When the two private soldiers from Su Family Fort who had been ordered to remain in Chang'an learned that the rumors from Ye City had arrived, they seized an opportunity to make some discreet arrangements at the city's eastern and western gates. It was nothing more than writing sixteen large characters in honey water, a task that took only moments. Once finished, they did not linger, but left through Xuanping Gate and traveled through Huayin and Tong Pass toward Luoyang. After more than two months in Chang'an, the two Su Clan private soldiers had long since grown impatient, their hearts flying home like arrows. Traveling from before dawn until after dark, they reached Luoyang on the tenth day of the eighth month, just as Ran Sheng and Shen Chiqian were preparing to lead their soldiers south. Delighted, the two joined them for the journey back to Pingyu Su Family Fort.
Ran Sheng and Shen Chiqian had reached Luoyang by fast horse the previous day. Shen Chiqian had originally wanted to stay beside his father, Shen Jin, but Shen Jin ordered him to follow Chen Caozhi back to Jiangdong. Shen Jin believed his son would have excellent prospects and gain more experience by remaining at Chen Caozhi's side. If the Wuxing Shen Clan was to rise again, Chen Caozhi would be an immense help. Although Chen Caozhi was currently no more than a seventh-rank Crown Prince's Attendant, Shen Jin firmly believed he would become a figure like Tao Kan or Huan Wen-
Ran Sheng led three hundred soldiers and six hundred warhorses south with Shen Chiqian and the others, covering more than a hundred li a day. In Yingchuan, they called upon Gao Rou, the Governor of Yingchuan. Gao Rou was overjoyed to learn that Chen Caozhi had escaped the Ye