After the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun had been occupied by the Liao Kingdom in the north, which became a thorn in the side of the rulers of the Song Dynasty. By the Yongxi period, the Song Dynasty had strengthened its national power after years of development. Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi believed that this was a good opportunity to regain the sixteen states of Yanyun.
At that time, the domestic economy of the Song Dynasty gradually prospered, agricultural production developed significantly, and commercial activities became increasingly active, providing a certain material basis for military operations. However, there were different voices within the imperial court regarding the Northern Expedition. Some ministers believed that we should continue to recuperate and consolidate border defense; while others supported Taizong's decision, believing that this was a key step to revitalize the prestige of the Song Dynasty and achieve unification. After regaining Yanyun, the Song Dynasty began to move towards another stage!
