On the banks of the Qingshui River south of Xuanfu, the commanding officer Fang Ying together with the deputy commanding officer of Huailai, Fan Guang, in charge of twenty-five thousand cavalry, were fleeing at full speed.
After the two forces joined up, Fang Ying voluntarily ceded command to Fan Guang.
Though he was skilled in mounted archery, Fang Ying had fought mostly in the south. Fan Guang, on the other hand, was a true cavalry officer, having ventured beyond the Great Wall several times before the Battle of Tumu Fort, where he had once routed the Mongolian forces.
He was extremely familiar with the terrain near the Qingshui River. At this moment, he was leading the twenty-five thousand cavalry in circles through the hills on the southern bank, evading the Mongolian Cavalry.
He knew which areas were easy to navigate and which could trouble the pursuing Mongolian Cavalry.
