Liu Acheng was in no hurry to rescue Sun Sheng. Since he was already here, another night and day over there probably would not make much difference.
But he could not forgo an apology either. The man had truly been shut in a cage aboard that boat, eating, drinking, and relieving himself there-what difference did it make if someone looked after him? So when Liu Cheng told Xi Chao, Xi Jiabin, mortified beyond measure, could think of only one remedy: quickly gather a group to travel downstream and see Sun Sheng off.
A distinguished gentleman deserved a distinguished gentleman's treatment.
This was not something others could easily do, because Huan Wen was watching from above.
But Xi Chao really could do it.
He was a sick man, and he had been cursed by a diviner who had eaten horse dung. That diviner had even seemed to be taking the opportunity to criticize and mock Huan Wen. At a time like this, if he wanted to offer Sun Sheng some compensation out of personal contrition, a note explaining matters to Huan Wen would suffice.
Even General Huan would have to feel for him.
In fact, Xi Chao immediately wrote a feeble, powerless-sounding note and sent it to Huan Wen, explaining the situation and asking Huan Wen to help organize people to see off Sun Anguo, who had spent twenty-three years getting by in Jingzhou. Otherwise, with Liu Acheng abandoning his post and leaving the man shut in a cage, they truly would be doing him wrong.
They would arrive quickly going downstream, then spend a few days making their leisurely way back.
Leaving aside how Huan Wen weighed the note when he read it the next day, after Liu Acheng dispatched the Xi Family's mounted servants that night to send the