Shen Tang stared at the indignant Ji Xingbang in front of him, with a bit of a wry smile, a bit of anger, and more of helplessness! Moreover, in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a lot of sympathy for Zhao Shen.
Looking at the more than 300 years of history of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Shen is definitely not the best, but he is outstanding!
He was conscientious and dedicated to the government all day long. He abolished redundant officials and rectified laws and regulations! He reformed the military system and encouraged learning to ride and shoot! He developed the economy and neglected corvee and taxes! He is undoubtedly a qualified emperor! Throughout the Southern Song Dynasty, although Gaozong Zhao Jian was established, but it became more complete and powerful in the hands of Zhao Shen. Otherwise, it would not have been able to survive for more than a hundred years.
However, all he did was in the face of such civil and military officials! It is hard to imagine how much courage Zhao Shen had and how many difficulties he overcame!
Ji Xingbang is undoubtedly a loyal minister, but it is not a joke that a loyal minister harms the country! They are upright and believe that everything they do is correct, but their narrow vision and the thinking of the Celestial Kingdom limit their vision and thoughts. !Such a person is even more terrifying than a villain.
Because everything he does occupies the moral high ground and has a drastic influence on public opinion.
"Shen Tang, do you have anything to refute to what I said?"
"call!"
Shen Tang took a deep breath. He respected Ji Xingbang, but at this time, he had to refute him until he had nothing to say, otherwise, everything he had done would be ruined!
"Master Ji's words are irrefutable to Shen Tang. However, Shen Tang also has a few questions. I wonder if Master Ji can answer them!"
Shen Tang said coldly.
"Huh, tell me!"
"Lord Ji also knows that in the battle of Chengdu Prefecture, I, Song Erlang, lost nearly 100,000 people! So, why did this battle happen?"
Shen Tang's question made Ji Xingbang's expression stagnant. After a while, he finally said, "Tubo is a barbarian tribe, and burning, killing and looting is their nature. Is this strange?"
"Then, Lord Ji, can you guarantee that Tibet will not invade our Song Dynasty in the future?"
"How can I have the final say in matters involving the Tubo people?
However, this time we, the Song Dynasty, have won a great victory. I think they know how powerful we are, and at least in a short period of time, they will not dare to invade our Song Dynasty’s borders easily!"
"It seems that Mr. Ji also knows that Tubo will be stable for a while, but one day it will invade the Song Dynasty again."
"I would like to ask Mr. Ji, do you know what price the entire Chengdu Prefecture paid under the Tubo invasion?"
Ji Xingbang's expression darkened slightly, and he said in a solemn voice, "I have seen from the report that the Tubo people burned, killed, and looted, causing great damage to our Song Dynasty! I'm afraid it will take at least two or three years before Chengdu's roads can be restored. live!"
"Haha..." Shen Tang smiled coldly, "Burning, killing and looting?
Master Ji only saw the numbers on the report, but I, Shen Tang, witnessed everything that happened in Chengdu Mansion with my own eyes!"
"This battle lasted for more than half a year! When the Tubo was rampant, nineteen of the twenty state capitals in the north and south fell into their hands! Among them, no less than 400,000 people died, and their property was swept away by the Tubo people! Has Mr. Ji ever seen it? Looking at it, A scene where everything is covered with dead bones?
Lord Ji, have you ever seen an empty city after it was occupied by Tubo?
Whether Tubo comes back in three years or five years, does Mr. Ji want to see such a scene again in a few years?"
"Furthermore, Tubo can bring disaster to the Song Dynasty. Now that the Song Dynasty is at its peak, why can't we retaliate in kind?"
"Hmph, the Song Dynasty is still a bit weak now. Otherwise, Shen Tang will definitely send his troops to the west and attack the Tubo cities directly!"
"Also, who told you that the Song Dynasty's soldiers and horses started a war against Tubo?"
Ji Xingbang's face was livid. Shen Tang's question made him not know how to answer for a moment! Hearing Shen Tang's words, he immediately said, "Shen Tang, do you think you can hide this matter from the civil and military officials of the court?" Not successful?
You, Shen Tang, first resorted to violence to provoke a war between the two countries, and you used troops privately without any discussion at court. This is an unforgivable crime. Do you want to deny it?"
Shen Tang sneered and stretched out his hand, and said calmly, "First of all, I am in charge of the entire military affairs of Chengdu Prefecture under the emperor's order, and, with the trust of His Majesty, I, Shen Tang, can make arbitrary decisions when the opportunity arises! On this point, Mr. Ji, do you want to do it again? Verify one or two with His Majesty?"
Everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty knew this. Although some people were dissatisfied with the decision made at that time, the Chengdu Prefecture was already in danger at that time. In addition, the war also involved the participation of Jin soldiers, so they could only let it go. Shen Tang has the power to make arbitrary decisions when the situation arises.
"Since I have the power to make my own decisions when the opportunity arises, then there is no guilt in deciding which troops and horses should be dispatched to where!"
"Even if that's the case, why did you send your troops to fight Tibet?"
Shen Tang sneered, "A drop of kindness should be repaid by a spring. I wonder if Mr. Ji agrees with this sentence?"
“So what about recognition?”
Ji Xingbang frowned! He didn't know what Shen Tang wanted to say.
"Master Ji, tell me, why did Song Dynasty win this battle in Chengdu?"
Ji Xingbang was really puzzled by Shen Tang's questions. However, he did not hesitate, but thought about it and gave the answer, "First, of course, it is His Majesty's full support. Second, it is the Song Dynasty." The officers and men serve their lives, and thirdly, you, Shen Tang, strategized and made great contributions as well..."
The greatest characteristic of a loyal minister like Ji Xingbang is that even if you are his enemy, you don't have to worry about him using villainous methods against you, let alone any partial remarks.
Therefore, even though he was extremely disdainful of Shen Tang at the moment, he also highly recognized Shen Tang's contribution.
"Master Ji has also forgotten that we and the Kingdom of Jin have indeed been enemies for many years, and even now we have many conflicts and hatreds.
However, if the Jin Kingdom does not lend us troops to the Song Dynasty this time, if we want to win the victory over Tubo, we may have to pay more time and cost! Therefore, if the Jin Kingdom borrows troops, it can be regarded as winning the battle against Tubo, which is the most important thing. One of the factors! Mr. Ji, don’t deny this!”
"I will not deny it!"
Ji Xingbang gritted his teeth and nodded.
"That's it. The second point I want to say is that I do admit that there are soldiers and horses from the Song Dynasty in Tubo.
However, these 20,000 troops and horses were lent to the Jin State and had little to do with our Song Dynasty.
Moreover, my subordinates have already written a secret report to Your Majesty about this matter. Your Majesty is grateful for the Jin Kingdom’s help this time, so he also agreed to the Jin Kingdom’s request to borrow troops from the Song Dynasty!”
Shen Tang's words made the civil and military officials of the entire court stunned!