《宋史·列传·卷一百六十七》
高邮三面依水，湖泽深险，敌人的战马不能驰骋，只西南面直通天长，无险可守，可在离城六十里的地方根据地形筹划，或疏通沟渠、堑壕，或设下埋伏，以扼守冲要。 他又担心由湖可以进入淮河，就招水兵五千人造一百艘船陈列在三寨以备紧急。
高邮三面阻水，湖泽奥阻，戎马所不能骋，独西南一路直距天长，无险可守，乃去城六十里随地经画，或浚沟堑，或备设伏，以扼其冲。 又虑湖可以入淮，招水卒五千人造百艘列三砦以戒非常。
Gaoyou depended on water for three sides, its lake and marshes were deep and dangerous, enemy warhorses could not gallop, there was no safe defense at Tianchang in the Southwest, but one could plan according to the terrain 60 li away from the city, perhaps deepen the canals and dig trenches, or set an ambush in case of an emergency. He also worried about the possibility of entering the Huai River from the lake, so he hired 50,000 soldiers to build 100 ships and stationed them in the three fortresses to be prepared.