Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Lord Xia, I'm not talking casually, I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart." Wang Qinruo nodded, "Master Xia is ambitious and talented, and he will become a great weapon in the future!"

Xia Song bowed, "Thank you, my lord, for your praise. I will serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and benefit the people."

"Being loyal to the country and benefiting the people, this is what an official should do." Wang Qinruo put away the towel and pen holder, "Okay, I still have some things to do, and the three of you will go back to rest, and I believe that the three of you will be promoted soon." I will go down to the post house, and I will congratulate the three of you first."

Chen Jiang, Shi Liang, and Xia Song bowed their hands to "Xie Wang Sir"

After Wang Qinruo left, the three of them also left the palace. After discussing with Defang and Wang Dan in the inner hall, Zhenzong decided to promote Chen Jiang to You Zhengyan (from the seventh rank), Shi Liang to Fu Baolang (from the seventh rank), and Xia Song to Guang Lu Sicheng, Taizhou Tongpan (from the sixth grade).

De Fang and Wang Dan walked out of the hall, "Prime Minister Wang, although this Xia Song is only in his early twenties, he is indeed a man with both talent and virtue. The Prime Minister has a good vision."

"This is a gift from His Majesty's imperial pen. The old minister is just commenting on the truth."

"Prime Minister Wang has always had the ability to know people. It seems that Xia Song will achieve great success in the future."

Wang Dan smiled, "The prince also seems to have a good impression of Xia Song just now."

"That's right, Xia Song not only writes good sentences, but also is polite and courteous. He stood in the hall, swiped his pen, and opened his mouth to answer the questions. He was full of talent. The lonely king is also a person who loves talents, hehehe"

Wang Dan stretched out his hand to invite Defang to go first, then suddenly raised his head and pointed in front of him, "My lord, that seems to be Lord Wang, right?"

Defang looked around, "It seems to be him, he has entered the palace anyway."

"Could it be to come to see the palace exam?"

Defang asked the Jinwu Guard, and only then did she know what happened in front of the palace, Defang smiled, "Sure enough, as the prime minister expected, but what does he mean?"

"I think I want to test the talents of the three officials."

"Hmph" Defang snorted, "This person is duplicity, I don't know what tricks he is trying to play."

"Your Majesty... His Majesty called his ministers to discuss matters related to Wang Qinruo a few days ago."

"Oh? What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty intends to let Wang Qinruo worship Tong Pingzhang."

"What?" Defang was surprised, "Your Majesty thinks so? Wang Qinruo is not worthy of being a prime minister at all! This repeated villain not only took the credit of his subordinates, but also blamed others for the crime of accepting bribes. Three years ago, he privately I advise His Majesty to give up the capital and move the capital to Jinling. If Kou Dali hadn't persuaded and retreated the enemy, why would there be Bianjing today? But if Wang Qin remembered his hatred for Kou Zhun and slandered Kou Zhun to dismiss him, His Majesty still favors him so much!"

"My lord, Wang Qinruo is indeed a talented person, but his official rank is not good. Your majesty may not know what he did in detail. From the current point of view, it is still impossible to keep your majesty away from him."

"Damn it." Defang was very upset, "Prime Minister Wang, how do you answer your Majesty's question?"

"The minister said to His Majesty: In the ancestral dynasty, there was never a southerner who ruled the country. Although it is said that there is no way to establish a virtuous person, it is necessary to need a virtuous person. As a prime minister, I dare not discourage people, but this is also a public opinion."

"The prime minister said it well." Defang nodded, "But: there are no southerners who rule the country. Why do these words sound familiar?"

"It was the King of Han who said it."

"Oh? The prime minister knows?"

"Yes, when the King of Han was the prime minister in the Taizu Dynasty, he once said that no southerners should be the prime minister."

"Why is this?"

"I don't know much about the reason. It seems to be related to the events of Emperor Taizu and King Han. I heard that Emperor Taizu also said: Southerners are not allowed to sit in my hall."