Cao either planned to kill Ma Ang and Sun Tang as they were to depart the capital with 15,000 troops to Shaanxi on the morning of August 7, or he simply planned to take advantage of their leave.
Cao berencana membunuh Ma Ang dan Sun Tang saat mereka akan meninggalkan ibu kota bersama 15.000 tentara menuju Shaanxi pada pagi hari tanggal 7 Agustus, atau dengan kata lain dia memanfaatkan situasi saat mereka pergi.