"Speaking of the term 'wine drinker' might sound sensational and seems like making a mountain out of a molehill. After all, a 'wine drinker' is simply someone who loves wine. As the 'Cihai' dictionary states, calling oneself a wine drinker implies arrogance, while calling others one often carries a derogatory meaning—this makes a lot of sense. However, from the ancient perspective, this wasn't entirely true. The famous Tang Dynasty literary figure Yuan Jie even composed a song praising wine drinkers: 'Mountains serve as wine cups, water becomes a pond; wine drinkers sit clearly arrayed on islets and islands.' When it comes to the 'High Yang Wine Drinker,' the Han Dynasty lauded his contributions to the nation and recorded a remarkable tale of achieving great things through wine!
Li Yiji (pronounced Yìjī), the High Yang Wine Drinker, was a native of Gaoyang in Chenliu (modern-day southwestern Qixian County, Henan Province) and served as a strategist for Liu Bang, the founding Emperor Gaozu of Han. From a young age, he harbored lofty ambitions and loved reading, but due to poverty and hardship, he lacked the means to support himself. Fond of alcohol, he eventually had to take up the lowly post of a gatekeeper. The local government officials and gentry dared not employ him, all calling him a 'mad scholar.' Yet, he remained steadfast, waiting for the right opportunity. In 209 BC, when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner of 'Overthrowing Tyranny and Eliminating the Violent Qin,' heroes across the land rose in response. Xiang Liang raised an army in Kuaiji, and Liu Bang raised his in Pei, with the rebellion sweeping across the nation. When the rebel armies of Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang passed through Gaoyang, Li Yiji looked down upon them, believing they were short-sighted men incapable of listening to grand strategies. Only Liu Bang, the Lord of Pei, stood out: 'He is disrespectful to people, yet possesses great vision—this is truly the one I wish to follow!' Thus, he recommended himself to Lord Pei.
Lord Pei Liu Bang, styled Ji, was benevolent and loving, disliked productive labor, enjoyed giving generously, had a broad and open mind, and often displayed magnanimity. In his youth, as the chief of Sishui Pavilion, he was a notorious local ruffian. He loved wine and women, often passing out drunk in taverns, making him a genuine wine drinker. Fortunately, he was recognized by Lü Gong while drunk and married his daughter, Empress Lü. Because he slew a white serpent while intoxicated, he gained fame and confidence, and launched a rebellion against the Qin. In 207 BC (the third year of the Second Emperor), Lord Pei led his army westward and encountered the rebel forces led by Peng Yue, a former bandit. They joined forces to attack the Qin army but suffered defeat. After failing to capture Changyi, they headed west past Gaoyang, where Li Yiji recognized Lord Pei as a 'great man' and sought an audience.
One day, Liu Bang was sitting on his bed with two women washing his feet. Suddenly, a report came that a Confucian scholar from the village wished to see him. This man, over sixty years old and eight chi tall, was called a 'madman' by everyone, though he claimed he was not. Liu Bang had always looked down upon Confucian scholars; in the past, he often used their hats as chamber pots to humiliate them. Upon hearing that a Confucian scholar was requesting an audience, he flew into a rage and ordered his attendants to refuse the meeting, saying, 'I am preoccupied with the great affairs of the world; I have no time to see Confucians!' Li Yiji, who had been waiting outside for a long time, immediately 'glared, gripped his sword, and shouted at the messenger: "Go back and tell Lord Pei: I am a wine drinker from High Yang, not a Confucian!"' The messenger hurriedly reported this. When Liu Bang heard that the visitor called himself a 'High Yang wine drinker,' realizing this was no ordinary man, he hastily scrambled to his feet without even wiping them, exclaiming, 'Admit him!' Li Yiji entered, gave a deep bow to Lord Pei without kneeling, and said, 'You wish to destroy the tyrannical Qin, so why treat an elder so arrogantly? Do you want to help Qin attack the feudal lords, or lead the feudal lords to crush Qin?' At this, Liu Bang was flustered. He stopped the foot-washing, stood up, quickly invited Li Yiji to the seat of honor, and apologized: 'I had only heard descriptions of your appearance before; today I finally understand your intentions!' He then asked for Li Yiji's strategy. The High Yang wine drinker replied: 'Your lordship has gathered a motley crew and collected scattered troops, fewer than ten thousand men. To directly assault the powerful Qin is like reaching into a tiger's mouth. Chenliu is a strategic crossroads, a hub of all directions. Its city now holds abundant grain stores. I know the magistrate; I request to persuade him to surrender to you. If he refuses, your lordship can attack, and I will act as an internal ally.' Thus, the great enterprise can be achieved.'
Therefore, Liu Bang accepted Li Yiji's advice, deciding first to capture Chenliu and dispatching Li Yiji as an internal agent. Li Yiji went to the county seat, met the magistrate of Chenliu, explained the decline of Qin and the rise of the Han king, and urged him to surrender to Liu Bang. However, the magistrate feared the harshness of Qin law and dared not act rashly, refusing the proposal. That very night, Li Yiji killed the magistrate, lowered his head over the city wall, and reported the success to Lord Pei. Seeing the great deed accomplished, Liu Bang led his troops to attack the county seat, ordering someone to impale the magistrate's head on a bamboo pole and shout loudly: 'Surrender quickly! Your magistrate has already been beheaded! Otherwise, those who surrender later will also be executed!' Seeing their magistrate was dead, the defending soldiers lost the will to fight and opened the gates to surrender. Liu Bang entered the city and obtained 'its stored weapons, food, and accumulated grain sufficient for three months, and his army grew to tens of thousands, enabling him to advance and defeat Qin.' All of this was the achievement of the High Yang wine drinker.
The contributions of the High Yang wine drinker Li Yiji to the nation were significant, primarily in the following points:
First, when Liu Bang was hesitant and indecisive, Li Yiji pointed him toward the direction of attacking Chenliu, making him Liu Bang's foremost contributor in the rebellion against Qin.
Second, capturing Chenliu provided ample grain stores, supplying the rebel army with three months' worth of rations, securing logistics and enabling further advances.
Third, the attack on Chenliu expanded the rebel army's ranks, growing from a few hundred men to over ten thousand after capturing the city.
Fourth, Liu Bang had always looked down upon intellectuals, but after meeting this High Yang wine drinker, he realized that achieving great things required intellectuals to plan and strategize for him.
From then on, Liu Bang not only enfeoffed Li Yiji as the Marquis of Guangye but also heavily relied on his younger brother Li Shang as a general, leading thousands of troops to follow Liu Bang in his campaigns across the land, achieving remarkable feats. Li Yiji became highly valued by Liu Bang, and the 'wine drinker' thus became one of the crucial strategists in Liu Bang's early rise to power. Later, he traveled to persuade various factions, contributing significantly to weakening the feudal lords. In 204 BC, during the Chu-Han contention, he advised Liu Bang: 'Two mighty rivals cannot coexist. The prolonged stalemate between Chu and Han has caused unrest among the people, shaking the entire realm. Farmers abandon their plows, weavers leave their looms; the hearts of the world remain unsettled. I hope Your Highness will swiftly advance your troops, seize Xingyang, control the grain stores of Ao, block the danger at Chenggao, cut off the road through Mount Taihang, guard the Feihu Pass, and hold the ferry at Baima. By demonstrating this solid strategic posture to the feudal lords, the allegiance of the entire world will be secured.' He also volunteered to persuade Tian Guang, the King of Qi, who still commanded a large army and controlled a region. This advice from the High Yang wine drinker became Liu Bang's strategic blueprint for conquering the empire. Liu Bang sent him to persuade Tian Guang, explaining the benefits and dangers to the world. 'Tian Guang agreed, accepted Li Yiji's counsel, disbanded the defenses at Lixia, and began drinking freely with Li Yiji every day.' However, Han Xin seized the opportunity to attack Qi, leading Tian Guang to mistakenly believe Li Yiji had betrayed him, resulting in Li Yiji being boiled alive. Before his death, Tian Guang said to him, 'If you can stop the Han army, I will spare your life.' Li Yiji replied, 'In great enterprises, one does not worry about minor details; great virtue does not excuse itself, and I will not say another word for you.' He died heroically.
After Li Yiji's death, when Liu Bang became emperor and awarded titles to his meritorious officials, he enfeoffed Li Yiji's son, Li Jie, as the Marquis of Gaoliang, demonstrating that he had not forgotten Li Yiji's past contributions. As time passed, Li Yiji's name gradually faded from people's memories, yet 'High Yang wine drinker' became its synonym. Those who love wine often use this term to describe themselves, feeling deeply honored—perhaps this is the reason.