Shen Tang, Liu Xiangling, the iron-blooded traitor in the Southern Song Dynasty Chapter 473: The meeting between the ruler and the minister has been decided
Chapter 473: The meeting between the ruler and the minister has been decided
Chapter 473: The monarch and his ministers met and a decision was made
"No problem! Let Shen Tang come in and see me!"
Wang Quan hesitated for a moment, then took the order and left.
After a while, Shen Tang followed Wang Quan into the main hall.
However, as soon as he entered the main hall, Shen Tang paused, and then bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, Shen Tang, see you!"
Zhao Shen looked towards Shen Tang, and at this look, he couldn't help but be stunned.
At this moment, Shen Tang was in a miserable state. He even had a bit of a sour smell on his body. He didn't know what it was, but there were blood marks on his face...
Zhao Shen couldn't help but feel his eyes well up, this...is this what his hero looks like?
His eyes were still so firm, and when he looked at himself, he was still so respectful.
However, it also carries a bit of grievance! Yes, he was not injured when he faced thousands of troops, nor was he injured when he faced the civil and military forces of the Jin Dynasty. But when he came to his own Lin'an City, he faced those weak people. And the unarmed students were injured.
How could he not feel aggrieved?
"My dear, I have a debt to you!"
Zhao Shen said emotionally.
Shen Tang was horrified and said, "Your Majesty, where can I say this?"
Zhao Shen came forward and grabbed Shen Tang's hands. Shen Tang's expression changed drastically and he hurriedly tried to dodge because his hands were also stained!
"Your Majesty, no, I am in tatters. Please don't taint Your Majesty!"
Shen Tang said hurriedly.
However, Zhao Shen didn't shy away from it and directly put his palm on Shen Tang's stained hand, "Aiqing, you worked hard for the Song Dynasty. What do you think about the stains?"
"Let Wang Quan take you to bathe and change clothes first, and then come back and talk to me!"
Zhao Shen patted Shen Tang on the shoulder and said softly.
Shen Tang bowed his hands in salute, and then was led out of the palace by Wang Quan, heading towards a house not far away.
"Master Shen, we are here. There are servants waiting inside. You can go on your own."
Wang Quan said softly.
Shen Tang nodded slightly, then stopped and said, "Thank you, Mr. Wang, Shen Tang!"
When Wang Quan heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then squinted his eyes and nodded.
As for why he wanted to thank you, Shen Tang didn't say it, and Wang Quan didn't ask. Some things were just tacitly understood, so there was no need to say them out.
Shen Tang took a bath, which only took about a quarter of an hour.
After all, Zhao Shen was waiting for him, so he couldn't take too long.
Afterwards, he put on the robes he had already prepared, left the room, and once again followed Wang Quan towards the Renzheng Hall on the side.
"See Your Majesty!"
The two entered the main hall, and Shen Tang bowed and saluted.
"Wang Quan, go down!"
Zhao Shen said.
Wang Quan bowed and left, leaving only Shen Tang and Zhao Shen in the hall.
The two of them sat opposite each other, with a pot of hot tea in the middle, emitting some aroma.
Of course, Shen Tang could not wait for Zhao Shen to pour him tea. Seeing the tea leaves flying in the pot, Shen Tang stood up slightly, poured hot tea into the two teacups, and then bowed and sat down again.
Zhao Shen picked up the tea, took a sip, and then said slowly, "This tea is the tea from the North that the golden envoy came to bring here before.
Although it is far different from our tea from the Song Dynasty, it does have a different flavor."
"Since Your Majesty likes it, there must be Beidi tribute tea for Your Majesty to drink every year."
"Hahaha!"
Shen Tang's words made Zhao Shen extremely happy.
The word "tribute" is used only when the lower is against the upper. If there is tribute tea from the North every year, doesn't it mean that the Song Dynasty has completely surpassed the Jin Kingdom in the North?
Zhao Shen naturally liked such words.
The two of them chatted word by word over the hot tea, but neither Zhao Shen nor Shen Tang obviously mentioned the so-called guilt.
Time passed slowly, and before our eyes, it was sunset.
Zhao Shen suddenly asked, "Shen Aiqing, you went to the Kingdom of Jin as an envoy and made great achievements. What kind of reward do you want?"
Shen Tang's heart moved and he secretly said, "Here he comes!"
"Your Majesty, I don't need any reward. Instead, I hope that your Majesty can demote me. Only in this way can the people's hearts be appeased."
Zhao Shen had no expression on his face, neither objecting nor agreeing. He just looked at Shen Tang quietly.
After a long while, Zhao Shen finally sighed and said, "Shen Tang, isn't this too aggrieved for you?
You were originally a hero of our Song Dynasty, but if you are demoted and your merits are not rewarded, wouldn’t I become a foolish king?"
"Furthermore, those so-called charges are completely false. Wouldn't it be unfair if he was demoted because of this?"
"Your Majesty, those two charges are not false! During the bloody battle of Lingbi, I did order not to take into account the lives of the people. Although the circumstances are excusable, this is the fact.
In addition, the Beiwei Army under Yue Wumu was indeed controlled by my subordinates."
Directly accepting these two charges was Shen Tang's carefully considered decision.
Among them, the first crime, although it was the core point of criticism by the common people and students, had no impact in Zhao Shen's eyes.
After all, Zhao Shen was victorious and achieved considerable results. Zhao Shen did not care too much about the injuries to hundreds of people.
If Tang Situi hadn't brought it up, even if Zhao Shen knew about it, he would definitely pretend not to know.
But what Zhao Shen really cares about is the second matter of betraying Wei Jun.
Shen Tang thought about this matter for a long time, but decided to speak out.
Because it is more beneficial to him to admit it than not to admit it.
Regardless of whether he admits it or not, this matter will fall into Zhao Shen's heart. There is no doubt about it.
If he admitted it, it would at least show that Shen Tang had no other intentions, but if he didn't admit it, it would make Zhao Shen suspicious.
Sure enough, Zhao Shen was not surprised when he heard Shen Tang's words.
"The Lingbi incident was a critical situation at the time and it was considered a last resort. However, the crime is irrefutable."
Shen Tang continued, "As for those Beiwei troops, when I was in Jiangyin, because of my wife Liu Xiangling, I was secretly targeted by the Japanese Army and Lieyang Army. By coincidence, I found out that the dead Liu Hongye was once Beiwei. A man of the army.”
"When I saw that these Wei soldiers were loyal to the country, I gathered them under my command.
At the beginning, the Battle of Tongbai Mountain and the Battle of Northeast Shandong were all fought with the participation of the Wei Army."
"Nowadays, the Beiwei Army is lurking in the land of the Jin Kingdom. Once there is a war between the Song Dynasty and the Jin Kingdom, they can play an irreplaceable role."
First he admitted it, and then he found an excuse for himself and found a step for Zhao Shen, so that he could cover up the matter for the time being.
"You should have informed me of these things earlier.
Otherwise, nothing like this time would have happened."
Zhao Shen patted Shen Tang on the shoulder and said lightly.