Chapter 2 2. Murder and mystery

Emperor Sui Yang was killed in Jiangdu. Jiangdu is now Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is thousands of miles away from Chang'an. Of course, it is not the capital of the Sui Empire, and it is not even the capital of the Sui Empire.The accompanying capital of the Sui Dynasty was actually Luoyang.Both Luoyang and Jiangdu were the favorites of Emperor Sui Yang.Immediately after he came to the throne, he ordered the construction of Luoyang. After the opening of the canal, he went to Yangzhou three times. Before he was killed, he lived in Jiangdu for more than a year and a half. However, Emperor Yang liked Jiangdu, but it didn't mean that Xiaoguo also liked him.

Xiaoguo is Yulinjun, which means brave and resolute.As the elite troops defending the emperor, they are well-equipped, all of them wear golden helmets, blood eagles on their arms, and ride bloody horses. They are strong and have extraordinary martial arts, but they have no interest in Jiang Du.The reason is also very simple: these men are all from Guanzhong.It’s okay to come to Yangzhou for fun, but if you die in Jiangdu, don’t do it. Emperor Sui Yang did not intend to return to the northwest. Not going back is not entirely because I like Jiangnan, in fact, I can't go back.When Emperor Sui Yang left Luoyang for Jiangdu in the 12th year of Daye, his career had already fallen from the peak to the trough.The people who conquered Goguryeo were filled with dissatisfaction, and the Turkic tour was almost captured, but Emperor Yang continued to go his own way without repentance. As a result, everyone from the nobles to the peasants turned against him.This headstrong emperor has truly become a loner.

By the time Emperor Yangdi was killed, the general situation in the world was already very unfavorable to Yang Guang: wars broke out inside and outside the Great Wall, rebels were everywhere up and down the river, and even Chang'an, the capital of the empire, was occupied by Tang Gong Li Yuan, who established Sui Emperor and changed Yuan Yining .At this time, what can Yangdi do if he returns to the northwest?Is it really impossible to go to cousin Li Yuan and grandson Yang You (read Ruyou) to do something "overlord"? You can only stay in Yangzhou, or even go to Nanjing and Hangzhou.

So Xiaoguo's heart fluttered. In fact, the homesick Imperial Forest Army had no intention of rebelling at first.Their plan was to desert and flee collectively on an agreed date.After all, Emperor Sui Yang treated them well.He even adopted the counselor's suggestion and solved the problem of sex life for this army on the spot in Jiangdu.Therefore, if it wasn't for the white-eyed wolf around Yangdi, the outcome of the matter might have been different. White-eyed wolf is three brothers. The three brothers are called Huaji, Zhiji and Shiji respectively, and they are the precious sons of Xu Guogong Yu Wenshu.As a Xianbei nobleman, a wealthy Guanlong family, a founding father, and Yang Guang's best friend in the struggle for succession, Yu Wenshu was deeply trusted by Emperor Yangdi.So the three brothers celebrated each other's prosperity after their father's death, even though they were originally playboys who did all kinds of crimes, and two of them committed capital crimes.However, Yu Wenshu's tearful pleading before his death softened Emperor Sui Yang's heart.

Who knew that this was actually breeding tigers? It is no longer possible to determine who among the three brothers was responsible.In short, Sima Dekan, the commander of the Xiaoguo Army, was told: fleeing is not the answer, rebellion is the only way out.We know that Yu Wenshu was considered to best represent the interests of Guanzhong people before his death, and Sima Dekan and other generals of the Yulin Army were originally his subordinates.Therefore, the Yuwen brothers and Sima Dekan quickly reached a consensus, and others even attached themselves. Mutiny ensued quickly. After a night of mobilizing troops, in the early morning of March 11th, under the support of the guard Pei Qiantong, Sima Dekan led his troops into the palace. To the front of Emperor Sui Yang.

Emperor Yangdi said, "Are you going to kill me?" Linghu Xingda said: I dare not, I just want to return to Guanzhong in honor of your majesty. After finishing speaking, Linghu Xingda put down his weapon and helped Emperor Sui Yang go downstairs.When Emperor Yang came to the rebellious army, he found that Pei Qiantong, an old subordinate of his mansion when he was king of Jin, was the one who led the troops to arrest him. He couldn't help asking in surprise: Why did you turn against him? Pei Qiantong said: "I dare not rebel, but the soldiers are homesick. Emperor Sui Yang said: I am actually preparing to go back to Guanzhong, but I am just waiting for a ship to transport grain.That being the case, let's go now.

Pei Qiantong said: I'm afraid I have to ask His Majesty to tell everyone personally. Therefore, Pei Qiantong brought a horse and asked Emperor Sui Yang to meet the officials.Emperor Yangdi felt that the saddle was so crude that he would lose his dignity, so he refused to get on the horse anyway.Pei Qiantong had to change a pair of saddles, and Yangdi put down his airs and let him lead him out to parade in the street. However, Yu Wenhuaji, the leader of the rebellious party, did not want to see Sui Yangdi anymore.This guy was originally forced by his two younger brothers and Sima Dekan to become the leader of the mutiny.He was terrified throughout the whole mutiny process, but at this moment, like a dream, Fang Xing sent out an order: What are you bringing that man here for?Don't hurry up!

As a result, Emperor Sui Yang was taken back to his bedroom. Facing Sima Dekan and others who were standing with sabers in their arms, after asking a few questions and watching their 12-year-old beloved son being killed by Pei Qiantong, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty said frankly: There is a way to die, bring poisoned wine. The poisoned wine was prepared long ago, and it was hidden in the beautiful women of Emperor Yangdi.Emperor Yangdi once said to them, in case of trouble in the future, you should drink first, and I will continue to drink.It's a pity that none of those women were seen at this time, and Sima Dekan and the others refused to waste time, so Emperor Yang had no choice but to let Linghu Xingda hang himself.

The Sui Empire also declared its demise at the same time. Subjugation is not surprising.Even Emperor Yangdi probably thought that his death was fulfilling the formalities for the death of the Sui Dynasty.He seemed to have thought of this day long ago, so he touched his neck and said to Empress Xiao: Who will cut off such a good head? However, this by no means means that there are no doubts in this case. In fact, when Sima Dekan and they conspired, the information was leaked, and a court lady even reported to Empress Xiao.Empress Xiao just said: If you want to play, you can play it.As a result, Emperor Yangdi killed the court lady on the grounds that slaves should not be involved in state affairs.Therefore, when someone reported the case later, Empress Xiao said: The affairs of the world are out of control, so why bother the emperor.

From then on, there was no one around Yangdi to inform him. No one knows why Empress Xiao held such an attitude. We only know that Emperor Sui Yang neglected the government in Jiangdu and indulged in debauchery. Not only did the empress not persuade her, but she attended all the banquets and parties.There is no evidence that she made any claims or that she had any grievances.In other words, she let her husband's self-destruction go unchecked. Ha ha, that's what a good wife did. When Emperor Yangdi was killed, of course she stood by and watched, and she did not die like a confidante of Emperor Yangdi. She just made a coffin out of bed boards with the maids and silently paid for her husband who had been with her for thirty-five years. Afterwards.Perhaps, in her opinion, this is the only thing she should and can do.

As a well-educated woman, it is not surprising that she did so.The strange thing is that the rebels did nothing to her.We know that the killing of the emperor usually implicates the queen.Empress Yin of Liu Shao in the Southern Dynasty once asked the law enforcement officers why they harmed the innocent, and the answer she got was: Becoming a queen is a crime. So, why is Empress Xiao innocent? Empress Xiao should not be innocent.Because she is from the south, and she is a descendant of the Nanliang royal family - her ancestor is Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang, her great-grandfather is Xiao Tong, Prince Zhaoming, her grandfather Xiao Li (read Rucha) and her father Xiao Kui (read Rukui) are both emperors of the Later Liang Dynasty.Emperor Sui Yang's liking for Jiangnan was related to this Empress Xiao. What's more, Empress Xiao was not a decoration with Emperor Sui Yang.From the day she married into Prince Jin's Mansion, she and Emperor Yang followed each other like a shadow, and her influence is well known.Therefore, if it is said that Emperor Yang of Sui offended Xiaoguo because he was in Jiangdu, Empress Xiao should be jointly and severally responsible; Take leadership responsibility. How can Empress Xiao be innocent? However, regardless of the regicide Imperial Forest Army, the rebellious Dou Jiande, the covetous Turkic people, or Tang Taizong who took the Sui Dynasty as a lesson, they all treated Empress Xiao politely.Undoubtedly, Empress Xiao is intelligent, docile, frugal, general-minded, and considerate.However, thinking of her failure to report her knowledge and reluctance to save before Emperor Yangdi was killed, it can't help but make people suspicious. This mystery may never be solved. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty himself was even more confused.

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Notes: Volume one hundred and eighty-five.