In the cold autumn of the ninth month, Xie An still held a palm-leaf fan, waving it now and then. His fan was like the Iron Ruyi Scepter in Xie Wan's hand: something he could not be without in his leisure.
After hearing Chen Caozhi out, Xie An let out a soft breath. He knew that Huan Wen's move to depose the emperor was inevitable and could not be stopped. What worried him was Huan Wen usurping the throne. That would surely plunge Jiangdong into turmoil, and the Chen Commandery Xie Clan would inevitably be implicated. After a moment's silence, Xie An approached the subject indirectly. "I once heard Ayuan speak of your ambition, Caozhi: 'In the small, it lies just before my eyes; in the great, it encompasses all beneath heaven.' Today, I would like to ask about your ambition for all beneath heaven."
Chen Caozhi knew that this conversation was no less crucial than his long talk with Huan Wen at the beginning of the month. He understood very clearly that he had attached himself to Huan Wen to use Huan Wen's influence to build his own strength. But Huan Wen's aim of usurping the throne and proclaiming himself emperor ran counter to his convictions. He would not follow Huan Wen to the end, which was why he had declared his loyalty to Sima Yu, the Prince of Langya. He was now maneuvering between Huan Wen and the Jin imperial clan. To put it prettily, he was finding a spring whichever way he turned; in truth, he was walking a tightrope over sheer cliffs. One careless step would dash him to pieces-
Chen Caozhi had good relations with Jiangdong's local great clans. In particular, by making use of the Kuaiji land-registration reforms last year, he had struck at