Introduction: This article traces Yue Fei’s rise during the Southern Song’s resistance against the Jin. After the Jin’s southern invasion, Yue Fei won a key victory at Jiankang, stopped the Jin from deep penetration into Jiangnan, and built the elite Yue Family Army. He reclaimed Xiangyang and became a symbol of loyal resistance, though court peace factions soon opposed him.
The Collapse of the North and the Emperor’s Flight
Following the death of the patriotic general Zong Ze, his successor Du Chong proved to be a coward. Instead of utilizing the local “Righteous Armies” to resist the Jin Dynasty, Du Chong disbanded them, causing many volunteers to scatter. Yue Fei, who had previously served under Wang Yan and then Zong Ze, found himself in Kaifeng with no support for resistance. In late 1128, as the Jin launched a massive southern invasion led by Wanyan Zongbi (also known as Wuzhu), the fourth son of Jin Taizu, Du Chong abandoned Kaifeng and fled to Jiankang (modern Nanjing).
Emperor Gaozong (Zhao Gou), terrified by Wuzhu’s advance toward Yangzhou, fled across the Yangtze River to Zhenjiang, then to Hangzhou, and eventually further south to Shaoxing, Ningbo, and finally onto a ship at sea. In a humiliating letter, Gaozong begged Wuzhu for mercy, offering to relinquish his title and submit entirely to the Jin. Wuzhu, however, sought total conquest and pursued the emperor relentlessly across the water. Only a sudden, violent storm with high winds saved Gaozong, scattering the Jin fleet and forcing Wuzhu to retreat northward, laden with loot but unable to capture the Song monarch.
The Battle of Huangtiandang: Han Shizhong’s Stand
As the Jin army retreated north, they aimed to cross the Yangtze at Zhenjiang. There, they were intercepted by General Han Shizhong, who had anticipated their return. Despite being vastly outnumbered – 8,000 Song troops against 100,000 Jin soldiers – Han Shizhong, supported by his wife Lady Liang (Liang Hongyu) who drummed to rally the troops, engaged the Jin fleet near Jinshan Temple. The Song navy blocked the river, inflicting heavy casualties.
Wuzhu attempted to negotiate, offering to return all plundered wealth and captives in exchange for safe passage. Han Shizhong refused, demanding the return of the two captured emperors and all occupied territories. Trapped, Wuzhu’s fleet was cornered in Huangtiandang, a dead-end bay, for over forty days. Desperate, Wuzhu consulted locals who advised digging a canal to bypass the blockade and filling ships with earth to stabilize them. Executing this plan under cover of night, the Jin forces managed to escape the trap, a lapse Han Shizhong deeply regretted.
Yue Fei Retakes Jiankang
Fleeing Huangtiandang, the Jin army reached Jiankang, only to face another formidable obstacle: Yue Fei. After Du Chong’s defection to the Jin, Yue Fei had continued to fight independently. Learning of the Jin’s plan to cross the river at Jing’an Town, Yue Fei set an ambush on Niutou Mountain. He employed psychological warfare, sending soldiers in black to infiltrate the Jin camp at night, causing confusion and friendly fire among the enemy.
As the Jin attempted their crossing, Yue Fei launched a fierce attack. Simultaneously, Wuzhu ordered the burning of Jiankang and the massacre of its residents before retreating. Enraged by the destruction, Yue Fei led a charge, shouting, “Kill them all! Avenge the people of Jiankang!” Supported by local official Qian Xu, Yue Fei’s forces decimated the Jin rear guard, killing over 170 officers and capturing hundreds. Although Jiankang was liberated, it lay in ruins. This victory marked a turning point; the Jin, battered by Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, never again dared to venture deep into Jiangnan.
The Puppet State of Qi and the Campaign for Xiangyang
Emperor Gaozong established his permanent capital in Hangzhou (renamed Lin’an). Recognizing that direct rule over Han Chinese was difficult, the Jin, advised by Wanyan Chang (Talan) and Wanyan Zonghan, installed the Song defector Liu Yu as the emperor of a puppet state called Qi, with its capital in Kaifeng. Liu Yu actively collaborated with the Jin to attack the Southern Song.
In response, the Song court launched a counter-offensive. Generals Zhai Cong, Li Heng, and the defected Niu Gao achieved initial successes, but Wuzhu’s elite armored cavalry soon pushed them back, capturing six prefectures in the Xiangyang region. Yue Fei submitted a memorial requesting permission to reclaim these territories. By now, he had forged the legendary “Yue Family Army,” renowned for its discipline and combat effectiveness. Emperor Gaozong, pleased by Yue Fei’s reputation, granted him the banner inscribed with “Loyalty Utmost” (Jing Zhong Yue Fei) but strictly ordered him to stop after recovering Xiangyang, forbidding any further northern advance.
The Strategy of Xiangyang and the Call for Northern Expedition
The Yue Family Army moved swiftly. Upon reaching the front, the Qi and Jin forces retreated in fear. Yue Fei’s troops liberated Yingzhou and Suizhou with the help of local civilians who admired their strict discipline. At Xiangyang, the enemy general Li Cheng made a tactical error, placing his cavalry by the riverbank and infantry on flat ground. Yue Fei exploited this, using infantry with long spears to disrupt the cavalry near the water and cavalry to charge the infantry on the plains. The result was a decisive victory; Li Cheng’s horses fell into the river, and his infantry was routed. Yue Fei successfully recovered all six prefectures.
Despite this triumph and his promotion to Military Commissioner, Yue Fei remained unsatisfied. He urged the court to capitalize on the internal chaos of the Qi state and launch a full-scale northern expedition to recover the old capitals and liberate the people. He expressed his fervent desire in the famous poem Man Jiang Hong (The River All Red), lamenting the desolate land and yearning to “drive straight across the Yellow River.” However, while Yue Fei prepared for glory, the political wind in Lin’an was shifting. Powerful factions within the court were beginning to prioritize peace negotiations with the Jin, viewing the victorious and ambitious Yue Fei as an obstacle to their plans.
Note
Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279)
A Chinese dynasty after the Northern Song was destroyed by the Jin. Its capital was Lin’an (now Hangzhou).
Jin Dynasty
A powerful empire founded by the Jurchen people in northern China, which invaded and occupied northern Song territories.
Yue Family Army
Yue Fei’s elite, strictly disciplined army. It was extremely brave and deeply loved by common people.
Righteous Armies
Volunteer militias formed by ordinary people to fight the Jin invaders when the official army failed.
Yue Fei
The most famous patriotic general of the Southern Song Dynasty. He led the disciplined Yue Family Army to fight against the Jin invaders. He wrote the classic poem Man Jiang Hong and is a symbol of loyalty and courage in China.
Wanyan Zongbi (Wuzhu)
The top general of the Jin Dynasty (a northern tribal empire). He led the invasion of the Song and was the main enemy of Yue Fei.
Emperor Gaozong (Zhao Gou)
The first emperor of the Southern Song. He feared the Jin and preferred peace over war, so he limited Yue Fei’s military campaigns.
Han Shizhong & Lady Liang (Liang Hongyu)
Great Song generals who defended the Yangtze River. Lady Liang beat drums to inspire soldiers in battle – a famous heroic image in Chinese history.
Zong Ze
A loyal Song minister who organized resistance against the Jin. He supported Yue Fei and repeatedly begged the emperor to counterattack.
Liu Yu
A Song traitor who became the puppet emperor of Qi, a state controlled by the Jin to rule captured Chinese lands.
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