The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 723 By the Yellow River, on Li Tang
Since ancient times, the emperor's tour has always been the top priority. Even though Yang Yu adhered to the principle of keeping everything simple, this time is different from marching and fighting. Except for the empress dowager, queen mother, harem concubines, princes, princes, and princesses, Yang Yu's family They were all accompanying them, plus the maid attendants, the first army, the Xuanjia army, and the Shura guards, the number was as many as [-].In addition, every woman has a lot of accompanying items, and there are not so many boxes and cages for displaying items.Fortunately, the trip was carried out by land and water, and all the goods and people were put on the warship, so it would not be necessary to use civilian husbands to mobilize the army.

After a day of marching, the land team headed by Yang Tong entered Shan County, Henan County.

Shan County is located on the north of the Yellow River, between Mianchi and Taolin counties. The county has a small population and the city is not precipitous. According to the hierarchy of counties and counties, it is just a lower county, but this does not mean that Shan County is not It is important because there is a Changping warehouse built by Emperor Wen in the territory.

During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, due to the small population in Guanzhong and hundreds of years of war and over-development, the Guanzhong Plain was no longer as prosperous as it was then, and the food produced was not enough for the population of the capital.Therefore, the problem of eating has become the biggest problem for the capital.The solution is to transport grain goods from the Kanto and Jiangnan into Guanzhong.However, the Weishui River, which flows from west to east, has been a difficult river since ancient times, so as early as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Zhongcao Canal was opened to supplement the shortage of water transportation in Guanzhong.

After the unification of the north by the Sui Dynasty, the old canals in the Han Dynasty had been silted up for a long time and could not be used, so they had to be transported by Weishui.However, the Weishui River is sandy and the current has depths, making it difficult to continue navigating.In order to solve the problem of water transportation and enough food, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty ordered Yu Wenkai to dredge and dig the canal on the basis of the canal in the Han Dynasty in the fourth year of Kaihuang, and diverted Weishui from the east of Daxing City to Tongguan, which was named Guangtong Canal.The dredging of the Guangtong Canal enabled the tank boats traveling westward along the Yellow River to reach the capital directly without passing through the Wei River.However, after the Guangtong Canal was dug, the pillars and hidden reefs of the Sanmen Gorge on the Yellow River still blocked the waterway. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty issued an edict to dig the pillars, but the effect was not great. Therefore, Changping warehouse was set up in Shan County to the west of the pillars.

Every year in the high water season, the water flows over the dangerous shoals and hidden reefs of Sanmenxia. Tank ships take this opportunity to transport grain from Xingluo warehouse and Huiluo warehouse to Changping warehouse; The food was transported to Guangtong warehouse in Huayin, or directly to Taicang, the capital, thus solving the problem of food shortage in Daxing, the capital.

In the seventh year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign, dredging of the old road in Hangou was started to facilitate the transportation of water.Shanyangdu starts from Yangzijin, Jiangdu in the south, and ends at Shanyang in the north. It is about [-] miles long and connects the Yangtze River and the Huaishui River.After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he dug or dredged a network of canals that stretched across the world and extended in all directions. The artery of the Grand Canal in the Sui Dynasty was centered on Luoyang. To the north, it could go straight to Zhuojun along the Yongji Canal, and to the west along the Yellow River. Go directly to Daxing through the Guangtong Canal; to the south, you can follow the Tongji Canal to reach the Huai River, and go down the East River. Ships can go from Shanyang to the Yangtze River along the Hangou, and then to the Qiantang River along the Jiangnan River.The opening of the Grand Canal in the Sui Dynasty pushed Luoyang's status to an unprecedented height.

Maybe he inherited the gene of the old Yang family who likes to do big projects. Yang Tong not only built the Great Wall and many official roads in the Sui Dynasty, but also dug many canals. Even the mainstay of Sanmenxia, ​​which was difficult for the civil and military in the Sui Dynasty, was burned by him. The stone was removed by the principle of water-cooled thermal expansion and cold contraction. Since then, the Sanmenxia section of the Yellow River has been completely unimpeded except for the ice age.Therefore, the Changping Warehouse in Shanxian County is not as important as it used to be, but Yang Tong has not been abandoned, and many grains from Liaodong are stored here. Like other warehouses, it is handed over to Taifu Temple, which is in charge of national grain reserves and warehouses. .

Compared with the usual calmness, Changping Warehouse presents a lively atmosphere at dusk today.

In the northwest of Changping Cang, close to the south bank of the Yellow River, in a wilderness about [-] miles wide.

A huge military camp was set up, because it was in the territory of the Great Sui Dynasty, and the camp was marched, so the soldiers of the Sui army did not set up camp fences so far. Instead, they dug shallow ditches and buried antlers in front of the camp. A tall watchtower was also erected, and dense carbine guns were inserted behind the shallow ditch to prevent the camp from breaking out. In the middle is the military tent, and another tent for sundries, war horses, etc. is placed.

Numerous white large tents are laid out in the form of a six-flower formation, distinguished by the six flags of Suzaku, Xuanwu, Qilin, Baihu, Pixiu, and Suanni. In the middle is the Shuai flag with black border and white background. The word "Pei" is two feet higher than the Shuai flag. It is a red golden dragon flag of the Sui Dynasty.

Thousands of large tents are neat and orderly, all passages are clear and obvious, each battalion brigade commander leads the army to patrol, every detail is in order, everything is set up according to the combat standard, and there is no slack because of being in its own territory. Therefore, in addition to being brave and good at fighting, with strong bows and crossbows, it is also related to the good ethos of the Sui army to keep vigilance at all times.

On the bank of the Yellow River under the setting sun, the setting sun is like blood, showing a magnificent scene of "a long river with a round sunset".

Yang Tong and Wei Fengwu walked along the embankment of the Yellow River, while Li Xianjian and Heisha grazed behind them leisurely. Whenever they saw the master and his wife walking away, they would chase after them and eat again; It was Shui Tianji and Yin Mingyue who accompanied hundreds of Shura guards slowly.

The couple walked all the way and came to a riverside, but seeing the breeze floating and sparkling, Wei Fengwu stopped and stretched for a long time, only to feel comfortable physically and mentally, and praised intoxicatedly: "It's so beautiful."

Seeing her actions, Yang Tong's heart softened.Knowing that she has been bored in the palace for a long time, like a child, she is full of longing for nature.

Although Wei Fengwu is the mother of two children, she is not very old. The setting sun reflects her slender figure, making her snowy jade face that does not wear makeup seem transparent.It seems that more than 20 years have not dyed a trace on her body.Now that the burden of being a queen is unloaded, the noble and charming temperament are intertwined, making Yang Tong feel that she is awe-inspiring and inviolable, but she is ignorant and ignorant of world affairs, so it is easy to have the urge to protect or invade.Protect her unworldly innocence, violate her noble nobility
There was no response from her husband, Wei Fengwu finally turned around and saw Yang Tong looking at her with extremely gentle eyes, the setting sun filled the sky, reflecting his handsome face like a god.

"Stupid?" Wei Fengwu looked up, and the setting sun dyed her cheeks even redder.

Yang Tong laughed. "Fairies go down to earth, you can't be stupid."

Wei Feng danced with the feelings of a woman, and he liked it very much, and smiled sweetly: "My husband is also a god descending from the earth."

Yang Tong smiled slightly, took her slender and transparent hand, and walked forward slowly.

"Husband, what are you laughing at?"

"If you are happy, I will be happy."

At this moment, both of them felt that the other was very gentle, as if the sunset in the sky and the flowing water beside them were also gentle.

After a while, Wei Fengwu sighed softly: "Husband, I actually envy the two younger sisters."

Yang Tong looked back at Shui Tianji and Yin Mingyue who were whispering, then smiled and asked, "Why do you envy them?"

"I envy them that they can go to the battlefield with my husband." Wei Fengwu was like a frustrated ball: "My martial arts are pretty good, and I am also proficient in the art of war. My grandfather always felt sorry for me as a woman when he was alive. Living in comfort, martial arts are not as good as before, and the art of war has been completely forgotten."

As the granddaughter of the famous general Wei Xuan, Wei Fengwu's skills are really not bad. If all the women in the world are like her, there is no use for them, and it's fine for everyone to support their husbands and teach their children at home, but there are a few female generals in their own family. Can you not regret it?

"Do you also want to be a general?" Yang Tong understood his wife's regret.

Wei Fengwu glanced at her husband angrily, and said in frustration: "A princess tied me up before, and then a pair of sons and daughters tied me up, and now I have the title of queen. Has there ever been a queen general in this world?" ?”

"Yes, I have."

"Who?"

"Hello, woman! She is not only the queen of the Shang Dynasty, but also the first female general in ancient times. She led the army to the west and beheaded more than [-] white heads. Many of the Baidi prisoners she captured were treated as It is used as a sacrificial object."

As soon as Wei Fengwu's eyes lit up, he had an idea in his heart, and said with a smile: "If there is a war, I will go with you too."

"Think of Da Sui's 'Fuhao'"

"I let you see it." Wei Fengwu said embarrassedly.

Yang Tong rolled his eyes, "It's already talked about this field, I can't see it, it's a ghost."

Wei Fengwu took her husband's arm and said coquettishly, "Then do you agree?"

"The question is, do you dare to kill people?" Yang Tong smiled and said, "Will you be able to travel long distances and suffer hardships?"

"Why not? When I killed people, you were still the king of Yue in Luoyang." Wei Fengwu said triumphantly: "For eight years in Daye, my grandfather served as the acting general of You Yuwei, and led the army from Zengtun Road. The general will meet in the west of the Yalu River. At that time, all the soldiers and horses were unfavorable, but the grandfather's army returned. At that time, I was a captain of the grandfather's barracks and killed many Goguryeo slaves. It was also the battle. After the end, I saw the imperial grandfather for the first time, and then I became your princess in a daze."

Yang Tong was very surprised. He really didn't know about the tough experience of the eldest wife, so he said with a smile, "If you go to war with me, what will happen to the children and the court?"

"The children are already old, so there is no problem, and Wugou, Xiuning, Tsinghua, and Yuexian can also take care of them. Please ask the imperial grandmother and mother to take care of things in the palace."

Yang Tong didn't know if there was any military action this time, even if there was, Shui Tianji, Yin Mingyue, and Yang Qinfang would definitely go, and it didn't matter if there was one more Wei Fengwu, so he smiled and said, "If there is a military march, how can you go?" Convince everyone, then you can go."

Wei Fengwu rejoiced and said, "Don't go back on your word."

"I am the emperor, how can I break my promise?"

"Among the world, the emperor is the least trustworthy."

Yang Tong said speechlessly: "My fighting style is different from your grandfather's. I pay attention to speed, precision and ruthlessness. It is very hard to march with me. If you really want to go to the battlefield, you should participate in the training of Shura Guards these days to strengthen your physical strength, riding skills, and archery skills." Training in other aspects... But you have also seen that the training of Shura Wei is very hard..."

"I'm not afraid of suffering." After Wei Fengwu finished speaking, she said worriedly: "But you are not allowed to harass me at night... I am afraid that you will deliberately make my stomach big..."

"I'm not Emperor Wen. After being angry in the court, I have to pretend to be a grandson when I go home. My heart is full of criticism, and I have to smile..." Yang Tong stroked his forehead and sighed, disdainfully said: "I don't lack women, There are many women who want me to get pregnant, and there is no shortage of you, Wei Xiaowu."

"You go and fix it, I don't care. Remember to let me know, so that our sisters can cheer for His Majesty the Emperor." Wei Fengwu raised his chin, revealing his sturdy demeanor.

"..." Yang Tong was completely defeated.

When a woman gets dirty, there is really nothing wrong with a man.

Wei Fengwu leaned on Yang Tong's shoulder, said with a smile like a flower, "Finally I won you once."

Yang Tong couldn't laugh or cry.

The two cherished this rare solitude, but the good times never lasted long, and suddenly there was the sound of rumbling horseshoes behind them.

Seeing that it was Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and Ling Jing who slowed down their horses from a distance, got off their horses, and came towards this side, Yang Tong looked at Wei Fengwu helplessly: "The matter is coming."

"National affairs are the most important thing. I will go to see the two younger sisters." Wei Fengwu smiled understandingly and walked away quickly.

"My minister sees the Holy One." The three of them approached and saluted.

"No need to be too polite, what happened?" Yang Tong asked.

"My Majesty, Xiangyang Xiaosa Pavilion and Black Ice Terrace sent urgent letters at the same time, with the same content." Ling Jing handed a letter to Yang Tong.

Yang Tong opened the letter to read, and the lines of small characters jumped out on the paper, his eyes couldn't help showing a look of shock.

Zen position? ?
Li Yuan actually wanted to give the throne to Li Jiancheng?Do you think Li Tang's chaos is not thorough enough?
Li Shimin obeyed the Tang Dynasty and stood on his own, Li Yuanji was ambitious, and only the emperor Li Yuan could frighten the brothers. If the emperor were replaced by Li Jiancheng, the little Li Tang would very likely stage a Three Kingdoms struggle for hegemony, and Li Jiancheng even agreed.

Deserve it.

Yang Tong shook his head and asked, "What do you think?"

"Your Majesty, I think Li Yuan has no choice but to turn from light to darkness, so as to push Li Jiancheng out and establish the authority of the new monarch," Wei Zheng said.

Yang Tong thought about it carefully, and suddenly said: "Li Yuan is really well-intentioned. At his age, the difficult national situation and heavy government affairs due to internal and external troubles have swallowed up his lifespan bit by bit; Living in Li Shimin and Li Yuanji, in order for the puppet Tang Guozuo to survive, so he lived in the crown prince and escorted Li Jiancheng during his lifetime. It seems that the puppet Tang situation is getting more and more chaotic now, even this old man who is greedy for power The guy also had to pass the way of abdication to ensure a balanced transition of imperial power."

"The Holy One's words are extremely true, but I think there is another deeper meaning." Wei Zheng said.

Yang Tong looked at Wei Zheng: "Tell me about it."

"Your Majesty." Wei Zheng cupped his hands and said, "Because the Guanlong nobles were able to establish the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan colluded with one another and used the power of the Guanlong nobles to suppress the local tyrants in Yizhou and Jingzhou, especially after losing Guanzhong; the Guanlong nobles were very dissatisfied with Li Yuan. In order to appease the Guanlong nobles, Li Yuan connives everywhere, and because of this, these people have suppressed the Yizhou tyrants and brutally bloodbathed them, making Yizhou and the Guanlong nobles headed by Li Yuan have a life-and-death enmity. Now, following his successive defeats, Even the nobles of Guanlong turned against each other. Li Yuan's prestige disappeared, and he could no longer suppress these local snakes. These local snakes are deeply rooted in Yizhou. Li Yuan may be able to suppress them, but Li Jiancheng can't, so Li Yuan must die in his lifetime. To train Li Jiancheng into a convincing and qualified king. Deter Li Shimin and Yizhou Haoqiang."

"Even if Li Yuan is undefeated, he still can't suppress Yizhou tyrants." Regarding what Wei Zheng said, Yang Tong disagreed: "When Li Yuan and the Guanlong nobles made friends, the Guanlong nobles wanted to take what they lost in Guanzhong and find them in Yizhou. When they come back, when they fancy a certain piece of fertile land, they let the private army pretend to be bandits and destroy their clan at night, and the next day, they take advantage of their power and put it under their own name. Everyone has eyes How could you not know that it was done by the nobles of Guanlong? It’s just to frighten their evil power and dare not resist.”

"However, Li Yuan also knew that relying on the Guanlong nobles alone was not enough to resist the Great Sui Dynasty. He hoped that the tyrants from Yizhou would be able to get enough soldiers. At the same time, he also wanted to attract a whole military force to balance the Guanlong nobles. But on the other hand, he The means of the Guanlong nobles in Yizhou are too ruthless and poisonous, so I don’t worry about Yizhou’s tyranny, and there are more Yizhou soldiers in the Eastern Expedition, but there is no high-ranking official in the court who is from Yizhou. It is so unfair. Who would sincerely surrender to Li Yuan? What's more, Puppet Tang is not far from death, who would be willing to be the funeral object of Puppet Tang?"

"It's not the first time Li Yuan has done this kind of thing. The Guanlong nobles are his core strength, but later he used the balance between the Kanto gentry and the southern gentry. This can be seen from the seven ministers he appointed in the Zhengshitang. Pei Ji and Liu Wenjing are That's all for the elders, but what are Chen Shuda and Xiao Yu who took away the fruits of the victory of the Guanlong nobles out of thin air? In fact, since then, the Guanlong nobles have drifted away from Li Yuan. Now they want to use the Yizhou nobles to check and balance the Kanto The gentry, the southern gentry. But the puppet Tang Dynasty is so powerful, everyone has the heart to get off the boat, how can everyone be willing to be used by Li Yuan?"

Hearing this, Wei Zheng said: "If there is no foreign enemy like us in the Sui Dynasty, the ministers think that the ministers are intimidated by Li Yuan's prestige, so they dare not make mistakes."

"That's not necessarily the case." Yang Tong said lightly: "Because of the scourge of the Guanlong nobles, Yizhou tyrants have been dissatisfied with Li Yuan for a long time. They are afraid of Li Yuan now, but it does not mean that they will not dare in the future. They just lack a person who is similar to representing the Guanlong nobles." Li Yuan, who is against us in the Sui Dynasty, once this person appears, the powerful people in Yizhou will gather under his command."

Wei Zheng asked, "The Holy One thinks it's Li Shimin or Li Yuanji?"

"Li Shimin is ambitious and has signs of forming a family of his own, but he is following crooked ways after all, and he cannot get the support of many people. The only way is to win over local forces. And Li Yuanji, a poisonous snake, lives under Li Yuan and is extremely powerful. Weak, at the moment he doesn't dare and won't do anything. If you don't believe me, just wait and see." Yang Tong said confidently.

"Does Your Majesty think that Li Yuan will delegate power to Li Jiancheng?" At this time, Du Ruhui asked.

"Of course not." Yang Tong shook his head and said, "The family members of the fallen soldiers of the Tang Army made trouble, so Li Yuan had no choice but to issue the "Edict of Guilt" and Zen position. Power, continue to be domineering behind the scenes, Li Jiancheng will do the dirty work, and the notoriety will be carried by Li Jiancheng."

Du Ruhui smiled and said, "I think so too."

(End of this chapter)