1182-1240
Powerful Overlord

Early Life. Born in 1182, the youngest son of a farmer in western Shandong, Yan Shi did not have the family background necessary for a successful political career under usual conditions. He had a nice appearance and an attentive mind but little formal education. He was brave, kind, and friendly. Because of his excessive spirit, he was repeatedly in severe trouble and was jailed for a variety of reasons. He was, however, able to break out of jail with the assistance of his young followers. In his early life Yan Shi was a hooligan by normal criteria.

Opportunity. The chance for Yan Shi to climb from the world of ruffian to bureaucrat came when much of northern China was invaded by the Mongols. Instead of demolishing only the border defenses of the Jin dynasty, as they had done in preceding years, Mongol troops launched...