In early May, Zhang Xing continued toward Yecheng.
Xiong Bonan, Xu Shiying, Dou Lide, Bai Yousi, Hong Changya, Feng Wuyi, and other key figures in the gang all accompanied him. As required, military orders had already been issued back in Xingming County, instructing every region except the Northern Lands to lay down arms, hold their positions, and await orders. Dan Tonghai, Wu Jingfeng, Niu Da, Cheng Zhili, Zhou Xingfan, Wang Zhuo, and the other territorial commanders who effectively controlled both military and civil affairs were all to bring as many subordinates as possible to meet in Yecheng. Military officers everywhere south of the Yan Mountains were also to assemble.
To ensure enough people could gather, Zhang Xing even slowed his journey somewhat, despite the fighting still underway in the Northern Lands.
Thus, by mid-May, as they approached Yecheng, even Dan Tonghai, who had farther to travel, had caught up from Northern Jin. Those who had surrendered from Youzhou and Hejian had joined the procession as well, and upon reaching Yecheng, they encountered a welcoming crowd numbering in the tens of thousands outside the city.
To be honest, the spectacle was quite overwhelming. The newly surrendered men from Hebei nearly dropped to their knees, but their political awareness held them back. Knowing they were surrendering men, they waited for someone else to kneel first-and no one did.
"This is too ostentatious." Zhang Xing was surprisingly not angry, though he was not particularly pleased either. "Don't let it happen again... establish a rule: welcoming parties must not trouble ordinary people, or mobilize the garrison or low-ranking officials. Ideally, designate Two Troops specifically to serve as a ceremonial guard."
It was Chief Zhang's typical way of handling things, yet for some reason, faced with the same Chief Zhang as always, several of those