Volume 332 of the Treatise on Armament Technology: Studies of the Sages of War Wubei Zhi, Zhan Sheng Kao

As the enemy reinforcements arrived in succession, the Northern Wei officers and soldiers were already exhausted. Seized with great fear, they wanted to flee. Yuan Ying, however, intentionally loosened his reins and rode slowly, his expression remaining calm and composed. He climbed to high ground to observe the enemy, pointing and gesturing to the east and west as if he were issuing complex tactical orders.

Only after this display did he arrange his ranks and advance. The Qi army The Southern Qi dynasty forces. suspected an ambush was waiting for them; they hesitated and began to withdraw. Ying immediately pursued and defeated them, subsequently laying siege to the city of Nanzheng A strategic city in modern-day Hanzhong, Shaanxi province..

He strictly forbade his officers and soldiers from committing acts of aggression or violence against the local population. As a result, people from near and far were pleased and submitted to his authority, even competing with one another to provide taxes and transport supplies to his army.

Inside the city, however, there was great trepidation. The defending general, Yu Yu, resorted to a clever deception: he sealed and labeled dozens of empty granaries, showing them to his soldiers and officials. He told them: "These are all full of grain, enough to support us for an entire year. You need only strive to hold out firmly." Upon hearing this, the hearts of the multitude were set at ease.

It happened that the Lord of Wei Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei. recalled Ying to the capital. Ying ordered the old and weak soldiers to depart first, while he personally led the elite troops to serve as the rear guard. He sent an envoy to inform Xiao Yi The Southern commander defending the region. of his departure. Yi, suspecting it was a trap, waited until Ying had been gone for a full day before sending his generals to pursue him. Ying dismounted to face them in battle; Yi's soldiers did not dare to close in and eventually retreated.