Chapter 1024: Han Xizai Is Ready

As a figure who had once been prominent in Jinling's political scene, the Han residence had also seen crowds of officials and visitors, with the courtyard bustling like a market. Even in the early days of Han Xizai's fall from power, there were still no small number of friends, distinguished guests, and literati who came to visit and attend his banquets. However, as time passed, the once-prosperous Han residence gradually grew quiet, and Han Xizai gradually closed his doors to guests, living quietly at home with little coming and going.

This low-key life also caused Han Xizai's presence in the Jinling court to steadily diminish, yet those who thought of him and remembered him were still not few in number. Counting them up, Han Xizai today was in truth the foremost minister in Jiangnan in terms of seniority and ability.

It was only that he was not given important posts. Of course, with the state of the nation having deteriorated to this point, even using him would be too late. Speaking of Han Xizai, he could indeed be called a famous minister of his generation—his insight, ability, and talent all stood out from the crowd. Yet looking at his career record, it was a life of ups and downs in officialdom, half a lifetime of hardship.

From Li Bian, to Li Jing, and then to Li Yu, Han Xizai had in truth never been truly given important posts to display his talents. In the Jiangnan regime, the early period had Song Qiqiu, the middle period had Feng Yansi, and by the late period, Han Xizai had been completely cast into the "cold palace."

After the great Huainan campaign, the reforms presided over by Han Xizai were more like cleaning up a mess—they were for emergency relief, and the results achieved were but a brief rally. Under pressure from all sides and the counterattack of Feng Yansi and others, they ultimately ended in failure. From that point on, Han Xizai sank into complete despondency.

But now, with the imperial army's mighty forces surrounding the city, the gates of the Han residence had opened once again. The guest being received was Chancellor Xu Xuan. Since their ages differed considerably, the two could barely be considered friends across generations.

Toward Xu Xuan's visit, Han Xizai displayed great enthusiasm and respect, welcoming him into the main hall and receiving him personally. There were no dancing girls or musicians, no delicacies from land and sea—only clear tea and light wine, with two or three dishes. It was a far cry from the extravagant display of two years earlier.

"Dingchen, you have traveled far on your diplomatic mission, enduring great hardship, yet you still found time to come see this decrepit old man. For this kindness, I thank you here!" Han Xizai appeared very pleased, saying this to Xu Xuan.

Hearing this, Xu Xuan looked at Han Xizai and could not help but sigh: "Though Lord Han has long dwelt in his residence without setting foot outside, you still see clearly through the great affairs of state like observing fire!"

"You flatter me!" Han Xizai waved his hands repeatedly: "I am past sixty, my energy is failing. How could I still have the mind to concern myself with court affairs? I only hear things by chance. What I seek now is nothing more than playing with my grandchildren, composing lyrics and writing prose, and enjoying my old age in peace!"

As he spoke, Han Xizai took out a book and handed it to Xu Xuan, saying: "Dingchen, over these two years, I have written several volumes of essays, titled *Maxims*. This is the volume I consider my best work. Please do give it your appraisal!"

The two were literary giants jointly known as "Han and Xu." On an ordinary day, Xu Xuan would have eagerly studied and appreciated it. But now... meeting Han Xizai's gaze, Xu Xuan only flipped through it briefly—not even a cursory read—before closing the volume and saying to Han Xizai: "Lord Han, now that the Han army surrounds the city and the state is in peril, forgive me, but I truly have no interest in admiring your great work!"

Detecting a hint of displeasure in Xu Xuan's tone, Han Xizai silently looked at him. After a long while, he finally said calmly: "The state of the nation is such that no human effort can reverse it. What can be done?"

Xu Xuan's expression shifted several times. He had wanted to speak out with righteous words, but noticing Han Xizai's aged and declining state, he ultimately sighed sorrowfully: "We have received the deep grace of three generations of sovereigns. Are we simply to sit and watch the ancestral temples crumble and the sovereign fall?"

"Dingchen, what do you think can still be done to save it?" Facing his old friend, Han Xizai finally revealed a faint bitter smile.

But he quickly returned to a carefree bearing, saying to Xu Xuan: "I have heard that the Prince of Nanping and the Shu sovereign have been treated well by the court in Kaifeng. If one considers the sovereign's safety and the continuation of the Li clan, there should naturally be some choices made!"

Hearing Han Xizai's words, Xu Xuan asked: "Lord Han also believes we should surrender?"

Noting his words, Han Xizai said: "It seems someone has already proposed surrender!"

Xu Xuan briefly recounted the discussions that had taken place in the Chengxin Hall. Hearing this, Han Xizai showed no sign of surprise: "Zhong Zhongyi has long been inclined toward the court. Now that the Han army is at the gates, his proposal to surrender is hardly surprising. From this it can be seen that the court ministers each harbor different intentions, the army has lost battle after battle, and the people are anxious and unsettled. How can they withstand the strong troops of over a hundred thousand Han soldiers? Lin Renzhao has been thrown into prison. Though Zhu Lingyun is a descendant of a meritorious general, his talent ultimately cannot support a collapsing sky. A single Huangfu Jixun allowed Ezhou to fall easily—how can Zhu Lingyun possibly hold Jinling?"

After Lin Renzhao was imprisoned, in their haste, the sovereign and ministers of Jinling selected a chief general: Zhu Lingyun, a senior general of the imperial army. This was a figure recorded only in passing even in official histories—the protagonist of the final great battle between Song and Tang, ending in complete defeat. Li Yu and his ministers truly could find no one else and had to pull out the tallest among the short to bear the heavy responsibility.

Noting Xu Xuan's increasingly grave expression, Han Xizai pondered briefly and continued: "Dingchen, the lands of the two rivers, especially Jiangnan, have enjoyed sixty-odd years of recovery and prosperity since the time of Wu and Tang. It can be said that no place under heaven is more fertile and wealthy than this, and Jinling is its center.

The unification of the realm cannot be stopped. The court wishes to pacify the south and absolutely does not want Jiangnan reduced to ruins—especially the city of Jinling. If it can be taken over completely intact, it would be of great benefit to the court's future recovery and governance.

Now, the Han army has not yet breached the city. Presumably they are both making preparations and taking this point into consideration. Li Weizhen is a man of insight and breadth of vision, which is why he has made the move to urge surrender. If we surrender now, Jinling city can still serve as a bargaining chip. But if the Han army's patience runs out and we surrender only after the city falls, then it will be a different matter altogether..."

What Han Xizai said was a fairly simple truth, yet it was precisely this simple truth that so many people caught in the situation could not see through. Xu Xuan's face was heavy and solemn as he said with alarm: "Li Gu's letter urging surrender clearly tells the sovereign that they will attack the city in three days!"

"In other words, the Han army is giving the sovereign only three days to consider!" Han Xizai remarked with emotion, looking at Xu Xuan: "Dingchen, I know you have always been upright and clean, and a proposal to surrender would never easily pass your lips. But if you consider the welfare of the Li clan, you must decide quickly!"

This was Han Xizai's most direct statement of his own position. Originally, Xu Xuan had come to his door with the intention of seeking some solutions to the difficulties. His expression shifting several times, Xu Xuan suddenly raised his head, looked at Han Xizai whose beard had grown nearly to his stomach, and said with a bitter smile: "Lord Han, staying secluded in your residence may not be such a misfortune after all!"

"I take my leave!" Before the wine had even been tasted, before the tea had been drunk, Xu Xuan rose to depart.

Han Xizai personally saw him off, but they had not walked two steps before Xu Xuan stopped and said: "How foolish of me. Before returning to the city, the Han army's commander-in-chief Li Gu asked me to convey a message to Lord Han!"

With that, Xu Xuan relayed Li Gu's greetings to Han Xizai.

Hearing this, the expression on Han Xizai's aged face became complicated, his eyes holding both reminiscence and emotion. Thinking back more than thirty years, at the Zhengyang ferry crossing, how proud and confident he had been, how bold and ambitious. Now, he had been reduced to a decrepit old man in his twilight years.

"In the end, Li Weizhen won!" Han Xizai sighed thus.

After seeing off Xu Xuan, Han Xizai returned to the hall, pouring wine for himself and drinking alone, his whole person seeming to enter a state of tranquil detachment. The extravagance and ostentation of the Han residence from two years earlier now showed almost no trace.

On the one hand, the Han family's wealth could not sustain that kind of luxurious life for long. On the other hand, though Jiangnan was a place of glittering gold and piled jade, once it submitted to the court, maintaining one's past lifestyle would be nearly impossible.

Especially for a bureaucrat. Therefore, since the fifteenth year of Qianyou, Han Xizai had dismissed the retainers and entertainers he had previously gathered, reduced the household's expenditures, and restrained his family's way of living. It took nearly a year to complete the difficult process of transitioning from extravagance to frugality.

From this aspect, even though Han Xizai had been quite unsuccessful in his official career in recent years, he had not completely lost his interest in politics, nor was he as despondent and decadent as he appeared on the surface. Otherwise, he would not have been so sharp-eyed and clear-eared, nor would he have spoken those words to Xu Xuan.

Furthermore, judging from the transformation in the Han household's way of life, this gentleman had likely already prepared himself to enter Han service and serve the Han dynasty.