Many civil servants, including Lu Shen, sneered at Guo Kui's remarks.
But that's all.
This is not surprising to anyone.
Because everyone knows that Guo Kui was originally a military attache, and he definitely belongs to the main war faction, and he definitely supports Zhonger.
The key point is that the emperor at that time gave Guo Kui high praise for his behavior, and even said in court, "If you are here, I have no worries about going west."
At the same time, Guo Kui also had many supporters in the court. Fan Zhongyan and Han Qike had supported him before.
Zhang Fei smiled slightly at this and did not comment too much. After all, he did not want to review the matter. He just asked: "Then I wonder why Xianggong Guo did not come up with the edict in time?"
Guo Kui replied: "That's because the official issued this edict because our army was poorly prepared and should avoid a war with Xixia.
But situations like this have actually happened quite often in recent years. They often capture the opponent's city. If the opponent raises troops to attack, they will immediately return to defend. If the opponent does not have a large army to press the border, they will immediately build fortresses and fortresses there.
, consolidate defense.”
In the Qingli Treaty, one article clearly stated that both parties were free to build fortresses on their own territories without restrictions.
The reason is simple, no one trusts anyone.
During the twenty years of peace, both sides built large-scale fortifications on the border, especially the Song Dynasty. When the twenty years of peace passed, conflicts ensued.
However, due to the existence of these fortifications and internal problems between the two countries, the wars during this period were only exploratory attacks.
The Song Dynasty did not dare to fight, and Xixia actually did not dare to fight either.
Guo Kui continued: "At that time, I discovered that Xixia had already begun to launch a war, but our general Zhe Jishi repelled Xixia's attacks several times. Our army's morale was high, but it was deceived by the other side in the peace talks and we lost two people.
General.
If I issued the edict immediately, it would demoralize our army, so I planned to wait and see. But with the sudden death of Xixia leader Li Liangzuo, this conflict ended here."
Zhang Fei nodded and asked: "Based on what Mr. Guo has seen, if Li Liangzuo had not died at that time, would Xixia have a war with our country?"
Guo Kui thought for a while, nodded and said: "Judging from the current situation, a war is likely to break out, because the geographical location of Suizhou is so critical, so even this year, Xixia has been thinking of everything possible.
How to ask for Suizhou from our country."
"Really?" Zhang Fei asked again: "Deputy Ambassador Shi Caizhong also mentioned the importance of Suizhou. Can Mr. Guo please explain specifically how important Suizhou is?"
Guo Kui said: "Although there were many reasons for the defeat of our army at Sanchuankou, Suizhou played a vital role in the entire battle. At that time, the Xixia army sent troops from Tumen of Suizhou to attack Baoan first.
The army, however, turned to attack Jinming Village, and then went straight to Yanzhou City.
The reason is that if the Xixia army sets out from Suizhou, it can reach the Yanzhou city within three days, leaving our reinforcements with no time to rescue and thus losing the initiative. Therefore, as long as Suizhou is in the hands of Xixia, Yanzhou
You can't sit back and relax.
It is precisely because of this that the deputy envoy Zhong's father, General Zhong Shiheng, built Qingjian City at any cost two hundred years away from Yanzhou, regardless of enemy harassment and the dangerous terrain, in order to protect Yanzhou.
.I believe that Magistrate Lu is also very aware of this. Otherwise, Magistrate Lu would not have sent deputy envoys to garrison Qingjian City in the first place.
But now that our army has regained Suizhou, it can use Hengshan as a barrier. Yanzhou will no longer have to worry about it. It can also reduce the burden on other roads. At the same time, it can take the initiative on the northern line. As long as our army leaves Hengshan in the west, it can attack Xixia.
, you can advance to attack, and you can retreat to defend."
"I see."
Zhang Fei nodded and continued to ask: "So, what did Guo Xianggong think that our country and Xixia were in during the fourth year of Zhiping?"
Guo Kui thought for a while and said: "I have to admit that the Qingli Agreement of that year is still in effect and has not been abolished, nor can it be said to exist in name only. However, since the Jiayou period, Xixia has violated the contract without authorization and sent troops to invade.
We also immediately stopped issuing annual coins. From then on, our court also judged whether to fulfill the contract based on Xixia's words and deeds.
As I said before, occupying the other side's city was a common occurrence during this period. The borders between the two countries were also constantly adjusted, but no large-scale war broke out, and often after the conflict, the two sides would still negotiate for peace.
It ensures that the Qingli agreement can be carried out, but Suizhou is particularly important."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, "Therefore, in my personal opinion, during the four years of peace, the two sides were in a state of peace rather than war, but it is undisputed that conflicts are increasing day by day."
Zhang Fei nodded slightly and then said: "According to what Mr. Guo said, I can think that the behavior of deputy envoy Zhong in sending troops was actually very common at that time, but because of the extremely important geographical location of Suizhou,
Therefore, there is indeed the possibility of triggering a war between the two sides."
Guo Kui nodded.
Zhang Fei asked again: "So according to Mr. Guo's judgment, was our army prepared for a war at that time?"
Guo Kui said: "I think it was a success, because during the inducement to surrender at Weiming Mountain, General Zhejishizhe had already deployed at the Dali River to prevent the other party from sending troops to stop the surrender, and he won great victories one after another after that."
Zhang Fei nodded with a smile and said: "Thank you Mr. Guo for appearing in court to testify."
As Guo Kui went down to the court, not to mention the guests who were watching, even the two parties involved, Zhong E and Lu Shen, looked at a loss.
It is completely unclear which side has the upper hand after these words.
Although Guo Kui said that the hasty attack at that time might have triggered a war, he also explained that the geographical location of Suizhou was crucial.
After Zhang Fei took a short rest, he said: "Zheng Xie, bachelor of the Hanlin Academy."
When Lu Shen heard about this person, he couldn't help but look surprised.
Many civil servants also looked around and said in surprise: "Zheng Yifu is here too."
As for most of the witnesses, no one knows yet.
However, this Zheng Xie had been in the Hanlin Academy in the capital at that time. His appearance surprised many people as to what he could testify about.
But I saw an old man who knew the destiny well, waving his big sleeves, coming up to the court. Although he had gray hair, he had an extraordinary bearing, and his clothes were very simple, very similar to Lu Shen.
This person's name is Zheng Xie. He was born in the imperial examination. He was also a highly educated, honest and upright official. He was able to become the imperial scholar in the Song Dynasty. Needless to say, his literary talents also had a very high reputation among the scholars.
In any case, the appearance of Zheng Xie made the civil servants feel that it was good and fair.
Guo Kui was a military general and had always been a war-fighting faction, so he definitely supported Zhong'e. Zheng Xie was a civil servant, a peace-promoting faction, and had a very good relationship with Lu Shen. In this case, he had always been
He has been speaking to Lu Shen for a long time, believing that Lu Shen suffered injustice, and he also contributed a lot to this retrial.
This at least proves that Zhang Fei has been very fair so far and did not say that he would specifically find some combatants to testify.
Zhang Fei extended his hand slightly and said, "Scholar Zheng, please sit down."
In fact, according to etiquette, Zhang Fei should stand up and salute, but Zheng Xie knew that Zhang Fei should not expect too much from him in terms of etiquette, so he still thanked him and then sat down.
Zhang Fei said: "Before that, I would like to thank Master Zheng for traveling thousands of miles to come here to testify."
"President Zhang said something serious. In fact, I should be thanking President Zhang for giving me a chance to testify in court."
After saying that, Zheng Xie immediately said: "But I have been listening for a long time just now, and there is a question that I still can't figure out."
These Hanlin Academy bachelors are all very powerful, and when they come up, they are mainly guests.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "Scholar Zheng, please tell me."
Zheng Xidao said: "Just now, even Zhong E himself admitted that he sent troops without an edict. At the same time, the imperial edict was to ask the prefect Lu and envoy Xue Zhuan to take charge of the matter. However, when the prefect Lu ordered to recall Zhong E,
E, if you still don't obey, isn't this not disobeying the edict?
Maybe this matter is in the political affairs hall, and the success or failure of this matter can be judged, but the imperial court has to deal with the law. Although I am not as proficient in the law as President Zhang, I can also memorize the "Song Xingtong". I really don't know what else to try.
.”
As soon as these words came out, many people present seemed to be suddenly awakened, and they all nodded.
You are trying to make things up here and asking questions, but the facts are irrefutable. Even Zhong E himself admitted it, so he must be guilty according to the law.
All eyes were focused on Zhang Fei.
Zhong E was even more uneasy. He knew this Zheng Xie. At that time, Zheng Xie strongly suggested that the officials arrest him directly as a warning to others. Therefore, when he saw this person, he immediately felt bad!
Zhang Fei explained calmly: "This is mainly because the situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, and the edicts go back and forth for several days. Many times, generals have to make decisions on the spot and cannot do everything right.
Ask the imperial court for advice, and this is also allowed by military law."
Zheng Xie immediately said: "I understand what President Zhang said, but this is not a battlefield, but a matter of fighting or not fighting. This must be allowed by the court. Otherwise, the military generals who want to make meritorious deeds will disregard the national plan and set off wanton
Military calamity is a sign of the country’s downfall.”
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "What Mr. Zheng said makes sense. This is why the president of the court asked Mr. Zheng to come here to testify."
Zheng Xie was slightly startled: "I don't know what the president means by this?"
Zhang Fei said: "In my opinion, from the beginning of the inducement to surrender to the final recovery of Suizhou, this is one thing, because since it has decided to induce the opponent's general to surrender, the imperial court hopes to recover Suizhou, so the behavior of such a deputy envoy,
It's worth debating.
Deputy Ambassador Zhong's final choice to send troops was just one step in the whole thing, not a separate incident. After all, Weiming Yishan had already been surrendered before.
This is just like in a battle, the general has to make a timely judgment based on the changes in the frontline situation. Of course, whether Deputy Zhong's judgment is forced by the situation still needs to be reviewed.
However, before that, we must determine one thing, which is how the imperial court viewed the inducement to surrender to Weiming Mountain at the time. If the inducement to surrender was denied from the beginning, then such an act of deputy envoy would definitely constitute the crime of disobeying the imperial edict, and there would be no need for a retrial.
However, based on their previous confessions, it seems that the court did not prevent this behavior. According to our investigation, Zheng Xueshi was fully involved in the decision-making of this matter, which is why I asked Zheng Xueshi to come."
After these words, almost everyone treated Zhang Fei differently.
Including generals such as Zhonge, Zhongzhe, Zhejizu, etc.
They felt wronged before, but that was from a strategic perspective and a consequential theory. The fact is that Suizhou was recovered, which would reverse the passive situation on the northern front. In any case, the merits outweighed the faults. But they never dared to argue with the other party from the perspective of justice.
.
Because they also feel that this is unjustifiable.
But after Zhang Fei’s analysis, there is a clear argument!