Liu Acheng rested for a day, then, after another day, took Huyan Xiang sightseeing around Jiankang. First they ate lotus-leaf duck, then strolled along the Qinhuai River. The next day, they visited Stone City, Changgan Lane, and Black Robe Alley. After that, they inevitably went to places such as Dong'an Temple.
As for encounters with eminent scholars he knew, Liu Jili's evening visits, or inquiries sent by Xi Zaochi, Liu Rengong, Awu, and others, these too required socializing, discussion, replies, and reassurance.
For four days straight, Liu Acheng made the rounds within Jiankang.
This was not to make his presence felt. He was waiting to be summoned-as an envoy, whether appointed by Huan Wen or the court, he had now returned the Commander's Staff and Tally, and the Department of State Affairs owed him a formal response. Sima Yu, now Director of the Secretariat, should also have met him and asked about the Murong Xianbei. By the same token, as Huan Wen's Chief Secretary, he had delivered Sun Sheng, a corrupt official under Jingzhou's jurisdiction, to the Court Commandant. Xi Zaochi, the Western Expeditionary General's Office's representative in Jiankang, should also have summoned him and taken back his Chief Secretary's seal and ribbon, bringing the matter to a proper close.
Yet for four days, despite knowing Liu Cheng had arrived and even establishing indirect contact with him, neither side had met him directly. That could mean only one thing: they had yet to agree on a series of terms between the Upper Reaches and the Lower Reaches, including Liu Acheng's appointment.
"Yuzhou cannot be given to General Huan." Gao Song faced the others solemnly, though a trace of fatigue showed. "The Northern Command, the Western Command, Xuzhou, and Yuzhou are the very foundation of the court's security... General Huan has