SWDnovel Chapter 104 The Emperor's Heart is Deep and Deep, Undercurrents are Surge
Chapter 104 The Emperor's Heart is Deep and Deep, Undercurrents are Surge
As the night deepened, the Daxing Palace resembled a colossal beast lurking on the Guanzhong Plain, profound and majestic.
Inside the Liangyi Hall, candlelight blazed brightly.
The ambergris burned slowly in the gilded incense burner, emitting wisps of blue smoke, but it could not conceal the suffocatingly low pressure in the hall.
Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, sat alone behind his desk, his fingers tapping idly on the surface of the rosewood table. Before him lay two completely different reports.
On the left is a secret memorial urgently sent by Prince Yang Guang of Jin before nightfall, accusing Yang Yan of "establishing a private title, which is tantamount to treason" and directly pointing out that the Crown Prince intended to seize military power.
On the right is Yang Yan's "heartfelt petition" that was just delivered.
"The local militia is exhausted, and our military preparedness is in dire straits..."
"Although the Imperial Guards are formidable, they cannot defend all directions..."
"Let us establish a standing army to serve as the nation's sharpest weapon..."
Yang Jian's eyes, which had witnessed countless vicissitudes and established a unified empire, darted back and forth between the two memorials.
The anger on his face had long since dissipated, replaced by exhaustion, a deep exhaustion!
In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, the Sui Dynasty had only been established for seventeen years.
The Fubing system was established by him, Gao Jiong, Su Wei and others through painstaking efforts. The soldiers served in wartime and the civilians in peacetime. It saved military expenses and prevented generals from seizing power. It was the cornerstone of the Sui Dynasty.
But how could he not know the anthills beneath the foundation?
This system was based on equal land distribution and combined military and agricultural labor. At the beginning of the nation's founding, the elite soldiers of Guanzhong still had considerable strength; but now, after a long period of peace, those younger generations whose fathers had followed them in conquering the world had long been accustomed to a life of comfort with wives, children, and warm beds. With weapons stored away and horses grazing freely, the decline in combat strength was an undeniable fact.
The descriptions Yang Yan made in his memorial, such as "pale complexion and weak bones," were harsh, yet so true!
"Your Majesty, it's late, you should rest." The old eunuch Wang An stepped forward quietly and reminded him in a low voice.
Yang Jian seemed not to hear, his gaze passing over the candlelight and looking towards the deep night sky outside the palace.
Yang Guang attacked his "actions," referring to the laws and regulations; Yang Yan discussed his "heart," talking about the foundation of the state.
One only knows how to use the rules to eliminate dissidents, while the other is trying to patch the loopholes in the rules.
High judgment.
However, this did not completely dispel Yang Jian's doubts as an emperor.
Yang Yan, this child, usually seems timid and submissive in the Eastern Palace, but unexpectedly, he is so shrewd when he makes a move. This "retreating to advance" tactic would be fine if it came from Gao Jiong, but it just so happens to come from the hands of a grandson of the emperor who is not yet twenty years old.
"This child looks too much like me."
Like him, they are pragmatic and get straight to the heart of the matter; like him, they dare to take risks to achieve their goals, even at the cost of their own lives.
If used well, it is a sharp blade that can cut through chronic illnesses; if used poorly...
Yang Jian squinted, spread out a blank sheet of imperial edict paper, dipped his brush in thick ink, and held it suspended for a long time, the ink gathering at the tip of the brush, about to drip.
In the end, he didn't write a single word. Instead, he slammed the pen down on the pen holder, grabbed the blank edict paper, crumpled it into a ball, and casually tossed it into the charcoal brazier at his feet.
The crumpled paper quickly curled up, charred, and turned to ashes on the red-hot coals, just like the ever-changing hearts of people in the imperial court.
"Someone come here."
A black-clad attendant, with an aura as ghostly as a ghost, silently emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.
"By imperial decree, Duan Da, the Sima of the Left Army Commandery, shall immediately take my gold token, disguise himself and travel incognito, and secretly investigate several military prefectures, including Qizhou and Jingzhou."
Yang Jian's voice was devoid of emotion, cold and hard as iron: "Verify the personnel, weaponry, training, and grain reserves for me one by one! Make sure I see them clearly! If there is any falsification, embezzlement, or negligence..."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Remember this. Leave it for now. I want to see if the foundation of the Sui Dynasty is truly rotten, as that brat says!"
"As you command." The attendant accepted the order and disappeared into the darkness once more.
After doing all this, Yang Jian finally felt a slight relief from the pent-up emotions in his chest. He picked up Yang Yan's memorial again, gently stroking it between his fingertips, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"Changning Breaking Formation Army... Hmph, what arrogance."
This grandson is different from his indecisive father, Yang Yong.
Yang Yong is like a peony grown in a greenhouse, beautiful and prosperous, but unable to withstand wind and rain; Yang Yan... is like a thorn in the wild, seemingly inconspicuous, but able to take root in the cracks of rocks, and still bearing thorns.
But no matter how good thorns are, they are still thorns.
What the Sui Dynasty needed was a towering tree that could shelter all people and suppress the north and south.
The battle at Kunming Pool five days later will be the best test of how to use him.
……
Meanwhile, at Yong'an Palace.
Unlike the somber atmosphere of the Liangyi Hall, the lights here were much softer.
Dugu Jialuo leaned against the phoenix couch, holding in her hand a completely different "family letter".
The handwriting on the letter was deliberately messy, with several ink spots even blurring out, as if the writer was filled with anxiety and his wrist was trembling.
"Sun Chen was young and deeply fearful, lest he die far from home and no longer be able to enjoy the company of his grandparents..."
"The name 'Changning' was bestowed upon me by my grandfather and grandmother; it is the glory to which my life rests..."
"Having caused this trouble, I am filled with fear and trepidation, like a lost child. I humbly beg my grandmother to consider my youth and ignorance, and to acknowledge my filial piety..."
Looking at these words, which were full of weakness, coquetry, and even a bit of roguishness, Dugu Jialuo couldn't help but smile faintly on her usually dignified face.
That's the elders' helpless indulgence of the younger generation.
Her personal maidservant witnessed this clearly and couldn't help but marvel. This Empress, a remarkable woman who dared to openly contradict even His Majesty the Emperor, was now so easily appeased by a single letter.
"This child is much better at dealing with people than his uncles."
Dugu Jialuo carefully folded the letter, as if it were the most precious thing in the world, and said with a touch of emotion, "When something happened, instead of thinking about how to collude with court officials and exonerate yourself, you immediately came to me, your grandmother, to 'cry for help'."
This posture is that of a child who has been wronged and is afraid of being punished by his father, seeking protection from the most powerful elder in the family.
This pleased her greatly.
As Empress, she was accustomed to the intrigues and power struggles in the court, and to her sons' open and covert battles for the throne. Yang Yan's almost naked dependence struck a chord with her deep longing for family happiness and her obsession with maintaining control over the family order.
She could, of course, tell how much of the letter was staged.
But it is not important.
The important thing is that Yang Yan clearly knows who his real backer is in this palace.
This filial piety is more important than anything else.
"Do you think we've been pushing this child too hard?" Dugu Jialuo suddenly asked, her voice slightly unsteady.
The female official quickly bowed, carefully choosing her words: "His Highness Prince Changning is exceptionally intelligent, but he is young. It is only natural that he would feel fear when suddenly faced with such a wild and untamed land as Lingnan. His military training is likely only for self-preservation, and he does not actually have any ulterior motives."
"Self-preservation?"
Dugu Jialuo snorted softly, a shrewd glint in her eyes: "If he truly only wanted to protect himself, he wouldn't have written that memorial to His Majesty. This child is quite cunning."
She stood up, her bare feet stepping onto the soft Persian carpet, and slowly walked to the window, gazing in the direction of the East Palace.
"However, it doesn't matter if he has hidden dangers. As long as he still knows reverence and who he can rely on, he can't cause any trouble. As long as I'm not dead, the rules of the Great Sui Dynasty can't be disrupted."
She had made up her mind.
When Yang Jian arrives, she will let the matter drop. The "private reputation" is nothing more than the child wanting extra protective gear before a long journey; there's no need to make a big deal out of it.
Moreover, sending him to Lingnan was their established national policy, intended to hone their skills and suppress the restless old forces in the south. They could not let such a trivial matter shake their resolve.
"Issue my imperial decree." Dugu Jialuo turned around, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, regaining the demeanor of an iron-fisted empress. "Before he departs, make arrangements for a private meeting with him."
"There are some things that the emperor can't say, so I, as his grandmother, have to give him a good talking-to. Let him know where this knife should be used, and where it shouldn't be used."
……
The night grew deeper, and the chill seeped into your bones.
In the backyard of the Duke of Yue's mansion, in an inconspicuous secret room.
Yang Su was over fifty years old, with slightly graying temples, but his eyes, hidden in the shadows, were still as sharp as an eagle's, radiating a chilling light that made one's heart tremble.
He sat on a folding chair, toying with a warm jade pendant in his hand, listening to the dripping sound of the water clock behind the screen, as if he were calculating the fate of the Sui Dynasty.
The door was pushed open, bringing in a gust of cold wind.
Prince Yang Guang of Jin changed into an inconspicuous set of casual clothes and walked in with a gloomy expression.
"Your Highness." Yang Su stood up, cupped his hands slightly, his posture respectful but not servile.
"No need for such formalities, Lord Yue." Yang Guang sat down opposite him, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea that had already cooled slightly, and drank it all in one gulp. "I will be returning to Yangzhou tomorrow, so I came here tonight to have a chat with you, Lord Yue."
Seeing Yang Guang's slightly impatient movements, Yang Su did not speak immediately, but simply looked at him quietly: "Is Your Highness troubled by His Majesty's attitude tonight?"
"Annoying?"
Yang Guang slammed his teacup down on the table with a dull thud, a cold smile playing on his lips. "A mere brat dares to trouble me? I'm angry at Father's favoritism! If it were me, that Yang Yan who established his own military corps would probably be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court by now!"
"Your Highness." Yang Su's voice was low and steady, like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Yang Guang's false fire.
"This old minister has something to say, but I don't know if I should."
"Please speak, Lord Yue." Yang Guang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
"Yang Yan... is ultimately just a minor character, nothing more than a scab." Yang Su looked directly into Yang Guang's eyes, his gaze piercing. "Your Highness's true opponent has never been the Crown Prince, much less such a child."
"It is His Majesty's will! It is the allegiance of the Guanzhong aristocratic families! It is the support of the Jiangnan gentry!"
Yang Su drew a circle on the table with his finger: "The matter of Lingnan is just a corner of the game. Your Highness's return to Yangzhou this time should be aimed at winning the hearts of the Jiangnan gentry, the inclination of the civil and military officials in the court, and how to make His Majesty feel that only you can inherit the Sui Dynasty and suppress these petty villains from all sides."
"Yang Yan is nothing more than a piece of meat on His Highness's chopping board, to be cut however His Highness wishes."
These words were blunt and to the point, and Yang Guang took them to heart. He remained silent for a long time, his eyes gradually becoming clear yet sinister.
"I have learned a great deal from your wise words, Lord Yue." Yang Guang raised his teacup. "A toast to Lord Yue."
The two drank together, and the atmosphere in the secluded room gradually eased.
As they parted, Yang Su saw them to the door of the secret room, then suddenly paused, as if remembering something trivial.
"By the way, Your Highness. I heard that my son Xuangan and that brat Yuwen Huaji have set up a trap at Kunming Pool to test their skills against Yang Yan's 'Breaking Formation Army.' Is Your Highness aware of this?"
Yang Guang paused slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Just a bunch of government troops!"
"Young people are competitive, let them be." Yang Su smiled, but a sharp edge was hidden in that smile.
"If we lose, those 1,500 people will be enslaved, and Yang Yan's prestige will be completely ruined; if we win..."
Yang Su paused, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes: "That means this private army is indeed a threat, which confirms his crime of 'secretly amassing a private army.' It will be difficult to explain to His Majesty."
"It's a dead end no matter which way you go." Yang Guang laughed knowingly. "I'm grateful for your help, Duke. I'll be in Yangzhou, waiting for good news."
As Yang Guang's figure disappeared into the night, the smile on Yang Su's face vanished instantly.
He stood in front of the door for a moment, feeling the coolness of the night breeze, and suddenly called out, "Someone come here."
A trusted confidant appeared like a ghost.
"Send a message to Guangzhou." Yang Su's voice was extremely soft, yet it carried a chilling, bloody undertone. "Tell Steward Wang that His Highness Prince Jin hopes that Lingnan... will not be too peaceful."
"Also, let the 'guests' over there get moving. We kept those remnants of the Southern Chen dynasty and the Li and Liao barbarians around to maintain our own power. Now, it's time to have them prepare a gift for the new governor of Lingnan."
Yang Su gazed at the dark southern night sky and muttered to himself, "Although the Northern and Southern Dynasties have fallen, the boundary markers in people's hearts have not yet fallen. Yang Yan, you want to go to Lingnan to break the deadlock? Then I'll show you what it means to be mired in a quagmire, what it means to be... doomed forever."
"Yes, sir!" The trusted aide accepted the order and left.
Like a gentle breeze stirring up a calm pond, a massive storm targeting Yang Yan is quietly brewing beneath the seemingly peaceful night.