Emperor Mingyuan's wife Consort Yao had died…

Emperor Mingyuan's wife Consort Yao had died in 420, and he posthumously honored her as an empress.

The Emperor suffers a major illness in 422, apparently caused by medicines that alchemists had given him that were supposedly capable of extending life spans.

He consults Cui Hao on what he should do to prepare for events after his death.

Cui Hao predicts that he will recover, but advises him to create his oldest son, fourteen-year-old Tuoba Tao, the Prince of Taiping, crown prince, then transfer some of the authorities to the crown prince so that his own burdens could be lessened.

Baba Song also agrees, and Emperor Mingyuan creates Tuoba Tao crown prince, and further has Crown Prince Tao take the throne to serve as the secondary emperor.

He commissions his key advisors Baba, Cui, Daxi Jin, Anchi Tong, Qiumuling Guan, and Qiudun Dui to serve as the Crown Prince's advisor.

From this point, Crown Prince Ta rules on most matters, particularly domestic matters, while Emperor Mingyuan himself only rules on important matters.

Later in 422, after hearing about the death of Liu Yu (who had seized the Jin throne in 420 and established Liu Song), Emperor Mingyuan breaks off relations with Liu Song and calls his council, informing the advisors that he plans to attack and seize three major cities south of the Yellow River from Liu Song—Luoyang, Hulao, and Huatai, despite Cui's opposition.

He commissions Daxi as the commander of the forced to attack Liu Song.