The emperor said, "There's a great deal to learn out in the provinces. If he wants to go further, he has to understand how to govern common folk, how to govern the great clans, how to govern the local gentry. Only in places where 'the heavens are high and the emperor is far away,' and far from the commanderies and prefectural offices, can he rely entirely on his own strength and wits to blend in with and contend against these people. Only then will the network of connections and reputation he cultivates truly belong to him alone."
The emperor said, "Look at Yang Heshu. What sort of reputation does he have now in Xiazhou, and what sort of reputation does he have at court?"
Although he is far from the capital, far from the center of power, in the minds of the ministers his weight is at least as great as Tang He, who entered service in the same cohort, if not greater.
