Things change during the eleventh month, when…

Things change during the eleventh month, when a shooting star appears to fall on the rebel camp, shaking the rebels' resolve.

Taking advantage of the situation, Dong Zhuo smashes the rebel army in a sudden attack, forcing Bian Zhang and Han Sui to retreat west to Yuzhong (near present-day Lanzhou) of Jincheng prefecture.

Following the victory, Zhang Wen sends two detachments in pursuit of the rebels: Zhou Shen is to lead thirty thousand men to attack Yuzhong, and Dong Zhuo is to chase the Qiang auxiliary with another thirty thousand men.

Both, however, end in failure.

Zhou Shen has disregarded his advisor Sun Jian's advice to cut the enemy's supply routes and has his own supply line cut by the enemy in turn, resulting in a hasty retreat.