In 1618, Nurhaci announced his Seven Grievances (Ma. nadan koro; Chinese qi da hen 七大恨), effectively declaring war against the Ming dynasty, and starting the Manchu conquest. His troops forced their way into Fushun and obtained the surrender of the city's commander Li Yongfang (d. 1634).

In retaliation, a year later, a Ming punitive force of about 100,000 men, which included Korean and Yehe troops, approached Nurhaci's Manchus along four different routes. After scoring successive victories, the most famous one near the town of Sarhu , the Manchus went on to seize