The so-called southern fighting was merely a secondary theater in this campaign. Zhang Xing and the Exorcising the Dragon Gang's main army had only come here because they needed to drive Han Yingong away along the way.
The true aftermath and repercussions of this battle would certainly extend far beyond this.
Thus, taking the four eastern counties of Liang Commandery and absorbing Mount Mangdang and the Palace Eunuchs Army were destined to be mere appetizers. Zhang Xing's exercise of his postwar authority was likewise destined to be no more than a small trial of an ox-cleaving blade.
In fact, after stopping in Yucheng for a day and confirming that Han Yingong had indeed fled to Huaiyang Commandery, Zhang Xing waited only one more day. Having effectively broken up the Palace Eunuchs Army and the Mount Mangdang bandits, taken the best elements of both groups, and detached troops to garrison the four counties, he chose to lead the army back north.
Ma Ping'er and Wang Xiongdan had the hardest time of all. First they had been sent north, then hurried south, and now that the main army was returning, they had to go to Huankou Town to find Du Pozhen... But these repeated changes really were dictated by the military situation... Besides, Zhang Xing needed someone to communicate with Du Pozhen and explain the causes and course of the Battle of Lihu.
This was not because he feared Du Pozhen and the Huaiyou Alliance were unaware of his might, but because he feared that might had become too imposing and would lead the Huaiyou Alliance to misjudge the situation.
Sure enough, after they turned north, the army had not even left Liang Commandery before the battle's spillover effects appeared.
Liang Commandery's Governor Cao Wang sent someone... Of course, it was also