31 Facts About Yu Yi

Yu Yi, courtesy name Zhigong, was a Chinese calligrapher and military general of the Jin dynasty.

Yu Yi was a member of the prestigious Yu clan of Yingchuan as the younger brother of the powerful Jin minister, Yu Liang.

Yu Yi's death allowed his former subordinate, Huan Wen, to take up his military command in Jingzhou from his sons with the help of Yi's court rival, He Chong.

Apart from being a general, Yu Yi was a very gifted calligrapher.

Yu Yi was considered as one of the greatest calligraphers of the Jin dynasty, standing with the likes of Wang Xizhi.

Yu Yi was described as having an elegant appearance and a deep understanding of statecraft even at a young age.

Yu Liang had Yu Yi involved as he entrusted Yi to guard Jiangling during the campaign.

Yu Yi had set up soldiers to ambush the Zhao army beforehand, and as Kui An besieged Shicheng, Yu Yi stealthily kept the city supplied with grains from Jiangling long enough for the Jin general, Li Yang to repel Kui An.

For helping in saving Shicheng, Yu Yi was granted the title of Marquis of Duting.

Yu Yi took up his late brother's role as Chief Controller of Jiangzhou, Jizhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Yizhou.

In 342, Yu Yi tried to get the court to move his base from Wuchang to Lexiang, citing weird sightings near his base as his reason.

One minister, Wang Shu, protested against this to the court, stating that Lexiang was too far away from the northern borders and that Yu Yi, being a prominent commander, should be responsible for holding a strategic hold such as Wuchang.

Yu Yi was generous to many and loved to help people elevate their statuses, although he despised those who were outwardly pretentious.

Yu Yi was close friends with Huan Wen, who he swore a pact of friendship with and was once recommended by Yu Yi to Emperor Cheng to be trusted with more power.

However, Yu Yi disliked the likes of Yin Hao and Du Yi, who he believed were only useful in times of peace.

Yu Yi did try to employ Yin Hao a number of times but Yin refused to accept his offers and remained a hermit.

Yu Yi hated Yin Hao's father, Yin Xian, who was the Chancellor of Changsha, due to his corruption and cruelty.

Yu Yi had ambitions to conquer the two, so he sent messengers to Jin's vassals in the north, Murong Huang and Former Liang to coordinate themselves for Yi's grand strategy.

Yu Yi petitioned for the general Huan Xuan to be made commander in Sizhou, Liangzhou, Yongzhou and four commanderies in Jingzhou and have him attack Danshui.

In preparation, Yu Yi made Huan Wen his Subcommander, recruited new soldiers and assembled the animals and carriages.

Yu Yi wanted to move his base to Xiangyang, but fearing that the court would not allow it, he sent a petition asking to move his base to Anlu instead.

Yu Yi had 40,000 men under his command, so Emperor Kang granted his wish and make him Commander of the expeditionary force.

Yu Yi's soldiers were supposedly inspired by the hardships and progress that Yi went through, which kept morale high in the army.

Yu Yi ordered his Champion General Cao Ju to attack them, and after killing the cavalry general, Cao Ju seized around a hundred of their horses.

Yu Yi was supposed to be acting Inspector of Yuzhou as well, but he turned the office down.

Yu Yi thus went back to training and preparing his army for future campaigns against the barbarian states.

Later, Yu Yi ordered Cao Ju and the Inspector of Yizhou Zhou Fu to attack Cheng-Han, and the two routed the Cheng general Li Huan at Jiangyang.

In 345, Yu Yi was suffering from an ulcer on his back.

Yu Yi was unable to perform his tasks, so he entrusted them to his son, Yu Yuanzhi and his marshal Zhu Dao.

When Yu Yi's appointments were given to Huan Wen, Yu Yuanzhi did not protest.

Outside the government and military, Yu Yi was a very talented calligrapher, being a master of the cursive script and clerical script.