The sky had yet to brighten; dawn had only just begun to break when Xiang An's army started moving.
Donghai City lay northeast of Xiapi. Even marching at full speed after organizing the troops, it would take roughly three days to arrive.
Donghai's defending general was named Li Zhan. He commanded the largest remaining Qin force along the lower reaches of the river, but they were now at the end of their strength.
From Donghai City all the way to the river's mouth lay territory controlled by Li Zhan. Yet to his south was Xiang Liang, and to his north was Tian Dan. His supplies and trade had been completely cut off, and this was former Chu land. Unless they resorted to force, they could not even replenish their ranks.
Even so, Li Zhan stubbornly held out, putting up fierce and restless resistance between Qi and Chu. He was the largest bomb lurking in the rear of Qi and Chu.
A trapped beast's desperate struggle, willing to die along with its enemy—that described Li Zhan perfectly. Everyone knew he was nearing his end, yet his madness made them all instinctively reluctant to deal with him.
But now, someone was going to deal with him.
No matter what, even if Li Zhan was unlikely to take the initiative and had remained holed up in Donghai City all this time, his very existence was a thorn in Xiang Liang's side. He had to be removed, and the sooner, the better.
Thus, Xiang An and several subordinate generals set out in armor.
The two division commanders would go ahead and strike directly at Donghai City. Xiang An, meanwhile, would lead the remaining troops and wait in the rear. Once Zi Juan and Xiang Lu lured out Li Zhan's main force, they would burst