While initially successful, the young Emperor Shengzong, along with Empress Dowager Xiao, led an army of Liao cavalry to counter the enemy and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June.
[1] Empress Dowager Xiao appointed Yelü Xiuge as her senior general to continue attacks on the Song dynasty in retaliation until the following year.
Emperor Shengzong also institutionalised state examinations for the selection of officials, which was done in 988, based on models used by the Han Chinese-led Tang and Song dynasties.
[3] Emperor Shengzong began the active patronage of Buddhism, rebuilding temples such as the Monastery of Solitary Joy.
The most important parts of the economy from then on were animal husbandry, particularly horse and sheep raising, as well as agriculture and fishing.