Xu Huang
Xu Huang afterwards seized the opportunity opened by Guan Yu dividing his forces, as Guan Yu's vanguard situated around three miles to the north of Fancheng, leaving a gap between it and the main army. Xu Huang faked the digging of a long trench, giving the false impression of cutting off Guan Yu's vanguard, which fell for the trick and retreated. Xu Huang's army therefore took the abandoned stronghold at Yan () and pressed further toward Guan Yu's main army. By this time, 10,000 battle-hardened veterans led by Yin Shu () and Zhu Gai () had joined Xu Huang, emboldening Xu Huang's army enough to pose a threat to Guan Yu.