Toward evening, rosy clouds spread across the sky. Considering that late spring was giving way to early summer, rain tomorrow or the day after was not out of the question.
Of course, that was something ordinary people needed to consider. For men of letters, climbing Jiankang's city towers or Stone City to gaze westward over the great river at such a time would surely offer an incomparable sight. Reciting a few lines of Metaphysical Poetry on the occasion would lend them still more elegance.
That very afternoon, Central Army Commander Fan Wang, courtesy name Xuanping, had indeed been on Stone City's walls with its defending general, inspecting weapons and equipment and mustering the soldiers. Yet he had no inclination to admire the sunset or recite Metaphysical Poetry. In fact, his presence there on this business was no coincidence... Yesterday morning, a fleet dispatched by the Western Expeditionary General's Office in the Upper Reaches had sailed downstream, alarming everyone in Stone City and naturally alerting Fan Wang, the man actually responsible for its defenses.
Yet while he was still conducting his inspection, his second son, only twelve, arrived looking for him in an ox cart driven by a slave retainer. After hearing the account, he stared blankly for a long while before realizing that, although Huan Wen's men had not captured Stone City yet, they had already penetrated his home?!
Helpless, he could only steel himself and hurry home.
And so, after crossing the Qinhuai River, taking the imperial avenue, entering his gate, meeting his eldest son, and arriving together before the family's main hall, this former leader of Jingzhou's scholars actually hesitated. He was now nearly forty-five, had served in several commanderies, held a general's title, and had followed at least three of the foremost powerful ministers. Both his seniority