Xuzhou, Xiapi City. Just as Chen Deng was preparing to leave, a force of soldiers quietly made its way toward Xiapi.
The man leading this force was Xu Xuan, a capable official under Chen Deng.
It was said that after Chen Jiao received Chen Deng's orders that day to plot for Xiapi, he had traveled straight to Xiapi City.
Since he had come by water, he moved quickly and arrived at Xiapi in less than ten days.
At that time, Zang Ba had not yet marched south, so Xiapi's defenses were not especially tight. He was not even questioned, but entered through the city gates openly, went to the Chen Clan residence, and met Chen Gui.
As for Chen Gui, he was already advanced in years and ought to have been enjoying his remaining days peacefully at home.
Yet Xuzhou had never found stability. For the sake of the Chen Clan and the people of Xuzhou, he had no choice but to play both sides.
Earlier, when he learned that Jiangdong had sent an envoy, he passed the news to Chen Deng, who in turn sent it to Liu Bei.
Though this was no great matter, it was still a disclosure of Lu Bu's military secrets.
Thus, after the messenger went south, Chen Gui had been quite worried that Lu Bu might discover it.
Fortunately, his son Chen Deng had proven capable. Faced with suspicion, he had proactively offered to die to prove his innocence, and thus weathered that storm.
What Chen Gui had never expected was that passing along a single piece of news would drag his entire family into the whirlpool.
When Chen Jiao arrived and relayed Chen Deng's message, Chen Gui flared up in anger. "What childish nonsense! Xiapi is Lu Bu's very foundation.
"His wife and