 A modern analysis by Ari Daniel Levine places more of the blame on deficiencies in the military and bureaucratic leadership . The loss of northern China was not inevitable . The military was overextended by a government too assured of its own military prowess . Huizong diverted the state 's resources to failed wars against the Western Xia . The Song insistence on a greater share of Liao territory only succeeded in provoking their Jin allies . Song diplomatic oversights underestimated the Jin and allowed the unimpeded rise of Jurchen military power . The state had plentiful resources , with the exception of horses , but managed its assets poorly during battles . Unlike the expansive Han and Tang empires that preceded the Song , the Song did not have a significant foothold in Central Asia where a large proportion of its horses could be bred or procured . As Song general Li Gang noted , without a consistent supply of horses the dynasty was at a significant disadvantage against Jurchen cavalry : " the Jin were victorious only because they used iron @-@ shielded cavalry , while we opposed them with foot soldiers . It is only to be expected that [ our soldiers ] were scattered and dispersed . " 
 A modern analysis by Ari Daniel Levine <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>places</mark></a> more of the blame on deficiencies in the military and bureaucratic leadership . The loss of northern China <a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>not</mark></a>inevitable . The military was overextended by a government too assured of its own military prowess . Huizong diverted the state <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>resources to failed wars against the Western Xia . The Song insistence on a greater share of Liao territory only succeeded in provoking their Jin allies . Song diplomatic oversights underestimated the Jin and allowed the unimpeded rise of Jurchen military power . The state had plentiful resources , with the exception of horses , but managed its assets poorly during battles . Unlike the expansive Han and Tang empires <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>that</mark></a>preceded the Song , the Song did not have a significant foothold in Central Asia where a large proportion of its horses could be bred or procured . As Song general Li Gang noted , without a consistent supply of horses the dynasty was at a significant disadvantage against Jurchen cavalry : " the Jin <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> victorious only because they used iron @-@ shielded cavalry , while we opposed them with foot soldiers . It is only to be expected that [ our soldiers ] <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> scattered and dispersed . " 
A modern analysis by Ari Daniel Levine place more of the blame on deficiencies in the military and bureaucratic leadership . The loss of northern China ain't inevitable . da military was overextended by a government too assured of its own military prowess . Huizong diverted tdastate  resources to failed wars against the Western Xia . Thdaong insistence on a greater share of Liao territory only succeeded in provoking their Jin allies . Song diplomatic oversights underestimated the Jin and allowed thedaimpeded rise of Jurchen military power . The date had plentiful resources , with the exception of horses , but managed its assets poorly durin battles . Unlike the edansive Han and Tang empires preceded the Soda, the Song did not have a significant foothold in Central Asia where a large proportion of its horses could be bred or procured . As Song general Li Gang noted , w/o a consistent supply of horses the dynasty was at a significant disadvantage against Jurchen cavalry : " the Jindas victorious only because they used iron @-@ shielded cavalry , while we opposed em wid foot soldiers . It is only to be expected dat [ our soldiers ] was scattered and dispersed . "