Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Let's pause here regarding Hu Hai and discuss another dynasty that also met its end in the second generation: Sui Yangdi—Yang Guang." White Jade took a sip from her cup.
"He is one of the most controversial emperors in history. Some say he is the wronged emperor of history, guilty in his time but meritorious through the ages, worthy of being called an eternal emperor. Others label him as the first tyrant in history. His tags include cruelty and tyranny, exceptional talent, tall and handsome, ambitious for achievements, hypocritical benevolence, and excessive indulgence."
In the Sui Dynasty realm.
"What? Guang'er?" Yang Qian was stunned upon hearing this.
Yang Guang felt something was amiss after hearing those words. He had just been feeling pleased with his performance, but now, not only had Heavenscape appeared in the sky, but the existence of this person from later times had directly nailed him to the pillar of shame.
"Father, this is unjust! How could I have done those things? You watched me grow up; you know my character best. How could Guang commit such acts that disregard humanity and indulge in extravagance?"
He knelt on the ground, banging his head several times until his forehead turned red. The Empress Dugu felt a bit pained watching him but remained silent in light of the emperor's serious demeanor.
Yang Jian remained silent as well. He looked up at the clouds surrounding Heavenscape, hoping to hear a more specific answer from this person from later times to prove that he had misheard.
" The Second Emperor of Sui Yang Guang can be said to be one of the most controversial emperors in history. Most historical evaluations of him are negative. For instance, both the book of Sui and Northern History have extensive commentary using terms like excessive indulgence, extreme extravagance, and strange sexual behaviors to describe him.
Tang Taizong once said: 'Sui Yangdi inherited the legacy of Emperor Wen; if he could have remained in Guanzhong, how could there have been a downfall? Yet he disregarded the people and traveled without end, heading straight to Jiangdu without heeding admonitions from Dong Chun and Cui Xiang, leading to his own demise and becoming a laughingstock for the world.'
Zu Junyan commented in his memorial for Li Mi: 'The bamboo of Nanshan records endless crimes; the waves of the East Sea flow with unending evils.'
However, in modern times, evaluations of Yang Guang have shifted to another extreme; he has gradually been whitewashed. Some say that during his fourteen years in power, he achieved many accomplishments: establishing the imperial examination system, constructing the Grand Canal, launching three campaigns against Goguryeo, and reforming the official system—benefits that have lasted a thousand years for China, even comparable to Qin Shi Huang.'
Hearing these next words from the celestial being eased Yang Jian's expression considerably; at least he was no longer as stern as before.
Yang Guang's eyes lit up instantly; it turned out that divine intervention was not there to condemn him but to give him an opportunity! With such achievements in his future, how could he worry about not becoming crown prince? His breathing suddenly became rapid.
...
Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly scoffed. This fratricidal and patricidal pleasure-seeker thinks he can compare himself to me?
I want to see what abilities this person possesses that make some people hold him in such high regard.
Chancellor Wang Wan seized the opportunity to step forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty's achievements can be passed down through generations; how could they be compared to those of a prodigal son? It seems those who make such evaluations are not very clear-headed."
Other ministers and scholars nodded in agreement. The accomplishments of Qin Shi Huang have impressed countless people and even received personal endorsement from Divine Maiden; how could they be casually compared?
"So is Yang Guang ultimately a tyrant of the ages or a great emperor of history? Whether he is seen as good or bad depends on how future generations evaluate him. History is indeed a collection of various opinions, and even the well-known Records of the Grand Historian carries Sima Qian's unique personal touch."
"Yang Guang's fate in his childhood can be summed up in one word: fortunate. Before the age of three, he was actually a second-generation official, but then his family faced a turning point. What was that turning point? Yang Jian ascended to the throne, and in one leap, he went from being a second-generation official to the Crown Prince. According to the the book of Sui, Yang Guang was described as 'handsome and intelligent in his youth,' indicating that The Second Emperor of Sui was not only good-looking but also quite clever as a child; however, this cleverness was not used for righteous purposes."
In the Sui Dynasty realm, when Yang Guang heard people from Heavenscape praise his beauty and intelligence, he felt an instant surge of joy, with a radiant smile still on his face. But upon hearing the subsequent remarks about straying from the right path, his smile froze instantly. What did these later generations mean? They could praise him, but why add such a remark?
Yang Jian cast a serious glance over at him. "Yang Guang is someone who excels at disguising himself and successfully used this false facade to secure the position of Crown Prince. But how did he manage to do that? Knowing that his father Sui Wendi was coming, he prepared his residence in advance, setting up dusty string instruments that had long been neglected. When Yang Jian saw this, being someone who valued frugality, he was pleasantly surprised; his son did not indulge in music and dancing girls and avoided extravagance—this was a good thing! He praised his son profusely, which encouraged Yang Guang to put on an even more convincing act, leading most people at the time to commend him for being filial."
"You ungrateful son, how dare you deceive your own father!" Yang Jian pointed in the direction of his son, trembling with anger. Just moments ago, he had praised this son for his benevolence in the pouring rain, only to discover it was all an act by Yang Guang!
Yang Guang's legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud. He felt somewhat wronged; why did people from Heavenscape have to say everything? Couldn’t they just talk about his future achievements instead of exposing all his secrets?
"Simply catering to your father's preferences isn't enough; you must also please your mother. After all, at that time, Empress Dugu was the sole favorite in the harem and even participated in state affairs alongside Yang Jian, being referred to as 'the Second Sage.' It can be said that during the Kaihuang Era, Empress Dugu played an indispensable role in its accomplishments.
Historical records show that Empress Dugu indeed played a crucial role in deposing the eldest son Crown Prince Yang Yong and re-establishing the heir apparent decision. Dugu Qilao had high hopes for Crown Prince Yang Yong; however, Yang Yong indulged in pleasures and squandered wealth lavishly while keeping numerous concubines. His mistreatment of the Crown Princess greatly displeased Empress Dugu, who valued legitimate heirs and noble family alliances.
Moreover, Empress Dugu was an advocate for monogamy and had been favored exclusively by Sui Wendi throughout her life; how could she tolerate her son being so immersed in pleasures with many concubines?
At this moment, the cunning Yang Guang emerged. Unlike the carefree Yang Yong, Yang Guang had been secretly contemplating how to build a good reputation for himself. Although he also enjoyed pleasures and luxury, he knew how to put on an act—if there had been an Oscar back then, he would surely have received a little golden statuette.
While it’s true that Yang Guang mingled with those concubines, whenever someone approached him, he would discreetly hide them away and spend all night in Consort Xiao's quarters. His devoted persona remained unshaken.
One son indulged in pleasures with numerous concubines while living extravagantly; another son who mirrored his father’s devotion—simple in style, not fond of pleasures, respectful towards virtuous individuals—was humble and cautious. Naturally, Yang Jian and his wife began to weigh their options."
Moreover, Yang Guang not only knows how to disguise himself, but he is also skilled at slandering others. His slanderous tactics are top-notch; he always finds a reason to report Yang Jian and Empress Dugu, regardless of the situation. As a result, Crown Prince Yang Yong was inexplicably stripped of his position, which can be considered quite a severe form of slander. After being deposed, Yang Yong probably still doesn't understand how Yang Guang, the sixth brother, managed to pull this off.
The onlookers below, although they did not fully grasp what "the sixth brother" meant, could vaguely sense the implications from Qin Jiu's narration and the vivid commentary that accompanied it.
The heavy rain had long passed, and golden sunlight poured down from the sky, illuminating Yang Yong's bewildered face. Many ministers and soldiers around were looking in his direction, and for some reason, Yang Yong felt as if he saw pity in their eyes.
On the other side, kneeling on the ground, Yang Guang increasingly sensed that things were going awry. Wasn't Heavenscape supposed to discuss his achievements? Why did it sound so off?
He stole a glance at his father and saw Yang Jian's face dark as coal, which sent a shiver down his spine.
"Second brother." A faint voice came through.
Yang Yong stood straight, flanked by two beautiful concubines.
"So it turns out that second brother cares so much about elder brother," he said, emphasizing the word "cares."
No wonder he felt something was off about this guy; while others thought the second brother was humble and cautious, he always sensed that this fellow had a sly look in his eyes. It turned out he was waiting here!
He regretted not discovering this guy's malicious intentions sooner, which ultimately led to him losing the position of Crown Prince in the future!
--------------------
"Well then, we'll stop here for today. See you tomorrow." With that, White Jade ended the broadcast.
She may have signed off, but the ancient people were far from calm.
Comment 0 Comment Count