In early years, he was chosen to serve as a political hostage in the Han state.

[2] In 314 BC, Yan was attacked and practically conquered by the Qi state, and both Ji Kuai and the usurper Zi Zhi (子之) were killed.

[3] However, Qi was unable to put down the rebellion in the former territories of Yan and had to withdraw.

In 284, he plotted with the states of Zhao, Qin, Han and Wei for a joint expedition against Qi.

Led by the brilliant general Yue Yi, seventy walled cities were taken by the joint expedition, with the exception of Jimo and Ju.