Shen Chiqian led the Two Left and Right Companies under his command in escorting Huan Xi, Xie Yan, Bian Dan, and the others toward Qu'a through the night. They hurried more than twenty li before halting their horses to count their men, only after seeing no sign of Yu Xi's rebels pursuing them. Of their five hundred soldiers, ninety-two were missing, and many others were wounded. Shen Chiqian felt deeply distressed-
Xie Yan suddenly cried out, "This is bad! Fan Wuzi is still in the city, and Wumeng Administrative Clerk He Qian didn't make it out with us either!"
Fan Ning had caught a chill over the past two days and had retired early that night. Amid the chaos of war as everyone fled Jingkou, they had forgotten Fan Ning, the literary secretary of Si Province, while He Qian had become separated from them after leaving through the south of the city-
Huan Xi's face was wrapped in cloth, covering most of his nose and mouth. In a muffled voice, he said, "The Fan Clan and the Yu clan have been family friends for generations. Yu Xi won't take Fan Wuzi's life. As for He Qian, I fear the odds are heavily against him."
Xie Yan fell silent. He Qian had originally been an officer under Yu Xi and had left his post because of a rift between them. If Yu Xi captured him, he would hardly escape death. As for Fan Ning, even if he survived falling into the rebels' hands, it would remain a stain upon him and harm his official career. There was nothing else they could do now but reach Qu'a first.
Before dawn, they reached the county seat of Qu'a. County Magistrate Hong Rong welcomed Huan Xi and the others into the County Yamen, sending