A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Upon hearing this, many civil and military officials exclaimed, "How can this be allowed? How can this be permitted?"

If you don't become emperor, how can we rise in rank?

However, Gao Ying and the others naturally knew the secret behind it, and they hurriedly returned with their ministers.

"Prime Minister, what is the meaning of this? Why do you refuse the imperial decree?"

"No, let me kill the young emperor. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and the prime minister should naturally take the throne."

Han Qinhu said fiercely.

"No, no, you idiot."

Gao Ying quickly stopped her.

"If the prime minister were to ascend to the position directly, wouldn't that give people something to talk about?"

According to ancient rites, one should decline three times and refuse three times.

"This time, we are calling on representatives of the people from all over the country, and all the court officials in the capital to join us."

"Everyone should make their own contact, and we will meet again at the Yang residence in three days."

After hearing Gao Ying's words, the ministers dispersed to invite other ministers to participate in this lavish feast.

Three days later, even more people gathered in front of the Yang residence.

Gao Ying and others also obtained a second imperial edict.

"In past years, the long stars swept across the night sky and were visible in the daytime. The eight winds were comparable to the work of the Xia emperor, and the five planets were like the gathering of the Han emperor. The signs of the removal of the old were clearly visible above. Recently, the red bird has brought blessings, the black tortoise has shown its power, the bell has changed its tone, and the dragon has emerged from its hole. The gifts of the new are shining brightly below."

Yang Jian declined again.

"I have heard that 'those of meager virtue who hold high positions, and those of little strength who bear heavy responsibilities, rarely escape unscathed.' I rose through the ranks of nobility, possessing no profound virtue, and only by chance, through opportune circumstances, did I suddenly attain high office. Now, the five planets align in the constellation Well, and the Red Sparrow descends upon the Altar of Heaven; this is a divine favor, far beyond the capacity of my meager virtue. If Your Majesty were to use the imperial power to pressure me, I fear the spirits would be angered, and the people would be disappointed. In the past, Yao yielded the throne to Xu You, who even washed his ears in the Ying River; Shun fled from Danzhu in the South River, yet was never released. How much more so should I, in my foolishness and ignorance, dare not follow in the footsteps of my predecessors? I wish to remain a vassal and serve the imperial mausoleum to the end."

So the ministers left again to meet the young emperor.

The young emperor was overjoyed. Could it be that Yang Jian really had no intention of usurping the throne?

But Gao Ying's next words plunged him into despair.

"The Prime Minister's achievements are unparalleled, yet he is said to lack virtue. Your Majesty has no merit to the world, yet you hold a high position. You should personally confess your sins before the Prime Minister and abdicate in favor of a more virtuous person."

"allow."

Tears streamed down the young emperor's face once more. More than three hundred years had passed since his ancestor, Gaozu, conquered the south and north, pacified the land, and established the nation. The Great Qian Dynasty was about to be lost in his hands. How could he face his ancestors?

From this day forward, auspicious omens appeared in all parts of the world, and children's rhymes were sung in various places.

The officials chose an auspicious day and the young emperor led them to the Yang residence.

Upon hearing that the young emperor had arrived, Yang Jian hurriedly went out of his residence to greet him.

"I have heard that Heaven has no favorites, but only assists the virtuous. Since the previous two edicts were issued, my sincere sincerity has been expressed, but the Prime Minister has been even more humble and has firmly declined to grant my request, even after repeated requests. In the past, when Emperor Yao abdicated in favor of Yu, Emperor Chonghua went to the request of the Four Mountains; when Emperor Cheng of Zhou held a mourning ceremony, the Duke of Zhou followed the rule of sitting with his back to the throne. This shows that a sage does not monopolize his own merits, but the world cannot be without a ruler for even a day."

I, being of humble origins, have inherited this great legacy, and have always feared that I might fail to live up to the expectations of my predecessors. Now, I look up at the celestial phenomena and down at the people's songs; the seven celestial bodies are aligned, the Jade Balance is straight, the five planets are aligned, and the heart of the constellation Fang is clear. The Yellow River produces a map, the Luo River produces a book; the hopes of the gods have returned. The phoenix arrives in its ceremonial form, the tortoise carries inscriptions; the hearts of millions are devoted to it. Is this the work of human power? It is the mandate of Heaven, departing from Qian and bestowing upon Sui, as clear as the sun and moon shining forth.

If you insist on upholding your duty as a subject and stubbornly clinging to humility, you will be going against the imperial will and the deepest desires of the people. In the past, when the virtue of fire was waning and the virtue of wood had faded, only the king could save us from the burning and drowning; when the nine regions were in disarray and the eight directions were in ruins, only the king could heal the wounds. If the king indulges in his desire to preserve his own integrity, what will become of the people? What will become of the ancestral temples?

"I now humbly present the imperial seal and ribbon, and bow twice to make this request. I humbly beseech you to humbly comply with the will of the people, and to reciprocate this divine favor, to ascend the throne as Emperor, and to uphold the Way of the King. Then the gods and men will be in their proper place, and both the living and the dead will have no regrets."

All the officials knelt before the pavilion to plead.

"For the sake of the nation, you gentlemen wish to force me to use the imperial regalia. I have repeatedly declined, but to no avail. If I stubbornly cling to the principles of a commoner, defying the mandate of Heaven and going against the will of the people, I fear that the spirits of the ancestral temples will be disturbed above, and the common people will be left destitute below."

"In the past, Yi Yin served Jie five times, and his heart was filled with bitterness; the Duke of Zhou ruled with his hand on the throne, and his actions were suspicious. But do sages delight in suspicion? They were truly forced to act out of necessity. How is the situation today any different?"

"Though I am unworthy, how dare I disobey the imperial edict? I only fear that I cannot bear the burden and would bring shame upon the ancestral temple. I shall work with you all to uphold the new policies, so that they may not fall into ruin."

Yang Jian then asked, "When is the auspicious day and time?"

Gao Ying replied, "The auspicious time will be the Jiazi day one month from now."

February follows January, when the sun rises at dawn and sets at dusk, precisely in the due east and due west positions, symbolizing the monarch's rightful rule.

Jia is the first of the Heavenly Stems, and Zi is the first of the Earthly Branches. The combination of the two represents the renewal of all things and the beginning of the seasons.

The number 甲 is nine, and the number 子 is also nine. The meeting of two nines is the extreme yang number, which conforms to the concept that "nine is the number of heaven" and symbolizes that the imperial power is mandated by heaven.

This day coincides with the Awakening of Insects, which signifies the flourishing of Yang energy and the revival of all things, perfectly reflecting the vitality of a change of dynasty and the rise of a new ruler.

Both King Wu of Zhou and Emperor Taizu of Han established their dynasties on the "Jiazi day of the second month," a day considered auspicious and "according to the will of Heaven."

Yang Jian agreed wholeheartedly and set the date of his ascension to the throne on that day.

Although he did not ascend the throne this month, there were still many things to do.

Many matters concerning the new dynasty must be decided within this month. Even with the assistance of talented individuals like Gao Ying and Yang Su, he was still kept extremely busy.

It wasn't until Gao Ying reminded him that he realized the one-month period had already passed and tomorrow would be the day he ascended the throne.

At the start of the ceremony, Yang Jian was still known as the Duke of Sui. He set off from his residence, wearing a traveler's hat, and respectfully greeted the envoy sent by the young emperor, receiving the edict of abdication and the imperial seal.

This attire indicates that he was still a subject of the Sui Dynasty at this time, expressing his humility.

Upon receiving the imperial seal, which symbolized supreme power, Yang Jian's status immediately changed.

He then removed his previous crown and robes and put on a gauze hat and yellow robe. This outfit was the common attire used by officials and commoners at the time, but the "yellow robe" became closely associated with imperial power and was regarded as a symbol of accepting the Mandate of Heaven.

After changing into the yellow robe, Yang Jian entered the Lin Guang Hall. There, he underwent his final and most solemn change of clothes: donning the imperial robes he wore only on the most important occasions.

This is a complete set of the highest-level formal attire, including a crown robe embroidered with the twelve symbols of the sun, moon, stars, etc., and a crown with twelve tassels on the front and back.

Then, led by a palace attendant, he arrived at the abdication platform.

The young emperor and his officials were already waiting there.

The young emperor prayed for the world, abdicated in favor of Yang Jian, and then left.

Yang Jian, residing on the platform where he received the abdication, proclaimed the sacrificial text:

"To your ancestral temples and all the gods above and below. The Mandate of Heaven is not constant; emperors are guided only by virtue. In the past, when the Fire Star's cycle ended, our Emperor Sui received it. I reverently serve the Supreme Deity, reigning over all nations, remaining vigilant day and night as if facing a great river, pondering how to show reverence for Heaven's will above and bring peace to the common people below. I dare to solemnly announce this to the Supreme Deity and Empress, to offer sacrifices for the nine merits, and to announce the success."

"From this day forward, a general amnesty is hereby granted, and the reign title is changed to Kaihuang."

He posthumously honored his father Yang Zhong as Emperor Wuyuan, his mother Lü as Empress Yuanming, his principal wife Dugu Jialuo as Empress, and his eldest son Yang Yong as Crown Prince.

Many of his followers were rewarded and promoted, and the court was filled with joy.