Han Shizhong () (1089 – 16 September 1151() Song Shi, vol.30) was a Chinese military general, poet, and politician of the late Northern Song dynasty and the early Southern Song dynasty. He dedicated his whole life to serving the Song dynasty, and performed many legendary deeds. It is said that he had scars all over his body and, by the time he retired, there were only four fingers left on both of his hands. General Han distinguished himself in the Jin–Song wars against the Jurchen Jin dynasty, and was reputed to win battles in situation where he had to face a larger number of enemies with a smaller numbers of soldiers.
He was also known as a military inventor: his inventions including various modified bows, chain-like armor, a horse jumping obstacle course for cavalry training, and an archery range for archery practice. His wife, Liang Hongyu, was also known to have an exceptional military mind.
Through the tragedy of Yue Fei's execution, Han realized the extent of the rampant corruption throughout the Song imperial court, and retired from military service afterward.
Early life Han Shizhong was born to a poor farming family in a village of the Shanxi province in the year 1089. He was born in a time when China was under constant threats by stronger bordering nations: notably the Tanguts' Western Xia, the Khitans' Liao dynasty and the Jurchens' Jin Empire. In 1105, the Tanguts' kingdom of Xi Xia attacked China and Han Shizhong was conscripted into military service.() Song Shi, vol.364
Early military career In 1105 AD Han Shizhong, responded to the call for military service in his hometown and enlisted in the army of Yan'an Prefecture to resist against Xi Xia invasion. He distinguished himself in this conflict for his courage among the three armies of Song, where he became renowned for his archery skill. History of the Song Dynasty vol. 364 At one time, the Song army experienced stalemate at Yinzhou. Han Shizhong personally broke into the city, killed an enemy general defending the city, and threw his head outside the city. The Song army was encouraged and rushed forward to capture the city. Later, Han Shizhong led his elite troops in resisting large numbers of Xi Xia army's counter attack from Haopingling twice. During this battle, he manage to personally kill a Xi Xia's military supervisor's son-in-law, causing the enemy forces to retreat. After the battle, the Jinglüe Si reported Han Shizhong's achievements to the court and requested for his promotion. However, Tong Guan, who was in charge of border affairs at the time , doubted the authenticity of the report and only agreed to promote Han Shizhong promoted to lieutenant. Han Shizhong's colleagues felt dissatisfied with this decision. History of the Song Dynasty vol. 364
Later, Han led Song Jiang's army offensive against the Liao and these stories were written in the Water Margin.
In 1117 AD, Han Shizhong followed Liu Yanqing, a Song local official, to attack the Xi Xia forces, where he climbed the wall of enemy's city on valley at night, killing two enemy soldiers, and allowed paving the way for Song's soldiers to enter the city. In 1118 AD, he followed Liu Yanqing to Tianjiang Mountain to build a garrison city, repelled the Xi Xia raiding parties that came to obstruct his job, and killed many. Subsequently, Zhong Shidao, the chief general of Jingyuan Road, led the seven armies of Shaanxi and Hedong to attack Zangdihe City. Liu Yanqing led the Fuyan soldiers to participate in the battle. Han Shizhong was awarded three ranks in this battle. Later, Han Shizhong was promoted further deputy lieutenant of Yi and deputy lieutenant of Wu in succession for his military exploits.The Monument of Han Zhongwu, Wang Shizhong, the Hero of Restoration and Establishment of the Country states "
In 1120, Han was sent as a deputy of General Wang Yuan () to suppress a local rebellion. It was reputed that he alone infiltrated a rebels' stronghold and captured the leader, Fang La. Han was nicknamed, "Able to defeat ten thousands" () and was rewarded handsomely for his efforts. However, Han's biography in Song Shi went on to indicate that Han was denied credit for capturing Fang La by Xin Xingzong (); Xin took the credit for himself Instead. It was not until Yang Weizhong , the commander-in-chief of the Right Army, returned to the court and reported the matter that Han Shizhong was granted the official rank of sanguan (). History of the Song Dynasty vol. 364
Later, a banquet was soon held in Han's honor for this success. During this banquet, Han met his future wife, Liang Hongyu. Liang Hongyu was a courtesan and was serving the officers in the banquet. It is said that Liang caught the eye of Han who was sighing instead of celebrating like the others. Liang approached Han and asked him why he wasn't showing any signs of joy in the banquet which was thrown in his honor. Han replied that this was a small victory and that he was worried about the Jurchens who showed signs of hostility to the Song regime. He stated that it hurt him to imagine the damage that war may bring upon the peasants. Liang was in awe of Han, and the two quickly become very close to each another. Liang decided to follow Han and the two soon were married.
Military services 1121-1126
First Jin invasion In the year 1121, the Song army suffered loss in Yanshan County, Hebei. Following this, Han Shizhong lead a group of over fifty cavalrymen, arrived at the Hutuo River and engaged two thousand Jin cavalrymen. He ordered a junior captain named Su Ge to lead a small force to seize the high ground, forming a battle array there and observing without moving. He also organized the Song troops which previously fleeing Yanshan, numbering several hundred, and had them form a formation, while Han Shizhong beating drums. Then, he led several death-defying knights and charged directly into the Jin army, attacking and killing the Jin flag bearer. Su Ge led the cavalrymen occupying the high ground and charging down from above. The Song soldiers on the riverbank also beat drums and shouted. Miraculously, Miraculously, Han emerged victorious over the Jin.
Rebels suppression In 1125, Han Shizhong followed Wang Yuan to hunt down bandits, annihilated the pirates in Damingfu, and defeated the robbers in Tangcun. He made great achievements and was awarded the title of Bingyilang. Later, as a lieutenant general, he followed Liang Fangping, the governor of Shandong, to attack Shandong. He defeated the thousands of troops of Yang Tianwang and Toushouhua in Weishi, defeated the tens of thousands of Wuhu rebels in Linyi at Hanwangdian, and participated in defeating Xu Jin of Yizhou, Zhang Xian of Qingshe, Liu Dalang of Shuigu, Gao Tuoshan of Wangxian, Jia Jin of Jilu, Xu Dalang of Juxian, Zhang Kui of Donghai. Han Shizhong was awarded the title of Wujielang for his meritorious service in those operations.
In April, Han Shizhong's general Yang Jin repelled the Jin army that had invaded Nanjing, Yingtian Prefecture (present-day Shangqiu, Henan). Han Shizhong accompanied Zhao Gou to Nanjing. Prince Zhao Gou ascended the throne in Nanjing as Emperor Gaozong of Song. Upon his ascension, Emperor Gaozong appointed Han Shizhong as the Inspector General of Gwangju, with the imperial weapons in his care . Han Shizhong had previously requested to move the capital to Chang'an and send troops to retake the two He regions, but his request was rejected. When the imperial camp was rebuilt, he was appointed Commander of the Left Army. Subsequently, Han Shizhong was tasked with independently recapture Yutai, defeat the Shanzhou rebels, and assist Liu Guangshi in defeating the rebels at Liyi. History of the Song Dynasty vol. 364
Second Jin invasion Later in the same year, the Jin army destroyed the Liao Empire and swiftly destroyed the forces of Xi Xia and Goryeo (both allies of Liao), making them vassal states of the Jin Empire. That very same year, the Jurchens assembled a large coalition force consisting of Jurchens, Tanguts, Khitans and Koreans to launch a second invasion of China. Han was defending the city of Zhaozhou once again under General Wang Yuan (Chinese:王淵). After a few months of battle, the city's logistical supplies dwindled. Han asked for three hundred cavalrymen and, one night, made a surprise attack on the enemy encampment. This attack caught the Jurchens by surprise and they began to scramble and swing their swords on anyone they saw. By daybreak, many of them had trampled over one another; amongst those fatalities was the commander of the invading Jurchen force. The Jurchens had no choice but to retreat. Thus was the city of Zhaozhou relieved. Despite this victory, most other Song defending forces, again, were defeated, and the Jurchens even captured two Song emperors in the Jingkang incident.
In the first month of 1126, Han Shizhong accompanied Liang Fangping in defending the Yellow River Bridge in Rongzhou (present-day Junxian County, Henan Province) against the Jin army. Liang Fangping fled, and Han Shizhong fought bravely to break through, burning the bridge before retreating to Kaifeng. When the Jin army besieged Kaifeng, Han Shizhong was promoted to commander and participated in the defense. In February, the Jin army withdrew, and Han Shizhong was appointed vanguard commander under Wang Yuan, the governor of Hebei Province. In June, Li Gang , the envoy of Hedong and Hebei, came to support Taiyuan. At the time, Han Shizhong was stationed in Daming. He was ordered by Li Gang (also known as Li Mida, the deputy envoy of the envoy), to suppress the rebels. For his meritorious service, he was promoted to commander of the Shanzhou militia and stationed at the Hutuo River. At the time, Wang Yuan was defending Zhaozhou (present-day Zhaoxian County, Hebei Province). Han Shizhong went to assist Wang Yuan, but was forced into the city by tens of thousands of Jin troops. The enemy forces surrounded the city several times, leaving the soldiers few and short of food, and the army's morale was unstable. Some advocated abandoning the city, but Han Shizhong refused. That night, heavy snow fell. He selected 300 strong soldiers and stormed the Jin army camp outside the city, causing the Jin army to lose their will to fight and retreat. After the battle, he was promoted to the rank of Defense Envoy for his merits. After Han Shizhong led his troops back to Daming, he was appointed as the Commander of the Front Army by General Zhao Ye.
Service under Emperor Gaozong In AD 1127, Han was given a thousand-man army to escort the crown prince Zhao Gou, Prince of Kang () to safety in southern China. He faced an enemy army ten times larger than hisnown forces. However, Han Shizhong army emerged victorious and forced the enemy to retreat. The crown prince who would become Emperor Gaozong () successfully reached Henan (), ascended the throne and established the Southern Song dynasty. Shortly after in 1127 or 1128, the capital was moved to Yangzhou.
Han advised Emperor Gaozong to recover the lost lands in the North, but Gaozong, content with simply being emperor, neglected his advice. Meanwhile, while under siege, Zong Ze (), the Chinese general guarding the northern capital, Kaifeng (), was so angered that he felt ill knowing no reinforcements would be sent, and died shortly after, on 1 August 1128.() Song Shi, vol.25 The city surrendered shortly after.