Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 30

The leaders of the Yi and Wuhuan Non-Han ethnic groups living along the northern frontiers each led several thousand followers to join him. They attacked and captured Guantao, and their numbers grew to tens of thousands.

The people proclaimed Nong as General of the Chariots and Cavalry A prestigious military title traditionally held by high-ranking commanders or princes. However, because Murong Chui Nong's father and the leader of the restoration movement had not yet arrived, Nong did not dare to formally distribute rewards. Zhao Qiu said: "An army without rewards will find no soldiers willing to march. Those who have come to us today all desire to establish merit and seek personal gain. You should exercise imperial authority to bestow titles and ranks, thereby broadening the foundation for our restoration." Nong followed this advice. As a result, those coming to join him arrived in a continuous stream.

Nong's orders were issued with strict discipline, and his army engaged in no private looting. The soldiers and the common people were overjoyed. Fu Pi, the Duke of Changle, dispatched Shi Yue to suppress him. Nong said: "Shi Yue has a reputation for being both wise and brave. If he does not go south to resist the main army but comes here instead, it is because he fears the King and seeks to bully me. He will certainly not set up defenses. We can use a stratagem to defeat him."

His subordinates requested to repair the fortifications of Lieren City. Nong said: "Now that we have raised a righteous army, our only goal is to find the enemy. We should use the mountains and rivers as our walls and moats. Why should we bother repairing Lieren?"

When Shi Yue arrived to the west of Lieren, Nong's Army Consultant A military advisor or staff officer Zhao Qian requested...