In late 217 or early 218, Ji Ben plotted a rebellion in the imperial capital, Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan), together with several others, including: Geng Ji (), a Minister Steward (); Wei Huang (), a Director of Justice (); Jin Yi; his sons Ji Miao (吉邈; courtesy name Wenran () and Ji Mu (吉穆; courtesy name Siran (). Their plan was to kill Wang Bi (), a Chief Clerk () serving under Cao Cao, after which they would take Emperor Xian hostage, attack Cao Cao's vassal kingdom, and render assistance to Cao's rival Liu Bei, a warlord who controlled parts of southern and western China. Around the time, Liu Bei's general Guan Yu was achieving success at the Battle of Fancheng against Cao Cao's general Cao Ren, while Cao Cao himself was away in Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei) and had left Wang Bi in charge of Xu.