Seeing Su Daozhi's grave expression, Dou Tao knew that Chen Caozhi's account of the enmity between Hu and Han had frightened him out of returning to Di Qin. But Dou Tao had been entrusted with this mission of persuasion precisely because he was an able debater. How could he willingly accept defeat like this? He declared in a ringing voice, "Envoy Chen has spoken only of the disadvantages of moving the Su clan retinues back to Guanzhong, without mentioning any advantages to remaining in Pingyu. Moreover, these supposed disadvantages are merely Envoy Chen's assumptions. Minister Wang is in the prime of life, strong and healthy, and will surely assist our sage ruler in accomplishing his great undertaking. Though many people today die young, those who live to a ripe old age are by no means rare. To take an earlier example, Liu Xuande was forty-nine when he invited Zhuge Kongming out of his thatched cottage to help him contend for the realm. More recently, Xie Anshi was past forty before he emerged from Dongshan. Minister Wang is younger than Xie Anshi. Is this not precisely the time when he can accomplish great things?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and gestured for Dou Tao to speak his mind freely.
Dou Tao continued confidently, "Since taking charge of government, Minister Wang has rooted out the powerful magnates and brought the officials into awed obedience. He has also established systems of rewards and punishments for recommendations and assessments of officials, allowing large numbers of talented men from cold-gate commoner clans to put their learning fully to the service of the state. Bribery, influence-peddling, and arbitrary appointments-the abuses of the nine-rank official selection system-have been swept away, while integrity, a sense of shame, diligence in one's calling, and eagerness to learn have flourished by the day.