Wubei Zhi (Vol. 10)

...encourage and comfort them. Elderly men and young children crowded around his carriages, and there was no one who was not moved and delighted. Because of this, his fame shook the Guanzhi region. The various generals and heroes all urged Yu to attack Chang'an directly. Yu said, "That is not correct. Although my forces are numerous, few are capable of fighting. To the front, we have no stockpiles to rely on; to the rear, we have no supply lines. The Red Eyebrows have just captured Chang'an, their resources are abundant, and their fighting spirit is at its peak; they cannot yet be challenged. Thieves and bandits living in groups have no long-term plans. Although they have many supplies, how can they hold them for long? The three commanderies of Shangjun, Beidi, and Anding have vast lands and few people, with abundant grain and livestock. I shall rest my troops on the northern road to secure grain and nourish my soldiers, observing their decline. Only then can we make a move." Yu then led his army north to Xunyi. Everywhere he arrived, the gates were opened in submission. The Emperor, seeing that the Guanzhong region was not yet pacified and that Deng Yu had not advanced for a long time, sent a letter of reprimand. Yu, however, maintained his previous position and separately attacked the various counties of Shangjun.