During this period, Taishi Ci and Chen Dao had already begun the process of redeploying defenses. However, due to Xu Shu's exceptional performance in the north, Wei Yan and others had not been mobilized yet. Only Fa Zheng and Gan Ning had been relocated, while Zhuge Liang was forced to bring an abrupt end to the chaotic conflict in Jingyi.
When Zhou Yu suddenly appeared east of Yiling, launching a rear assault on Liu Biao, who was in the midst of attacking Sun Ce's defensive fortifications, Pang Tong, who had been well-prepared for such a scenario, took the opportunity to extricate himself and withdrew along with Sun Ce back to Jing-Xiang.
After Pang Tong's westward retreat, Zhuge Liang, who was stationed in the Jingyi area, had no choice but to abandon his precarious advance and reluctantly retreated to Runan. By prolonging the conflict for this amount of time, it had already allowed Xun Yan and Chen Deng to establish the initial Huai River defensive line.
