Interpretation of vernacular:
Xie An (Xie Taifu) played Go with the guests. Soon, an envoy sent by Xie Xuan from Huaishui battlefield arrived. After reading the letter, Xie An was silent and slowly began to play underground chess. When the guest asked him about his victory or defeat on the battlefield, Xie An replied, "My men are thieves." When you speak, you should look and act as usual.
Original text:
Xie Gong played Weiqi with others, but Xie Xuan believed it. Reading is unexpected and silent, Xu Xiangju. The guest asked Huai Shang if he was interested, and replied, "Child thief." Meaning, color and behavior are the same as usual.
Writing background:
In 383 AD, Fu Jian, the former king of Qin, sent troops to invade the south in an attempt to destroy Jin, and his troops were stationed in Huaishui and Feishui. At that time, the rulers took Xie An's Records of Shangshu and conquered most governors. Xie Anpai's younger brother Xie Shi and nephew Xie Xuan led the army to resolutely reject Fu Jian's army at Feishui, and Fu Jian was defeated. This is the battle at the water.