The brothers Xie An and Xie Wan hosted a banquet for Chen Shang, Chen Caozhi, Ran Sheng, and Su Qi, with Xie Yan also present. During the feast, Chen Caozhi informed Xie An and Xie Wan that Huan Xi would go to Jingkou as Inspector of Si Province to rebuild the Beifu Army, and that Xi Yin would replace Yu Xi as Inspector of Xu Province and Yan provinces-
Huan Wen's memorial would reach Taicheng in Jiankang within a fortnight, so Chen Caozhi told Xie An and Xie Wan beforehand. This, too, was a sign of his close relations with the Xie Clan.
Xie An and Xie Wan exchanged a glance. Huan Wen had long sought to intervene in the military affairs of Xu Province and Yu Province and control the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Now he had finally found this roundabout route. The strategy was both ambiguous and subtle, moving with ease among the various powers. Xie An and Xie Wan knew that Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi must have had a hand in planning Huan Wen's move. Both Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi possessed the talent to assist a sovereign. If Huan Wen could truly secure their utmost devotion, the Huan Clan would indeed stand a very good chance of replacing the Sima Clan-
Xie Wan said, "If recruitment begins early next year, when will the army be ready to fight?"
Xie An said, "Recruiting soldiers is not as good as recruiting commanders. Caozhi surely understands that."
Chen Caozhi greatly admired Xie An's perceptiveness. Bowing, he said, "Your reminder is most apt, Lord Anshi. Once the decree is issued, I will go to the Two Huai Regions to persuade the leaders of the fortified manors and the Qihuo Army. If they submit, we can