Emperor Liu smiled and his attitude could be described as kind, 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, so 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 unceremoniously: "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 good intentions, but they don't appreciate it!"
Lu Yin looked at the stern-faced Xu Xuan and said: "I heard that Mr. Xu is a great literary and artistic 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 once again handed over his hand: "I don't want to use my words and want to return Jinling. Why does your majesty prevent me?"
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 Jiangnan. Xu Xuan, like Xu Xuan, not only occupies an important position in the Jinling court, but is also famous in the literary world of Jiangnan. It was quite high, and the civil servants around him also praised him a lot, so Liu Chengyou regarded Xu Xuan as someone who treated him politely.
However, when faced with his unrepentant performance, it was inevitable that he would feel sullen. 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 the world?
His patience was obviously worn out. Liu Chengyou stared at Xu Xuan indifferently: "With the emperor's sincerity and the vastness of Tokyo, it is difficult for Xu Gong 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, and he was as kind as before, waving his hands happily: "You can return to Jinling, I will issue an order to ensure your safety on the day 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 full of enthusiasm.
"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. I hope you can calm down and don't care about 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 compete 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, 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. The Li family has raised scholars for three generations, and they are generous and generous. After all, it has some background and is understandable.”
Although there is a saying that "most people with bad hearts are scholars", under normal circumstances, they are well-read and sensible. For a scholar like Xu Xuan who was deeply baptized by the sages' classics and formed his own moral and value concepts and had personal pursuits, he showed such stubbornness. Foolishness and loyalty are normal.
Of course, understanding is understanding, but it does not mean that Emperor Liu is happy. Loyalty and uprightness are worth advocating and should be promoted, but if it is not loyal 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 stays on the throne, the clearer his standards for looking at people will become, only those who are 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, and it 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. Cultural recognition is just the beginning! The scholars in the south of the Yangtze River should not all be as stubborn as Xu Xuan, right? ..."
After 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 came into the palace to pay homage. 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. We have nearly 50,000 troops and countless supplies and weapons. Cao Bin and Liu Guangyi have led their land and water armies to continue marching eastward and take Jiangzhou directly. The good news 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 chopped into 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 of death! 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 the army to cross 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 a few times, 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 kill 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 battle going over there with Pan Mei?" Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Kuangyin again.
Zhao Kuangyin said: "According to the previous battle report, we were temporarily blocked in Shaozhou and rejected by the governor Lu Guangtu!"