Hengdao Sixteen Kingdoms

Chapter 739 Don’t leave

Jiankang City was destroyed by the Jingzhou Army, and most of the people fled. The rest were either the children of officials or the families of the soldiers.

Very different from the prosperity of the past, since Chaisang was breached, the entire city looked lifeless, like a dying old man.

Especially in late autumn and early winter, it looks even more desolate and desolate.

A dead leaf fell from the ginkgo tree in the courtyard, swirled a few times in the wind, and slowly fell to the ground.

Xie An's eyes were focused on the fallen leaves, lost in thought.

In the Xie Mansion, there were two unattractive carriages parked.

There was no silk or silk, just a few straw mats.

The horses are also some bad horses, their coats are not very shiny, and they look listless.

There were only a dozen guards beside him, with sharp eyes and burly bodies, but they were dressed in ragged clothes, like a group of merchants.

The Jiangdong nobles used ox-carts as the fashion, and the carriages were used by the lower classes. No one would have thought that the dignified eldest son of the Xie family would ride a carriage out of the city in a low-key manner.

"We are ready, just waiting for father to set off together." The eldest son Xie Yao said respectfully.

"You can leave, but you can't leave as a father."

"Why can't you leave? My father is famous all over the world. Even if he surrenders to Daliang in the future, he can still be promoted to the position of prime minister and assistant. Even Youdu can be named General Pingdong. Moreover, Jiankang City is high and deep, and he cannot stop the elite Liang army and a group of people. Pirates are more than enough." Xie Yao was much worse than the other cousins. She could only see things floating on the water, not underwater.

"Quidu, after arriving in Jiaozhou, you will remain anonymous and don't become an official." Xie An's tone was gentle, but there was a hint of disappointment in his expression.

He personally trained the next generation of the Xie family. The nephews Xie Xuan and Xie Yun were all considered heroes of the moment. Even his niece Xie Daoyun was a famous talented woman, but his own son was really mediocre.

Rotten wood cannot be carved.

"How can the Xie family shine if my son doesn't become an official?" Xie Yao hadn't heard the implication yet.

"Daliang Chaotang is very different from Jiangdong. You can live in seclusion and gain a reputation as a famous scholar. If you become an official, you will only bring trouble to the Xie family. If you are young and well-connected, you can continue the Xie family." Xie An simply said The words are clear.

Xie Yao looked depressed on the spot, "I still don't understand. Even if my father doesn't want to leave, he can still surrender to Daliang. Why should he die for Huan Wen?"

Huan Chu's demise is inevitable.

After Daliang announced the land distribution, he immediately received support from the people in Jiangdong.

It can be said that people's hearts have all turned towards the North.

If Huan Wen had not usurped the Jin Dynasty, he might have been able to resist in the name of orthodoxy. Although the Jin Dynasty was in ruins, decades of orthodoxy had already gained popularity.

Although the final result is destruction, it can be delayed for a few years.

"Being a father is not to die for His Majesty, but to serve the Jiangdong gentry. Xie's family has been favored by the Jin Dynasty for generations, and he is the leader of the Jiangdong gentry. If the country is ruined and the family is ruined, if he lives in an ignoble way, he will be laughed at by the world. The Xie family will never be able to turn over, as a father Only by not leaving can the Xie family have a place in Daliang!" Xie An's eyes became deep.

She only had a one-time relationship with Emperor Liang, but she had already figured out his temperament.

Taking the initiative to beg for mercy will only be counterproductive.

Only by staying can Xie An be worthy of the Jiangdong nobles and worthy of Huan Wen's respect.

Anyone in Jiangdong can surrender, but he cannot surrender.

"Er...er...don't understand." Xie Yao still looked confused.

"Go ahead. My father has already made arrangements in Jiaozhou, so that he can have enough food and clothing. From now on, he can just farm, study and pass on the family."

After all, they are his own flesh and blood, Xie An reminded him tirelessly.

Xie Yao shed tears, "Father..."

Xie An also had a sad face, but with his character, there was no way to change what had been decided. No one is more familiar with the rules of this era than him. After the fall of Jingxiang, Jiangdong was in doom.

Liang Guo's hundreds of thousands of troops marched south, but they stood still and allowed the pirates and Wu Hui to join forces. Their intentions were obvious.

After all, this is not the first time Liang Guo has done this. He will never show mercy to powerful nobles.

Moreover, it is difficult for the Jiangdong gentry to integrate into the current Liang Kingdom.

"Thank you, Lord Ling. Prime Minister Wang has something important to discuss with us." Someone outside the hospital reported.

"I'll come quickly." The sadness on Xie An's face flashed away, and he regained his composure. He patted Xie Yao on the shoulder and said, "Go."

Xie Yao knelt on her knees, kowtowed a few times, and then left without looking back.

Xie An tidied up and drove slowly to the court in an ox cart.

Sima Yu, Wang Biaozhi, Wang Tanzhi, Xun Ji, Chu Xin and other nobles have been waiting for a long time.

The destruction of the country and the family was imminent, but a few people did not feel much sadness.

Wang Tanzhi said with a relaxed expression: "Huh, Huan Wen will definitely be defeated this time, and the north and south will be unified. No matter what, Daliang cannot do without our nobles to govern the world."

This is actually true.

The Guandong nobles such as Cui Lu, Liu Zheng, Xue Pei and Liuwei were not well-off in the Liang Kingdom. They were either prime ministers or assistants, governors, or governors...

Every founding monarch suppressed the powerful and suppressed the gentry, but the result was not to integrate with the gentry?

Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Wu of Wei were all like this.

This was originally the era of the gentry.

"We are ready to surrender to Daliang and welcome Wang Shi to Jiankang. What does An Shi want?" Wang Biaozhi looked at Xie An.

Xie An has long become their backbone.

Without Xie An's mediation, Huan Wen's Chu State would not have seamlessly connected with the Jin Dynasty.

Xie An shook his head and said: "Don't forget, your Majesty has left five thousand elites from Jingzhou to guard the city. Once you surrender, these five thousand elites will be five thousand butcher knives!"

Xun Ji said: "When we gather together, we have 20,000 people. Why should we fear his 5,000 rebel army?"

Xie An, who has always been gentle, changed his expression, "Your Majesty is fighting in the front, and we are waiting behind to surrender. This is an unfaithful and unjust act. Please forgive me for not accompanying you, and the battle ahead is unknown. Your Majesty has tens of thousands of troops and a naval force." With help, he may not be able to fight."

"Why do you want to deceive us? Your nephew Xie Xuan has surrendered to Daliang, been promoted to General Dongping, and is leading tens of thousands of troops to advance by land and water!" Wang Tanzhi said dissatisfied.

Liang Guozhong used Xie Xuan and even treated Huan Mi kindly, which gave these nobles an illusion.

An illusion that Liang Guo cannot do without them after all.

"These treacherous sons have been expelled from the Xie family. I have only one word here today. Your Majesty has tens of thousands of troops. You are rebelling. Your Majesty will return immediately. How can you resist?"

Jiankang was not far from Ruxu, and Jiangnan fortresses such as Stone City, Liyang, and Niudu were all under Huanwen's control.

Once Jiankang rebelled, Huan Wen would fight back in three or two days.

Everyone looked shocked, they had never expected this.

Seeing that everyone was speechless, Xie An continued: "We are surrendering before Liang Jun even reaches the city. Isn't it arrogant to belittle ourselves?"

If you want to surrender, you have to wait for others to come. Liang Guo didn't panic. They rushed to greet them, which was tantamount to belittling themselves and completely lacking the restraint and dignity of the nobles in the past.

"Well, that's fine. It won't be too late to wait until Huan Wen's army is defeated and Wang Shi's troops arrive at the city to discuss this matter!" Chu Xin nodded.

(End of this chapter)