紹興元年(1131年),曹成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擁眾十余萬(wan),占據(ju)道州、賀州,楊再興為(wei)曹成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)部將,跟隨曹成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南下,劫掠嶺南。
紹興二(er)年(nian)(1132年(nian)),曹成(cheng)派兵守衛莫邪關,岳飛(fei)派遣(qian)張(zhang)憲前往攻打,張(zhang)憲帳下郭進(jin)先登破關。莫邪關失守后,岳飛(fei)第五將韓(han)順(shun)夫(fu)見曹成(cheng)軍已(yi)散,于是解除鞍(an)馬脫(tuo)掉盔甲,用所擄(lu)掠的婦女在旁(pang)助興喝酒。楊再興率領部眾趁機偷襲韓(han)順(shun)夫(fu)營,砍掉韓(han)順(shun)夫(fu)一(yi)條手臂,韓(han)順(shun)夫(fu)重傷而死。
岳飛軍敗后,又派遣糧軍統(tong)(tong)制王經,前(qian)軍統(tong)(tong)制張(zhang)憲(xian)去(qu)攻打楊再(zai)(zai)興,楊再(zai)(zai)興與王經等接戰,又將岳飛的弟弟岳翻斬殺(sha)。但楊再(zai)(zai)興最終還是被張(zhang)憲(xian)擊敗,逃往廣西。張(zhang)憲(xian)引軍緊追(zhui)不舍,楊再(zai)(zai)興走(zou)投無路,跳入深澗,張(zhang)憲(xian)準(zhun)備殺(sha)死他。楊再(zai)(zai)興讓張(zhang)憲(xian)綁他去(qu)見岳飛,岳飛見到楊再(zai)(zai)興,驚奇他的相貌(mao),卻(que)不殺(sha)楊再(zai)(zai)興,讓他報效國家。
紹興(xing)三年(nian)(1133年(nian)),朝(chao)廷命岳飛(fei)平定盤(pan)踞(ju)吉(ji)州(zhou)(zhou)的彭友(you)、李(li)(li)滿(man)等人(ren)(ren)和盤(pan)踞(ju)虔(qian)州(zhou)(zhou)的陳颙、羅閑十(shi)等人(ren)(ren)。四月,岳飛(fei)所部行至吉(ji)州(zhou)(zhou),分遣(qian)統領王貴、張(zhang)憲進(jin)兵,生擒彭友(you)、李(li)(li)滿(man)等人(ren)(ren)。岳飛(fei)乘勝(sheng)進(jin)攻(gong)虔(qian)州(zhou)(zhou),分兵攻(gong)打(da)叛(pan)軍的幾(ji)百座山寨(zhai),各處山寨(zhai)紛(fen)紛(fen)陷落(luo)。九月,楊再興(xing)以(yi)平定吉(ji)、虔(qian)之(zhi)功,受到詔書褒賞。
紹興(xing)六年(1136年),岳(yue)飛屯駐(zhu)襄陽以圖謀恢復(fu)中(zhong)原,派遣楊(yang)再(zai)興(xing)到西京長水縣的(de)業(ye)陽。郭(guo)德任安(an)中(zhong)等擁(yong)兵(bing)(bing)五(wu)萬,侵(qin)略(lve)犯(fan)鄧州界,楊(yang)再(zai)興(xing)與(yu)張憲商議后決定采取假(jia)敗(bai)誘敵的(de)計策,派人(ren)與(yu)偽(wei)齊(qi)(qi)軍挑戰(zhan),鴦退后,偽(wei)齊(qi)(qi)軍率軍追趕(gan),楊(yang)再(zai)興(xing)與(yu)張憲設伏兵(bing)(bing)伏擊,殺死偽(wei)齊(qi)(qi)將領孫(sun)都(dou)統(tong)和統(tong)制滿在,斬(zhan)殺敵兵(bing)(bing)五(wu)百(bai)多(duo)人(ren),俘虜官兵(bing)(bing)一百(bai)人(ren),其余的(de)黨(dang)羽逃散。次日,楊(yang)再(zai)興(xing)又與(yu)偽(wei)齊(qi)(qi)軍在孫(sun)洪(hong)澗展開(kai)戰(zhan)斗,擊敗(bai)敵人(ren)二(er)千人(ren),收復(fu)長水縣,繳(jiao)獲糧食二(er)萬石供給軍民,全(quan)部收復(fu)西京險要地區。又得到偽(wei)齊(qi)(qi)留下的(de)馬匹一萬匹,糧草數十萬。中(zhong)原地區群起響應(ying)。
而(er)后楊再(zai)興(xing)又(you)到蔡州,焚毀偽齊軍糧(liang)草。
傅(fu)伯星《血戰小商(shang)河》
紹興(xing)十年(1140年),完(wan)(wan)顏(yan)(yan)宗(zong)(zong)弼(bi)(bi)撕毀和約,集中(zhong)(zhong)兵力(li)再次攻宋。岳飛派(pai)(pai)(pai)遣(qian)(qian)(qian)李寶(bao)、孫彥與(yu)(yu)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)戰(zhan)(zhan)于曹州(zhou),又派(pai)(pai)(pai)遣(qian)(qian)(qian)楊(yang)再興(xing)、牛(niu)皋(gao)等(deng)領(ling)兵前去接(jie)應,與(yu)(yu)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)大(da)戰(zhan)(zhan),大(da)破金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)二十萬,完(wan)(wan)顏(yan)(yan)宗(zong)(zong)弼(bi)(bi)敗走。金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)統帥完(wan)(wan)顏(yan)(yan)宗(zong)(zong)弼(bi)(bi)大(da)怒,不(bu)久之后(hou)會合龍虎大(da)王、蓋天大(da)王及韓常等(deng)十二萬大(da)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)的(de)兵力(li)進(jin)逼(bi)郾城,在(zai)臨潁駐扎(zha)。劉(liu)锜告急,朝廷命岳飛前往救援,岳飛派(pai)(pai)(pai)遣(qian)(qian)(qian)張憲(xian)等(deng)先去救援,又派(pai)(pai)(pai)遣(qian)(qian)(qian)楊(yang)再興(xing)、牛(niu)皋(gao)等(deng)分布經略西京等(deng)郡。岳飛派(pai)(pai)(pai)兒子岳云抵擋金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun),激戰(zhan)(zhan)數(shu)十個回(hui)合,金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)支撐不(bu)住。楊(yang)再興(xing)單騎獨馬沖入金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)之中(zhong)(zhong),準備活捉完(wan)(wan)顏(yan)(yan)宗(zong)(zong)弼(bi)(bi)但沒有(you)抓到,殺(sha)(sha)死金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)數(shu)百人(ren)后(hou)返回(hui)。而(er)后(hou)楊(yang)再興(xing)與(yu)(yu)李璋率(lv)領(ling)三百名騎兵,分為兩隊,靠近臨潁。楊(yang)再興(xing)在(zai)小商橋同金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)遭遇(yu),楊(yang)再興(xing)與(yu)(yu)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)大(da)戰(zhan)(zhan),殺(sha)(sha)死金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)士(shi)兵二千多人(ren)以(yi)及金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)將領(ling)萬戶(hu)(hu)撒八孛堇、千戶(hu)(hu)一百人(ren)。但終因寡不(bu)敵眾(zhong),中(zhong)(zhong)箭(jian)(jian)無數(shu)而(er)死。后(hou)來金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)(jun)得到他的(de)尸體,焚(fen)燒之后(hou),共得到箭(jian)(jian)鏃竟有(you)兩升之多。