Chapter 743: Opening up the territory, the palace dinner
Chapter 743: Expanding territory, royal palace dinner
After a long while, when Shen Tang finished speaking, Zhao Shen smiled and said, "Haha, Shen Aiqing, you must have scared those Tubo barbarians! How could they agree to such conditions?"
"Your Majesty, I don't care whether they agree or not!"
"oh?"
Zhao Shen was stunned, "Why is this?
In my opinion, we should let them compensate us as much as possible. After all, this time they invaded us for no reason and caused heavy damage to our Song Dynasty!"
Shen Tang stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I want to apologize to Your Majesty!"
"Excuse me?"
Zhao Shen was really puzzled, "Although Tubo can't agree to the conditions you proposed, it's still a relief. Why do you need to apologize?"
Shen Tang shook his head, "That's not what I said!"
"I have launched an army without His Majesty's order!"
"Um?"
Zhao Shen couldn't help but frown, and rashly initiating troops was not a small crime, especially as the commander-in-chief of an army, it was not an exaggeration to say that it was a crime of treason.
However, then his brows widened. Shen Tang was not a complacent person, nor was he an ungrateful person. Since he did this, he must have an inside story.
"No problem!"
Zhao Shen smiled and waved his hand, "I promised you to handle matters in Chengdu Prefecture in an easy manner, so how can you think of initiating troops without permission?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Shen Tang raised his hands and said.
"However, since you brought it up, then tell me, what exactly did you do by mobilizing troops without permission?"
Zhao Shen was a little curious. Since he was initiating troops without permission, it must not be a matter of the Chengdu Prefecture. Otherwise, Shen Tang would not have to say so.
"After the war in Chengdu Prefecture ended, I sent 20,000 troops and 20,000 Jin troops to march westward from the Jinchuan River to the Tibetan territory.
Before I returned, all the important places in Tubo such as Malkang, Heishui, and Songpan had fallen under the control of the Song Dynasty! Tubo lost nearly 200,000 troops in Chengdu, and now the country is empty. Although, now It is difficult to fight on the plateau based on our strength. However, the border land between Tubo and the Song Dynasty is a plain area. If the Song Dynasty takes it, it will allow the Song Dynasty to expand its territory and completely block Tubo. On the plateau, they are unable to look westward!"
"Besides, before this battle, we borrowed troops from the Jin Kingdom, and one of the conditions was to compensate the Jin Kingdom for the Luqu and Jishi Mountain areas.
Therefore, I took advantage of the emptiness of Tubo and sent troops to Tubo territory without authorization..."
At this moment, Zhao Shen's eyes widened and his breathing became rapid.
Suddenly, he grabbed Shen Tang's arm and said forcefully, "Shen Tang, you just said that our soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty have occupied the Tubo territory?
Is this true?"
"I dare not deceive Your Majesty! These important places are indeed under the control of our Song Dynasty soldiers and horses.
Moreover, there are conflicts between Zanpu and some large tribes in Tubo, and now they are simply unable to start another border war with our Song Dynasty! In other words, these places already belong to our Song Dynasty.
Your Majesty is already the king who opened up new territories!"
“Create territory and expand territory!”
Zhao Shen murmured these words with joy and disbelief on his face!
Opening up territory and expanding territory is the greatest honor of an emperor! However, after Taizu and Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, there was no chance to open up territory and expand territory. In fact, only half of the originally huge territory in the south of the Yangtze River is left. Even if He himself never thought that the Song Dynasty could expand its territory.
"Hahaha...hahaha..." After a long while, Zhao Shen suddenly laughed, "Okay! Shen Tang, okay! Is it true that Tubo will not send troops to attack these important places?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Don't say that they are not strong enough now. If they really come, I will lead my troops again to make them give up this idea!"
"Okay, okay, okay...royal power!"
Zhao Shen suddenly shouted, "Go, go immediately and get me the geological map of the border between the Song Dynasty and Tubo. Hurry!"
Not long after, Wang Quan led a few chamberlains and walked in carrying a huge geological survey map.
"Open!"
Zhao Shen said anxiously.
Several chamberlains slowly opened the geological survey map, and Zhao Shen waved to Shen Tang, "Come, Shen Tang, tell me where the location you mentioned is!"
Shen Tang stepped forward and pointed to several locations on the geological survey map, "Your Majesty, these locations are key areas on the Tubo border and where their local tribes gather. However, they are now occupied by me, the Song Dynasty! What follows? , our soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty and 20,000 gold soldiers will continue to advance north to the Jishi Mountain area in the north of Luqu.
By then, we and the Jin Kingdom will have Minshan Mountain as their border, they will occupy the north of Minshan Mountain, and the south of Minshan Mountain will become our territory of the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Shen's palm slowly moved across the location mentioned by Shen Tang, with a gleam in his eyes! The location mentioned by Shen Tang was almost equivalent to the land all the way to Chengdu Prefecture, and it would not be long before it became the territory of the Song Dynasty.
"Shen Tang, I am so lucky to have you!"
After a long time, Zhao Shen said slowly.
"I am a minister of the Great Song Dynasty and a minister of His Majesty. It is my duty to fight for the Great Song Dynasty!"
Shen Tang said respectfully.
"However, if this matter is known to colleagues in the court..." Shen Tang said hesitantly.
"snort!"
Zhao Shen snorted coldly, "You, Shen Tang, are solely responsible for this matter. There is no need to inform anyone. When the matter is settled, I will tell them the result directly! Those people who succeed less than fail and fail more than they do, understand. What is the use?
Don’t worry, I will give orders to Ma Shao for food, grass, military pay, and let him have full support. If there is a need to replenish soldiers, I will ask Zhang Jun to fully cooperate with you in deploying troops!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Shen Tang, you have brought me a big surprise!"
Zhao Shen patted Shen Tang on the shoulder and said, "Next, you have the final say on how to talk to Tubo. I leave it entirely to you.
Now, please tell me carefully about the details of the battle in Chengdu. Although I have been receiving battle reports from you, some details are not clear."
"My lord, I obey!"
Then, the monarch and his minister sat opposite each other, talking and listening, and Wang Quan diligently replenished the tea for the two of them!
When talking about the thrilling part, Zhao Shen almost held his breath. When he heard the Song army's victory, he even clapped his hands and laughed without any image!
"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner!"
It was getting late, Wang Quan reminded Zhao Shen in a low voice.
"oh?"
Zhao Shen came to his senses, "It's so late?
Tell the Shangshi Bureau to get ready for dinner, and I want to have a drink with Shen Aiqing, which can be regarded as a celebration of my great victory in Chengdu Prefecture of the Song Dynasty!"
Soon, a dazzling array of food was brought to the table by twenty or thirty palace maids.
Later, a waiter came forward and after tasting each dish, Zhao Shen pulled Shen Tang to sit on the table.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish that the Song Dynasty will last for eternity and may it be prosperous and healthy!"
Shen Tang picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp!