In 1127, Emperor Qinzong appointed the Li Gang to lead the Song military to fend off the Jurchens, but Qinzong removed Li Gang from his appointment in the hope of starting peace talks with the Jurchens and sent his younger brother Zhao Gou to negotiate.

The negotiation worked but not before Zhao Gou was taken hostage, ransomed, and released.

Despite this, the Jurchens renewed their war again due to Emperor Qinzong's decisions.

When one of Li Gang's guerrilla forces, the Red Scarf Army, scored a major victory against the Jin troops and almost captured their commander-in-chief, Gaozong dismissed the minister.

The dismissal of Li Gang is seen as implying that Gaozong did not really want to win this battle.