After they passed Zhangpu Pass, their first night was indeed peaceful and uneventful.
Just as Wang Ahhuo had guessed, given Liu Cheng's current standing, the borrowed tiger's might Great General Huan of the Western Expedition had bestowed on this fox, and his genuine acquaintance with Shen Jin, the Manor naturally entertained them attentively. Even though the master of the house did not come, Wang Ahhuo did indeed get a seat in the hall.
In fact, it was not just Wang Ahhuo. With a grand wave of Liu Acheng's hand, Liu Yehu, Liu Azhu, and all those others who normally had no place in such company piled into seats in someone else's hall. Luo You did not care, after all, and with the host himself absent, there was even less to say.
The second evening, they again sat in their host's hall feasting and drinking. Halfway through the meal, Shen Jin arrived on horseback with his men.
When the two sides met, the usual formalities were unavoidable.
All one could say was that, even though Shen Jin had anticipated Liu Cheng's rapid advancement, seeing his standing and imposing presence still left him feeling as though he were dreaming-this was no coincidence. Rather, Wuxing's geographical position placed it squarely between Danyang (Jiankang and Jingkou) and Kuaiji, while the crucial stepping stone in Liu Acheng's rise had been meeting Xi Chao in Kuaiji and establishing himself among the celebrated scholars. Thus, apart from his initial destitution, almost every leap in Liu Acheng's status had brought him through Wuxing, where Shen Jin could entertain him.
In private, Liu Acheng could not help grumbling that Shen Jin clearly held more than half of Wuxing Commandery, yet had somehow been reduced to an innkeeper. No wonder he felt so stifled.
Sure enough, as Liu Cheng remained