Zhang Xun
Linghu Chao then ordered his troops to surround Yongqiu, to cut off any chance of escape for Zhang Xun. Then the assault began with siege ladders. Zhang Xun had expected the siege, and prior to the battle ordered many grass-balls be made. He ordered his troops to dip these grass-balls into oil, and then light them up just before throwing them at the enemy. As the siege ladders burned, many of Linghu Chao's men burned or fell to their deaths. The situation seemed so hopeless that many rebels refused to climb the ladders. Linghu Chao decided that a direct assault could not win the battle, and hence he ordered his troops to simply surround Yongqiu until Zhang Xun ran out of food supplies.