Xue Changxiong led the government troops of Hejian Grand Camp out from their base in Hejian, their armor and clothing complete, their provisions plentiful, their banners covering the countryside. Faced with such a spectacular deployment, Zhang Xing, Great Dragonhead Zhang, who commanded the Exorcising the Dragon Gang's northward advance, immediately ordered them to abandon several recently occupied Walled Fortresses that lay farther out and more exposed, and pull back into a defensive position.
But just two days later, as fresh military intelligence arrived, he raised the level of his response still further. "How many men has Youzhou Grand Camp sent?" Zhang Xing was plainly surprised. "Who's leading them?"
"Eight thousand, mostly cavalry. They've joined up directly with the Hejian army's baggage train." Even Xiong Bonan could not conceal his exhaustion; clearly, he had spared no effort in bringing back the news. "Their commander is unclear, but Luo Shu, Youzhou Grand Camp's Second Gentleman of the Palace General, and Li Li, its First Gentleman of the Palace General, are both among them. It can only be those two making the decisions."
Inside the enormous barracks, Zhang Xing said nothing. He turned, braced both hands against the desk behind him, and began rapidly analyzing the situation. Youzhou Grand Camp was a military power within Hebei every bit as strong as Hejian Grand Camp, if not stronger, and an important strategic pillar through which the Great Wei Court maintained its rule over Hebei and the Northern Lands... In fact, ever since the upheaval two years earlier, Youzhou Grand Camp had firmly controlled the provinces and commanderies surrounding the Yan Mountains, centered on Youzhou, the Commandant Province. Its influence reached as far as the Three Commanderies of Northern Jin and the two jurisdictions and one guard of the Northern Lands. In terms of territory,