[3] Yu Jin was born in Juping County (鉅平縣), Taishan Commandery (泰山郡), which is in present-day Tai'an, Shandong,[4] in the late Eastern Han dynasty.

In the early 180s, when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Yu Jin responded to the Han government's call for volunteers to serve in the imperial army and help to suppress the revolt.

He became a subordinate of the general Bao Xin,[5] who was based in Yan Province (covering present-day southwestern Shandong and eastern Henan).

Yu Jin successfully conquered Guangwei and was promoted to Commandant Who Breaks Formations (陷陣都尉).

[12] In 197,[13] Yu Jin besieged Qiao Rui (橋蕤), an officer serving under a rival warlord Yuan Shu, at Ku County (苦縣; present-day Luyi County, Henan) and killed Qiao Rui and four other enemy officers.

[15] Only Yu Jin led his unit to continue fighting the pursuing enemy while maintaining an orderly retreat to Wuyin County.

When Zhang Xiu's forces slowed down on their pursuit, Yu Jin reorganised his men and led them towards Wuyin County in a dignified manner even though they had lost the battle.

[17][a] Yu Jin turned furious and said: "The Qingzhou Corps are part of Lord Cao's army.

Some of the Qingzhou soldiers escaped to Wuyin County and accused Yu Jin of committing the crimes they were responsible for.

General, you're able to bring order to chaos and hold your ground against a fierce enemy, and you display unwavering loyalty.

"[23] Yu Jin was awarded the title "Marquis of Yishou Village" (益壽亭侯) in recognition of his contributions.

Later, he joined Shi Huan (史渙) and Cao Ren in defeating Sui Gu (眭固) at Shequan County (射犬縣; present-day Qinyang, Henan).

[27] Cao Cao was impressed with Yu Jin's courage, so he placed Yu Jin in command of 2,000 infantry and cavalry and ordered him to defend Yan Ford (延津; in present-day Yanjin County, Henan) from the enemy, while he personally led another army to Guandu (官渡; northeast of present-day Zhongmu County, Henan).

[29] Yuan Shao concurrently attacked Yan Ford, but Yu Jin managed to hold his position.

Yu Jin attacked and destroyed Yuan Shao's camp at Dushi Ford (杜氏津).

Yu Jin firmly defended his positions, fought bravely, and displayed great fervour.

By 206,[33] after he had seized control of Ji Province (covering parts of present-day southern Hebei) from the Yuans, a minor warlord Chang Xi (昌豨) who had initially surrendered to him in early 201[34][b] rebelled against him.

Yu Jin was promoted to General of Tiger's Might (虎威將軍) for his efforts in pacifying Chang Xi's revolt.

[38] In 209, after the Battle of Red Cliffs,[39] Chen Lan (陳蘭) and Mei Cheng (梅成) started a rebellion in Lu County (六縣; present-day Lu'an, Anhui).

Mei Cheng and his followers, who numbered about 3,000, surrendered when Yu Jin and Zang Ba showed up.

[40] However, after Yu Jin and Zang Ba left, Mei Cheng rebelled again and led his men to join Chen Lan.

[45] When Cao Cao received news of Yu Jin's surrender, he mourned Pang De's death for a long time and said, "I've known Yu Jin for 30 years, yet the behaviour he displayed in the face of danger was no better than that displayed by Pang De!

[48] Sun Quan pledged allegiance to Cao Pi in 221 and sent Yu Jin back to Wei in autumn.

[50] Cao Pi comforted him, told him about Xun Linfu[e] and Mengmingshi,[f] and then commissioned him as General Who Stabilises Distant Lands (安遠將軍).

[51] Cao Pi wanted to send Yu Jin as his personal representative to meet Sun Quan.

Pei Songzhi felt that Yu Jin deserved his eventual fate – ending up as a prisoner-of-war and receiving a negative-sounding posthumous title ("severe marquis") after death – because he was unwilling to make an exception for an old friend, was inclined towards killing, and was harsh in suppressing dissent.

睥睨荊益可席捲，白帝城髙如堵墻。They look with such disdain upon Jing and Yi that they would conquer them with sweeping force; but the walls of Baidicheng make for a high barrier.

沉隂苦雨十餘日，漢水溢出髙騰驤。The overcast sky releases a heavy and bitter downpour lasting over ten days; the Han River floods and waves crash overhead.

㨗書一日到錦城，隻輪不返皆西行。The report of victory takes only a day to reach the Shining City; not even a wheel turned back as they all headed west.