Great People, Small Stories

Author: Wang Yong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Yue Fei (1103—1142), styled Pengju, was a native of Tangyin in Xiangzhou (now part of Henan Province), a renowned anti-Jin general in the early Southern Song Dynasty. Yue Fei's ancestors were farmers, and due to poverty, he studied military texts from a young age. Later, he joined the army and repeatedly defeated the Jin forces, taking the restoration of the Central Plains as his mission. He held positions such as the Military Commissioner of East Jinghu Road, the Military Governor of Henan and Northern Circuit, and Vice Director of the Secretariat. In the 10th year of Shaoxing (1140), he decisively defeated the Jin general Wuzhu and advanced to Zhuxian Town (now southwest of Kaifeng City in Henan), where people from all over Henan responded in support. Just as he was about to capitalize on the victory to reclaim lost northern territories, Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, adopted Qin Hui's treacherous schemes and issued twelve imperial orders in a single day, forcing Yue Fei to retreat. Shortly after Yue Fei's army returned to Lin'an, he was executed on the charge of "non-existent crimes." In the 6th year of Xiaozong's Chunxi reign (1179), he was posthumously honored as Wumu. In the 4th year of Ningzong's Jiading reign (1211), he was posthumously enfeoffed as the Prince of E. Living in an era of extremely sharp ethnic conflicts, Yue Fei's poems and prose were filled with a strong determination to resist the Jin and reclaim the homeland, and were highly cherished by later generations. Most of these works are scattered in Jintuo Zhuibian, compiled by his grandson Yue Ke. His ci poems left only three but were widely. Detailed accounts of Yue Fei can be found in History of the Song Dynasty, Volume 365, with Collected Works of Yue Zhongwu still in existence.
Becoming a Disciple of Zhou Dong
When Yue Fei was very young, he often with some neighborhood children. Once, after finishing their work, the sky was still bright, and they gathered to discuss famous heroes of ancient times, as well as national affairs. At that moment, an elderly man with white hair happened to pass by and heard the children's chatter. He stopped and listened for a while, noticing one young boy with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, who spoke eloquently about history and military strategy. He couldn't help but be amazed. He had never expected that among his fellow villagers, there was such a talented young child. Overjoyed, he approached and asked, "May I ask who this young lad is? Whom does he study under?"
Hearing someone address him, Yue Fei looked up at the kind-faced old man before him, who exuded a heroic aura and had an extraordinary demeanor. He quickly bowed and recited:
"A basket of sand, trained by my mother;
A reed, reading Confucian classics.
If the dragon and phoenix gather in Jiangnan,
I will serve the Song and restore the realm."
Yue Fei then said, "Your humble servant's surname is Yue, and my given name is Fei. My father's name is Yue He. May I inquire about your esteemed teacher's name?"
Zhou Dong had long heard that Yue He had a son who, upon birth, survived a flood by sitting in a jar. The boy was exceptionally intelligent, and seeing him now, Zhou Dong realized his reputation was well-deserved. Thus, he replied, "My surname is Zhou, and my given name is Dong. I am but a humble villager."