Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

The three of them looked at Wang Qinruo and asked, "I wonder if my lord is?"

"I am Wang Qinruo, Minister of the Privy Council, Zuo Chengzhi, Shangshu."

The three of them hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, I'm waiting to see Mr. Wang."

"You three don't need to be too polite," Wang Qinruo said, "Which one is Xia Song?"

Xia Song stepped forward and cupped his hands, "My lord, Xia Song is my next official."

"I have met your father Zeng Xia Chenghao on several occasions. Three years ago in the Battle of Chanzhou, I served as Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Shenzhizhengshi, and Tianxiong Army, and was promoted to the post of Hebei Transit Envoy. At that time Your father sent troops from Jiandao to defend against the enemy, and met the Liao army at Heshuo late at night, the strength of the army was very different, but your father still fought hard against the captive cavalry, and was finally killed on the battlefield, when the battle report came, I and the generals were very heartbroken."

Xia Song also showed grief when he heard this, and cupped his hands and said, "Father is a general of the Great Song Dynasty. It is his duty to fight and defend against the enemy. It is the honor of meritorious deeds to die on the battlefield. A low-level official is not talented, and he does not know how to use swords. He cannot serve like his father." Guoshouguan kills the enemy, and I feel extremely ashamed."

"Master Xia" Wang Qinruo supported Xia Song's arm, "A military officer holds a sword to defend the country against the enemy, and a civil official writes to benefit the people. There is no distinction between high and low meritorious service."

"What Master Wang said is that the lower officials are taught."

"Master Xia was selected into Beijing to take part in the palace examination of the virtuous founder, which shows his outstanding talents and learning."

Xia Song bowed, "A lowly official is not as talented as Mr. Wang."

"Lord Xia is humble. I heard that Master Xia held Prime Minister Li Hang's horse with a poem a few years ago, and asked the prime minister for advice. It seems that Master Xia is not only outstanding in talent and learning, but also has courage that is different from ordinary people, hehehe"

"The reckless behavior of the next official made the adults laugh."

"Don't laugh, don't laugh, but today I also want to see Master Xia's talents and learning."

Xia Song looked up at Wang Qinruo, "I don't know what Mr. Wang means..."

Wang Qinruo took out his towel and bamboo pen holder and said, "I am a person who doesn't know about it, but I like to chant. I hope that the beggar will write a good article, so as to predict the future ambitions."

"Foretell future ambitions?" Xia Song was puzzled.

"I have been in the officialdom for more than [-] years, and I have seen thousands of officials. As long as you write a poem, Mr. Xia, I will know whether Mr. Xia can become a pillar of this golden palace in the future."

"I dare not." Xia Song bowed and cupped his hands, "I don't have much talent, how dare I show my shame in front of Lord Wang."

"Master Xia, what are you talking about? You just wrote poems for His Majesty, the Prime Minister and the Eight Sage Kings in the palace, but now you don't want to write poems for me. Could it be that you think my rank is too low?"

"I don't dare, I don't dare, I made a slip of the tongue, I don't mean that, Lord Wang please forgive me!"

"Master Xia" Wang Qinruo smiled, "It's just a joke, don't be like this."

"Thank you, my lord"

Wang Qinruo handed over the pen and towel to Xia Song, "Then please, Mr. Xia."

Xia Song spread out the towel on the stone steps, opened the bamboo pen container and took out the brush to contemplate for a moment, then dipped the ink and started to write. Chen Jiang and Shi Liang who were traveling with her also came closer to look at it. After a while, Xia Song put away the brush. Picking up the handkerchief, he respectfully presented it to Wang Qinruo. Wang Qinruo took it and read, "The sun and the moon are shining brightly inside the curtain, and the dragon and snake are moving in front of the hall. Three thousand characters have been written vertically and horizontally, and the sun is not slanted against Danchi alone. Good! What a poem! !"

"My lord Wang laughed at the clumsy writing of an official."

"No, no, Lord Xia, the real chancellor!"

Xia Song hurriedly cupped his hands, "Your Excellency Wang praised you absurdly, but I don't dare, dare not."

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