Yi Zhi

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Yī Zhì (伊挚) (1648 BC–1549 BC), better known as Yī Yǐn (伊尹), was a prime minister of the early Shang Dynasty.^[1] He was one of the most honoured officials of the early Shang Dynasty. He helped Cheng Tang, the founder of the Shang dynasty, to defeat Xia Jie.

[edit] Toppling Xia Jie

Yi Yin helped Tang defeat Jie, but he did so without using rash tactics. So he said to Tang when Tang proposed to attack King Jie," We have not sent tributes yet, let's test Jie's influence over the nine tribes."

The nine tribes were crucial to the Xia Dynasty as they were the vassal states of Xia.

As Yi Yin predicted, King Jie became angry and sent the nine tribes to attack the state of Shang. Then Yi Yin laughed and said," Jie can still call on the nine tribes to attack us, let's send him tributes." Then Tang apologized to Jie and offered him tributes. After this was done, Yi Yin approached the nine tribes and successfully dissolved their alliance with Jie. When Tang refused to send tributes again, Jie called on the nine tribes again but the tribes did not do as they were instructed. Instead, they allied with Cheng Tang. So Yi Yin said that the time was ripe and Tang attacked Jie. Without the help of the tribes and the support of the discontented people, Tang crushed Jie.