Night fell. Thick clouds gathered across the darkened heavens, raindrops pattered down, and now and then lightning flashed, its ghastly white light illuminating the camp and adding several strokes of ill omen.
Torches burned in the command tent shared by Cao Yiyan and Prince Shu, casting light over several grim-faced men. Cao Yiyan gazed into the heavy night and asked Zhong Cui behind him, "Mr. Zhong, do you think the enemy will take advantage of the night to raid our camp?"
Liu Danai looked over. Zhong Cui had originally been a scholar, often waving a fan with a calm, unhurried expression on his face. But now, though the fan remained, all composure had vanished. Only occasionally did a glimmer of wisdom show in his eyes.
Zhong Cui too silently watched the pitch-black city. Amid the faint firelight, banners could be seen unfurling and snapping, while soldiers stood sternly at attention on either side.
"It will be difficult. The false emperor has issued an edict: holding the city without losing it earns merit, while leaving the city for battle in the field without merit incurs guilt. In general, prefects and county magistrates have barred their gates and held fast without coming out."
"Even if we drove the common people before us and deliberately exposed openings, they rarely struck. Only Chenyu County and Yongyi County rashly sallied forth, were breached by our forces, and had some money, goods, and grain plundered from them."
"But precisely because of the losses of Chenyu and Yongyi Counties, no other prefecture or county will dare take such a risk now."
Hearing this, Liu Danai felt a chill in his heart. He grew ever more anxious and could only stare helplessly at Zhong Cui and Cao Yiyan.
"Yet though the prefectural cities do not move, their blockade