Daming Super Dimension Company, President Zhu Yuanzhang!

Zhao Xu was also a little curious.

He doesn't know much about Su Shi and Su Zhe now.

"Mr. Xiao, what does this mean?"

"Su Shi was demoted for most of his life, but his younger brother Su Zhe held increasingly high official positions, which allowed him to be demoted and return to Beijing alive." Xiao Ranxian described the difference between the two men in one simple sentence.

Then, Xiao Ran continued, "Let's talk about Su Shi first."

"Su Shi was a free-spirited person, with friends all over the world, and he loved food. In the first year of Jiayou, Su Shi and Su Che took part in the imperial examination for the first time. Su Shi came in second, and Su Che came in fifth. Su Shi's articles became famous due to Ouyang Xiu's praise. Just when the father and son were about to show their talents, they suddenly heard that their mother had passed away, so they had to go back to their hometown with their father to attend the funeral."

"When the mourning period was over, the three Su brothers returned to Bianjing, and Su Shi and Su Xun both received official positions. In the sixth year of Jiayou, on the recommendation of Ouyang Xiu, the Su Shi brothers took part in the imperial examination called the "virtuous, upright, and outspoken" examination. Su Shi's policy was rated third, and was called the best in a hundred years. The court granted Su Shi a new official position."

"Later, in the third year of Emperor Yingzong's reign, Su Xun died of illness. The brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe carried the coffin back to their hometown and observed mourning for three years."

"In the fourth year of Xining, Su Shi wrote a letter pointing out the shortcomings of the new law. Wang Anshi was furious and secretly asked the censor Xie Jingwen to point out Su Shi's mistakes. Su Shi asked to leave the capital to take up a post and was appointed as the magistrate of Hangzhou."

"Su Shi was transferred to other posts in the following years. After Wang Anshi's reform failed, Su Shi was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou. At that time, the Yellow River overflowed and a flood occurred. Su Shi led the soldiers to build the southeast long dike and sent officials to plug the gaps, and finally saved the city of Xuzhou. Afterwards, he requested to recruit workers to rebuild the old city of Xuzhou and build wooden revetments next year to prevent floods from happening again."

Zhao Kuangyin asked, "Since he is a useful person, why is he demoted so often?"

Su Shi is indeed useful as he was able to turn the tide during a flood and was wholeheartedly serving the people.

Xiao Ran looked at Zhao Xu with a half-smile, "Su Shi was quite sharp in his words. He often confronted people in the court, including the emperor. If it weren't for Su Che, he would have been beheaded long ago."

For a moment, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Xu were silent.

How could they take seriously the ministers who pointed at their noses and scolded them?

Li Shimin was somewhat proud of this. "The ministers in the court may speak harshly, but I won't take it too seriously."

Xiao Ran looked over and remembered that he had heard Li Shimin smashing things in anger several times.

"Mr. Xiao, please continue." Feeling embarrassed, Zhao Kuangyin urged.

"In April of the second year of Yuanfeng, Su Shi was transferred to be the governor of Huzhou. He wrote the "Huzhou Xie Shangbiao". This was originally a routine matter, but Su Shi's writing was often emotional and personal, and some of the words in it were used by the New Party."

Li Shimin was displeased, "What words can be used by others?"

"If you are not good at the right time, it is difficult for you to keep up with the newcomers. If you are old and don't cause trouble, you may be able to shepherd the common people, etc."

"These words were accused by the New Party, who said that Su Shi had mocked the court, was reckless and disrespectful, and was disloyal to the emperor, and that he deserved to be killed. For a time, the court was full of anti-Su voices, so Su Shi, who had only been in office for three months, was arrested and escorted back to Beijing, and dozens of people were implicated. This incident was a famous case in the Northern Song Dynasty, the Wutai Poetry Case."

At this moment, Wang Anshi could not help but speak, "Su Shi has a perverse personality. Even if his words are unpleasant to the ear, he should not be sentenced to death."

"A few words can be misinterpreted to this extent. I think you officials in this court are totally useless." Li Shimin said with great disgust.

Zhao Xu looked embarrassed, "How could I kill a talented minister?"

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes, "Don't say that. You couldn't handle the pressure from Wang Anshi's reforms, and later you even doubted Wang Anshi. What's more, Su Shi has never gained your trust."

The straightforward words made Zhao Xu blush, but he didn't dare to say anything more.

The ancestors are in front of me, and I still need help from others.

"Mr. Xiao is right." Zhao Xu bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

Xiao Ran said, "The Wutai Poems Case became a turning point in Su Shi's life. The New Party wanted to put Su Shi to death, but many ministers in the court wrote to him to plead for mercy. Not only did many elders who shared Su Shi's political views, but even some knowledgeable people from the Reform Party advised against it. Wang Anshi, who had already resigned at the time, also wrote to him to ask, "How can a sage kill talented people?" Soon, because of Wang Anshi, Su Shi was given a lighter sentence in the case and was demoted to the deputy envoy of Huangzhou Tuanlian and monitored by local officials. Of course, this was also due to the national policy of Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, that scholars should not be killed."

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin straightened his back.

"At this time, Su Shi was already disheartened. After taking office, Su Shi visited Chibi Mountain outside Huangzhou City many times and wrote famous works such as "Red Cliff Fu", "Post-Red Cliff Fu" and "Nian Nujiao: Nostalgia for the Red Cliff". He also led his family to reclaim wasteland east of the city and farm to supplement their livelihood. This is how Dongpo Jushi came to be."

Xiao Ran recalled the pain of reciting the entire text when he was in school, and read it out loud unconsciously.

"The great river goes east, the waves are exhausted, the eternal lover. Therefore, to the west of the barrier, the humanity is, the Three Kingdoms Zhoulang Chibi."

Suddenly coming back to his senses, Xiao Ran coughed lightly and returned to the topic.

"In the seventh year of Yuanfeng, Su Shi left Huangzhou and was ordered to go to Ruzhou to take office. During the long journey, Su Shi's infant died. With his travel expenses exhausted and the pain of losing his son, Su Shi wrote a letter requesting to live in Changzhou first. When he was about to return to Changzhou, Song Shenzong passed away."

"In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Song Zhezong ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Gao presided over the government, Sima Guang became prime minister again, and the New Party was suppressed. Su Shi was appointed as the prefect of Dengzhou again, and was soon recalled to the court as a doctor of the Ministry of Rites."

"When Su Shi saw that the new forces were suppressing Wang Anshi's faction and intended to abolish all the new laws, he once again proposed to remonstrate. Su Shi criticized the corruption exposed after the old party came to power, so he was framed again."

"In the fourth year of Yuanyou, Su Shi went to Hangzhou to serve as an official again. Hangzhou was hit by drought and plague. Su Shi asked the court to reduce the rice supply on the road by one-third, and obtained the certificate of ordination granted to monks, which he exchanged for rice to help the hungry people. The following year, he sold rice at a reduced price and distributed food to the people for medical treatment. When the disaster eased, Su Shi dredged the river, built dikes and dams, and planted water chestnuts in the West Lake. The income from planting water chestnuts was used to pay for the future repair and dredging of the West Lake. The long embankment was built, and hibiscus and willows were planted on the embankment. From then on, the people of Hangzhou named the long embankment Sugong Dike."

Admiration appeared in Li Shimin's eyes. Even though Su Shi was disappointed with the court, he still cared about the people.

"Zhao Xu, what should you do?" After looking at Zhao Xu, Zhao Kuangyin reminded in a deep voice.

Zhao Xu immediately said, "I will order someone to summon the three Su brothers to the capital to serve in important positions."

"This matter cannot be delayed." Zhao Kuangyin said.

With the three Su brothers in the court, as well as Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu, Zhao Xu had his own right-hand men.

Zhao Xu understood what was going on and planned to summon the person to the capital and arrange for him to attend the court immediately.