After a while, Han Zhongyan and he came to the front of the hall, and when the two saw Zhao Xu, they hurriedly saluted. The rules of the Great Song Dynasty are not strict, unless they are particularly respectful and polite, or they come to resign, and they are about to be transferred to officials, and they generally do not kowtow when they see the emperor.

Since Zhao Jing was hiding behind the curtain, Zhao Xu didn't want to entangle more, so he asked directly: "Two Aiqing, I came to you, I just want to ask, what kind of standard is the first-class list you drew up this time?

Han Zhongyan is the person in charge of Zhigongju and Zhengpai, and he hurriedly said: Since the two subjects of Jingyi and Poetry are tested in this palace examination, the ministers naturally rely on the comprehensive ability of these two subjects to weigh this list.

Zhao Xu frowned: No, I see that these people's strategies are written decently, but none of these poems can be called good, is there no talent for poetry under my rule?

As soon as Han Zhongyan heard this, he admired General Xu's judgment more and more. Last time, General Xu analyzed it to him, saying that in this spring, His Majesty pays the most attention to the selection of literary talents, not so much the selection of pillars, but the selection of poetry talents. For this reason, when the two of them were judging the papers, they also deliberately focused on poetry.

And because of this, in this first-class volume, in fact, everyone's poetry is very good, but I didn't expect Zhao Xu to be dissatisfied. Does he really want to choose a peerless ghost like Su Dabeard in this exam?

I didn't expect him to be an unintentional ** head, but he really guessed correctly, Zhao Xu's target was Su Shi, and he originally wanted to use this time to start finding someone who could be compared to Su Shi. Han Zhongyan couldn't understand his thoughts, so he naturally had to tell the truth: Your Majesty, according to the old minister, the ten people in the first-class volume this time are all literary talents, and they are not as unbearable as Your Majesty said!

When General Xu behind him heard this, he shook his head secretly. The emperor is also a human being, although he may not be completely right when he speaks, but even if it is a thousand miles wrong, you can only say it by a millimeter, and you must say it very tactfully, of course, it is best to use hints. But this Han Xianggong is good, and he directly uses such a completely negative word to admonish, isn't this a slap in the emperor's mouth? In this way, there is no room for turning around at all, and even ordinary emperors know that they are wrong, and for the sake of saving face, they have no choice but to point to the deer as a horse, and counter-say that the person who admonishes is wrong. Not to mention that sitting in front of them was a well-known stubborn king!

Sure enough, Zhao Xu's face showed a little annoyance, and said: Han Aiqing's words, does it mean that I don't know Zhuyu and am deaf?

When Han Zhongyan heard this, he knew that he was speechless in a hurry, and a cold sweat immediately broke out, and he quickly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty is sorry for your sins!"

Zhao Xu was in anger at this time, and continued: It is precisely because it is an unintentional word that it is a sincere word, you understand this, and I also understand it!

Han Zhongyan didn't dare to argue anymore, just kowtowed.

At this point, Xu Jiang knew that no matter what, he couldn't help but pull Han Zhongyan along. Moreover, he had other ideas.

Now that the reset of the right prime minister's position seems to be a sure thing, there are not many people who hope to sit in this position, and he himself is one of them. However, due to the fierce competition, although he is very confident, objectively speaking, he may not have an absolute advantage. So, for him, any possible friend is worth fighting for.

And Han Zhongyan has little chance due to his personality and ability, and it seems that he himself has no such ambitions. But it is undeniable that his influence is very huge, if he can make him owe a favor, when it comes to the critical time, he can't help but repay the favor. Even if he didn't want to be in this fight, at least he wouldn't be co-opted by his opponents. This, perhaps, is decisive.

Thinking of all this, General Xu hurriedly bowed down and said: Your Majesty is angry. Han Zhongyan's words were reckless, but he never meant to slander His Majesty, he just used inappropriate words, and asked His Majesty to spare him this time for the sake of being diligent in the past.

Han Zhongyan is a very influential minister, although Zhao Xu is quite dissatisfied with him, but he can't do anything to him because of such a trivial matter, and when he heard the words, he borrowed a donkey to go downhill: Since Xu Aiqing said this, Han Zhongyan, you can calm down. You have been in power for many years, and as Xu Aiqing said, you are also diligent, but I still hope that you will be more thoughtful in your words and actions in the future!

Although Han Zhongyan was embarrassed, he had no choice but to get up with gratitude.

Zhao Xu pointed the finger at General Xu again: Xu Aiqing, since you said that Han Zhongyan just misspoken, does it mean that his original intention is correct, or is it wrong?

Xu Jiang smiled slightly, his expression was chic and natural: Your Majesty, my Great Song Dynasty is famous for its poetry, and literary talents, such as the stars in the silent night, are countless, not to mention others, even compared to the Tang Dynasty, which is known for Tang poetry, it is not inferior. And among these many tributes, if there are no one or two people with brilliant poetic talents, it is naturally impossible. There is one person, the poetry talent makes Weichen also greatly admired, quite inferior. But Han Zhongyan's elimination of it is slightly inappropriate in the eyes of the minister, but it is not groundless. For this reason, the minister is very embarrassed.

What he said was the truth, so Han Zhongyan was by his side, but he couldn't refute it.

After listening to An Tang's words last time, Han Zhongyan immediately gritted his teeth and said on the spot that he would not only beat Ouyang Shu down, but also remove his fame, so that he would never be able to turn over. But Xu Jiang was a little unimpressed, and said, Ouyang Shu's reputation is so unbearable, it can be seen that there may be something fortunate about his affairs. However, one is that there is no real evidence and cannot be easily concluded, and the other is that he has not done anything harmful to nature and reason, so he cannot easily make such a heavy punishment.

Han Zhongyan still had to seriously consider General Xu's opinion, and after thinking about it, he decided to judge him first. Although General Xu did not agree with this very much, Han Zhongyan was a Zhigongju, he was just a fellow Zhigongju, and in terms of duties, he was only assisting Han Zhongyan in his affairs, so naturally he could not eliminate Han Zhongyan's decision.

So, Ouyang Shu was beaten to the end from the top to the end.

Zhao Xu also admires Xu Jiang's poetry very much, although this old man is quite inferior to Su Dabeard, but he is definitely a rare literary master in today's court. At that moment, he sighed: There is such a person, Xu Aiqing and listen to the poem, I want to see what kind of character this is! He knows that Xu Jiang's memory is very good, but all the poems he can see are almost unforgettable, so he doesn't let people take the scroll, and asks Xu Jiang directly.