Han Yu is generally considered the greatest master of classical prose. Aside from his own innate talent and earnest efforts, his greatness stems from the influence of many predecessors, both in literary thought and writing technique. This paper will focus on Li Guan, one of these predecessors, and his influence on Han Yu. The idea that Li Guan influenced Han Yu has been suggested elsewhere, but not discussed in detail. Here, the author will expand on this insight and analyze the structure and rhetoric of Li Guan's works to point out specifically where the innovation in his classical prose lay. After Li passed away, Han Yu inherited and developed Li's writing techniques; these inherited techniques achieved greater maturation and refinement in Han Yu's writings.