Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Li Yi (active late 2nd to early 3rd century AD) was a military official and commander who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Originally a subordinate under the regional warlord Liu Zhang in Yi Province, Li Yi served within the local provincial administration and military apparatus. Around 200 AD, during the internal rebellion instigated by Zhao Wei in Yi Province, Li Yi alongside Pang Le defected from Zhao Wei’s faction and aided in suppressing and killing Zhao Wei. When Liu Bei later launched his campaign to annex Yi Province, Zhang Song and others advised Liu Zhang that commanders like Pang Le and Li Yi were arrogant and harbored external ambitions, prompting Liu Zhang to invite Liu Bei into the region. Following Liu Bei’s successful conquest and establishment in Sichuan, Li Yi submitted alongside other local officers and transitioned into the service of Liu Bei. Later, under the state of Eastern Wu, Li Yi participated in military expeditions in the Jing Province theater. In 219 AD, serving under the command of Lu Xun alongside Xie Jing, Li Yi commanded naval forces that defeated Shu Han generals Zhan Yan and Chen Feng, and subsequently crushed Deng Fu and Guo Mu, the administrators of Fangling and Nanxiang. In 221 AD, during the Battle of Xiaoting (Yiling), Li Yi fought against the forces of Liu Bei but was defeated by Wu Ban and Feng Xi. Afterwards, as the Shu army collapsed, Li Yi and Liu A pursued the retreating forces up to Yong’an, garrisoning at Nanshan.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Yi is depicted as a regional military officer from Yi Province who initially serves under Liu Zhang. During Liu Bei’s invasion and annexation of Sichuan, Li Yi participates in the defense of the western territories against the invading Shu forces. As the political tides turn and Liu Bei successfully consolidates his power over Yi Province, Li Yi, along with many other local generals, pledges his allegiance to Liu Bei, integrating into the new regime and later appearing in subsequent military campaigns.
Li Yi (李異) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Suppression of Zhao Wei
During Zhao Wei’s rebellion in Yi Province, Li Yi and Pang Le switch sides and help defeat and kill Zhao Wei.
Annexation of Yi Province
As Liu Bei enters and conquers Yi Province, Li Yi transitions his allegiance from Liu Zhang to Liu Bei.
Campaigns under Eastern Wu
Serving under Lu Xun, Li Yi commands naval forces to defeat Shu generals Zhan Yan, Chen Feng, Deng Fu, and Guo Mu.
Battle of Xiaoting
Li Yi fights in the Battle of Xiaoting under Wu, suffering an initial defeat against Wu Ban and Feng Xi before participating in the pursuit of retreating Shu forces.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Li Yi on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Pang Le (庞乐, Bàng Lạc): A fellow military official in Yi Province who collaborated with Li Yi to suppress the rebellion of Zhao Wei in 200 AD.
- Xie Jing (谢旌, Tạ Tinh): An Eastern Wu general who served alongside Li Yi during the 219 AD campaign, where they coordinated land and naval forces against Shu Han.
- Liu A (刘阿, Lưu A): A military officer who served alongside Li Yi during the pursuit of Shu forces following the Battle of Xiaoting in 221 AD.
Enemies
- Zhao Wei (赵韪, Triệu Vĩ): A regional rebel leader in Yi Province whose insurrection was suppressed and ended by Li Yi and Pang Le in 200 AD.
- Zhan Yan (詹晏, Chiêm Yến): A Shu Han general defeated by Li Yi’s naval forces during the 219 AD campaign.
- Chen Feng (陈凤, Trần Phượng): A Shu Han officer defeated by Li Yi’s naval forces during the 219 AD campaign.
- Deng Fu (邓辅, Đặng Phụ): The administrator of Fangling defeated by Li Yi in 219 AD.
- Guo Mu (郭穆, Quách Mục): The administrator of Nanxiang defeated by Li Yi in 219 AD.
- Wu Ban (吴班, Ngô Ban): A Shu Han general who defeated Li Yi during the initial stages of the Battle of Xiaoting in 221 AD.
- Feng Xi (冯习, Phùng Tập): A Shu Han general who, alongside Wu Ban, defeated Li Yi at the Battle of Xiaoting in 221 AD.
Other
- Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): The regional warlord of Yi Province whom Li Yi served as a subordinate before the transition of power to Liu Bei.
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): The founder of Shu Han who accepted Li Yi’s submission after the annexation of Yi Province; Li Yi later fought against his forces at Xiaoting.
- Lu Xun (陆逊, Lục Tốn): The Grand Viceroy of Eastern Wu who commanded Li Yi during the 219 AD campaigns and the 221 AD Battle of Xiaoting.
In Novel
Chapter 82
- Li Yi (李异, Lý Dị): Li Yi serves under Sun Huan as one of Wu’s principal fighting generals when Liu Bei invades Wu. Sun Huan identifies Li Yi and Xie Jing as generals of exceptional courage and requests a large force to confront Liu Bei. Sun Quan grants 50,000 troops to Sun Huan and Zhu Ran.
Chapter 83
- Li Yi (李异, Lý Dị): Li Yi fights Zhang Bao after Xie Jing is defeated. The two fight for more than twenty rounds without a decision. When a Wu archer shoots Zhang Bao’s horse and knocks him down, Li Yi moves in to kill him, but Guan Xing intervenes and cuts Li Yi down. Li Yi’s death causes the Wu army to collapse and retreat.
In History
Summary
- Li Yi (李异, Lý Dị) was a Wu general active during the later Eastern Han–Three Kingdoms transition, especially under Sun Huan during the war with Shu.
Yiling Campaign
- In 222 AD, Li Yi commanded troops under Sun Huan during Liu Bei‘s invasion of Wu and fought in the campaign that culminated at Yiling.
Historical Assessment
- The novel gives Li Yi a detailed duel with Zhang Bao and death at the hands of Guan Xing. The surviving historical record is considerably less detailed about his individual combat.
Historical Record
- Li Yi (李异, Lý Dị) was a real Wu military officer. His historical existence is secure, while the dramatic duel and death scene belong primarily to the novel tradition.