The news that Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Wanwan had secretly left Luoyang and were sailing upstream toward Chang'an had obviously not gotten out.
And so!
The very next day, after seeing that there was no hope of seizing the "He Shi Bi" through underworld methods, "Duke of Pushan" Li Mi of Wagang brazenly launched an attack on Luoyang. He personally led nearly a hundred thousand elite Wagang troops straight toward the city, cutting off its water and land routes. He was clearly intent on capturing Luoyang in one fell swoop, destroying Wang Shichong, and taking advantage of the opportunity to seize the "He Shi Bi" with his army.
Fortunately, although Wang Shichong had fewer troops than Wagang, he was no pushover, and he had no intention of sitting idly by and awaiting his doom.
On the contrary, having just driven the Dugu Clan away, he now had no one holding him back. He smoothly completed his preparations to mobilize troops and clear the countryside, then made use of Luoyang's towering walls, which had once protected the capitals of several dynasties, and the natural barrier of the Luo River to easily halt Li Mi's hastily assembled invading force. Before long, the two armies were locked in fierce battle near Luoyang's walls.
Just ten days later!
After ten days of bitter fighting in Luoyang, Li Mi was left battered and bruised, with countless casualties. It was clear he would gain nothing, and he could do nothing at all against Luoyang's sturdy defenses. On top of that, Du Fuwei's Jianghuai Army in the south, known as "Universe in the Sleeve," was showing signs of stirring; the followers and daughter of the great dragon head Zhai Rang, whom Li Mi had murdered, had also begun raising troops and causing trouble in his rear;