Volume 364 Biographies 123: Han Shizhong

韓世忠子:彥直

Han Shizhong's son: Yan Zhi

韓世忠

Han Shizhong

韓世忠，字良臣，延安人。風骨偉岸，目瞬如電。早年鷙勇絕人，能騎生馬駒。家貧無產業，嗜酒尚氣，不可繩檢。日者言當作三公，世忠怒其侮己，毆之。年十八，以敢勇應募鄉州，隸赤籍，挽強馳射，勇冠三軍。

Han Shizhong, whose style name was Liangchen, came from Yan'an. He had a towering presence, and his eyes flashed like lightning. From youth he was ferociously brave beyond compare and could ride unbroken foals. His family was poor and owned no property; he loved wine and prized his honor, and no discipline could hold him in check. When a fortune-teller said he was destined for the Three Excellencies, Shizhong, enraged at what he took as mockery, beat the man. At eighteen he enlisted in his home district for his daring, was entered on the military register, excelled at drawing the heavy bow and shooting from horseback, and was the bravest man in the army.

崇寧四年，西夏騷動，郡調兵捍禦，世忠在遣中。至銀州，夏人嬰城自固，世忠斬關殺敵將，擲首陴外，諸軍乘之，夏人大敗。既而以重兵次蒿平嶺，世忠率精銳鏖戰，解去。俄復出間道，世忠獨部敢死士珠死鬥，敵少卻，顧一騎士銳甚，問俘者，曰：「監軍駙馬兀𠼪也。」躍馬斬之，敵眾大潰。經略司上其功，童貫董邊事，疑有所增飾，止補一資，眾弗平。從劉延慶築天降山砦，為敵所據，世忠夜登城斬二級，割護城氈以獻。繼遇敵佛口砦，又斬數級，始補進義副尉。至藏底河，斬三級，轉進勇副尉。

In the fourth year of the Chongning reign, when the Western Xia rose in revolt, the commandery mobilized troops for defense, and Shizhong was among those dispatched. At Yin Prefecture the Xia defenders held the city in a stubborn defense; Shizhong broke through the gate, killed an enemy general, and hurled his head over the wall. The Song forces pressed the attack and routed the Xia army. Soon afterward the enemy concentrated a large force at Haoping Ridge; Shizhong led crack troops in a bitter fight and then broke off. Before long the enemy reappeared by a side road; Shizhong alone led a band of dare-to-die men in a fight to the death. The enemy gave ground slightly, and when he noticed an especially fierce rider he asked a prisoner, who said, "That is Wuzha, the supervising army's imperial son-in-law." He spurred his horse forward and cut the man down, and the enemy host collapsed in rout. The frontier commissionerate reported his achievements, but Tong Guan, who directed border affairs, suspected exaggeration and granted only a single step in rank, to widespread resentment. He followed Liu Yanqing in building the Tianjiang Mountain stockade, which the enemy then seized; Shizhong climbed the wall by night, beheaded two men, and cut away the protective felt matting from the ramparts to present as proof. He next fought the enemy at the Fokou stockade, beheaded several more men, and was at last appointed Assistant Commandant for Advancing Righteousness. At the Zangdi River he beheaded three men and was promoted to Assistant Commandant for Advancing Courage.

宣和二年，方臘反、江、浙震動，調兵四方，世忠以偏將從王淵討之。次杭州，賊奄至，勢張甚，大將惶怖無策。世忠以兵二千伏北關堰，賊過，伏發，眾蹂亂，世忠追擊，賊敗而遁。淵歎曰：「真萬人敵也。」盡以所隨白金器賞之，且與定交。時有詔能得臘首者，授兩鎮節鉞。世忠窮追至睦州清溪峒，賊深據岩屋為三窟，諸將繼至，莫知所入。世忠潛行溪穀，問野婦得徑，即挺身仗戈直前，渡險數里，搗其穴，格殺數十人，禽臘以出。辛興宗領兵截峒口，掠其俘為己功，故賞不及世忠。別帥楊惟忠還闕，直其事，轉承節郎。

In the second year of the Xuanhe reign, Fang La rebelled and Jiangsu and Zhejiang were thrown into turmoil. Troops were called up from all quarters, and Shizhong served as a subordinate general under Wang Yuan in the campaign against him. When the army halted at Hangzhou, the rebels swept in with overwhelming force, and the commanding general was terrified and at a loss. Shizhong posted two thousand men in ambush at the Beiguan weir. When the rebels passed, the ambush sprang up, throwing them into chaos; Shizhong pursued, and the rebels were beaten and fled. Yuan exclaimed, "This man is truly a match for ten thousand." He rewarded him with all the white-gold vessels he had brought and sealed a bond of friendship with him. An edict had been issued promising the seals of two military commissions to whoever could capture Fang La. Shizhong pursued relentlessly to the Qingxi ravine in Muzhou, where the rebels held three cliffside lairs in the depths of the mountains. The other generals arrived in turn but none knew how to get in. Shizhong stole along the stream valleys, asked a peasant woman for the path, then strode forward spear in hand, crossed several li of treacherous ground, stormed their lair, killed dozens in hand-to-hand fighting, and captured Fang La alive. Xin Xingzong led troops to block the ravine mouth and claimed Shizhong's prisoners as his own achievement, so the rewards never reached Shizhong. The deputy commander Yang Weizhong returned to court and reported what had really happened, and Shizhong was promoted to Gentleman for Upholding Integrity.

三年，議復燕山，調諸軍，至則皆潰。世忠往見劉延慶，與蘇格等五十騎俱抵滹沱河。逢金兵二千餘騎，格失措，世忠從容令格等列高岡，戒勿動。屬燕山潰卒舟集，即命艤河岸，約鼓噪助聲勢。世忠躍馬薄敵，迴旋如飛。敵分二隊據高阜，世忠出其不意，突二執旗者，因奮擊，格等夾攻之，舟卒鼓噪，敵大亂，追斬甚眾。時山東、河北盜賊蜂起，世忠從王淵、梁方平討捕，禽戮殆盡，積功轉武節郎。

In the third year, when the court debated recovering Yanshan, armies were mobilized, but on arrival they all broke and fled. Shizhong went to join Liu Yanqing and, with Su Ge and fifty horsemen, reached the Hutuo River. They encountered more than two thousand Jin horsemen. Su Ge panicked, but Shizhong calmly ordered him and the others to form up on a high ridge and warned them not to stir. Just then boats carrying routed soldiers from Yanshan gathered along the shore; he immediately ordered them to moor and arranged for them to beat drums and shout to swell the apparent force. Shizhong spurred his horse against the enemy, wheeling and charging like lightning. The enemy split into two bands on the high ground. Shizhong took them by surprise, charged the two standard-bearers, and pressed the attack fiercely while Ge and the others struck from both flanks and the boatmen drummed and shouted. The Jin forces fell into chaos, and many were cut down in the pursuit. Bandits were rising everywhere in Shandong and Hebei; Shizhong followed Wang Yuan and Liang Fangping in suppressing them, capturing or killing nearly all, and through accumulated merit was promoted to Gentleman for Martial Integrity.

時勝捷軍張師正敗，宣撫副使李彌大斬之，大校李復鼓眾以亂，淄、青之附者合數萬人，山東復擾。彌大檄世忠將所部追擊，至臨淄河，兵不滿千，分為四隊，布鐵蒺藜自塞歸路，令曰：「進則勝，退則死，走者命後隊剿殺。」於是莫敢返顧，皆死戰，大破之，斬復，餘黨奔潰。乘勝逐北，追至宿遷，賊尚萬人，方擁子女椎牛縱酒。世忠單騎夜造其營，呼曰：「大軍至矣，亟束戈卷甲，吾能保全汝，共功名。」賊駭粟請命，因跪進牛酒。世忠下馬解鞍，飲啖之盡，於是眾悉就降。黎明，見世忠軍未至，始大悔失色。以功遷左武大夫、果州團練使。

Zhang Shizheng of the Shengjie Army had been defeated and the deputy frontier commissioner Li Yida executed him, but senior officer Li Fu stirred the troops to mutiny. His followers in Zibo and Qingzhou numbered tens of thousands, and Shandong was thrown into turmoil again. Li Yida ordered Shizhong to lead his troops in pursuit. At the Linzi River he had fewer than a thousand men; he divided them into four companies, laid iron caltrops to block his own retreat, and proclaimed, "Advance and you win; retreat and you die. Anyone who runs, the rear guard is ordered to cut him down." No one dared look back; they all fought to the death, routed the rebels decisively, beheaded Li Fu, and the rest fled in disorder. Pressing his victory he pursued north to Suqian, where ten thousand rebels remained, feasting with their families, slaughtering cattle, and drinking freely. Shizhong rode alone into their camp by night and called out, "The main army has arrived! Lay down your arms at once—I can spare your lives and share the glory with you." The rebels, terrified, begged for mercy and knelt to offer oxen and wine. Shizhong dismounted, loosened his saddle, and ate and drank with them to the last drop, whereupon the whole band surrendered. At dawn, when they saw that Shizhong's army had never come, they were overcome with regret and turned pale with fear. For these achievements he was promoted to Left Martial Grandee and regimental commissioner of Guo Prefecture.

詔入朝，授正任單州團練使，屯滹沱河。時真定失守，世忠知王淵守趙，遂亟往。金人至，聞世忠在，攻益急，糧盡援絕。人多勉其潰圍去，弗聽。會大雪，夜半，以死士三百搗敵營。敵驚亂，自相擊刺，及旦盡遁。後有自金國來者，始知大酋是日被創死，故眾不能支。遷嘉州防禦使。

He was summoned to court, appointed regular regimental commissioner of Shan Prefecture, and stationed along the Hutuo River. When Zhending fell, Shizhong learned that Wang Yuan was holding Zhao and hurried to join him. When the Jin arrived and learned Shizhong was in the city, their assaults grew fiercer. Provisions ran out and reinforcements ceased. Many urged him to break out of the siege and withdraw, but he refused. A heavy snow fell; at midnight he sent three hundred dare-to-die men to raid the enemy camp. The enemy panicked and turned on one another in the darkness; by dawn they had all fled. Later, refugees from the Jin side revealed that the enemy commander had been mortally wounded that night, which was why his army could not hold. He was promoted to defender-in-chief of Jia Prefecture.

還大名，趙野辟為前軍統制。時康王如濟州，世忠領所部勸進。金人縱兵逼城，人心忷懼，世忠據西王台力戰，金人少卻。翌日，酋帥率眾數萬至，時世忠戲下僅千人，單騎突入，斬其酋長，遂大潰。康王即皇帝位，授光州觀察使、帶禦器械。世忠請移都長安，下兵收兩河，時論不從。初建禦營，為左軍統制。是歲，命王淵、張俊討陳州叛兵，劉光世討黎驛叛兵，喬仲福討京東賊李昱，世忠討單州賊魚台。世忠已破魚台，又擊黎驛叛兵，敗之，皆斬以獻。於是群盜悉平，入備宿衛。而河北賊丁順、楊進等皆赴招撫司，宗澤收而用之。

On his return to Daming, Zhao Ye appointed him commander of the vanguard. When the Prince of Kang went to Jizhou, Shizhong led his troops to urge him to take the throne. The Jin pressed the city with their armies and panic spread among the defenders. Shizhong held the West King Terrace and fought fiercely until the Jin gave ground. The next day an enemy commander arrived with tens of thousands of men. Shizhong had barely a thousand troops under him, but he charged in alone on horseback, cut down the enemy leader, and routed their army. When the Prince of Kang ascended the throne, Shizhong was appointed observation commissioner of Guang Prefecture and bearer of the imperial armory. Shizhong urged moving the capital to Chang'an and sending armies to recover the two He provinces, but the court would not heed him. When the Imperial Camp was first established, he was made commander of the Left Army. That year Wang Yuan and Zhang Jun were ordered against the Chenzhou mutineers, Liu Guangshi against the Liyi mutineers, Qiao Zhongfu against the Jingdong bandit Li Yu, and Shizhong against the Shanzhou bandit of Yutai. After defeating the Yutai bandits, Shizhong also attacked the Liyi mutineers, defeated them, and presented all their severed heads. With the bandits pacified, he entered service in the palace guard. Meanwhile the Hebei bandits Ding Shun, Yang Jin, and others submitted to the pacification office, and Zong Ze took them into his service.

建炎二年，升定國軍承宣使。帝如揚州，世忠以所部從。時張遇自金山來降，抵城下，不解甲，人心危懼，世忠獨入其壘，曉以逆順，眾悉聽命。李民眾十萬亦降，比至，有反覆狀。王淵遣世忠諭旨，世忠知其党劉彥異議，即先斬彥，驅李民出，縛小校二十九人，送淵斬之。事定，授京西等路捉殺內外盜賊。

In the second year of the Jianyan reign he was promoted to commissioner-in-chief of the Dingguo Army. When the emperor went to Yangzhou, Shizhong followed with his troops. When Zhang Yu came from Jinshan to surrender and reached the city still in armor, fear spread through the court. Shizhong alone entered his camp, explained the difference between loyalty and rebellion, and brought the whole force to submission. Li Min's force of a hundred thousand also surrendered, but on arrival they showed signs of wavering. Wang Yuan sent Shizhong to announce the imperial will. Shizhong learned that Liu Yan, a leader among Li Min's men, was stirring dissent; he beheaded Yan at once, drove Li Min's force out of camp, bound twenty-nine junior officers, and sent them to Wang Yuan for execution. When the affair was settled, he was appointed to hunt down bandits within and beyond the capital region on the Jingxi and other circuits.

金人再攻河南，翟進合世忠兵夜襲悟室營，不克，反為所敗。會丁進失期，陳思恭先遁，世忠被矢如棘，力戰得免。還汴，詰一軍之先退者皆斬，左右懼。進由是與世忠有隙，尋以叛誅。召世忠還，授鄜延路副總管，加平寇左將軍，屯淮陽，會山東兵拒敵。粘罕聞世忠扼淮陽，乃分兵萬人趨揚州，自以大軍迎世忠戰。世忠不敵，夜引歸，敵躡之，軍潰于沐陽，閤門宣贊舍人張遇死之。

When the Jin again attacked Henan, Zhai Jin joined Shizhong in a night assault on the Wushi camp. The attack failed and they were routed in turn. Ding Jin failed to arrive on time and Chen Sigong fled first. Shizhong was struck by arrows thick as a hedge but fought his way free. On his return to Bianjing he had every soldier who had retreated first beheaded, and his officers trembled. From this Ding Jin bore a grudge against Shizhong and was soon executed for rebellion. Shizhong was recalled, appointed deputy overall commander of the Zhenyan circuit and given the additional title Left General for Pacifying Bandits. He was stationed at Huaiyang to coordinate with Shandong forces against the enemy. When Nianhan learned that Shizhong was holding Huaiyang, he detached ten thousand men toward Yangzhou and led the main army to engage Shizhong. Shizhong could not hold and withdrew by night. The enemy pursued, his army broke at Muyang, and Zhang Yu, a proclaimer of the Gate Department, was killed.

三年，帝召諸將議移蹕，張俊、辛企宗請往湖南，世忠曰：「淮、浙富饒，今根本地，詎可舍而之他？人心懷疑，一有退避，則不逞者思亂，重湖、閩嶺之遙，安保道路無變乎？淮、江當留兵為守，車駕當分兵為衛，約十萬人，分半扈江、淮上下，止余五萬，可保防守無患乎？」在陽城收合散亡，得數千人，聞帝如錢塘，即繇海道赴行在。

In the third year the emperor summoned his generals to discuss moving the court. Zhang Jun and Xin Qizong urged retreat to Hunan. Shizhong said, "The Huai and Zhe regions are rich and fertile—the heartland of the dynasty today. How can we abandon them and go elsewhere? If the court shows doubt, the moment it retreats the unruly will think of rebellion. And who can guarantee that the roads through the deep lakes and distant Min ranges will stay safe? We would need troops to hold the Huai and Yangzi lines and an escort for the imperial procession—say a hundred thousand men. Half would guard the rivers, leaving only fifty thousand. Could we really defend anything with that?" At Yangcheng he gathered his scattered troops until he had several thousand men. Learning that the emperor was heading for Qiantang, he took the sea route to join the traveling court.

苗傅、劉正彥反，張浚等在平江議討亂，知世忠至，更相慶慰，張俊喜躍不自持。世忠得俊書，大慟，舉酒酹神曰：「誓不與此賊共戴天！」士卒皆奮。見浚曰：「今日大事，世忠願與張俊身任之，公無憂。」欲即進兵。浚曰：「投鼠忌器，事不可急，急則恐有不測，已遣馮轓甘言誘賊矣。」

When Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan rebelled, Zhang Jun and others at Pingjiang were planning the suppression. Learning that Shizhong had arrived, they congratulated one another, and Zhang Jun leaped for joy beyond control. When Shizhong received Zhang Jun's letter he wept bitterly, poured a libation to heaven, and swore, "I will not live under the same sky as these traitors!" His soldiers were roused to fury. He told Zhang Jun, "On this great day Shizhong and Zhang Jun will bear the burden ourselves. Sir, have no fear." He wanted to march at once. Zhang Jun said, "We must not strike too rashly for fear of harming the emperor. The matter cannot be rushed or something unforeseen may happen. I have already sent Feng Fan with soothing words to lure the rebels."

三月戊戌，以所部發平江。張俊慮世忠兵少，以劉寶兵二千借之。舟行載甲士，綿互三十里。至秀州，稱病不行，造雲梯，治器械，傅等始懼。初，傅、正彥聞世忠來，檄以其兵屯江陰。世忠以好語報之，且言所部殘零，欲赴行在。傅等大喜，許之，至矯制除世忠及張俊為節度使，皆不受。時世忠妻梁氏及子亮為傅所質，防守嚴密。朱勝非紿傅曰：「今白太后，遣二人慰撫世忠，則平江諸人益安矣。」於是召梁氏入，封安國夫人，俾迓世忠，速其勤王。梁氏疾驅出城，一日夜會世忠於秀州。未幾，明受詔至，世忠曰：「吾知有建炎，不知有明受。」斬其使，取詔焚之，進兵益急。傅等大懼。次臨平，賊將苗翊、馬柔吉負山阻河為陣，中流植鹿角，梗行舟。世忠舍舟力戰，張俊繼之，劉光世又繼之。軍少卻，世忠復舍馬操戈而前，令將士曰：「今日當以死報國，面不被數矢者皆斬。」於是士皆用命。賊列神臂弩持滿以待，世忠瞋目大呼，挺刃突前，賊辟易，矢不及發，遂敗。傅、正彥擁精兵二千，開湧金門以遁。世忠馳入，帝步至宮門，握世忠手慟哭曰：「中軍吳湛佐逆為最，尚留朕肘腋，能先誅乎？」世忠即謁湛，握手與語，折其中指，戮於市，又執賊謀主王世修以屬吏。詔授武勝軍節度使禦營左軍都統制。請於帝曰：「賊擁精兵，距甌、閩甚邇，儻成巢窟，卒未可滅，臣請討之。」於是以為江、浙制置使，自衢、信追擊，至漁梁驛，與賊遇。世忠步走挺戈而前，賊望見，咋曰：「此韓將軍也！」皆驚潰。擒正彥及傅弟翊送行在，傅亡建陽，追禽之，皆伏誅。世忠初陛辭，奏曰：「臣誓生獲賊，為社稷刷恥，乞殿前二虎賁護俘來獻。」至是，卒如其言。帝手書「忠勇」二字，揭旗以賜。授檢校少保、武勝昭慶軍節度使。

On the wuxu day of the third month he marched from Pingjiang with his troops. Zhang Jun, worried that Shizhong had too few men, lent him two thousand troops under Liu Bao. His boats carried armored troops in a line thirty li long. At Xiu Prefecture he claimed illness and halted his advance while building siege ladders and preparing weapons. Miao Fu and his allies were at last alarmed. When Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan first heard Shizhong was coming, they issued orders for his troops to be stationed at Jiangyin. Shizhong answered with reassuring words, saying his force was broken and scattered and that he wished only to join the traveling court. Miao Fu and his allies were delighted and agreed. They even forged edicts appointing Shizhong and Zhang Jun as military commissioners, but both refused. Shizhong's wife, Lady Liang, and his son Liang were held hostage by Miao Fu under strict guard. Zhu Shengfei deceived Miao Fu, saying, "If we inform the empress dowager and send the two of them to reassure Shizhong, the men at Pingjiang will be even more at ease." Lady Liang was summoned to court, enfeoffed as Lady of the State for Pacifying the Realm, and sent to join Shizhong and urge him to march to the emperor's aid. Lady Liang galloped out of the city and reached Shizhong at Xiu Prefecture within a day and a night. Before long an edict arrived under the rebel reign title Mingshou. Shizhong said, "I know the Jianyan reign; I do not know any Mingshou." He beheaded the envoy, burned the edict, and pressed his advance all the harder. Miao Fu and his allies were terrified. At Linping the rebel generals Miao Yi and Ma Rouji formed a line with the mountain at their back and the river before them, planting stakes in midstream to block his boats. Shizhong left his boats and fought on foot; Zhang Jun pressed the attack after him, and Liu Guangshi followed in turn. When the army gave ground slightly, Shizhong dismounted again, spear in hand, and told his men, "Today we repay the state with our lives. Anyone whose face is not struck by several arrows will be beheaded." The soldiers obeyed without hesitation. The rebels lined up their divine-arm crossbows at full draw. Shizhong glared and roared, charged with blade levelled, and the rebels scattered before they could shoot. They were routed. Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan took two thousand elite troops and fled through the Yongjin Gate. Shizhong galloped in. The emperor walked to the palace gate, seized his hand, and wept, "Wu Zhan of the Central Army was the rebels' chief accomplice and still remains at my side. Can you cut him down first?" Shizhong went straight to Wu Zhan, took his hand as if in friendly talk, broke his middle finger, and had him executed in the market. He also seized the rebel mastermind Wang Shixiu and handed him over to the officials. He was appointed military commissioner of the Wusheng Army and overall commander of the Imperial Camp Left Army. He asked the emperor, "The rebels still hold elite troops and are very close to Ou and Min. If they establish a base there, they may never be destroyed. I beg leave to pursue them." He was appointed commissioner for Jiang and Zhe and pursued the rebels from Quzhou and Xinzhou. At Yuliang Post he caught up with them. Shizhong advanced on foot spear in hand. When the rebels saw him they cried, "It is General Han!" They broke and fled in panic. Liu Zhengyan and Miao Fu's brother Yi were captured and sent to the traveling court. Miao Fu fled to Jianyang but was pursued, captured, and executed along with the others. When he first took leave of the emperor he vowed, "I swear to capture the rebels alive and wipe away this shame upon the realm. I ask for two Tiger Guards of the Hall to escort the prisoners when I present them." In the end he did exactly as he had promised. The emperor wrote the characters "Loyal and Brave" in his own hand and bestowed them on a banner. He was appointed acting Junior Guardian and military commissioner of the Wusheng and Zhaoqing armies.

兀朮將入侵，帝召諸將問移蹕之地，張俊、辛企宗勸自鄂、岳幸長沙，世忠曰：「國家已失河北，山東，若又棄江、淮，更有何地？」於是以世忠為浙西制置使，守鎮江。既而兀朮分道渡江，諸屯皆敗，世忠亦自鎮江退保江陰。杜充以建康降敵，兀朮自廣德破臨安，帝如浙東。世忠以前軍駐青龍鎮，中軍駐江灣，後軍駐海口，俟敵歸邀擊之。帝召至行在，奏：「方留江上截金人歸師，盡死一戰。」帝謂輔臣曰：「此呂頤浩在會稽，嘗建此策，世忠不謀而同。」賜親劄，聽其留。會上元節，就秀州張燈高會，忽引兵趨鎮江。及金兵至，則世忠軍已先屯焦山寺。金將李選降，受之。兀朮遣使通問，約日大戰，許之。戰將十合，梁夫人親執桴鼓，金兵終不得渡。盡歸所掠假道，不聽；請以名馬獻，又不聽。撻辣在濰州，遣孛堇太一趨淮東以援兀朮，世忠與二酋相持黃天蕩者四十八日。太一孛堇軍江北，兀朮軍江南，世忠以海艦進泊金山下，預以鐵綆貫大鉤授驍健者。明旦，敵舟噪而前，世忠分海舟為兩道出其背，每縋一綆，則曳一舟沉之。兀朮窮蹙，求會語，祈請甚哀。世忠曰：「還我兩宮，復我疆土，則可以相全。」兀朮語塞。又數日求再會，言不遜，世忠引弓欲射之，亟弛去，謂諸將曰：「南軍使船欲如使馬，奈何？」募人獻破海舟策。閩人王某者，教其舟中載土，平版鋪之，穴船版以棹槳，風息則出江，有風則勿出。海舟無風，不可動也。又有獻謀者曰：「鑿大渠接江口，則在世忠上流。」兀朮一夕潛鑿渠三十里，且用方士計，刑白馬，剔婦人心，自割其額祭天。次日風止，我軍帆弱不能運，金人以小舟縱火，矢下如雨。孫世詢、嚴允皆戰死，敵得絕江遁去。世忠收餘軍還鎮江。初，世忠謂敵至必登金山廟，觀我虛實。乃遣兵百人伏廟中，百人伏岸滸，約聞鼓聲，岸兵先入，廟兵合擊之。金人果五騎闖入，廟兵喜，先鼓而出，僅得二人。逸其三，中有絳袍玉帶、既墜而復馳者，詰之，乃兀朮也。是役也，兀朮兵號十萬，世忠僅八千餘人。帝凡六賜劄，褒獎甚寵。拜檢校少保、武成感德軍節度使，神武左軍都統制。

When Wuzhu was about to invade, the emperor asked his generals where to move the court. Zhang Jun and Xin Qizong urged retreat from Ezhou and Yuezhou to Changsha. Shizhong said, "The dynasty has already lost Hebei and Shandong. If we abandon the Jiang and Huai regions as well, what land is left to us?" Shizhong was appointed commissioner for western Zhe and stationed at Zhenjiang. Wuzhu soon crossed the Yangtze in several columns. Every garrison was defeated, and Shizhong withdrew from Zhenjiang to hold Jiangyin. Du Chong surrendered Jiankang to the enemy. Wuzhu broke through from Guangde to Lin'an, and the emperor fled to eastern Zhe. Shizhong posted his vanguard at Qinglong Town, his center force at Jiangwan, and his rear guard at Haikou, waiting to ambush the Jin on their return. The emperor summoned him to court. He reported, "I mean to hold the river line and cut off the Jin retreat. I will fight to the death." The emperor told his ministers, "Lü Yihao once proposed this same plan at Kuaiji. Shizhong has reached the same conclusion without consulting him." The emperor gave him a personal letter and allowed him to stay. On the Lantern Festival he held a grand lantern feast at Xiu Prefecture, then suddenly marched his army to Zhenjiang. By the time the Jin arrived, Shizhong's army was already encamped at Jiaoshan Temple. The Jin general Li Xuan surrendered and was accepted into service. Wuzhu sent envoys to negotiate and they agreed on a day for a major battle. After nearly ten engagements Lady Liang herself beat the war drums, and the Jin army could not force a crossing. Wuzhu offered to return all his plunder and pass through on loan of the road, but Shizhong refused. He offered famous horses as tribute, and Shizhong refused again. Tala at Weizhou sent the jinwei Taiyi to reinforce Wuzhu in Huaidong. Shizhong and the two Jin commanders faced each other at Huangtiangang for forty-eight days. Taiyi held the north bank and Wuzhu the south. Shizhong moved his sea warships to anchor below Jinshan and armed his strongest men with iron cables fitted with great hooks. At dawn the enemy fleet advanced with a great clamor. Shizhong split his sea boats into two columns to strike from behind. Each time a cable was lowered, a Jin boat was dragged under and sunk. Cornered and desperate, Wuzhu asked for a parley and pleaded piteously. Shizhong said, "Return our two emperors and restore our territory, and then we can let you go." Wuzhu had no reply. Days later Wuzhu sought another meeting and spoke insolently. Shizhong drew his bow to shoot him, and Wuzhu fled at once. He told his generals, "The southern army uses boats the way we use horses. What can we do?" He offered rewards for a plan to defeat the sea boats. A man from Fujian surnamed Wang taught them to load their boats with earth, lay flat boards over it, and bore holes through the planking for oars and paddles. They were to put out only when the wind died and stay in port when it blew. The sea boats could not move without wind. Another adviser said, "Dig a great canal to the river mouth and you will be upstream of Shizhong." In one night Wuzhu secretly dug a canal thirty li long. Following a geomancer's rite, he sacrificed a white horse, gouged out a woman's heart, and cut his own forehead to offer blood to heaven. The next day the wind died. The Song sails were too weak to move, and the Jin sent small fire ships while arrows fell like rain. Sun Shixun and Yan Yun were both killed in battle, and the enemy broke across the river and escaped. Shizhong gathered his survivors and returned to Zhenjiang. Earlier Shizhong had said that when the enemy came they would surely climb Jinshan Temple to spy on his dispositions. He posted a hundred men in ambush in the temple and a hundred on the shore, with orders that at the sound of the drum the shore party would strike first and the temple party would join the attack. Five Jin horsemen did ride into the temple. The ambushers rejoiced, beat the drum too soon, and caught only two men. Three escaped, including one in a crimson robe and jade belt who had fallen from his horse yet spurred on again. On inquiry it proved to be Wuzhu himself. In this battle Wuzhu's army was said to number a hundred thousand men, while Shizhong had barely eight thousand. The emperor sent him six personal letters of praise and reward. He was promoted to acting Junior Guardian, military commissioner of the Wucheng and Gande armies, and overall commander of the Divine Martial Left Army.

建安範汝為反，辛企宗等討捕未克，賊勢愈熾。以世忠為福建、江西、荊湖宣撫副使，世忠曰：「建居閩嶺上流，賊沿流而下，七郡皆血肉矣。」亟領步卒三萬，水陸並進。次劍潭，賊焚橋，世忠策馬先渡，師遂濟。賊盡塞要路拒王師，世忠命諸軍偃旗僕鼓，徑抵鳳凰山，頫瞰城邑，設雲梯火樓，連日夜並攻，賊震怖叵測。五日城破，汝為竄身自焚，斬其弟岳、吉以徇，禽其謀主謝向、施逵及裨將陸必強等五百餘人。世忠初欲盡誅建民，李綱自福州馳見世忠曰：「建民多無辜。」世忠令軍士馳城上毋下，聽民自相別，農給牛穀，商賈馳征禁，脅從者汰遣，獨取附賊者誅之。民感更生，家為立祠。捷聞，帝曰：「雖古名將何以加。」賜黃金器皿。

Fan Ruwei rebelled at Jian'an. Xin Qizong and others failed to suppress him, and the rebellion grew stronger. Shizhong was appointed deputy commissioner for Fujian, Jiangxi, and Jinghu. He said, "Jian'an lies on the upper Min watershed. If the rebels sweep downstream, seven prefectures will be slaughtered to the last man." He immediately led thirty thousand foot soldiers by land and water together. At Jiantan the rebels burned the bridge. Shizhong spurred his horse across first, and the army followed. The rebels blocked every key road against the imperial army. Shizhong ordered his troops to lower their flags and drums and march straight to Phoenix Mountain, overlooking the city. He set up siege ladders and fire towers and attacked day and night without pause until the rebels were shaken with terror. On the fifth day the city fell. Ruwei hid himself and burned to death. His brothers Yue and Ji were beheaded as a warning. More than five hundred men were captured, including the plotters Xie Xiang and Shi Kui and the officer Lu Biqiang. Shizhong at first intended to slaughter all the people of Jian'an. Li Gang rode posthaste from Fuzhou and told him, "Most of the people of Jian'an are innocent." Shizhong ordered his men to ride along the walls telling people not to come down, let the inhabitants sort themselves out, gave farmers oxen and grain, lifted trade restrictions on merchants, released those who had been coerced, and executed only those who had willingly joined the rebels. The people were grateful to be spared, and families erected shrines in his honor. When victory was reported, the emperor said, "Even the famous generals of antiquity could not surpass this." He rewarded him with golden vessels.

世忠因奏江西、湖南寇賊尚多，乞乘勝討平。廣西賊曹成擁餘眾在郴、邵。世忠既平閩寇，旋師永嘉，若將就休息者。忽由處、信徑至豫章，連營江濱數十里，群賊不虞其至，大驚。世忠遣人招之，成以其眾降，得戰士八萬，遣詣行在。遂移師長沙。時劉忠有眾數萬，據白麵山，營柵相望。世忠始至，欲急擊，宣撫使孟庾不可，世忠曰：「兵家利害，策之審矣，非參政所知，請期半月效捷。」遂與賊對壘，弈棋張飲，堅壁不動，眾莫測。一夕，與蘇格聯騎穿賊營，候者呵問，世忠先得賊軍號，隨聲應之，周覽以出，喜曰：「此天錫也。」夜伏精兵二千於白麵山，與諸將拔營而進，賊兵方迎戰，所遣兵已馳入中軍，奪望樓，植旗蓋，傳呼如雷，賊回顧驚潰，麾將士夾擊，大破之，斬忠首，湖南遂平。授太尉，賜帶、笏，仍敕樞密以功頒示內外諸將。師還建康，置背嵬軍，皆勇鷙絕倫者。九月，為江南東、西路宣撫使，置司建康。

Shizhong memorialized that bandits still plagued Jiangxi and Hunan and asked to press his victory and pacify them. The Guangxi bandit Cao Cheng still held a large force at Chen and Shao. After pacifying Fujian, Shizhong marched his army to Yongjia as if preparing to rest. Suddenly he struck from Chuzhou and Xinzhou straight to Yuzhang and encamped along the river for miles. The bandits never expected him and were thrown into panic. Shizhong sent envoys to summon Cao Cheng, who surrendered with his whole force. Shizhong took eighty thousand fighting men into service and sent them to the traveling court. He then moved his army to Changsha. Liu Zhong commanded tens of thousands of men on White Flour Mountain, his camps and palisades stretching in a long line. On arrival Shizhong wanted to attack at once, but Commissioner Meng Yu forbade it. Shizhong said, "The calculus of war has been weighed with care. This is beyond the councillor's ken. Give me half a month and I will deliver victory." He faced the rebels across the lines, played chess and held banquets, and kept his walls without stirring, so that no one could guess his plan. One night he and Su Ge rode together through the rebel camp. When sentries challenged them, Shizhong had already learned the rebel watchword and answered correctly. They rode the circuit of the camp and came out safely. Shizhong rejoiced, "Heaven has given us this." That night he hid two thousand elite troops on White Flour Mountain. He advanced with his generals while the rebels were still forming to meet him. His hidden force galloped into the rebel center, seized the watchtower, and raised flags and banners with shouts like thunder. The rebels looked back in panic and broke. He ordered a pincer attack, routed them completely, beheaded Liu Zhong, and Hunan was pacified. He was appointed Grand Marshal and given belt and court tablet. The Bureau of Military Affairs was ordered to proclaim his achievement to all generals within and beyond the capital. On his return to Jiankang he formed the Back-from-the-Heights Army, drawn from the fiercest and bravest men under his command. In the ninth month he was made commissioner for eastern and western Jiangnan, with headquarters at Jiankang.

三年三月，進開府儀同三司，充淮南東、西路宣撫使，置司泗州。時聞李橫進師討偽齊，議遣大將，以世忠忠勇，故遣之。仍賜廣馬七綱，甲千副，銀二萬兩，帛二萬匹；又出錢百萬緡，米二十八萬斛，為半歲之用。命戶部侍郎姚舜明詣泗州，總領錢糧；倉部郎官孫逸如平江府、常秀饒州，督發軍食。李橫兵敗還鎮，世忠不果渡淮。

In the third month of the third year he was promoted to Grand Preceptor with ceremony equal to the Three Excellencies and appointed commissioner for eastern and western Huainan, with headquarters at Sizhou. When Li Heng was reported to be advancing against the puppet Qi state, the court debated which great general to send. Because of Shizhong's loyalty and courage, he was chosen. He was also given seven strings of Guang horses, a thousand suits of armor, twenty thousand taels of silver, and twenty thousand bolts of silk. The court also allocated a million strings of cash and two hundred eighty thousand hu of grain, enough for half a year. Vice Minister of Revenue Yao Shunming was sent to Sizhou to oversee funds and provisions. Lang official Sun Yi of the Granary Department went to Pingjiang and the prefectures of Chang, Xiu, and Rao to supervise the dispatch of army rations. Li Heng's army was defeated and withdrew to its base, so Shizhong never crossed the Huai.

四年，以建康、鎮江、淮東宣撫使駐鎮江。是歲，金人與劉豫合兵，分道入侵。帝手劄命世忠飭守備，圖進取，辭旨懇切。世忠受詔，感泣曰：「主憂如此，臣子何以生為！」遂自鎮江濟師，俾統制解元守高郵，候金步卒；親提騎兵駐大儀，當敵騎，伐木為柵，自斷歸路。會遣魏良臣使金，世忠撤炊爨，紿良臣有詔移屯守江，良臣疾馳去。世忠度良臣已出境，即上馬令軍中曰：「眡吾鞭所向。」於是引軍次大儀，勒五陣，設伏二十餘所，約聞鼓即起擊。良臣至金軍中，金人問王師動息，具以所見對。聶兒孛堇聞世忠退，喜甚，引兵至江口，距大儀五里；別將撻孛也擁鐵騎過五陣東。世忠傳小麾鳴鼓，伏兵四起，旗色與金人旗雜出，金軍亂，我軍迭進。背嵬軍各持長斧，上揕人胸，下斫馬足。敵被甲陷泥淖，世忠麾勁騎四面蹂躪，人馬俱斃，遂擒撻孛也等二百餘人。所遣董旼亦擊金人於天長縣之鵶口，擒女真四十餘人。解元至高郵，遇敵，設水軍夾河陣，日合戰十三，相拒未決。世忠遣成閔將騎士往援，復大戰，俘生女真及千戶等。世忠復親追至淮，金人驚潰，相蹈藉，溺死甚眾。捷聞，群臣入賀，帝曰：「世忠忠勇，朕知其必能成功。」沈與求曰：「自建炎以來，將士未嘗與金人迎敵一戰，今世忠連捷以挫其鋒，厥功不細。」帝曰：「第憂賞之。」於是部將董旼、陳桷、解元、呼延通等皆峻擢有差。論者以此舉為中興武功第一。

In the fourth year he was stationed at Zhenjiang as commissioner for Jiankang, Zhenjiang, and Huaidong. That year the Jin joined forces with Liu Yu and invaded in several columns. The emperor wrote him a personal letter ordering him to strengthen his defenses and plan an offensive, in earnest and impassioned terms. Receiving the order, Shizhong wept and said, "When the sovereign is so troubled, what right has a subject to live in ease?" He crossed the river from Zhenjiang, posted Commander Jie Yuan at Gaoyou to watch for Jin infantry, and personally led his cavalry to Dayi to face the enemy horse. He felled trees for palisades and cut off his own retreat. Wei Liangchen was then sent as envoy to the Jin. Shizhong struck his cooking fires and deceived Liangchen into believing there was an edict to move camp and guard the river. Liangchen galloped away at once. When Shizhong judged that Liangchen had crossed the border, he mounted at once and told his army, "Watch where my whip points." He led his army to Dayi, drew up five battle lines, and set more than twenty ambushes with orders to strike at the sound of the drum. When Liangchen reached the Jin camp they asked about Song troop movements, and he reported exactly what he had seen. The jinwei Nier, hearing that Shizhong had withdrawn, was delighted and led his troops to the river mouth, five li from Dayi. A separate commander, Taboye, led iron cavalry past the east flank of the five formations. Shizhong waved his small banner and beat the drum. Ambushes rose on every side, Song and Jin banners mingled, the Jin army fell into chaos, and the Song forces pressed forward in waves. The Back-from-the-Heights men each wielded long axes, striking upward at men's chests and downward at horses' legs. The enemy, trapped in armor in mud and mire, were trampled by elite cavalry that Shizhong sent against them from every side. Men and horses alike perished, and more than two hundred captives were taken, including Taboye. Dong Min, whom Shizhong had sent out, also attacked the Jin at Yakou in Tianchang County and took more than forty Jurchen prisoners. When Jie Yuan reached Gaoyou and met the enemy, he deployed his river flotilla in battle lines along both banks. They fought thirteen times in a single day without either side gaining the upper hand. Shizhong sent Cheng Min at the head of cavalry to reinforce him. After another major battle they took live Jurchen captives, qianhu officers, and others. Shizhong personally pursued them all the way to the Huai River. The Jin broke in panic, trampled one another in flight, and very many drowned. When word of the victory arrived, the court officials came to offer congratulations. The Emperor said, "Shizhong is loyal and brave—I knew he would succeed." Shen Yuqiu said, "Since the Jianyan era our troops have never once met the Jin in pitched battle. Shizhong's successive victories have blunted their momentum—a no small achievement." The Emperor said, "My only concern is how to reward him adequately." Dong Min, Chen Que, Jie Yuan, Huyan Tong, and the other subordinate commanders were all promoted sharply, each according to his merit. Commentators regarded this campaign as the greatest military feat of the dynasty's restoration.

時撻辣屯泗州，兀朮屯竹塾鎮，為世忠所扼，以書幣約戰，世忠許之，且使兩伶人以橘、茗報聘。會雨雪，金饋道不通，野無所掠，殺馬而食，蕃漢軍皆怨。兀朮夜引軍還，劉麟、劉猊棄輜重遁。

At that time Tala was encamped at Sizhou and Wuzhu at Zhushu Town, both blocked by Shizhong. They sent letters and gifts proposing a battle, and Shizhong agreed, dispatching two entertainers in return with oranges and tea. Then came rain and snow. Jin supply lines were cut off, there was nothing to forage in the countryside, and they killed their horses for food. Jurchen and Han troops alike grew resentful. Wuzhu withdrew his army by night. Liu Lin and Liu Ni abandoned their supply trains and fled.

五年，進少保。六年，授武甯安化軍節度使、京東淮東路宣撫處置使，置司楚州。世忠披草萊，立軍府，與士同力役。夫人梁親織薄為屋。將士有怯戰者，世忠遺以巾幗，設樂大宴，俾婦人妝以恥之，故人人奮厲。撫集流散，通商惠工，山陽遂為重鎮。劉豫兵數入寇，輒為世忠所敗。

In the fifth year of the reign he was promoted to Junior Guardian. In the sixth year he was made Military Commissioner of Wuning and Anhua and Pacification Commissioner for Jingdong and Huaidong, with his headquarters at Chuzhou. Shizhong cleared the wilderness, established a military headquarters, and labored alongside his men. His wife Lady Liang wove cloth herself to roof their shelter. When soldiers showed cowardice in battle, Shizhong sent them women's headdresses and held a feast with music, having them dressed as women to shame them. Thereafter every man fought with fierce resolve. He resettled refugees, encouraged trade and industry, and turned Shanyang into a major stronghold. Liu Yu's forces raided repeatedly and were repulsed by Shizhong each time.

時張浚以右相視師，命世忠自承、楚圖淮陽。劉豫方聚兵淮陽，世忠即引軍渡淮，旁符離而北，至其城下。為賊所圍，奮戈一躍，潰圍而出，不遺一鏃。呼延通與金將牙合孛堇搏戰，扼其吭而禽之，乘銳掩擊，金人敗去。既而圍淮陽，賊堅守不下，約曰：「受圍一日，則舉一烽。」至是，六烽具舉，兀朮與劉猊皆至。世忠求援于張俊，俊以世忠有見吞意，不從。世忠勒陣向敵，遣人語之曰：「錦衣驄馬立陣前者，韓相公也。」或危之，世忠曰：「不如是，不足以致敵。」敵果至，殺其導戰二人，遂引去。尋詔班師，復歸楚州，淮陽之民，從而歸者以萬計。

At that time Zhang Jun, serving as Right Chancellor while supervising the army, ordered Shizhong to advance from Chen and Chu against Huaiyang. Liu Yu was massing troops at Huaiyang when Shizhong crossed the Huai, swung north past Fuli, and arrived beneath the city walls. Surrounded by the enemy, he brandished his halberd, leaped forward, broke through the encirclement, and emerged without losing a single man. Huyan Tong fought hand to hand with the Jin general Yagahabojin, seized him by the throat, and took him captive. Pressing the advantage in pursuit, they drove the Jin off in defeat. They then besieged Huaiyang, but the enemy held firm and the city would not fall. They agreed that for each day the siege continued, one signal fire would be lit. By then six signal fires had been lit. Wuzhu and Liu Ni both arrived. Shizhong asked Zhang Jun for reinforcements, but Jun, suspecting that Shizhong meant to absorb his forces, refused. Shizhong formed his battle line facing the enemy and sent word: "The man in brocade robes on a piebald horse at the front of the formation is Minister Han." When some warned him of the danger, Shizhong said, "Otherwise I could not draw the enemy out." The enemy did approach, but Shizhong killed two of their advance scouts and they withdrew. Soon orders came to withdraw. He returned to Chuzhou, and tens of thousands of people from Huaiyang followed him home.

三月，除京東、淮東宣撫處置使兼節制鎮江府，仍楚州置司。四月，賜號「揚武翊運功臣」，加橫海、武甯、安化三鎮節度使。九月，帝在平江，世忠自楚州來朝。

In the third month he was appointed Pacification Commissioner for Jingdong and Huaidong, with concurrent authority over Zhenjiang Prefecture, while keeping his headquarters at Chuzhou. In the fourth month he received the honorific title "Meritorious Subject Who Uplifts Military Power and Supports the Dynasty" and was made Military Commissioner of Henghai, Wuning, and Anhua combined. In the ninth month, while the Emperor was at Pingjiang, Shizhong traveled from Chuzhou to attend him.

十月，邊報急，劉光世欲棄廬州還太平，張俊亦請益兵。都督張浚曰：「今日之事，有進擊，無退保。」於是世忠引兵渡淮，與金將訛里也力戰。劉猊將寇淮東，為世忠兵扼，不得進。七年，築高郵城，民益安之。

In the tenth month urgent reports arrived from the frontier. Liu Guangshi wanted to abandon Luzhou and fall back to Taiping, and Zhang Jun also requested reinforcements. Grand Coordinator Zhang Jun said, "Today's situation calls for advance, not retreat." Shizhong then crossed the Huai and fought a hard battle with the Jin general Wolila. Liu Ni prepared to invade Huaidong but was blocked by Shizhong's forces and could not advance. In the seventh year the walls of Gaoyou were built, and the people grew ever more secure.

初，世忠移屯山陽，遣間結山東豪傑，約以緩急為應，宿州馬秦及太行群盜，多願奉約束者。金人廢劉豫，中原震動，世忠謂機不可失，請全師北討，招納歸附，為恢復計。會秦檜主和議，命世忠徙屯鎮江。世忠言：「金人詭詐，恐以計緩我師，乞留此軍蔽遮江、淮。」又力陳和議之非，願效死節，率先迎敵；若不勝，從之未晚。又言王倫、藍公佐交河南地界，乞令明具無反覆文狀為後證。章十數上，皆慷慨激切，且請單騎詣闕面奏，帝率優詔褒答。後金果渝盟，咸如其言。

When Shizhong first moved his camp to Shanyang, he sent agents to liaise with militant leaders in Shandong, pledging mutual support in times of crisis. Ma Qin of Suzhou and the brigands of the Taihang range were among the many who agreed to follow his lead. When the Jin deposed Liu Yu and shock rippled through the Central Plain, Shizhong argued that the moment must not be missed. He petitioned to lead the full army north, win over defectors, and press the recovery of lost territory. But Qin Hui was pushing for peace, and ordered Shizhong to relocate his camp to Zhenjiang. Shizhong warned, "The Jin are treacherous. They may use this peace ploy merely to stall our army. I beg that this force be kept to guard the Yangtze and Huai frontiers." He argued forcefully against the peace settlement, declaring his willingness to die in battle and lead the charge against the enemy. If we fail, it will still not be too late to sue for peace. He also urged that when Wang Lun and Lan Gongzuo negotiated the Henan border, they be required to produce explicit written pledges against any reversal. He submitted more than ten passionate memorials, even asking to ride alone to court to speak in person. The Emperor responded each time with gracious edicts of praise. When the Jin later broke the treaty, events unfolded exactly as he had predicted.

金使蕭哲之來，以詔諭為名，世忠聞之，凡四上疏言：「不可許，願舉兵決戰，兵勢最重處，臣請當之。」又言：「金人欲以劉豫相待，舉國士大夫盡為陪臣，恐人心離散，士氣凋沮。」且請馳驛面奏，不許。既而伏兵洪澤鎮，將殺金使，不克。

When the Jin envoy Xiao Zhe arrived bearing what was styled an imperial proclamation, Shizhong submitted four memorials declaring that the arrangement must be refused. He offered to lead the army into decisive battle and take personal responsibility for the most perilous sector of the front. He warned that the Jin intended to treat the Song as they had Liu Yu, reducing every scholar and official in the realm to vassal status—a prospect that would break morale and scatter loyalty. He also asked permission to ride post-haste to court to speak in person, but was refused. He then laid an ambush at Hongze Town intending to kill the Jin envoy, but the attempt failed.

九年，授少師。十年，金人敗盟，兀朮率撒離曷、李成等破三京，分道深入。八月，世忠圍淮陽，金人來救，世忠迎擊於泇口鎮，敗之。又遣解元擊金人於潭城，劉寶擊於千秋湖，皆捷。親隨將成閔從統制許世安奪淮陽門而入，大戰門內。世安中四矢，閔被三十餘創，復奪門出。世忠奏其功，擢武德大夫，閔由是知名。世忠進太保，封英國公，兼河南、北諸路招討使。

In the ninth year he was appointed Junior Preceptor. In the tenth year the Jin broke the treaty. Wuzhu led Salihu, Li Cheng, and others to seize the Three Capitals and push deep inland along several routes. In the eighth month Shizhong besieged Huaiyang. When Jin relief forces arrived, he intercepted them at Jiakou Town and defeated them. He also dispatched Jie Yuan to attack the Jin at Tancheng and Liu Bao at Qianqiu Lake—both operations succeeded. He went forward in person with Cheng Min, who followed Controller Xu Shi'an in storming the Huaiyang gate. A fierce battle raged inside the city walls. Xu Shi'an took four arrows; Cheng Min suffered more than thirty wounds. They fought their way back out through the gate. Shizhong reported their exploits. Xu Shi'an was promoted to Wude Dafu, and Cheng Min won renown thereby. Shizhong was promoted to Grand Guardian, enfeoffed as Duke of Ying, and made Pacification Commissioner for Henan and the northern circuits.

十一年，兀朮恥順昌之敗，復謀再入，詔大合兵於淮西以待。既而金敗於柘皋，復圍濠州。世忠受詔救濠，以舟師至招信縣，夜以騎兵擊金人于聞賢驛，敗之。金人攻濠州，五日而破。破三日，世忠至，楊沂中軍已南奔。世忠與金人戰於淮岸，夜遣劉寶溯流將劫之，金人伐木塞赤龍洲，扼其歸路，世忠知之，全師而還。金人自渦口渡淮北去，自是不得入侵。世忠在楚州十餘年，兵僅三萬，而金人不敢犯。

In the eleventh year Wuzhu, stung by his defeat at Shunchang, planned another invasion. An edict ordered a mass mobilization on the Huai River west to meet him. The Jin were then defeated at Zhegao, but renewed their siege of Haozhou. Ordered to relieve Haozhou, Shizhong sailed his river fleet to Zhaoxin County and by night routed Jin cavalry at Wenxian Post. The Jin took Haozhou after a five-day assault. Three days after the city fell Shizhong arrived, by which time Yang Yizhong's army had already broken south in flight. Shizhong fought the Jin on the Huai shore. By night he sent Liu Bao upstream on a raiding mission, but the Jin felled trees to block Chilongzhou and cut off his retreat. Shizhong saw the trap and withdrew his entire force intact. The Jin crossed north at Wokou and withdrew. From then on they dared not invade again. Shizhong held Chuzhou for more than ten years with barely thirty thousand men, yet the Jin never dared attack.

秦檜收三大將權，四月，拜樞密使，遂以所積軍儲錢百萬貫，米九十萬石，酒庫十五歸於國。世忠既不以和議為然，為檜所抑。及魏良臣使金，世忠又力言：「自此人情消弱，國勢委靡，誰復振之？北使之來，乞與面議。」不許，遂抗疏言檜誤國。檜諷言者論之，帝格其奏不下。世忠連疏乞解樞密柄，繼上表乞骸。十月，罷為醴泉觀使、奉朝請，進封福國公，節鉞如故。自此杜門謝客，絕口不言兵，時跨驢攜酒，從一二奚童，縱遊西湖以自樂，平時將佐罕得見其面。

As Qin Hui stripped the three great generals of their power, Shizhong was appointed Privy Councilor in the fourth month. He then surrendered his accumulated stores to the state: one million strings of cash, nine hundred thousand shi of grain, and fifteen wine warehouses. Shizhong had never accepted the peace settlement and was now restrained by Qin Hui. When Wei Liangchen was sent as envoy to the Jin, Shizhong protested again: "From this point morale will fade and the state's vigor will falter. Who will revive it? When the northern envoys arrive, I beg leave to meet and debate them in person." His request was denied. He submitted a defiant memorial accusing Qin Hui of ruining the country. Qin Hui prompted censors to attack him, and the Emperor blocked his memorial from circulation. Shizhong repeatedly asked to resign his Privy Council post and then petitioned to retire. In the tenth month he was relieved and made Director of the Liquan Abbey, with attendance at court. He was advanced to Duke of Fu while retaining his military commissions. Thereafter he shut his doors to visitors and never spoke of war again. He would ride a donkey with wine and one or two boy servants, roaming West Lake for pleasure. Even his former commanders rarely saw him.

十二年，改潭國公。顯仁皇后自金還，世忠詣臨平朝謁。後在北方聞其名，慰問者良久。十三年，封咸安郡王。十七年，改鎮南、武安、甯國節度使。二十一年八月薨，進拜太師，追封通義郡王。孝宗朝，追封蘄王，諡忠武，配饗高宗廟庭。

In the twelfth year he was retitled Duke of Tan. When Empress Xianren returned from captivity among the Jin, Shizhong went to Linping to pay his respects. Having long heard of him in the north, she spoke with him at length and offered warm condolences. In the thirteenth year he was enfeoffed as Prince of Xian'an. In the seventeenth year he was reassigned as Military Commissioner of Zhennan, Wu'an, and Ningguo. He died in the eighth month of the twenty-first year. He was posthumously promoted to Grand Preceptor and enfeoffed as Prince of Tongyi. Under Emperor Xiaozong he was posthumously elevated to Prince of Qi, given the posthumous name Zhongwu ("Loyal and Martial"), and granted a place in sacrifices at Emperor Gaozong's temple.

世忠初得疾，敕尚醫視療，將吏臥內問疾，世忠曰：「吾以布衣百戰，致位王公，賴天之靈，保首領沒于家，諸君尚哀其死邪？」及死，剛朝服、貂蟬冠、水銀、龍腦以斂。

When Shizhong first fell ill, the Emperor sent court physicians to treat him. Officers came to his bedside, and Shizhong said, "I rose from common birth through a hundred battles to princely rank. By Heaven's grace I will keep my head and die at home—why mourn my death?" At his death he was laid out in full court regalia—official robes, the tiered cap of rank, mercury, and borneol camphor for preservation.

世忠嘗戒家人曰：「吾名世忠，汝曹毋諱'忠'字，諱而不言，是忘忠也。」性戇直，勇敢忠義，事關廟社，必流涕極言。岳飛冤獄，舉朝無敢出一語，世忠獨攖檜怒，語在《檜傳》。又抵排和議，觸檜尤多，或勸止之，世忠曰：「今畏禍苟同，他日瞑目，豈可受鐵杖于太祖殿下？」時一二大將，多曲徇檜苟全，世忠與檜同在政地，一揖外未嘗與談。

Shizhong once warned his family, "My name is Shizhong. You must not avoid the character zhong ('loyalty'). To avoid speaking it is to forget loyalty itself." Blunt and upright by nature, he was brave, loyal, and righteous. On matters touching the fate of the realm he wept openly and spoke without restraint. When Yue Fei was framed and imprisoned, none at court dared speak out. Shizhong alone provoked Qin Hui's wrath—the full account appears in Qin Hui's biography. He repeatedly denounced the peace settlement and offended Qin Hui more than anyone. When some urged caution, Shizhong said, "To fear harm and go along with the crowd is easy—but when I close my eyes, how could I face iron canes beneath the ancestral hall of Emperor Taizu?" While other senior generals bent to Qin Hui to save themselves, Shizhong shared office with Qin yet never spoke to him beyond a perfunctory bow.

嗜義輕財，錫齎悉分將士，所賜田輸租與編戶等。持軍嚴重，與士卒同甘苦，器仗規畫，精絕過人，今克敵弓、連鎖甲、狻猊鍪，及跳澗以習騎，洞貫以習射，皆其遺法也。嘗中毒矢入骨，以強弩括取之，十指僅全四，不能動，刀痕箭瘢如刻畫。然知人善獎用，成閔、解元、王勝、王權、劉寶、岳超起行伍，秉將旄，皆其部曲雲。解兵罷政，臥家凡十年，澹然自如，若未嘗有權位者。晚喜釋、老，自號清涼居士。

He valued honor over wealth and distributed every imperial gift among his troops. For granted estates he paid the same rents as ordinary registered households. He commanded with austere discipline yet shared hardship with his men. His designs for weapons and armor were without equal—the Ke-di bow, linked-ring armor, lion-headed helmets, trench-jumping cavalry drills, and target-piercing archery exercises all survive as his legacy. A poisoned arrow once lodged in bone. He extracted it with a strong crossbow pull. Only four of his ten fingers remained fully intact and movable; blade cuts and arrow wounds covered him like carved lines. Yet he knew talent and knew how to reward it. Cheng Min, Jie Yuan, Wang Sheng, Wang Quan, Liu Bao, and Yue Chao—all rose from the ranks to hold command under his banner. After surrendering his army and leaving office he lived at home for ten years, serene as if he had never held power. In his later years he turned to Buddhism and Daoism and styled himself the Lay Devotee of Pure Coolness.

子彥直、彥質、彥古，皆以才見用。彥古戶部尚書。

His sons Yan Zhi, Yan Zhi, and Yan Gu were all employed for their abilities. Yan Gu served as Minister of Revenue.

子彥直

Son: Yan Zhi

彥直字子溫。生期年，以父任補右承奉郎，尋直秘閣。六歲，從世忠入見高宗，命作大字，即拜命跪書「皇帝萬歲」四字。帝喜之，拊其背曰：「他日，令器也。」親解孝宗丱角之繻傅其首，賜金器、筆研、監書、鞍馬。年十二，賜三品服。

Yan Zhi, whose style name was Ziwen. Before he was a year old he was appointed Right Gentleman for Attending Service through his father's rank, and soon entered service at the Secretariat Pavilion. At six he accompanied Shizhong to an audience with Gaozong, was told to write large characters, and at once knelt to write the four characters "Ten Thousand Years to the Emperor." The emperor was delighted, patted his back, and said, "This boy will be a fine vessel one day." He personally untied the childhood binding cord from Xiaozong's head and tied it on the boy's, and gave him gold vessels, writing implements, supervised books, and a saddle and horse. At twelve he was granted robes of the third rank.

乾道二年，遷戶部郎官、主管左曹，總領淮東軍馬錢糧。會大軍倉給糧，徑乘小輿往察之，給米不如數，捕吏寘於理。初，代者以乏興罷，交承，為緡錢僅二十萬，明年奏計乃四倍，且以其贏獻諸朝。帝嘉之。拜司農少卿，進直龍圖閣、江西轉運兼權知江州。

In the second year of the Qiandao reign he was made a Lang official of the Revenue Ministry, placed in charge of the Left Bureau, and put in overall charge of Huaidong army funds, horses, and grain. When the main army granary was issuing rations he went in person in a small carriage to inspect it. Finding the rice short of the proper amount, he arrested the clerk and brought him to justice. His predecessor had been dismissed for short funds, leaving only two hundred thousand strings of cash on handover. The next year Yan Zhi's accounts showed four times that amount, and he presented the surplus to the court. The emperor commended him. He was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture, made a direct attendant of the Dragon Diagram Hall, and named Jiangxi transport commissioner with acting authority over Jiang Prefecture.

時朝廷還岳飛家貲產多在九江，歲久業數易主，吏緣為奸。彥直搜剔隱匿，盡還岳氏。復為司農少卿，總領湖北、京西軍馬錢糧，尋兼發運副使。會時相不樂，密啟換武，授利州觀察使、知襄陽府，充京西南路安撫使。

The court was then restoring Yue Fei's family property, much of it in Jiujiang. Over the years the estates had changed hands repeatedly, and officials used this to commit fraud. Yan Zhi tracked down concealed holdings and restored everything to the Yue family. He again became Vice Minister of Agriculture and took overall charge of Hubei and Jingxi army funds, horses, and grain, soon adding the post of deputy transport commissioner. The chief minister took a dislike to him and secretly had him transferred to military service. He was appointed observation commissioner of Li Prefecture, prefect of Xiangyang, and pacification commissioner for southwestern Jing.

七年，授鄂州駐劄御前諸軍都統制。條奏軍中六事，乞備器械、增戰馬、革濫賞、厲奇功、選勇略、充親隨等，朝廷多從之。先是，軍中騎兵多不能步戰，彥直命騎士被甲徒行，日六十里，雖統制官亦令以身帥之，人人習於勞苦，馳騁如飛。事聞，詔令三衙、江上諸軍仿行之。

In the seventh year he was appointed overall commander of all imperial armies stationed at Ezhou. He memorialized on six army reforms: stock weapons, increase war horses, curb excessive rewards, encourage extraordinary merit, select men of courage and strategy, and fill personal staffs. The court largely adopted his proposals. Cavalry in the army had largely been unable to fight on foot. Yan Zhi ordered horsemen to march in armor sixty li a day; even commanders had to lead by example. The men grew hardened to hardship and rode like the wind. When this was reported, the court ordered the Three Commands and all Yangtze armies to follow his example.

八年，丐歸文班，乃授左中奉大夫，充敷文閣待制、知台州。丐祠養親，提舉佑神觀、奉朝請。進對言：「頃自岳飛為帥，身居鄂渚，遙領荊襄，田師中繼之，始分鄂渚為二軍，乞復舊。」又乞並京西、湖北轉運為一司，分官置司襄陽，可一事體，帝善之。遷刑部侍郎。

In the eighth year he asked to return to civil office and was appointed Left Grandee for Attending Service, drafting attendant of the Fuwen Hall, and prefect of Tai Prefecture. He sought a temple post to care for his parents and was made director of the You Shen Abbey with the rank of court attendee. At court he said, "When Yue Fei commanded, he was based at Ezhou and held Jing and Xiang from afar. Tian Shizhong later split Ezhou into two armies. I ask that the old arrangement be restored." He also asked to merge the Jingxi and Hubei transport offices into one, with a branch at Xiangyang, so the region could be managed as a single unit. The emperor approved. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Justice.

明年，兼工部侍郎，同列議：大辟三鞫之弗承，宜令以眾證就刑，欲修立為令。彥直持不可，白丞相梁克家曰：「若是，則善類被誣，必多冤獄。且笞杖之刑，猶引伏方決，況人命至重乎？」議卒格。以議奪吳名世改正過名不當，降兩官。

The next year, while also serving as Vice Minister of Works, his colleagues proposed that when a capital defendant refused to confess after three interrogations, he should be executed on collective evidence alone, and they wished to codify this as law. Yan Zhi objected and told Chief Councillor Liang Kejia, "If we do this, good men will be framed and wrongful convictions will multiply. Even for flogging one waits for a confession before sentencing. How much more so when a human life is at stake?" The proposal was blocked. He was demoted two ranks on a charge arising from a dispute over correcting Wu Mingshi's name in a memorial.

會當遣使于金，在廷相顧莫肯先，帝親擇以往，聞命慨然就道。方入境，金使蒲察問接國書事，論難往復數十，蒲察理屈，因笑曰：「尚書能力為主。」既至，幾罹禍者數，守節不屈，金卒禮遣之，帝嘉歎。遷吏部侍郎，尋權工部尚書，復中大夫，改工部尚書兼知臨安府。方控辭，以言罷，提舉太平興國宮，尋提舉佑神觀、奉朝請。

When an envoy was needed to the Jin, no one at court would volunteer. The emperor chose Yan Zhi himself, and on receiving the order he set out resolutely. Just inside the border the Jin envoy Pucha questioned him about receiving the state letter. After dozens of exchanges Pucha was left without an answer and laughed, "The Vice Minister serves his sovereign well." Once there he nearly came to harm several times but held firm. The Jin finally sent him off with ceremony. The emperor praised him warmly. He was made Vice Minister of Personnel, then acting Minister of Works, restored to Grandee for Attending Service, and appointed Minister of Works with concurrent prefect of Lin'an. He was declining the post when remarks he made cost him the office. He was made director of the Taiping Xingguo Palace, then director of the You Shen Abbey with the rank of court attendee.

尋知濕州，首捕巨猾王永年窮治之，杖徙他州。奏免民間積逋，以郡餘財代輸之，然以累欠內帑坊場錢不發，鐫一官。海寇出沒大洋劫掠，勢甚張，彥直授將領土豪等方略，不旬日，生禽賊首，海道為清。樞密奏功，進敷文閣學士，以弟彥質為兩浙轉運判官，引嫌易泉府。丐祠奉親，差提舉佑神觀，仍奉朝請，特令佩魚，示異數也。

Soon he was made prefect of Wen Prefecture. He captured the notorious criminal Wang Yongnian, prosecuted him thoroughly, and had him flogged and exiled to another prefecture. He memorialized to remit accumulated tax arrears, paying them from prefectural surplus funds, but was demoted one rank for long failing to remit inner-palace workshop revenues. Sea pirates were raiding boldly on the open ocean. Yan Zhi gave his generals and local leaders a plan, and within ten days the pirate chief was captured alive and the sea lanes were cleared. The Bureau of Military Affairs reported his achievement and he was promoted to academician of the Fuwen Hall. Because his brother Yan Zhi was transport judge of the two Zhe circuits, he cited conflict of interest and was transferred to Quan Prefecture. He sought a temple post to care for his parents and was assigned director of the You Shen Abbey while retaining court attendee rank. He was specially granted the fish tally, a mark of exceptional favor.

入對，乞搜訪靖康以來死節之士，以勸忠義。又上薦舉乞選人已經關升、實曆六考、無贓私罪犯者，雜試以經術法律，限其員額，定其高下，俾孤寒者得以自達，定為改官之制。又乞令州郡守臣任滿日，開具本州實在財賦數目，具公移與交代者，並達台省，庶可核實，以戢奸弊，帝悉嘉納。

At court he asked that men who had died for their integrity since the Jingkang disaster be sought out and honored, to encourage loyalty. He also proposed that candidates who had passed promotion barriers, completed six examinations in service, and had no corruption convictions be tested in classics and law, with fixed quotas and ranks, so that men of humble origin could advance. This became the system for civil promotion. He also asked that when prefects completed their terms they submit a full accounting of the prefecture's actual revenues to their successors and to the provincial and central authorities, so accounts could be verified and fraud curbed. The emperor approved all these proposals.

淳熙十年夏旱，應詔言，邇者濫刑，為致旱之由。明年，入對，論三衙皆所以拱扈宸居，而司馬乃遠在數百里外，乞令歸司。久之，再為戶部尚書。會歲旱，乞廣糴為先備。又乞追貶部曲曾誣陷岳飛者，以慰忠魂。以言降充敷文閣學士。帝追感世忠元勳，遣使諭彥直，且謂彥直有才力，言者誣之。彥直感泣奏謝。尋提舉萬壽觀，有疾，帝賜之藥。進顯謨閣學士、提舉萬壽觀。

In the tenth year of the Chunxi reign a summer drought struck. Responding to an imperial edict he said that excessive punishments of late were the cause of the drought. The next year at court he argued that the Three Commands exist to guard the imperial residence, yet their marshal was stationed hundreds of li away, and asked that he be ordered back to headquarters. After some time he again became Minister of Revenue. When drought struck again he asked that grain be purchased widely as a reserve. He also asked that subordinates who had once framed Yue Fei be posthumously demoted, to comfort Yue's loyal spirit. His remarks cost him a demotion to academician of the Fuwen Hall. The emperor, moved by memory of Shizhong's founding service, sent an envoy to reassure Yan Zhi, saying he had talent and that his critics had slandered him. Yan Zhi wept as he memorialized his thanks. Soon he was made director of the Wanshou Abbey. When he fell ill the emperor sent him medicine. He was promoted to academician of the Xianmo Hall and director of the Wanshou Abbey.

嘗摭宋朝事，分為類目，名《水心鏡》，為書百六十七卷。禮部尚書尤袤修國史，白於朝，下取是書以進，光宗覽之，稱善。進龍圖閣學士、提舉萬壽觀，轉光祿大夫致仕。卒，特贈開府儀同三司，賜銀絹九百，爵至蘄春郡公。

He once compiled Song history by category into a work of one hundred sixty-seven scrolls called Mirror of the Water Heart. When Minister of Rites You Mao was revising the national history he reported to court, had the book submitted, and Guangzong read it with approval. He was promoted to academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and director of the Wanshou Abbey, then retired as Grandee of Splendid Happiness. On his death he was posthumously granted Grand Preceptor with ceremony equal to the Three Excellencies, given nine hundred measures of silver and silk, and ennobled as Duke of Qichun.

論曰：古人有言：「天下安，注意相；天下危，注意將。」宋靖康、建炎之際，天下安危之機也，勇略忠義如韓世忠而為將，是天以資宋之興復也。方兀朮渡江，惟世忠與之對陣，以閒暇示之。及劉豫廢，中原人心動搖，世忠請乘時進兵，此機何可失也？高宗惟奸檜之言是聽，使世忠不得盡展其才，和議成而宋事去矣。暮年退居行都，口不言兵，部曲舊將，不與相見，蓋懲岳飛之事也。昔漢文帝思頗、牧於前代，宋有世忠而不善用，惜哉！

The commentators say: The ancients observed, "When the realm is at peace, look to the chancellor; when the realm is in peril, look to the general." At the Jingkang and Jianyan crises the fate of the realm hung in the balance. That a man of courage, strategy, loyalty, and righteousness like Han Shizhong should serve as general was heaven's gift to the Song restoration. When Wuzhu crossed the Yangtze, Shizhong alone faced him in battle and met him with apparent ease. When Liu Yu was deposed and hearts in the Central Plains wavered, Shizhong urged an advance. What opportunity could be more precious? Gaozong listened only to the traitor Qin Hui, so Shizhong could never fully deploy his gifts. The peace treaty was made, and the Song cause was lost. In old age he lived in retirement at the traveling capital, never spoke of war, and would not see his former officers—no doubt mindful of what had befallen Yue Fei. Emperor Wen of Han once longed for generals like Lian Po and Li Mu from ages past. The Song had Han Shizhong and did not use him well. What a pity!

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