Long live Emperor Wu!

Li Shan was very unhappy and thought:
Anyway, the truth is there, but it’s true that you don’t take me seriously because I’m young.

Use the position in the imperial court as a favor. When your recommendation is successful, they will remember that it is your favor, and then they will all present the excuse in the court to coerce my decision?
Li Shan raised his eyebrows and glanced at Chu Suiliang under the crown of jade. He looked at the beautiful beard he had and wanted to pull it off for him.

Li Shan withdrew his gaze, sat upright and raised his chin slightly, saying:
"It's not about choosing a prime minister. What talents are needed for these positions? Besides, there is no one on this list who is more famous than you, Chu Suiliang."

He turned his gaze to Li Ke and asked:
"Brother Emperor, where is your recommendation list?"

Li Ke hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty... I didn't write it. If I did, I would be afraid of being accused of forming a faction for personal gain and harming others later. Don't let others doubt your loyalty just because you are on my list."

Changsun Wuji heard this and rolled his eyes at him.He did not go out of the queue and said arrogantly:

"His Royal Highness King Wu should remain so cautious in order to live up to His Majesty's regard for you. Maybe as time goes by, everyone will forget His Highness's ambitions and misdeeds."

Li Ke bit his cheek, ignored him, lowered his head and said:
"Your Majesty, I am ashamed. If there is any practical work that I need to do, I will definitely be embarrassed. I must avoid suspicion when it comes to recommending talents."

Li Shan heard this and said quietly:
"Every official of the imperial court with rank five or above has the responsibility of making recommendations. Whether they should be recommended or not is my business. Brother Emperor, just submit the list, there is no need to think too much about it."

Li Ke seemed to be relieved after hearing this, and then he bowed and said "Yes." and stepped back.

……

……

After going to court, Changsun Wuji chased after him again.

Li Shan turned around slightly, holding one hand behind his back, waiting for him to come over.

This seemed to be a tacit understanding between the two people. Changsun Wuji came up to him and said directly:

"Your Majesty... When Emperor Taizong was here, he was so generous and meritorious. After any meritorious service, he would have the opportunity to become an official with priority based on his family's influence.

Your Majesty's reasons for refusing to recommend the list in the court today, even if you think so, it is not suitable to say it, I am afraid it will chill the hearts of many people.

Think about it, in this court there are all people with outstanding merits. How many of the real children from poor families are there?Why offend so many people for the sake of those who cannot hear? "

Li Shan walked forward step by step and listened silently. Changsun Wuji followed behind and kept saying:

"If you think about it, the Sui Dynasty fell because it offended too many people. The reason why Gaozu and Taizong conquered the world was because they won the hearts and minds of the people.

When His Majesty came to the throne, he had already set the rules. Imperial examinations and recommendations coexisted and complemented each other to better recruit talents from all over the world.

If during the recommendation process one is judged based on his or her background in the imperial examination, wouldn’t it be blocking the recommendation path and following in the footsteps of the Sui Dynasty?

His Majesty's remarks today may cause courtiers to speculate on His Majesty's strategy for governing the country and cause turmoil. "

When Li Shan saw that he had finished speaking, he asked as he walked:

"Uncle, do you still remember Ma Zhou?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment, and then replied:

"Of course you remember him, the famous prime minister during the Taizong period. Every time I go on the street and look at the busy traffic on the street, I can think of him.

Wasn't it his idea to keep to the right when entering and exiting the city gate, with the carriages and horses in the middle? Li Shan nodded and said:

"He is from a poor family. He took the imperial examination and was assigned to a remote county to be a teacher.

Later, he ran to Chang'an on his own and joined Chang He's family. He was promoted to a court official and had a place to use.

What does the uncle think this means? "

Changsun Wuji straightened his eyes, then spread his thin palms and said:
"Doesn't this just mean that the recommendation system is better? If not, Ma Zhou would have no chance to join the court and become prime minister."

Li Shan shook his head, smiled slightly, and said:
"Uncle, he is just pretending to be confused. Ma Zhou's incident shows that even though my father initially promoted the parallel imperial examination and recommendation systems, the imperial examination system was still too weak. It did not play its intended role.

Uncle, you can rest assured that I am not against the recommendation system.I just hope that more children from poor families who take part in the imperial examinations will be given a chance to rise.

Only in this way can we better recruit talents from all over the world and fulfill the purpose of our father, don't you think? "

Changsun Wuji fell silent, thinking about something and not speaking.

Li Shan then said:

"Okay, I'm going back first, and my uncle should go back too. Let me make my intentions clear to the courtiers. It would be better if the recommendation list is drafted again."

After saying that, just as he turned around and took a step, Changsun Wuji chased after him again and whispered:
"One more thing. I heard that His Majesty went to Ganye Temple to bring Wu Cairen into the palace yesterday. Is this relevant?"

Li Shan felt uncomfortable for a moment, as if he had done something wrong. He did not dare to look at him and said:
"Yes."

Changsun Wuji was shocked when he heard this. As if he didn't recognize him, he kept looking at the emperor's profile and said:

"That's... that's Taizong's..."

Changsun Wuji seemed a little embarrassed, so he changed his tone and asked:
"Why is this so? Your Majesty obviously values ​​virtue the most, but now he has abandoned it himself. What does this make the world think?"

Li Shan's face turned red, turned to look at him, and said:
"When my father was still alive, he already knew my thoughts and already acquiesced in our being together. And things are not what the world thinks. She is still a virgin. I have done nothing wrong."

When Changsun Wuji heard this, his eyes shook in shock. He didn't react for a while. After a while, he lowered his voice and said:

"Your Majesty, do you think the world will believe it?... Send her back as soon as possible! Not many people in the previous dynasty knew about His Majesty's harem, and not many people in the world knew either.

If His Majesty is dissatisfied with the girls in the harem and the new emperor ascends the throne, it is a rule for draft girls to enter the palace. It will not be difficult to find someone who looks like her, so why go to such trouble? "

Li Shan frowned a little irritably and put down the hand on his abdomen. The solemn emperor's dragon robe and its huge sleeves swayed, looking very unhappy and said:

"I have done everything, and I don't care what the world thinks. Uncle, don't worry about this, go back."

After that, he walked away resolutely, walking dignifiedly, but moving quickly, and he was far away soon.

Changsun Wuji looked at his back, frowned fiercely, and muttered in his heart:

"This child has been obedient all his life, why did he suddenly become rebellious? And this nonsense is not ordinary!
With his intelligence, it is impossible for him not to know that these things will be recorded in the annals of history and criticized by future generations.

How could this still be the case? ……how could be? ...Then Wu, what kind of ecstasy soup did she give him? ! "