When Shen Tang arrived outside Sizhou City, before entering the city, he saw a group of soldiers waiting ten miles outside the city gate!
Shen Tang frowned slightly: Could it be that the people from Lin'an arrived so soon?
"Ahead, Master Shen is coming?"
As Shen Tang approached, the soldiers naturally discovered the traces of Shen Tang and his men, and one of the first ones shouted.
"Shen Tang is here!"
Shen Tang responded calmly.
Step, step, step...
Upon hearing Shen Tang's response, the soldiers immediately rode forward to meet Shen Tang and others.
"Greetings to Mr. Shen, the last general, Feng Tianzhu, is the commander of General Li's bodyguard!"
The leading general in black armor dismounted and paid homage.
Shen Tang looked at the past and calmed down slightly. The person who came was indeed Li Xianzhong's personal guard. Although Shen Tang was not familiar with it, he had seen it several times!
"Why are Commander Feng here here?"
Shen Tang asked.
"My lord, General Li has come to greet you on orders from General Li. General Li is waiting not far away!"
Feng Tianzhu said.
"oh?"
Shen Tang frowned, wondering what Li Xianzhong meant.
"Lead the way!"
Feng Tianzhu turned around and mounted his horse, leading Shen Tang to continue moving forward.
However, the group did not go to the north gate of Sizhou, but went straight to the northeast.
After walking for more than ten miles, Shen Tang saw a house appearing in front of him.
"General Li is in the house, you can go on your own."
When the group came to the door, Feng Tianzhu dismounted and said to Shen Tang.
Shen Tang nodded, asked several personal guards to wait outside the door, and entered alone.
The guards at the entrance of the courtyard did not stop him, but only saluted Shen Tang respectfully, and then allowed Shen Tang to enter.
"General Lee!"
Entering the room, I saw Li Xianzhong waiting alone.
"grown ups!"
Li Xianzhong cupped his fists and saluted, and then asked Shen Tang to sit down.
"General Li, you don't know why you are waiting for me here?"
Shen Tang did have some doubts in his heart. After all, even if he wanted to meet, he could just meet in Sizhou. Why come to such a remote place?
Facing Shen Tang's questions, Li Xianzhong pondered for a long time, and then stood up and bowed solemnly to Shen Tang.
"Master Shen..."
"General!"
Shen Tang was startled and hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Li Xianzhong's arm. Although Li Xianzhong was not as good as Zhang Jun, he was still a veteran who had fought for the country for decades and had great prestige in the army.
He couldn't bear to have such an old man salute him.
However, Li Xianzhong not only did not stand up, but bowed a little deeper.
Shen Tang smiled bitterly and said, "General Li, you and I are old friends. If you have anything to say, just say it. Why do you need to do this?"
Li Xianzhong just bowed and said slowly, "Master Shen, I already know the matters in the court. May I ask Master Shen how to decide?"
Shen Tang was stunned, but he didn't expect Li Xianzhong to ask about this matter.
He hesitated for a moment, and then said with a wry smile: "General Li, it is not for you or me to make the decision on this matter, but I think your majesty will not punish me too seriously because I still have some merit.
However, I am afraid that a dismissal from office is inevitable."
Having said this, Shen Tang sighed softly, "Otherwise, how will your Majesty block those Youyou's mouths?"
"Sir, with this gift, I first apologize to you on behalf of the people who are unaware of this.
They don’t know that your Excellency fought bloody battles in Sizhou to protect their peace. They also don’t know that your Excellency battled wits and courage with the Jin Kingdom in the land of the Jin Kingdom, and won this great honor for our Song Dynasty.
difficulty."
"Although I cannot represent Your Majesty in this salute, I still have to perform this salute for Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty may punish you, but your Majesty is already a rare wise king. Without your Majesty, the Northern Expedition would not have been possible.
Moreover, only Your Majesty has the ambition to strengthen the country."
"This gift represents the countless soldiers under my command! Please, sir, if you have any confidence in our Song Dynasty, don't let these things make you lose your heart towards the Song Dynasty! I agree with what Prime Minister Zhang said,
That is, as long as you are here, our army of the Song Dynasty will be strong, and with the presence of the Song Dynasty, our sons and daughters of the Song Dynasty will be able to shed less blood!"
"Sir, I know that this matter is not fair to you. Your grievance is not only known to me, but also to the tens of thousands of soldiers in Sizhou.
Is it fair that he is just a clown who harbors evil intentions, but he is a loyal minister who suppresses our Song Dynasty?
unfair.
However, the people are ignorant and your majesty is helpless. I would like to ask you, sir, to have some confidence in us, the Song Dynasty. On behalf of the 40,000 soldiers under his command, the general will thank you!"
Li Xianzhong's words made Shen Tang stunned.
Is it a pity?
Of course there is! Are you disappointed?
Yes! Are you aggrieved?
Of course there is! To be honest, when he just read Zhang Jun's letter, Shen Tang's first thought was to go directly to the Lao Shizi official position and live in seclusion with his three wives.
With his Shen Tang, even if he lives in seclusion in the countryside, it will not be difficult to at least live a prosperous life.
Why should he suffer these grievances?
He was loyal to the Song Dynasty wholeheartedly. Although he dared not say that he devoted all his efforts to the Song Dynasty, he did a lot for the Song Dynasty. Moreover, he never thought of letting the Song Dynasty suffer any harm because of him.
Otherwise, when he was in the Kingdom of Jin, he would not have been at all tempted by Wan Yanyong's recruitment.
However, why did he treat Song Dynasty and Zhao Shen like this, but in the end he had to endure these unfair things?
This time when he went to Lin'an, he didn't have many thoughts. He wanted to make a break, or teach Tang Situi and others a lesson! As for the official position, whether he has it or not, what can he do?
With the wealth he has now, even a happy life is enough, so why should he wrong himself?
However, at this moment, seeing a veteran with white hair and beard saluting him so respectfully, praying for something not for himself, but for the Song Dynasty, the slight grievance in Shen Tang's heart gradually faded away.
How do you want me to deal with these people who are so cute that they become idiots?
And this Song Dynasty, perhaps it is because of such a group of people that it can stand in the world and continue to be prosperous and healthy! They are stupid, but they are so stupid that they are respectable! In the face of such a person's request, even if
No matter how unwilling Shen Tang was, how could Shen Tang give him a disappointing answer...
"Why!"
Shen Tang sighed leisurely, and dragged his palm towards Li Xianzhong's arm again, "General Li, you don't have to do this! I, Shen Tang, am a citizen of the Song Dynasty after all. It is also my wish to serve the Song Dynasty."