Wuzhu started his career in the military in his youth, when he participated in the Jurchen rebellion led by his father against the Khitan-led Liao dynasty.

In the final decade of his life, he was appointed to several high-ranking positions in the Jin imperial court, including Left Chancellor (左丞相), Palace Attendant (侍中), Taibao (太保), Marshal of the Capital (都元帥), Taifu (太傅), and Taishi (太師).

When the Jurchens received news that the Liao ruler, Emperor Tianzuo, was out on a hunting expedition at Yuanyang Lake (鴛鴦濼; northwest of present-day Zhangbei County, Hebei Province), Wolibu (斡離不; Wanyan Zongwang) and Wuzhu led an army to attack the Liao emperor in the hope of catching him off guard.

On 26 March 1125, Emperor Tianzuo was captured by Jin forces led by Wanyan Loushi (完顏婁室) in Yingzhou (應州; in present-day northern Shanxi Province).

He served as an officer in the Jin dynasty's Eastern Army, which was commanded by his second brother, Wolibu (斡離不; Wanyan Zongwang), who held the appointment of Right Vice-Marshal (右副元帥).

Soon after, the Eastern Army reached the Yellow River and attempted to cross, but the Song forces had already set the pontoon bridges on fire.

The Jin officer Helusuo (合魯索) led 70 horsemen to cross the river at a shallow point and killed 500 Song soldiers burning the bridges.

By the fourth month of the following year, Jin forces had conquered Bianjing and captured the Song emperors Huizong and Qinzong.

Nianhan sent Wuzhu, Wanyan Chang (完顏昌), Balisu (拔離速) and Mawu (馬五) to invade the Southern Song dynasty by two routes.

[3] Wuzhu moved in upon Guide Prefecture (present-day Shangqiu, Henan Province), and the Song generals guarding the city surrendered just before his troops attacked.

So Wuzhu turned to Majiadu (馬家渡) and beat the garrison, beheading the Song general Chen Cui (陳淬).

In November, Wuzhu crossed the river and defeated the Song troops led by Du Chong (杜充), capturing Jiankang (present-day Nanjing).

Wuzhu sent Ali (阿里) and Puluhun (蒲盧渾) as the spearhead with 4,000 veteran soldiers to chase Emperor Gaozong, and sent another two generals to capture Yuezhou with dramatic swiftness.

Ali and Puluhun sailed across the sea to Changguo County (present-day Zhoushan Island, Zhejiang Province) and captured the governor of Mingzhou.

Learning that Emperor Gaozong had fled to Fuzhou by way of Wenzhou, they pursued at sea but fell back after being blocked by Song naval forces.

[1] In February, 1130, Wuzhu declared that he had finished the search for Emperor Gaozong, and moved back north along the Jinghang canal, carrying large amounts of gold, silver, treasures and jewels plundered by the troops from all places of Jiangnan.

Before leaving, he committed Lin'an, which was a city steeped in history, to the flames, and his troops burnt, killed and looted on their way, which became a calamity for the people in Jiangnan.

The navy led by Han Shizhong had huge and lofty warships which were guarding the estuary, preventing Jin troops from crossing.

A man from Fujian Province gave him a suggestion of shooting flaming arrows into the sails of the warships, which could not move without wind.

On their way back, Wuzhu's army was attacked by the troops led by Song general Yue Fei, and suffered a heavy loss.

In that case, Yue Fei and other generals had to retreat to the south of Yingchang (present-day Xuchang, Henan Province), and Wuzhu garrisoned at Bianjing without difficulty.

[6] In February 1141, he captured Luzhou and fought a battle with Song forces in Tuogao (in present-day Anhui Province), but was severely defeated.

[6] In 1137, Wuzhu was appointed as Right Vice-Marshal (右副元帥) and enfeoffed as the "Prince of Shen" (沈王) by Emperor Xizong in recognition of his contributions in battle.

[1] In the 11th month of that year, the Jin dynasty abolished the puppet regime of Qi and brought it back under centralised control.

They connected with Left Vice-Marshal Talan and gave back some areas in Henan and Shaanxi provinces to the Song dynasty.

In November, Wuzhu went to the imperial court, at which time Emperor Xizong was on a trip to Yanjing, with Left Vice-Marshal Wanyan Xiyin by his side.