It was an attempt by the Jin to invade and conquer the Southern Song dynasty, yet resulted in failure and defeat for the Jurchens.

The 20th-century historian Joseph Needham has called the era "one of continual innovation" when the size of the Song fleet grew "from a total of 11 squadrons and 3,000 men [the Song navy] rose in one century to 20 squadrons totalling 52,000 men, with its main base near Shanghai."

The technological gains of the Song navy ensured its access and dominance of the East China Sea for centuries in competition with the military forces of Jurchen and Mongol rivals.

[6] Li Bao ordered his men to hurl their huopao (rudimentary grenades) and to concentrate the fire of their incendiary arrows and rockets at the rigging of the enemy ships.

While many Jin ships surrendered when the Chinese vessels closed in on them, others which were moored farther away hurriedly raised anchor and hoisted sail to flee.