Runyin Commandery had been known in antiquity as Yingshang. It connected eastward to the Three Wu and led south toward Jing and Runan, girdled by the long Huai River, with the Ying River and Quan River winding through it. Its land was level and open, its produce abundant. An important stronghold in Huaibei, it was the homeland of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. Boya and Zhong Ziqi, Yangjiao Ai and Zuo Botao, Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya-these were the three classic friendships of the Spring and Autumn period. When Chen Caozhi and his party of more than three hundred left the commandery seat early that morning, the commandery governor pointed to a towering ancient locust tree beside the road outside the city and said, "This is the Dragon-claw Locust that Guan Yiwu and Bao Shuya planted with their own hands when they left Yingshang. It is a thousand years old now."
Chen Caozhi looked up at the lofty locust tree and said, "Guan Yiwu's policy of honoring the king and repelling the barbarians still offers lessons for us today."
As Chen Caozhi was bidding farewell to the governor of Runyin Commandery, the party of more than fifty from Pingyu's Su Family Fort passed along the roadside in a steady stream. Chen Caozhi asked several clerks beside the governor, "Who is that? Quite a magnificent figure." He meant Su Qi, who rode a yellow-banded horse with a pair of sabers at his waist.
One of the commandery clerks recognized Su Qi and called him over. "Eldest Young Master Su, come pay your respects to these two lords." He then told Chen Caozhi, "For your information, Lord Chen, this is Su Qi, courtesy name Su Ziyi, the eldest son of Su Daozhi, lord of Su Family Fort in Pingyu."
Su Qi hurried