The news of Lu Bu's arrival at Yinling naturally could not be concealed from Qin Tian.
Strictly speaking, Yinling City lay directly behind Qin Tian's position.
Huainan's series of major strongholds lined the southern bank of the Huai River: Shouchun, Quyang, Yinling, and Zhongli.
Zhongli, where Qin Tian was stationed, lay at the easternmost edge of Jiujiang's border.
Lured by Chen Deng, Lu Bu had charged into Huainan from Dongcheng, then turned and circled behind Qin Tian's forces, effectively cutting off Qin Tian's connection with the west.
In response to this news, Qin Tian chose to hold firm and remain still.
Or rather, he intended to put on the appearance of not daring to confront Lu Bu head-on, allowing Lu Bu to continue westward.
Since capturing Zhang Liao and Gao Shun that day, the troops under Qin Tian's command had dwindled to just over nine thousand, while the prisoners numbered more than six thousand.
Under such circumstances, his refusal to move would not arouse Lu Bu's suspicions.
Taking advantage of this period of rest and recuperation, Qin Tian began persuading Gao Shun and Zhang Liao to surrender—or rather, persuading Zhang Liao alone.
For Gao Shun had been utterly exhausted in that battle. Surrounded and attacked by Xu Sheng, Lei Bu, and Xiahou Lan, he had suffered severe wounds.
Moreover, the man was clearly utterly loyal to Lu Bu, so Qin Tian held little hope for him at present.
Zhang Liao, on the other hand, had been trapped in the mountains and captured through Qin Tian's stratagem. Though his defeat had been humiliating, he had not sustained many injuries.
Thus, on the day after capturing Zhang Liao, Qin Tian personally went to see him.
Zhang Liao was a burly man, a little over eight chi tall, with heroic bearing, a short