When a group of bandits led by Chang Hsien-chung came south to attack Taochow, Shen Chih-hsu, Yun-ying's father, led a counterattack. However, the townspeople were very frightened and fled during the battle, and Shen himself was killed.
一般民眾只要聽說流寇將至，都害怕得棄家、棄城而逃，形成張獻忠所向披靡、銳不可當的氣勢。張獻忠率領的流寇，由北而南橫行到道州，道州守備沈至緒不肯投降，親自率軍出城迎戰，不幸戰死城外。