through nonverbal glances.

Yi Ji next appeared in chapter 40 as the messenger for Liu Qi to Liu Bei as an attempt to gain Liu Bei’s assistance in taking Jing providence from Liu Zong (Cong) for Qi. Although Liu Bei agreed, he had to retreat from the approach of Cao Cao and join Liu Qi at Xiakou. Eventually Liu Bei gained control of Jing and drove out Cao Cao with the aid of Wu, and Yi Ji remained by his new master’s side. In chapter 52, Yi Ji recommended Ma Liang and Ma Su to Liu Bei.

Jibo served under Guan Yu up until the siege of Fan Castle turned sour for the god of war. At which point Yi Ji was sent along with Ma Liang to seek reinforcements to rescue Guan Yu’s trapped forces. Although Yi Ji managed to reach the Shu capital of Changdu, the required help arrived to late and Guan Yu and Jing Providence was lost. Yi Ji’s final mention in the book comes in chapter 80, where his honorific scholar title was bestowed upon him.