Ningzhou.
In the tense atmosphere of July in Ningzhou, the people were aware of Xie Jue and Xie Xun's rebellion, their defection from Yanyang. Upon the army's arrival in Lian City, Xie Jue sent an urgent message back to Ningzhou, ordering General Cui to seal off the city gates, forbidding the townspeople to leave Ningzhou City, and blocking news of Yanyang from reaching the Beiman. If Beiman learned of the Xie family's defection, who knows what actions they might take? The goal was to buy at least a year of buffer time for them.
