"...Ordinary men from poor, struggling families preferred postings in outlying commanderies; scions of illustrious houses coveted offices in the capital.
I was different. Fine as the capital's sights were, after looking at them for decades, I had seen enough. I preferred to get out and travel.
When the governorship of Kuaiji fell vacant earlier, I made several trips to the Ministry of Personnel, hoping to take the post. Unfortunately, nothing came of it.
Some people in the capital clutched their rotten rats like owls, claiming that I, Wang Xiangqian, sought Kuaiji only because it was a great commandery, whose governor could oversee the five commanderies of Eastern Zhejiang when circumstances required, wielding authority equal to a regional military commander. They said I wanted Kuaiji as a stepping stone to a provincial inspectorship..."
Wang Yi waved his feather fan and chuckled:
"Little did they know that what I truly longed for was Kuaiji's famous mountains and waters!
The cool breeze on Eastern Mountain, the winding stream at the Orchid Pavilion-even an inspector's golden seal as large as a bushel measure would not tempt me to trade them away!
On this journey, I passed Xinting and Ox Shoal, then traveled upstream through Wuhu and Gushu, visiting the place where Huan Wen relocated his headquarters;
I passed through Xunyang and toured Red Cliff and Crow Forest, gazing upon rivers and mountains sharing one hue, upon waters once lit by beacon fires;
I reached Xiakou and stood before Yellow Crane; entered Baling and sailed upon Dongting Lake..."
Taken from volume four of Tan Qixiang's Historical Atlas of China. I photographed it with my phone, but there was an image-size limit, and repeated compression still failed to get it accepted. Now I don't know whether it is clear.
(Continuing the explanation of the image above: