Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

In May, Zhenzong asked Prime Minister Wang Dan: I inherited the way of my ancestors to govern the country and open up the way of speaking. Recently, there are many important tasks. Every time I go out of the palace, I can meet people who are wronged, but under Xiangwen, most of them are lies.So this month, the imperial court changed the name of Drum Division to Dengwen Drum Academy, and Dengwen Academy to Dengwen Inspection Academy.The original officials were removed, and You Zhengyan Zhou Qi and Taichang Cheng Lu Zhen were appointed as Tongjuyuan, and Zhang Yong, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was appointed as Judicial and Procuratorate.Anyone who has a grievance should go to the Drum Court first, and the Drum Court will not accept it, and then go to the Procuratorate.If the procuratorate does not give the petitioner a document, he can report to Yushitai.

This month, Wang Jie, a tattooed soldier of the Xiang Army in Tingzhou, claimed to have met a Taoist priest surnamed Zhao in Nankang County and presented him with a divine sword.The servant Liu Chenggui told Zhenzong about this anecdote. Zhenzong was very surprised and personally issued an edict to name Wang Jie "Wang Zhongzheng".A few days later, the real king came to Wang Zhongzheng's new hall. (It was later honored by Zhenzong as: Zhao Xuanlang, the God of the Nine Heavens, the Supreme Spirit, the High Way, the Nine Heavens, the Commander of the Life, and the Heavenly Respect of God)

In the same month, the imperial court ordered that the number of households guarding Confucius' mausoleum be increased to twenty.At the same time, an edict was issued to reduce the tributes of 39 states and armies including Jianzhou and Longzhou, and 27 states and armies including Kuizhou and Hezhou did not have to pay tribute to the imperial court every year.

In June, because the Zhongshu appointed Yang Shiyuan as the general judge of Fengxiang Mansion, but the Privy Council appointed him as an official of Jianxiang Medicine Store. The two caused conflicts in the appointment of officials. Therefore, the imperial court issued a new system, and the Zhongshu and the Privy Council implemented the law of mutual reporting. All matters related to military and civil affairs must be reported to each other.This is because the Executive Yuan

This month, officials who participated in the examination of the Founder's Palace entered Beijing. Defang and Wang Dan got off the sedan chair in front of the palace gate and saluted each other.

"Prime Minister Wang is very polite," Defang said, "Prime Minister, Your Majesty attaches great importance to the selection of the virtuous and upright. It seems that the officials that Prime Minister Wang strictly selected to enter the capital must be capable people. The Prime Minister has really worked hard."

"When selecting talents for the country, how dare you mention the word hard work. If the selected people can really become the pillars of the court, then the old minister will have fulfilled his duty as a minister."

"Prime Minister, please be humble, please." Defang and Wang Dan were talking while walking, "Prime Minister Wang, I heard that there are only three officials participating in the examination of the Founder's Hall of Virtuousness this time. Who are they?"

"Returning to the prince, author Zuo Lang Chen Jiang (eight rank), Lishui county magistrate Shi Liang (eight rank), Danyang County chief book Xia Song (cong nine rank)."

"King Chen Jiang Gu knows a little bit about it. This person has outstanding knowledge, is a capable official, and has traveled to various states. He has a lot of knowledge and a good reputation."

"Yes, my lord, His Majesty is also very satisfied with Chen Jiang."

"Then who are Shi Liang and Xia Song?"

"Returning to the prince, Shi Liang is in his thirties, with both talent and learning, he often talks about poetry and Taoism with literati and scholars, he is quite good at governing government affairs, never favoritism, there are very few lawsuits in governing the land, the law and order are peaceful, and the people are all called good officials. "

"Founder's mission is to select honest and selfless officials with both ability and political integrity. Shi Liang is indeed a good candidate."

"Yes, my lord, Xia Song, the third director of Danyang County, is after Zhongliang, and he is the second son of Xia Chenghao, the right guard."

"Xia Chenghao...a very familiar name..."

"Xia Chenghao once served as the first emperor in the Jin Dynasty. Three years ago, he led the army to fight the Liao army in Heshuo. He was killed on the battlefield. The court honored him as an envoy of Chongyi, and his son Xia Song supplemented it as the master book of Danyang County in Runzhou. Xia Song's edition He was only 22 years old, but when he was 11 years old, he learned from Liangzhe and Tokyo Transshipment Envoy Yao Xuan as his teacher. He wrote water poems. Yao Xuan said that children can be taught. At 17 years old, he wrote the poem "Ferry". Xia Song, a junior military officer, dared to hold Prime Minister Li Hang's horse's head with his poems, bowed down and asked Li Xiang to have a look. After looking at it, His Majesty is full of praise for his beautiful words."

"After Zhongliang, he has outstanding talents and learning, okay, okay." Defang nodded, "Your Majesty once said that the literary and scientific meanings on paper can only select temporary talents, but it is difficult to judge whether they have loyalty and the ability to govern the country, so The palace examination of the virtuous and upright will also allow them to talk about their views on the affairs of the court."

"My lord, will His Majesty come up with the question himself?"

"Your Majesty will come up with a question based on the two systems, and then select it personally. Of course, Your Majesty will have other sacred wishes."

"Yes, my lord, please." Wang Dan and Defang entered the Chongzheng Hall, saluted Zhenzong, and took their seats. Chen Jiang, Shi Liang, and Xia Song entered the hall in turn. Two hours later, the examination of the Xianliang Fangzheng Hall was over, and Zhenzong called three more people to praise him. After a while, they were let out of the hall. Chen Jiang, Shi Liang, and Xia Song walked out of the Chongzheng Hall together and talked with each other. Chen Jiang, Shi Liang, Xia Song?"