On an early-summer night, pleasantly balanced between coolness and warmth, Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao lay beneath the north window, feet touching, watching moonlight spill through the doorway as they talked at length. When the proposed move of the capital to Luoyang came up, Xi Chao said, "Just as you predicted, Zizhong, the proposal has been shelved. Palace Attendant Gao Song conveyed the emperor's decree, saying something about 'entrusting all arrangements to your lofty judgment.' Everything is to be decided by Grand Marshal Huan, but first he must secure and develop the He-Luo region. How could that be accomplished in a mere year or so? Court officials such as Wang Shu seem certain that Grand Marshal Huan cannot clear the central region of enemies, hence their words. Grand Marshal Huan has resolved to launch another Northern Expedition. What would you advise, Zizhong?"
Chen Caozhi was astonished. In his memory, Huan Wen's third Northern Expedition should have taken place six or seven years later. At that time, Grand Preceptor Murong Ke, who assisted in governing Yan Kingdom, had died. Yan Kingdom's ruler and ministers distrusted one another, and people were unsettled. Believing there was an opportunity to exploit, Huan Wen had sent troops against Yan Kingdom and won victory after victory. Lord of Yan Murong Wei and Grand Tutor Murong Ping were terrified. They sent envoys to Fu Jian, King of Qin, seeking aid and promising to cede territory. Adopting Wang Meng's strategy of "supporting the weak to strike the strong," Fu Jian dispatched twenty thousand troops to their rescue. Meanwhile, Murong Wei appointed the military genius Murong Chui as his general. Huan Wen, a towering figure of his age, ultimately suffered a crushing defeat at Fangtou. His prestige plummeted, and his scheme to replace Jin and establish himself as ruler