As a prominent figure in Jinling's political circles, the front door of the Han Mansion was once crowded with people. Even in the early days of Han Xizai's fall from power, there were still many friends, dignitaries, and literati who came to visit and have banquets. However, with the passage of time, the former Han Mansion became increasingly deserted, and Han Xizai gradually closed the door to thank guests and stayed at home quietly, rarely going in or out.
The low-key life also made Han Xizai's presence in the Jinling court continue to decrease, but there were not a few people who thought about him and missed him. Taking a closer look, Han Xizai is actually the most respected and capable minister in Jiangnan.
It’s just that it cannot be reused. Of course, with the country's situation in such a state of collapse, it was too late to use him. Speaking of Han Xizai, he is indeed a famous minister of the previous generation. His knowledge, ability, and talent are all outstanding. However, looking at his resume, it is full of ups and downs in his official career and a rough life.
From Li Min, to Li Jing, and then to Li Yu, in fact Han Xizai has never really been reused and shown his talents. In the Jiangnan regime, there was Song Qiqiu in the early stage, and Feng Yansi in the middle stage. In the later stage, Han Xizai had been completely relegated to the "cold palace".
After the Huainan War, the reforms presided over by Han Xizai were more like cleaning up the mess and rescuing emergencies. The results achieved were also a return to the past. Due to pressure from all aspects and the counterattack by Feng Yansi and others, it ultimately failed. From then on, Han Xizai became completely depressed.
But now, as the imperial army besieged the city, the door of the Han Mansion was opened again, and the guest welcomed was Prime Minister Xu Xuan. Because of the age difference, the two could barely be considered close friends.
Han Xizai showed great enthusiasm and respect for Xu Xuan's visit, welcoming him into the main hall and receiving him personally. There were no dancers and musicians, and there were no delicacies from the mountains and seas. It was just tea, light wine, and three taels of dishes. It was very different from the extravagance and extravagance of two years ago.
"Dingchen is on a mission. He has been traveling hard, but he still has some free time. He came to visit me, an old man who has grown old. I would like to thank you for your kindness!" Han Xizai looked very happy and said to Xu Xuan.
Hearing this, Xu Xuan looked at Han Xizai and couldn't help but sigh: "Although Mr. Han has lived in the mansion for a long time and never left home, he still has a clear understanding of national affairs!"
"Thank you!" Han Xizai waved his hands repeatedly: "I am already over sixty years old, and my energy is low. I have no time to care about government affairs. I only hear about it. All I want now is to entertain my grandson, write lyrics and write poems, and enjoy my old age in peace!"
As he said that, Han Xizai took out a book and handed it to Xu Xuan: "Dingchen, in the past two years, I have written several volumes of articles, named "Maxims". This is the volume I think I have written the best. Please review it." Ichiban!"
The two of them are literary masters known as "Han Xu". On normal days, Xu Xuan would study and taste it with great interest, but now... Facing Han Xizai's gaze, Xu Xuan only turned over it slightly, even roughly. Not liking it, he closed the album and said to Han Xizai: "Mr. Han, now the Han soldiers are besieging the city and the country is in danger. Forgive me for not being interested in paying homage to your masterpiece!"
There was some dissatisfaction faintly heard in Xu Xuan's tone. Han Xizai looked at him silently for a long time before he calmly said: "The country is in such a situation that it cannot be saved by manpower. What can I do?"
Xu Xuan's face suddenly changed. He wanted to speak out for justice, but after noticing Han Xizai's old age, he finally sighed sadly: "We have been so kind to our three generations of lords, how can we just sit back and watch the ancestral temples fall and the king fall?" ?"
"Ding Chen, what else can be done to save it?" Facing his old friend, Han Xizai finally showed a wry smile.
However, he quickly returned to an unruly attitude and said to Xu Xuan: "I heard that King Nanping and the Lord of Shu were treated well by the court in Kaifeng. If it is for the safety of the king and the continuation of the Li family, I should make some choices. !”
After listening to Han Xizai's words, Xu Xuan asked, "Does Mr. Han think he should surrender?"
Noticing his words, Han Xizai said: "It seems that someone has proposed surrender!"
Xu Xuan briefly explained the discussion in Chengxintang. Hearing this, Han Xizai did not show any surprise: "Zhong Zhongyi has long been interested in the imperial court. At this time, the Han troops came to the city and proposed to surrender. It is not surprising. It can be seen that the courtiers had different intentions and the army suffered consecutive defeats. The people were in panic, how could they stop hundreds of thousands of strong Han troops? Lin Renzhao was imprisoned, and although Zhu Lingyun had made great achievements, his talent could not help the sky. A Huangfu successor made Ezhou fall easily, how could Zhu Lingyun hold it? Jinling?"
After Lin Renzhao was imprisoned, in an emergency, the chief minister of Jinling chose a general, Zhu Lingyun, a senior general of the Forbidden Army. This was a figure that was only recorded in official history in a few words. He was the protagonist of the last battle of the Song and Tang Dynasties, which ended in complete defeat. Li Yujun and his ministers really couldn't find anyone, so they had to find a tall man to shoulder the important task.
Noticing Xu Xuan's increasingly heavy face, Han Xizai thought for a moment and continued to say to him: "Dingchen, the land of the two rivers, especially the south of the Yangtze River, has been recuperating and prospering for more than sixty years since Wu and Tang Dynasties. It can be said that, There is no better place in the world than this, and Jinling is the center.
The unification of the world cannot be stopped. The imperial court wants to level the south and never wants Jiangnan to be reduced to ruins. Especially Jinling City. If it can be received intact, it will be of great benefit to the imperial court's future restoration and governance.
Now, the Han army has not yet broken through the city, and presumably they are making preparations and taking this into consideration. Li Weizhen is a knowledgeable and ambitious person, so he can persuade him to surrender. If we surrender at this time, Jinling City can still be used as a condition for negotiation. If the Han army's patience is exhausted and the city is broken before surrender, then it will be another possibility..."
What Han Xizai said is a very simple truth, but even this simple truth often makes it difficult for many people in the game to understand it. Xu Xuan's face was serious and he exclaimed: "Li Gu's letter of persuasion to surrender clearly told the king to attack the city in three days!"
"That is to say, the Han army only gave the king three days to think about it!" Han Xizai sighed and looked at Xu Xuan: "Dingchen, I know that you have always been upright, and the proposal of surrender will never come out of your mouth easily. However, if it is for the sake of the Li family, we must make a decision quickly!"
This was Han Xizai's most straightforward expression of his attitude. Originally, Xu Xuan came to the door with the intention of seeking some solutions to the problem. His face changed a little, Xu Xuan suddenly raised his head, looked at Han Xizai whose beard had almost reached his stomach, and said with a wry smile: "Mr. Han, it may not be a blessing to live in seclusion in the mansion!"
"Excuse me!" Xu Xuan stood up and left after smelling the wine for the first time but not drinking the tea.
Han Xizai saw him off in person, but before he had taken two steps, Xu Xuan stopped and said, "But I was confused. Before returning to the city, the Han army commander Li Gu asked me to give a message to Mr. Han!"
With that said, Xu Xuan relayed Li Gu's greetings to Han Xizai.
Upon hearing this, the expression on old Han Xizai's face became complicated. There were memories and emotions in his eyes. Thinking back to thirty years ago, before the Zhengyang River Crossing, how proud and confident he was at that time, and how ambitious and ambitious he was. Now, he has only become an old man.
"After all, Li Weizhen won!" Han Xizai sighed.
After sending Xu Xuan away, Han Xizai returned to the hall again, poured himself a drink, and seemed to have entered a state of indifference and tranquility. The extravagance and extravagance of Han Mansion in the past two years can hardly be seen now.
On the one hand, the Han family's wealth cannot support such a luxurious life for a long time. On the other hand, although Jiangnan is a flashy place where gold and jade are piled up, it is almost impossible to maintain the past life style once you surrender to the imperial court.
Especially for a bureaucrat, therefore, in the fifteen years since the Qianlong reign, Han Xizai has dismissed the retainers and agents he had previously recruited, reduced the government's expenses, and restrained his family's lifestyle. It took nearly a year to complete the difficult process of transitioning from luxury to frugality.
From this point of view, even though Han Xizai has been quite unsatisfactory in his official career over the years, he has not completely lost his interest in politics, and is not as depressed and decadent as he appears on the surface. Otherwise, he would not be so sharp-minded and said to Xu Xuan Say those words.
In addition, judging from the changes in life in the Han Dynasty, this man is probably ready to become a Han official.
