The biggest flatterer in Chinese history

Yi Ya, a native of the Qi State in the Spring and Autumn Period, was the ancestor of chefs. He was good at cooking and served as the royal chef of Duke Huan of Qi. This man was very ambitious, clever with words, and tried his best to please Duke Huan of Qi.

One day Duke Huan of Qi jokingly said to Yi Ya: "I have tasted all the delicacies in the world, but I have never eaten human flesh, which is a pity."

Gong Huan of Qi originally said it as a joke, but then The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. Yi Ya felt that this was an opportunity to please Duke Huan of Qi. When he got home, he thought about where he could get human flesh. The first thing that came to mind was death row prisoners and refugees, but he felt that these people were too lowly and not worthy of the noble Duke Huan of Qi.

While Yi Ya was thinking hard, he happened to see his 4-year-old son, so he became cruel and made his son into minced meat and presented it to Duke Huan of Qi. What Yi Ya did was so heartbreaking and outrageous!

In the seventh year of King Zhou Xiang, Guan Zhong, the Prime Minister of Qi State, was seriously ill. Duke Huan of Qi came to visit. He sat in front of Guan Zhong's bed and asked, "Who can take over the position? How about this person Yi Ya?" "Guan Zhong told Qi Huangong directly that Yi Ya was inhumane and could even kill his own flesh and blood. Not only could he not be reused, but he should also be alienated.

Shortly after Guan Zhong's death, Duke Huan of Qi dismissed Yi Ya from his position and drove him out of the palace. After Yi Ya was driven away, the dishes cooked by the palace cooks were never to Qi Huan's liking. In order to satisfy his appetite, Yi Ya was recalled to the palace just three years after being driven away.

Back in the palace, Yi Ya not only failed to learn the previous lessons, but intensified his efforts, formed a clique, and colluded with another traitorous minister. The next year, Qi Huangong fell ill and died. He was about to die, and several of his sons were engaged in serious internal fighting in order to compete for the throne. In order to help Lu Wukui obtain the throne, Yi Ya and Shu Diao built high walls and imprisoned Duke Huan of Qi in the palace. No one was allowed to visit. As a result, Duke Huan of Qi starved to death in the palace.

Yi Ya and Shu Diao falsely passed on the emperor's order, killed a group of ministers, and successfully helped Lu Wukui win the throne. It was only then that they remembered that Qi Huangong's body had not been buried yet. More than sixty days had passed since Duke Huan died of starvation, and his body was already covered with maggots.