The situation was tough and difficult for the newly-established dynasty of the Southern Sung when its founder, Sung Kao-tsung, withdrew to southern China, with bandits surging within and the Chin threatening from the North. It was through the ministry of Li Kan (李綱) and Chao Tin (趙鼎) and by the military achievements of Han Shih-chung (韓世忠), Liu Kuang-shih (劉光世) and Yuei Fei (岳飛) that the Southern Sung government managed to survive. Breaking its First Agreement with the Sung (1138), the warlike ruler Chin, Wu Chu (兀术), threatened again to conquer the South in 1140. During the Battle of Shun-chang (順昌), Liu Chi (劉錡), the commander of the defending force, effectively fortified the defense works and left nothing usable to the enemy. His strategy, with the help of hot weather, led to an overwhelming victory, which greatly enhanced the confidence of the Sung troops in facing the northern invaders. At the same time, Yuei Fei pushed north and claimed a great victory at Yen-chen (郾城). Acknowledging their failure to defeat the Southern Sung forces, the Chin finally reached another peace settlement with the southern regime two years later, leaving it alone for one and a half centuries.