The Six Frontier Towns, also known as Northern Frontier Towns, refers to six military towns that the Northern Wei government has built during the Huangshi era and the Yanhe era to prevent the southward invasion by the Rouran Khaganate.

These towns, from west to east, are Woye, Huaishuo, Wuchuan, Fumin, Rouxuan and Huaihuang.

The official Li Chong sees that the people of the six northern military garrisons, largely ethnic Xianbei, who have for generations been forced to stay at these garrisons to defend against Rouran attacks, are stirring with discontent, and in 523 he suggests to Yuan Cha and Emperor Xiaoming that the garrisons be converted into provinces and that the people be given the rights of the people of other provinces.

Yuan Cha refuses.

Later this year, …