Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

德芳46岁王妃47岁长子29次子27幼子25女儿23-真宗37

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In August of the second year of Jingde, in the Chongzheng Hall, Zhenzong summoned Defang and Kou Zhun. Zhenzong took a book in his hand and said, "Brother Emperor, Prime Minister, I have read the books. In addition to court records, I also know some of the emperors of the past dynasties. The anecdotes of the emperor and his ministers are deeply useful, but there is no book that can record them completely, which is really a pity."

"Your Majesty," said Defang, "do you intend to compile a new register?"

"That's what I mean." Shinzong nodded.

Kou Zhun thought for a while, "Your Majesty, then this new book should be written until today, right?"

"Huh? What does Prime Minister Kou mean?" Zhenzong asked

"The minister means..."

Before Kou Zhun could finish speaking, Defang waved his golden mace in front of him, "The lonely king knows what you want to say, Your Majesty, what the prime minister means is that the anecdotes of the monarch and his ministers cannot be separated from his affairs."

"Oh? Hahahaha" Zhenzong laughed loudly, "Prime Minister Kou, you must write down your matter carefully, so that future generations of monarchs can see how the former emperor and I tolerated you."

"The Holy Master Taizu Emperor vowed not to kill scholar-bureaucrats, and the late Emperor and His Majesty are wise rulers of the prosperous age, so the ministers can speak out boldly." Kou Zhun said

"Hmph" Defang looked at Kou Zhun and said, "It sounds like you are talking about your ancestors and His Majesty, but it doesn't mean that you are very good."

"My lord," Kou Zhun said, "the former emperor said that the minister is like Wei Zheng in the Tang Dynasty."

"Come on, let's say you're floating."

"Hahaha" Zhenzong said with a smile, "Brother Emperor, Prime Minister Kou is still so straightforward, I have nothing to say."

"Your Majesty, you can't spoil him like this. It's hard to guarantee that one day he will become presumptuous again."

"My lord," Kou Zhun said, "It's a matter of relatives anyway, why does my lord always expose my ministers in front of His Majesty?"

"The Lonely King is for your own good." De Fang nodded, "Maybe one day you talk nonsense, and your colleagues will play a book, and then His Majesty will not be able to protect you."

Zhenzong also nodded, "Prime Minister, what the emperor said is very true, and the court should be cautious."

"I understand," Kou Zhun said.

"By the way, Brother Emperor, Prime Minister, who do you two think is more appropriate to be in charge of compiling the new registry?"

"Return to Your Majesty," Defang said, "I think it's okay to order Yang Yi."

Kou Zhun also recommended, "I think there is Zhimi Pavilion Qian Weiyan is also more suitable."

"Well." Zhenzong nodded, "I also have candidates, what do you think of Wang Qinruo, a scholar of Zizheng Palace?"

"Wang Qinruo?" Kou Zhun didn't like him very much, and the two often had different political views, so he said, "I think Mr. Wang..."

"Your Majesty's ministers think it's okay," Defang said first, "Prime Minister, Mr. Wang is a scholar of Zizheng Palace. He has a lot of research on ancient scriptures and anecdotes of literati. It should be no problem to be responsible for this matter, right?"

Kou Zhun looked at Defang and stopped talking. Zhenzong nodded with a smile on hearing this, "What the emperor said is quite right, so let's leave it at that. I will decree that the three of them will major in new books."

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