During the Warring States period, the state of Yan had a brilliant general named Yue Yi, a descendant of the famed general Yue Yang, with a family lineage of military commanders. Known for his strategic mind and virtuous character, Yue Yi was entrusted by King Zhao of Yan to lead a coalition army against the powerful state of Qi. In a stunning campaign, he captured over seventy cities, nearly annexing Qi entirely. However, when King Zhao died, his successor grew suspicious of Yue Yi's loyalty. Fearing for his life, Yue Yi fled to the state of Zhao. Later, when the new king of Yan regretted his actions and sent an envoy to recall him, Yue Yi replied, "I served your father with all my heart, but now I am like a bird that has escaped the net—I dare not return to the hunter's hand." This story illustrates how even the most loyal and capable ministers can fall victim to court intrigue, reminding us that trust, once broken, is hard to restore.
After King Zhao of Yan suffered a devastating defeat to Qi due to the Zizhi Rebellion, he harbored a burning desire for revenge. Realizing his small, remote state lacked the strength to conquer Qi alone, he humbled himself to seek out talent, treating the general Yue Yi with utmost respect as an honored guest. Yue Yi initially declined with modesty, but eventually accepted the king's offer to serve as a minister, and King Zhao appointed him as "Deputy Minister."
King Zhao of Yan once asked his general Yue Yi about attacking the state of Qi. Yue Yi replied, "Qi dominates the realm with vast lands and a large population; it cannot be conquered alone. We should ally with Zhao, Chu, and Wei to act together." The king agreed. At that time, all states, disgusted by Qi's arrogance, eagerly joined Yan. The king appointed Yue Yi as supreme commander, leading the allied forces of Zhao, Chu, Han, Wei, and Yan to defeat Qi at the Ji River. After the victory, the other states withdrew, but Yue Yi pursued relentlessly with Yan's army, advancing directly to Linzi, Qi's capital. The Qi king, defeated at Jixi, fled and fortified himself in the city of Ju. Yue Yi laid siege to Qi's cities, seizing treasures, goods, and sacrificial vessels to transport back to Yan. Overjoyed, King Zhao personally went to the Ji River to reward the troops with feasts, and granted Yue Yi the fief of Changguo, bestowing upon him the title Lord of Changguo.
General Yue Yi continued his campaign, using military force to subdue the remaining Qi cities that had not yet surrendered. Over time, he captured more than seventy Qi cities, converting them into commanderies and counties under Yan's control. He then laid siege to the two isolated Qi strongholds, Ju City and Jimo, for a full five years.
At this critical moment, King Zhao of Yan passed away, and his son King Hui of Yan ascended the throne. Even as crown prince, King Hui had never been satisfied with the general Yue Yi. Seizing the opportunity, Tian Dan of Qi went to Yan to sow discord, spreading rumors everywhere: "Only two cities of Qi remain unconquered, yet the Yan army has stalled—not because they cannot take them, but because Yue Yi holds a grudge against King Hui. He is rallying his troops, intending to stay in Qi and declare himself king." King Hui, already distrustful of Yue Yi, fell for the ruse and replaced him with the general Qi Jie, recalling Yue Yi to the capital. Knowing that a change of command on the battlefield boded ill, Yue Yi feared execution upon return and fled to the state of Zhao.
After Qi Jie replaced Le Yi, he completely changed Le Yi's strategy and tactics, planning to capture Jimo in one fell swoop, but things went contrary to his wishes, and he was instead defeated by Tian Dan's "Fire Bull Formation." The Qi army seized the victory to pursue and recaptured over seventy cities in one stroke.
King Hui of Yan regretted replacing the general Yue Yi with Qi Jie, and also resented that Yue Yi had defected to the state of Zhao, which harmed Yan's interests. So he sent an envoy to invite Yue Yi back.
Yue Yi wrote a letter back to King Hui of Yan, explaining he could not return. In the letter, he said: "A wise ruler does not bestow titles and rewards on favorites but only on those with merit. Those whose abilities fit a role are given that role. King Zhao of Yan treated me with deep kindness and promoted me to the rank of Deputy Minister. I believed that by respecting orders and fulfilling my duties, I could repay the late king's trust, so I gladly accepted his great commission and completed it. My bond with the late king has been fulfilled from start to finish; it is better that I do not return to Yan."
Later, the King of Yan appointed Yue Yi's son, Yue Jian, as the Marquis of Changguo. Yue Yi frequently traveled between Yan and Zhao, and both states treated him as a honored guest minister. In the end, Yue Yi died in Zhao.
Later, the idiom "Following Orders and Receiving Instructions" came to be used to describe obeying commands.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Yue Yi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "奉令承教" came to describe obeying commands.