Xiang An's two divisions met astonishingly weak resistance in Zhan County. He led his troops straight to the county yamen, slaughtering everyone he saw once they entered. Most of Zhan County's people were still asleep when the city had already changed hands.
"Jiang Chun! Take a hundred men and secure Zhan County. Do not panic! Everyone else, follow me north!"
Having captured Zhan County, Xiang An did not linger. With a sweep of his pi, he led his army past the county and continued north.
The vast stretch of land between Pengcheng and Zhi County was an alluvial plain formed by the riverwaters and the Huai River, with only occasional hills.
The county north of Zhan County, Jia County, happened to have two modest hills on its eastern and western sides: West Cat Mountain and Ridge Mountain.
The two hills stood a thousand meters apart, facing each other across Jia County. The fastest route from Pengcheng to reinforce Zhan County ran through Jia County.
"Take Jia County before dawn—keep up!" After one last glance at Zhan County's northern wall, Xiang An's eyes gleamed in the darkness as he led his two divisions racing toward Jia County.
On the battlefield outside Zhan County, Qin Jia ultimately held off Xiang Yu's first wave of attacks.
"Counterattack! Send in the cavalry!" Qin Jia sat astride his horse, commanding from the center of the formation as he finally caught his breath.
Fortunately, he had been cautious enough to place plenty of cheval de frise outside the camp. They blocked the charge of Xiang Yu's cavalry and forced Xiang Yu's army to slow and reorganize its formation.
Even so, his army had lost a considerable number of soldiers in the confusion. He did not know the exact figure, but it was certainly more than a