Heeding these voices, the leaders of the Lulin rebellions supported Liu Xuan to be the emperor of the new Han dynasty.

The 9,000 rebels in Kunyang, vastly outnumbered by the Xin force, initially wanted to scatter and retreat to Jingzhou, but Liu Xiu opposed this idea.

Liu Xiu promised to gather all available troops in the area and attack the Xin forces from behind.

Faced with siege towers and tunnels dug under its castle walls, Kunyang's defences held on until Liu Xiu returned with 10,000 foot soldiers and cavalry on 7 July.

Adding to the misery of the Xin forces was a sudden rainstorm which caused a flash flood, drowning many of the fleeing men.