Is “Zhang Shuo refused to frame Wei Yuanzhong and secretly offered a sword” true?
The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Liu Youqiu, Zhong Shaojing, Guo Yuanzhen, and Zhang Shuo, records that Zhang Changzong slandered Wei Yuanzhong, and Zhang Shuo, in front of the emperor, 'loudly declared that Yuanzhong was truly not rebellious, and that this was a false accusation by Yi Zhi,' and was consequently exiled to Qinzhou. Later, learning of Princess Taiping's conspiracy, 'he then sent an envoy to offer a sword to Emperor Xuanzong, requesting to punish her before the event.' In chapters 75 and 78 of the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Zhang Shuo's courtroom defense and secret offering of the sword are both faithfully based on the historical biography.
In the official history, Zhang Shuo spoke out boldly in court to refuse framing the innocent and offered a sword to urge a decision; the novel faithfully adopted these two episodes.
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