Emperor Liu smiled and his attitude could be described as friendly, but the strength and confidence he had cultivated over the years revealed in his words still made Xu Xuan's expression stagnant, and he asked in shock: "Your Majesty wants to detain the envoy?"
"It's about detention, but it's serious, it's just an invitation!" Looking at Xu Xuan, Liu Chengyou kept smiling: "I personally asked for the invitation, Mr. Xu will not fail to give me a thin noodles!"
With his heart sinking slightly, Xu Xuan cupped his hands in front of his chest and said a little rudely: "Does your Majesty really ignore the monarch's body and national etiquette and force him to stay with me?"
Hearing what he said, the smile on Liu Chengyou's face gradually disappeared. His tone was still calm, but he turned his head and said to Lu Yin: "I have a good intention, but I don't appreciate it!"
Lu Yin looked at Xu Xuan with a sullen face and said, "I heard that Mr. Xu is a great literary master of the generation. He is knowledgeable and wise. I think it's better to know the time and to do things well. Why is he so narrow-minded and self-satisfied, not daring to look at the world? ?”
Xu Xuan glanced at Lu Yin, his expression was still serious, and he said loudly: "I am just an old man from the south of the Yangtze River. Although I have a false reputation, I also know my loyalty and integrity!"
"Ha!" Seeing his performance, Liu Chengyou finally laughed again, but this time it was a sneer: "On the shore of Sui Tu, could it be a minister of the king? Jiangnan is a vassal of the imperial court, so Duke Xu is a minister of the Han Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Xu Xuan seemed to be reminding Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, the soldiers of the great country are attacking my subjects!"
"Okay! Stop talking nonsense!" Liu Chengyou seemed to have lost his patience.
Seeing this, Xu Xuan handed over his hand again: "I don't want to use my words and want to return Jinling. Why does your majesty stand in the way?"
Staring at Xu Xuan, Liu Chengyou's expression turned cold for the first time. Through years of spying on information, Liu Chengyou was aware of various situations in the south of the Yangtze River. Xu Xuan, for example, not only held an important position in the Jinling court, but was also well-known in the literary world of the south of the Yangtze River. In addition, the civil servants around him also had a lot of respect for him. He received few compliments, so Liu Chengyou regarded Xu Xuan as someone who treated him politely.
However, when faced with his unrepentant performance, he could not help but feel angry. Even when Emperor Liu was courteous and virtuous, he was also arrogant at other times. Why are you, Xu Xuan, so arrogant in front of Emperor Liu who controls everything?
His patience was obviously worn out. Liu Chengyou stared at Xu Xuan with indifferent eyes: "With the emperor's sincerity and the vastness of Tokyo, can it be difficult for Mr. Xu to stop?"
Xu Xuan immediately said: "I am willing to serve as a minister of the country's subjugation, and I will not eat the salary of Kaifeng!"
"That's the case, I won't force you!" Liu Chengyou suddenly changed his face, he was as kind as ever, and waved his hands happily: "You can return to Jinling, I will issue an order to ensure your safety when the city is broken, and the prisoners will be returned On that day, don’t insult each other!”
"Thank you, Your Majesty! I take my leave!" Xu Xuan bowed, but for some reason, he felt uneasy in his heart, which had always been passionate.
"I want to see if he will live and die with Jinling!" After Xu Xuan stepped back, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but vent.
Seeing this, Lu Yin came up with an explanation: "Your Majesty, this straightforward person doesn't know how to adapt. He hopes to calm down his anger, so there is no need to argue with him. One day, the king's master will show his victory, and even Li Yu will go to the imperial court to kowtow in front of the palace. What's more, Xu Xuan ?”
"How can I argue with a scholar?" Liu Chengyou looked relieved and smiled, shaking his head lightly, but said: "However, sometimes, the bad temper of these scholars is still particularly unpleasant! He calls it Integrity, but unfortunately it is not for me and the big man..."
After being silent for a while, Liu Chengyou said quietly: "From this point of view, although the general trend is unified, there are still some upright people around Li Yu. Although they are pedantic, they may as well be loyal. Three generations of the Li family have raised scholars, and they are generous and generous. After all, it has some background and is understandable.”
Although there is a saying that "most of the unlucky people are scholars", under normal circumstances, scholars who are well-read and sensible will show such stubbornness to scholars like Xu Xuan who are deeply baptized by the classics of sages and have formed their own moral and value concepts and have personal pursuits. Being foolish and loyal is normal.
Of course, understanding is understanding, but it does not mean that Emperor Liu is happy. Loyalty and integrity are worth advocating and should be promoted, but if it is not loyalty to Emperor Liu and the Han Empire, what is the use?
Scholars have no privileges under Emperor Liu. Even if you are a giant in the literary world, a great leader of a generation, or a leader of scholars, there will be times when Liu Chengyou is worthless. The longer he stayed on the throne, the clearer his criteria for looking at people became, whether they were useful or useless.
But having said that, Xu Xuan's performance still made Liu Chengyou feel a little emotional. After thousands of years of development, especially the great development after Yiguan's southern migration, the Jiangnan region has prospered economically and culturally, which is very brilliant. . It may not be difficult to conquer them by force, but it is a big challenge to defeat them culturally. To a certain extent, Jiangnan culture represents the foundation of Chinese culture.
Therefore, after pondering for a long time, Emperor Liu expressed this emotion: "To unite the north with the south, occupation by force is only the first step, and cultural recognition is just the beginning! The scholars in Jiangnan should not all be as stubborn as Xu Xuan, right? ..."
Hearing what the emperor said, Lu Yin gave an affirmative answer: "The unification of the north and the south is the way of heaven, and it is what the people of the world hope to recognize. When the world is unified, the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River will eventually surrender to your majesty and serve the Han Dynasty loyally!"
"I hope it's as you said!" Liu Chengyou muttered, but there was a strange light shining in his dark eyes, as if he was thinking about something.
"Your Majesty, Privy Councilor Zhao wants to see you!" A minister from the palace came to inform, interrupting Liu Chengyou's train of thought.
"Xuan!" Liu Chengyou immediately came back to his senses.
Soon, Zhao Kuangyin entered the palace to pay his respects. After saluting, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "Is there any progress in the war?"
"Return to Your Majesty!" General Zhao Kuangyin handed the report to his chamberlain Sun Yanjun, with a smile on his lips and said: "Ezhou has been captured, there is almost no resistance, the whole city is down, the enemy's Ezhou defense has no blocking effect, we have to surrender. There are nearly 50,000 troops, and countless grain and equipment. Cao Bin and Liu Guangyi have led the land and water armies to continue marching eastward and take Jiangzhou directly. The news of success should come not far away!"
"The talents of General Cao Liuguo have lived up to my expectations!" A good report wiped away some of the unhappiness in Emperor Liu's heart, and he said with a smile: "The progress is so fast that the strong city of Ezhou has become a useless thing. Then Huangfu Jixun, as expected, he is an incompetent person! By the way, where is Huangfu Jixun?"
"His head was sacrificed to the army, and his body was treated like meat paste by the resentful soldiers under his command!" Zhao Kuangyin shook his head slightly, not sure if it was with emotion or sarcasm.
"Such an ugly way to die! Huangfu Hui cannot be called a famous general, and his son is even worse!" Liu Chengyou commented, and then said in a relaxed tone: "I will not give any reward to this meritorious minister. Already..."
Even Liu Chengyou had no intention of using Huangfu Jixun to make a fuss and continue to undermine the morale of the Jiangnan army. He had nothing to write about.
"In addition, the Jianghuai camp reported that the Jiangnan Navy is no longer in danger. Zhang Yongde has been ordered to lead his army across the river at Dangtu and attack Caishiji. In the past two days, the battle report should also be submitted. Our army is fully prepared. If there is no accident , can also succeed!" Zhao Kuangyin continued: "Once we successfully cross the river, with Guo Tingwei in the east, Zhang Yongde in the west, and Jianghuai Camp in the north, Jinling will be in danger!"
After listening, Liu Chengyou smiled broadly and laughed heartily, saying: "The war in the upper reaches has been decided, and a major breakthrough will be made in the lower reaches. The progress of the war has completely exceeded our imagination! If this situation continues, we will use In less than two months, Jiangnan will be at peace!"
"It should be faster than Pingshu!" Zhao Kuangyin thought for a while and said, he also has more say in this matter.
His eyes wandered twice, Liu Chengyou tilted his head and said to Lu Yin: "Send someone to find Xu Xuan and remind him to hurry back to Jinling. If he hasn't crossed south yet and Jinling has been destroyed, how can he die in Jinling?" Sir, that doesn’t mean I can’t help him..."
"Yes!" Knowing that the emperor still had some concerns about Xu Xuan's offense, Lu Yin responded with a cupped hand.
"How's the fighting situation over there with Pan Mei?" Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Kuangyin again.
Zhao Kuangyin said: "According to the previous battle report, it was temporarily blocked in Shaozhou and was rejected by the governor Lu Lingtu!"
