In 931, Dương Đình Nghệ defeated Southern Han ruler Li Tian, retook the capital of Đại La (former name of Hanoi), proclaimed himself Jiedushi (equivalent to Military governor) of Tĩnh Hải quân.
[6] Six years later, Kiều Công Tiễn, also a general of Dương Đình Nghệ, mutinied and killed his master in order to become governor of Jinghao.
[8][6] As the Ngô Quyền march his forces to Đại La, Kiều Công Tiễn sent the envoys to Southern Han to petition for sending army to help himself.
Ngô Xương Ngập fled to Trà Hương village (modern Hải Dương Province) and was hidden by a chieftain (Hào trưởng) of area named Phạm Lệnh Công.
He developed the coastal kingdom's agriculture, built seawalls, expanded crops in Hà Tây, dredged rivers and lakes, and encouraged sea transport and trade in Nam Định.