With Northern Zhou forces approaching Yecheng, Gao Wei abandoned Yecheng as well and fled south of the Yellow River, intending to try to regroup and make one final stand, and flee to Chen Dynasty if he failed. He initially fled to Ji Province (濟州, roughly modern Liaocheng, Shandong), but then headed further to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern Qingzhou, Shandong).
With Northern Zhou forces encircling Yecheng, Gao Wei abandoned the city and retreated south of the Yellow River, with the goal of reorganizing his forces and making a final stand. If this proved unsuccessful, he planned to seek refuge in the Chen Dynasty by fleeing to Ji Province (濟州, roughly modern Liaocheng, Shandong), but then proceeded further to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern Qingzhou, Shandong).