News of Murong Ke's death reached the Western Command of Gushu in just half a month. Huan Wen was overjoyed. Everything had unfolded as Chen Caozhi had predicted, and the prospects for the Northern Expedition were bright. Huan Wen immediately summoned Huan Huo from Jingxiang, Huan Xi, Chen Caozhi, and Huan Shixiu from Jingkou, and Xi Chao from Jiankang to Gushu for deliberations-
On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month, Huan Huo, Inspector of Jingzhou, sent his trusted generals, Zhu Xu, General Who Conquers the Barbarians, and Xie Xuan, General of Jianwu, by boat to Gushu to attend this important planning council for the Northern Expedition in his stead. The previous day, Huan Xi, Huan Shixiu, and Chen Caozhi had also traveled upstream by boat to the Western Headquarters. Xi Chao arrived that same day-
The winter sun shone warmly in the tenth month. Huan Wen had mats spread and tables set beneath a Chinese flowering crabapple tree in the inner courtyard of the General's Residence, where he discussed the grand strategy for the Northern Expedition with Xi Chao, Zhu Xu, Huan Xi, Chen Caozhi, and the others. Huan Wen said, "On his deathbed, Murong Ke strongly recommended his younger brother Murong Chui as Grand Marshal of False Yan, but False Yan Kingdom's Empress Dowager Kezuhun and Grand Tutor Murong Ping refused and sent Murong Chui out to hold Luyang. Naturally, Murong Chui harbors resentment. False Yan Kingdom's government is divided, and its powerful ministers fight among themselves. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for my Northern Expedition. I shall take the Central Plains."
Huan Wen had feared only Murong Ke and did not give Murong Chui sufficient weight. Now that Murong Ke was dead, Huan Wen naturally feared nothing. Chen Caozhi, however, knew how formidable Murong Chui was and