Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Really?" De Fang thought, "I've never heard of this lonely king. Emperor Taizu has always used literati, regardless of region, origin, and no distinction between high and low. Isn't this a misinformation?"

"I just heard that maybe something happened back then that caused Emperor Taizu and King Han to say something for a while."

"This is somewhat possible. At the beginning of the founding of the country, Jiangnan literati's poems were flashy and false, and there were not many talents in governing the country. Perhaps based on the situation back then, Emperor Taizu and King Han said so."

"Yes, but now it seems that Jiangnan has more and more talents."

"Of course, my Great Song Dynasty advocates literature and martial arts, and ordinary people can study and be taught. In the future, the talents of students will be innumerable." Defang looked at Wang Dan and smiled, "But the words of Emperor Taizu and King Han at this moment are not true. It was cleverly used by the prime minister, and I believe His Majesty will give more consideration to it."

"What the prince said is true, what he said is true."

At this time, Zhou Huaizheng, the chief servant, came out from the hall, "My lord, my lord."

The two turned around and said "Eunuch Zhou"

"It's great that the two of you didn't leave. Your Majesty is here to invite you."

Defang and Wang Dan looked at each other and asked, "Eunuch Zhou, the lonely king and the prime minister just came out of the palace, why did your majesty summon you again?" "Just now the Privy Council sent the books and silks of the Liao Kingdom."

"Liao Kingdom? What's the matter?"

"The small ones are not too clear."

"Prime Minister, let's enter the palace."

"My lord please."

Defang and Wang Dan returned to the palace "See Your Majesty"

"Don't be too polite, brother, prime minister, sit down"

"Thank you, Your Majesty" De Fang and Wang Dan sat aside, De Fang asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Privy Council sent the books from the Liao Kingdom just now, what happened to summon the minister and the other two again?"

"The Liao Kingdom sent a new official to replace Yelv Geba to be in charge of the negotiation between the two countries and the acceptance of 30 coins."

"What?" Defang was puzzled, "Your Majesty, why did the Liao Kingdom suddenly change people? What about the eighth brother?"

"I don't know what happened, but Emperor Liao has already ordered Brother Ba and Brother Shi to return to Beijing."

Wang Dan thought for a while, "Could it be that Emperor Liao suspected Brother Eight and Brother Ten? Or did he want to break the covenant?"

"No." Defang shook his head, "Emperor Liao's intention is all in Empress Dowager Xiao. Empress Dowager Xiao has never doubted her employment. Brother Ba and Ge Shi are the sons of the first brave generals in the Liao Kingdom. They also made great achievements in the Battle of Chanzhou. Empress Dowager Xiao is They will not doubt them. As for breaking the covenant, this is even more impossible. After decades of fighting against our Great Song Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom is close to void. Those who self-destruct the covenant and break the trust of the world."

"My lord, what is the purpose of Liao Kingdom's move?"

"Presumably Han Derang is going to embarrass us again."

"Han Derang? Why did he embarrass me, Da Song? What ability does he have to ask Emperor Liao to write a letter?"

"Han Derang is not an ordinary person. The Emperor of Liao will treat him as his father," Defang said. "This Han Derang was originally the grandson of Han Zhigu. Appreciated by the emperor, the Han family made the king and worshiped the descendants to be blessed. Han Derang made him more powerful than his ancestors. He and the Empress Dowager Xiao had a marriage contract when they were young, but later the Empress Dowager Xiao entered the palace and married the Emperor Yeluxian of Liao Dynasty. Yeluxian Empress Dowager Xiao was weak and sick, so she gained power. The current Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu was only 12 years old when she came to the throne. Empress Dowager Xiao valued the talents of Han Derang and Yelu Xiezhen, so she let them assist the government. Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiao gave Han Derang the surname Yelu and changed her name to Dechang, the Han family finally got rid of their status as slaves and became nobles of the Liao Kingdom, and finally secured the throne and posthumous position, Empress Dowager Xiao also decided to remarry Han Derang."