Dragon Bytes
Did you know about fierce warriors?
The Jurchen were brilliant and ruthless warriors. Adept riders, they honed hunting skills that served well in times of war. Like the Khitan before them, they engaged in the spring custom of shooting at willows. In this rite, soldiers rode by willow saplings from which a band of bark had been stripped. The winners of this contest were able to break the willow sapling where the bark was missing with a broad-headed arrow, and then retrieve the severed piece.

The following passages illustrate the fear and admiration the Jurchen inspired among Song observers:

The people: They can bear cold, endure hunger and do not shrink back from hardships. They eat things raw. Brave and violent, they are not afraid to die… They are excellent riders who go up and down steep cliffs as if they would fly… They are fine archers and hunters. (Franke 1975:128, quoting Chapter 3 of the San Chao Beimeng Huiban, Xu Mengxin)

In case of victory they held their group in order and pursued slowly. If defeated, they reassembled their troops and did not let them disperse. Their parting and joining, proceeding and returning was thus adapted to circumstances like supernatural beings. Whenever these people decided on war they won. (emphasis added, Franke 1975:146)

When the peace negotiations were concluded the Jurchen sent seventeen horsemen to report to their government, en route to Tz'u prefecture. Considering that he had responsibilities as a military officer and that the government order to repel the Jurchen was still in effect, Li K'an commanded 2,000 troops and militia to attack the Jurchen forces. When the troops encountered the seventeen horsemen, the latter said, "It is unnecessary to fight, for peace has already been concluded at Pien-ching. We are sent by our prince to report it to our government." K'an did not believe them and wanted to fight. The seventeen horsemen then divided themselves into three groups: seven of them came to the front and five were each disposed on the left and right wings. As they approached the [Song] government forces, the seven horsemen charged and the government soldiers retreated a little. The two wings took advantage of the retreat and rode into the government forces, shooting arrows. The government forces were dispersed and almost half of the troops were lost. (emphasis added, Tao 1976:22-23, quoting from Chapter 36 of the San Chao Beimeng Huiban)

References

Tao, Jing-shen (1976) The Jurchen in Twelfth-Century China. A Study of Sinicization. University of Washington Press, Seattle and London.