After handing White Spring City over to Zhuge Guanqi, Zuo Xingjian seized the opportunity to flee with his men. He had expected Zu Dacheng's forces to launch a full-scale assault on the city, but the men he later sent to gather news returned saying that Zu Dacheng had led his people inside without a single battle. Zu Dacheng and all his subordinates had pledged themselves to Hu Xiaotian.
Zuo Xingjian froze at the news. If Zu Dacheng had joined Hu Xiaotian, didn't that mean they were safe now? But those ten thousand-odd men had occupied White Spring City, when he was its rightful governor! Regret crept over him. Had he known Zu Dacheng's men were going there to surrender, he would never have left with his troops. Now he feared he would be unable to face Zhu Guanqi if he returned. After turning the matter over in his mind, Zuo Xingjian finally decided to head straight to Eastern Liang Commandery. Hadn't Zhu Guanqi come to persuade him to surrender? Since that was what Hu Xiaotian wanted, he might as well seize the initiative instead of remaining passive, go directly to Hu Xiaotian, and pledge his loyalty.
It was already the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, yet the Kang Capital showed none of the festive cheer of the approaching New Year. Horses and riders were scarce on the cold, deserted streets, and more than half the shops lining them remained closed. Heavy clouds blanketed the sky over the Capital City, shutting out the sunlight and making the atmosphere especially oppressive and gloomy.
Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan strode into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The emperor had canceled the court session scheduled for that day, and the ministers were full of speculation. Some believed his decision had to do with