Li Yiji was furious and he shouted at the sentry, "You go in and tell the Duke of Pei (Liu Bang) that I'm a drinker from Gaoyang, not a scholar!"
Liu Bang was pleased when he heard that a drinker wanted to meet him and he immediately prepared a feast to welcome Li Yiji.
This plan was intended to help Liu Bang gain the support of the vassal states' rulers, who would help him in the war against Xiang Yu.
Later that year, Li Yiji volunteered to persuade the rival Qi kingdom to surrender to Liu Bang.
However, Liu Bang's general Han Xin, who was initially ordered to attack Qi, was unaware of the change in plan.