Emperor Mingyuan soon after the Chinese/Xianbei Northern Wei dynasty had captured most of modern Henan from the Liu Song dynasty, and his son Tuoba Tao had succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taiwu.

Mouhanheshenggai Khan, Yujiulü Datan, has heard of Mingyuan's death.
anhe Rouran, a confederation of nomadic tribes on the northern borders of China Proper, had attacked almost immediately.

Taiwu had engaged Rouran troops, and been surrounded by them on the very first engagement, but he had fought his way out of danger.

He initiates near-annual attacks against the Rouran, and each year, Rouran forces will continue to elude him by retreating north, only to return south after he withdraws.

Taiwu had become a devout Taoist soon after taking the throne, and it is around this time that the Taoist reformer Kou Qianzhi becomes well-known: the prime minister Cui Hao, who becomes a follower of Kou, often praises him before the Emperor.

Taiwu is pleased by Kou's prophecies, which imply that he is divine in origin, and he officially endorses Kou's proselytization of his state.