During the reign of King Mokjong, Yang Kyu served as the director of the Ministry of Justice (형부낭중; 刑部郎中; hyŏngbu nangjung).
[2] The Khitans sent No Chŏn (노전; 盧戩), a captured Goryeo official, with forged edict from Kang Cho asking Yang to surrender the fortress.
[3][4] After this, Yang left Hŭnghwa-jin with 700 men and regrouped with 1000 man strong remnant of Kang Cho's army at T'ongju.
With the combined 1,700 man army, Yang recaptured Kwakju (곽주; 郭州), modern-day Chongju, from a Liao force of 6,000.
Yang then met up with the commander of Kwiju, Kim Suk-hŭng (김숙흥; 金叔興), and together their forces attacked the Liao vanguard at Aejŏn (애전; 艾田) on March 5 (January 28 in the lunar calendar).