For the same reason—uncertain which direction Gongsun Zan would attack—Wang Yan and the others were in no hurry to head south. There was plenty of time anyway; Ji County was only a little over two hundred li from the border, more than close enough. Thus, they traveled at an unhurried pace, even taking detours along the way to inspect enemy movements.
With spring beginning, everyone was busy planting crops, so there was not much to see. Still, Wang Yan wanted to inspect firsthand how widely kang beds, glass, and other such things had spread, as well as how well the various policies had been communicated.
For the time being, inadequate oversight was inevitable, simply because there were not enough officials and constables. This would remain the norm for some time, but violations still had to be dealt with. He also had to make his stance clear, so the common people would truly understand the attitude of their highest leader and thereby find the strength to resist.
Although armor had not yet become widespread, the defeated soldiers who had surrendered earlier had all returned home with weapons. If people could still be bullied under such circumstances, then that would be Wang Yan's failure, because he had not done enough ideological work and had failed to awaken the people's fighting spirit.
As they traveled and inspected the local situation, Wang Yan finally received news from the front. A messenger reported that Yuan Shao had sent thirty thousand troops and camped ten li outside Quanzhou. Han Fu had dispatched fifty thousand troops to attack Ba County and Xushui, camping twenty li away. Meanwhile, the homeless Gongsun Zan led his own twenty thousand men toward Guangchang (Laiyuan), intending to pass through Redbud Pass and strike directly into the interior, attacking Ji County.
After hearing