Dugu Jing understood that Xie Xun was willing to negotiate, but the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry had not formally agreed to it. He waited until evening before hearing from them about the negotiation, with both armies meeting directly at the battlefield. Dugu Jing and Xie Jue each led a thousand men to negotiate at the valley south of the battlefield.
The terrain here was clearly advantageous for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, and Xie Jue could easily set an ambush, ensuring Dugu Jing would not return. Internally, the Beiman were in heated debate about whether to continue the war or stop it. The Beiman were warlike and had long awaited the opportunity to plunder Yanyang's resources, leading their people east of the Shaling River. Hence, they fought fiercely, with the previous Beiman King having emerged as a war god, the one most likely to lead them across the Shaling River.
