Upon learning that the new emperor Liu He was assassinated, Shi Le could no longer sit still. He called together all his subordinate generals for a discussion. After weighing the options, he decided to leave behind an army to cover the rear while he led the main forces back to Jizhou to hold Liu Cong accountable.
Zhao Hanzhang, having spied this confidential information from Shi Le, was elated and immediately made adjustments.
She decided to take this opportunity to eliminate Liu Cong, cripple Shi Le, and recover the lost territories.
This required a considerable deployment of troops.
Some troops would remain to distract the Shi Army while simultaneously reclaiming Yan State; some would lie in ambush along the way to intercept Shi Le and annihilate his remaining forces; another part would swiftly move north to support Beigong Chun and Zu Ti.
Zhao Hanzhang also ordered the various advancing armies to spare no expense in recovering lost territories in Jizhou and Si Province.
