Although Bo Yang, Military Governor of Huangzhou's Heavenly Bear Army, had received the imperial edict and marched his army out, he was rather troubled by the assignment.
The edict ordered him to bring the Prince of Yan back, but made no mention of whether force was permitted, nor what he should do if the Prince of Yan were injured.
He truly was an old cat grasping at fire-whiskers and claws alike were scorched.
According to protocol, he also had to welcome the imperial envoy from Chang'an and escort him to proclaim the edict to the Prince of Yan.
Bo Yang was dispirited and gave it little further thought. How could he have anticipated that, once Wang Chong learned his army had departed, he would send five columns of troops straight toward Huangzhou Prefecture?
Wang Chong had prepared for two months. The Tailwind Army had infiltrated Huangzhou under all manner of identities and long since gained a thorough understanding of the conditions in its various prefectural cities. The five columns bypassed the Heavenly Bear Army led by Bo Yang. Wang Chong's Wind-Treading Cavalry skirted the cities along their route, avoiding any protracted fighting and advancing extremely quickly, leaving the task of taking the various prefectural cities to the four columns commanded by Yueliduo, Sun Mingke, Dong Qing, and Mo Zhenxing.
In just seven or eight days, Wang Chong had fought his way to the outskirts of Huangzhou Prefecture's capital. Without pausing for a moment, he brought a column disguised as the Heavenly Bear Army straight to the gates. Huangzhou was not on alert. Seeing their own troops return, the men inside assumed something had happened, asked a couple of cursory questions, and opened the gates. Wang Chong led his troops surging inside. The Heavenly Bear Army had not seen battle for