Chapter 600: Above the court, four questions in a row
Chapter 600: Above the court, four questions in a row
Everyone chatted for a long time, the time had come, the city gates were wide open, and all the courtiers arranged their clothes and walked towards the main hall in order.
Entering the main hall, Zhang Jun originally wanted to pull Shen Tang to stand at the front, but Shen Tang shook his head and refused, and finally settled at the end.
Nowadays, I have no formal official position or rank, and I am just standing around to attract criticism.
Furthermore, Shen Tang didn't care where he stood.
The ministers waited for a short time before Zhao Shen entered the hall followed by Wang Quan.
"See Your Majesty!"
All the ministers bowed and saluted!
After Zhao Shen took a seat on the dragon chair, he looked around and finally landed on Shen Tang at the end.
With the return of Shen Tang and worries about the situation, Zhao Shen regretted his previous decision more and more, but Shen Tang returned to Lin'an without any doubts, and the Shen Mansion of Lian Licheng directly handed over Lian Licheng behind closed doors without any rebuttal, making He felt a little more guilty towards Shen Tang.
"call!"
With a slight sigh in his heart, Zhao Shen calmed down.
Afterwards, the ministers each wrote their own memorials, but most of them just explained some things and then handed the memorials over, without much discussion or decision-making.
This is normal. As the saying goes, small meetings are held for big things and big meetings are held for small things.
In this court, if there is really a big matter, Zhao Shen will discuss it with a few top ministers after going to court, and other ministers are not qualified to discuss it at all.
As time passed slowly, all the messy things were completed, and the hall became quiet.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Tianhua has repeatedly accused the Western General Shen Tang of his crimes. Now that Shen Tang has returned, it just so happens that Shen Tang can make his own decision."
Zhang Jun came out of class to report to Zhao Shen.
Zhao Shen looked at the people below and didn't know what he was thinking. After a moment of silence, he said lightly, "Zhang Tianhua!"
"I'm here!"
Shen Tang, who was standing at the end, looked towards Zhang Tianhua.
But I saw that Zhang Tianhua was wearing a scarlet official robe and had a square face. He seemed to be a loyal and kind man. Unfortunately, people cannot be judged by their appearance, and they didn’t know who was behind Zhang Tianhua who was secretly stirring up the situation and slandering him in the court. .
"You were the one who said this before. If that's the case, then it's up to you to inquire with Shen Tang.
If Shen Tang is guilty, I will punish you severely. If Shen Tang is not guilty, don't blame me for punishing you for slander."
"I obey the decree!"
Zhang Tianhua saluted and obeyed, and then turned to look towards Shen Tang.
"General Shen, please come out for questioning!"
Zhang Tianhua said calmly.
Shen Tang stepped out of class, first bowed to Zhao Shen, and then turned to Zhang Tianhua, "Sir Zhang, I don't know what's wrong, but please come and ask me."
"Shen Tang, let me ask you, is it possible that you went to Chengdu to pacify the Tibetans, but you kept taking over the local tribes for your own use?"
"have!"
Shen Tang replied without hesitation.
"Shen Tang, let me ask you again. Although you are the general appointed by His Majesty to conquer the West, you do not have the right to entrust official positions.
However, you privately promised the Qiang leader to be the judge of a continent, is this possible?"
"have!"
"Shen Tang, you went to the Kingdom of Jin to borrow troops. You are not a minister of the Kingdom of Jin, but the Kingdom of Jin borrowed 60,000 troops from you.
Moreover, these 60,000 soldiers and horses are all at your disposal, even the generals of the Jin Kingdom are looking out for you, but there is such a thing."
"have!"
"Tang Shen, your wife controls Lianli City, raises taxes in Lianli City without authorization, and accumulates a large amount of money and food. And you use this money and food to supply your soldiers, is this possible?"
"have!"
Zhang Tianhua asked four questions in a row, and everyone in Shen Tang did not hesitate.
After Shen Tang finished answering, Zhang Tianhua turned around, saluted Zhao Shen and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished asking questions."
"This Shen Tang secretly got close to the Jin Kingdom, and could even control the Jin Kingdom's army. He made friends with the local tribes in Chengdu Fulu, consolidated his own power, recruited and appointed these local tribes, used Lianli City to gather money and food, and used it to attack and support his soldiers. Ma, this is a crime of great rebellion and immorality.
The minister concluded that Shen Tang may have secretly made a deal with the Jin Kingdom. This move was to enhance his strength and secretly control the roads of Chengdu with the help of the conquest of Tubo.
I report to Your Majesty, this Shen Tang has committed another serious crime..."
After the words fell, Zhang Tianhua bowed and said nothing.
Zhao Shen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, looked neither happy nor angry. When Zhang Tianhua finished speaking, Zhao Shen calmly asked Shen Tang, "Shen Tang, can you admit the guilt that Zhang Tianhua said about you?"
Shen Tang saluted and said, "Your Majesty, this is nothing but a lie. Why do I plead guilty?"
I have been fighting for the Song Dynasty, and I have nothing but loyalty to His Majesty. I have a clear conscience.
Zhang Tianhua, the words of a villain and the words of a sycophant!"
"Well, since you think you are innocent, you can explain yourself to what Zhang Tianhua asked."
Zhao Shen said slowly.
"I obey!"
"Master Zhang, may I ask, how much do you know about the fighting situation and the fighting on Chengdu Fulu Road?"
Shen Tang turned to Zhang Tianhua and asked.
Zhang Tianhua's expression froze. All he knew was what those people told him. Apart from that, what else could he know?
At most, I just know some things from Shen Tang's report.
Seeing that Zhang Tianhua remained silent, Shen Tang said in a cold voice, "Huh, you don't know the inside story, but you framed me. What a master Zhang who doesn't know what he is talking about."
"You said that I will win over those local tribes, so let me ask Master Zhang, in Chengdu Prefecture, our Song army has more than 130,000 soldiers, while the Tubo army has nearly 200,000 soldiers.
The difference in military strength is almost doubled. I want to rely on the strength of these tribes. Is there any problem?"
"I'm just relying on them, why do I need to win them over?"
Zhang Tianhua retorted.
"Hahaha, Zhang Tianhua, I, Shen Tang, really think highly of you.
Did you know that these local tribes have already secretly united with the Tubo people?
If we do not win them over, what we will face is the alliance between Tibet and local tribes. It is not surprising that these two parties can join forces to form an army of four to five million people.
Then, tell me how we, the Song Dynasty, should win."
"nonsense……"
"These local tribes are also our subjects of the Song Dynasty, how could they unite with the Tubo people?
This is just an excuse made by you, Shen Tang."
Shen Tang smiled disdainfully, then turned to Zhao Shen and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I have many letters between local tribes and the Tubo people, which can be used as proof."
Since he knew that someone was behind the scenes, why didn't Shen Tang make some preparations?
"Send it up!"
Zhao Shen said slowly.
In fact, although Zhao Shen, Zhang Jun and others did not have any evidence on this point, they had already made guesses! However, guesses were just guesses. After all, these people did not openly oppose the Song Dynasty, so Zhang Tianhua naturally Nothing is known.