During the Southern Song Dynasty, the famed general Yue Fei led his elite Yue Family Army on a fierce northern campaign, his ultimate goal being to storm the Yellow Dragon Prefecture, reclaim the lost Central Plains, and restore the Song Empire's unified domain.
To achieve this goal, many favorable conditions were already in place. Yue Fei's military leadership was effective, and the Yue family army was highly formidable, often defeating larger forces with fewer troops and winning consecutive battles. This led the Jin soldiers to say, "It is easier to shake a mountain than to shake the Yue family army."
The Yue family army was so brave and skilled in battle that it boosted the confidence of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song, who had been content to hold only the southeast. He said to Yue Fei, "I entrust the great task of restoring the Song dynasty entirely to you!" And whenever he listened to Yue Fei's strategies for recovering lost territory, he was always infinitely comforted and greatly inspired, saying:
"With such a minister, what do I have to worry about?"
Furthermore, the Yue Family Army received strong coordination from the Hebei volunteer forces and widespread support from the people. As the troops marched to the front lines, local elders eagerly drove cattle and sheep, delivered dried rations, and comforted the soldiers fighting for their country. Those holding incense burners on their heads and burning incense to welcome them packed both sides of the road.
The Yue Family Army advanced from victory to victory, striking terror into the hearts of the Jin soldiers wherever they went. Soon, Yue Fei marched his forces to Zhuxian Town, a place now perilously close to the former capital, Bianjing. There, Yue Fei deployed his elite Beiwei cavalry—a hardened unit of just 500 riders—against the 100,000-strong army of the Jin commander Wuzhu. To everyone's astonishment, these 500 warriors shattered the enemy's lines and routed the massive force. After this battle, Wuzhu could no longer rally his troops; many of his officers defected to Yue Fei. Overjoyed, Yue Fei reported to Emperor Gaozong, "The Jin army's spirit is broken. They have abandoned their supplies and are fleeing north. This is our moment—we must press on to Bianjing and bring back Emperors Huizong and Qinzong!"
However, the imperial court was long divided between war hawks and peace advocates. The peace faction, led by Qin Hui, planned to abandon all territory north of the Huai River and negotiate with the Jin Empire. At this critical moment, Emperor Gaozong sided with the peace faction. Knowing that Yue Fei was the most steadfast opponent of the Jin, Qin Hui first recalled generals like Zhang Jun, who had long been at odds with Yue Fei, and then ordered Yue Fei to return to the capital on the pretext that his army should not remain isolated for long. Fearing Yue Fei might disobey, Qin Hui dispatched twelve golden tally edicts in a single day. Upon receiving them, Yue Fei realized there was no hope of pressing his advantage. Furious and heartbroken, he wept and lamented, "Ten years of my efforts, undone in a single day!"
The people, hearing that the Yue family army was about to withdraw, blocked Yue Fei's horse and wept bitterly, saying, "Once you leave, General, we will all be doomed." Yue Fei, heartbroken, wept as he showed them the imperial gold token and said, "I cannot stay here without permission."
The wailing of the people shook the wilderness. As the army moved south, the displaced civilians followed. General Yue Fei petitioned the emperor, requesting that these refugees be settled on the idle lands of the six prefectures along the Han River, granting them the means to rebuild their lives.
Yue Fei's grand ambition to reclaim the Central Plains was, of course, never to be realized.
"Gold seal" refers to the Song Dynasty practice of using gold-lettered tablets for amnesty decrees and urgent military orders, delivered by imperial attendants. Later, "twelve gold seals" became a term for urgent commands.
Source: *History of Song*, "Biography of Yue Fei"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "十二金牌" came to describe how twelve gold seals became a term for urgent commands.