Chapter 355 The New Emperor Ascends the Throne
Chapter 355 The New Emperor Ascends the Throne
Historically, Yang Guang ascended the throne as the crown prince, while Yang Yong was demoted as Prince of Fangling and placed under house arrest in the palace. He was like a fish on the chopping board, with no bargaining power whatsoever.
But it is different now. Yang Guang is not legitimate now. If he wants to ascend the throne legally, he must have Yang Yong's cooperation, otherwise he will be usurping the throne.
Rulers of all dynasties attached great importance to their reputation after death. They were not like ordinary people who would be like a speck of dust after death and no one would remember them. But it was different for rulers. Their names would be recorded in history books after their death. No one wanted to bear a bad reputation in later generations.
Just like Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty, do you think he wanted to kill his nephew Emperor Jianwen? He didn't want to at all. If he caught Emperor Jianwen, he would definitely make him a sacrifice, as long as Emperor Jianwen was willing to issue an order to give up the throne to him, so that he could ascend the throne legitimately. Unfortunately, Emperor Jianwen did not give him this opportunity and set fire to himself in the palace.
It is said that Emperor Jianwen did not die but ran away. Zhu Di sent people to look for him everywhere and even sent Zheng He to the West seven times. Was he trying to kill him and get rid of the trouble forever? No, Zhu Di wanted to invite him back to the palace to complete the abdication procedures.
Yang Yong was well aware of this, which was why he would not commit suicide, and he was not worried that Yang Guang would kill him.
The two brothers sat opposite each other, and Yang Guang said calmly: "Tell me! What conditions do you want, brother?"
"Do you admit that I am your brother?"
"This is the truth. If I don't admit it, does that mean you are no longer a person?"
Yang Guang smiled and said, "If it weren't for my brother's involvement in the throne, I wouldn't fight with you."
"That is to say, apart from the throne, we brothers can discuss everything."
"We can only say that we can discuss it. If you ask for an exorbitant price, we won't be able to continue the discussion."
Yang Yong sneered and said, "I'm afraid you have to talk to me, whether you like it or not.
"Not necessarily!"
Yang Guang turned around and waved, "Bring it up!"
After a while, the soldiers brought in a man wearing a curtain hat. Yang Yong felt that this man was very familiar, and his pace and posture seemed to be vivid in his mind. Who was this?
At this time, the man slowly took off his veil. Yang Yong was stunned for a moment. He looked exactly like him, with facial features, height, body shape, and even the mole on his forehead.
Yang Guang waved his hand, and the man turned and retreated.
Yang Yong stared at Yang Guang fiercely, "You are so sinister!"
Yang Guang smiled and said, "Actually, I don't want to use him either, but I have to leave some room for myself. If I don't leave some room for myself, how can I face your sky-high asking price?"
Yang Yong was silent for a long time and said, "Give me the Taiping Palace. I like it very much and want to spend my old age there!"
Taiping Palace is located at the foot of the Qinling Mountains, not far from Ziwu Pass. It is spring-like all year round and can be used as a summer resort. It is a temporary palace. Yang Jian liked this place very much during his lifetime and often brought his sons here to escape the summer heat.
Yang Guang happily said, "Sure! I'll give you the entire area of 100 miles."
Yang Yong added: "He Ruodong killed my son, I want him dead!"
Yang Guang nodded, "I won't use this person. I can make him disappear quietly from the world."
Yang Yong was silent for a moment and then said, "You don't have to use my sons, but don't kill them. Let them live in peace."
Yang Guang hesitated for a moment and said, "I can not kill them, but the premise is that they better live a low-key life, do not have unreasonable thoughts, and do not let others take advantage of them. If they can't do that, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Yang Yong nodded, "I have one last condition. Let me take my wives and concubines with me, give me double the treatment of a prince, and let me continue to enjoy wealth and glory."
Yang Guang readily agreed to this condition.
Is Yang Yong's condition high? Not at all, and even very humble. Yang Liang still wanted to continue to rule Hedong and Hebei, while Yang Yong only wanted a Taiping Palace. He just wanted to survive, especially after Yang Guang showed his substitute, being able to survive was already a luxury. Yang Yong immediately issued an order to let Shi Wansui and Yuanshou lay down their weapons and surrender to the King of Jin.
Yang Yong then ordered the drum to be struck to convene a grand court meeting. At the meeting, Yang Yong publicly announced that he would officially abdicate due to poor health and give the throne to his second brother Yang Guang.
Yang Guang was adamant about not accepting the offer, thinking that he was too untalented and uneducated to handle the heavy responsibility of governing the country. Yang Yong refused and continued to give up the throne, and asked the officials to persuade him. After three times, Yang Guang burst into tears and was forced to accept his brother's trust.
Yang Yong then left under the escort of his guards, while Yang Guang sat on the throne surrounded by officials, formally accepted the officials' worship and became the third emperor of the Sui Dynasty.
Yang Guang immediately named Yang Yong the Prince of Taipingning and moved him to Taiping Palace to recuperate. His sons were downgraded to princes, because princes were eligible to inherit the throne, and Yang Guang would never compromise on matters of principle.
These were just Yang Guang's way of showing his kindness and generosity in public. He also wanted to explain to the world that he had gained the throne legitimately, his uncle was loving, his nephew was filial, his brother was satisfied, and his whole family was happy.
After a few years, when everyone has gradually forgotten about his elder brother and his son, it will be time for Yang Guang to take action.
Immediately afterwards, Yang Guang appointed Princess Xiao of Prince of Jin as empress, made his eldest son Yang Zhao the crown prince, appointed his second son Yang Ling as Prince of Qi, and his third son Yang Xia as Prince of Chu.
This was the first time in a public official document that Xiao Xia's official name was clearly Yang Xia, and her eldest daughter Yang Feiyan was named Princess Nanyang.
Yang Guang then adopted Xiao Xia's suggestion and implemented the seven-prime minister system. He appointed Gao Jiong as the right prime minister of the Imperial Secretariat again, Yang Su as the left prime minister of the Palace Attendants, and five deputy prime ministers: Wei Chong as the prime minister of finance, Su Wei as the prime minister of rites, Xiao Yu as the prime minister of punishment, Yuwen Shu as the prime minister of war, and Yu Shiji as the prime minister of works.
Wei Chong was the father-in-law of the second son Yang Ling, so he was given an important position.
These five people clearly served concurrently as the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Punishments, the Minister of War and the Minister of Works. At the same time, Gao Jiong served concurrently as the Minister of Personnel, and Yang Su served concurrently as the Grand Censor.
Li Yuan was also given an important position and was given the title of Shang Zhuguo and appointed as the Minister of Taichang Temple. The prince's father-in-law Cui Hongsheng was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, Cui Hongzhou was appointed as the Secretary of the Eastern Palace, Li Min was given the title of Minister of Guanglu Temple, and Dou Yan was appointed as the Prefect of Jingzhao.
All the meritorious officials were rewarded, and all the generals' official positions recommended by Xiao Xia were approved, including Pei Renji, who was promoted to the title of Zhuguo and appointed as the governor of Henan Province.
Yang Guang changed the reign title to Daye and announced a general amnesty.
However, only those who were convicted would be pardoned in the general amnesty, while those who were guilty but not arrested were not included, such as the Wu brothers from Nanyang.
Yang Guang immediately appointed Shangzhuguo Yuwen Chengdu to lead an army of 50,000 to attack the brothers Wu Yunzhao and Wu Tianxi who were entrenched in the three counties of Dengzhou.
Yang Guang's imperial study continued to be his father Yang Jian's imperial study in Ganquan Palace. In the meeting hall of the imperial study, Yang Guang convened the first temporary cabinet meeting to discuss the matters concerning the enthronement ceremony.
Right Prime Minister Gao Jiong advised: "Your Majesty has already ascended the throne successfully. If you hold another coronation ceremony, it will not only waste people's money and time, but also be a bit superfluous. I advise Your Majesty to keep a low profile and ascend the throne!"
Yang Guang was not very satisfied with his coronation ceremony. He thought it was too simple and too hasty, and totally lacked the solemnity and grandeur of an emperor's coronation. So he considered holding a grand coronation ceremony again.
Yang Guang frowned, "What do you mean by superfluous?"
"Your Majesty's ascension to the throne was very smooth. Prince Ning publicly announced his abdication, and all the officials supported Your Majesty's ascension to the throne. This was already very reasonable and legal. All the officials acknowledged it. Your Majesty holding another ascension ceremony seems a bit unconfident, and it will make many people think about it."
At this time, Yuwen Shu said: "Prime Minister Gao's strict economy is a good idea, but how can the emperor's enthronement ceremony be held in the morning court? It's ridiculous to hear it. Moreover, the morning court was just the announcement of the abdication of Prince Ning, and had nothing to do with the enthronement. The officials' visit to the new emperor was just the emperor's accession to the throne, not the enthronement. Prime Minister Gao must not use the abdication ceremony of the previous emperor to replace the enthronement ceremony of the emperor."
Yu Shiji also said: "When the emperor ascends the throne, he must offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and worship the ancestral temple. How can he be called an emperor if he does not perform these most important ceremonies? It is too hasty. Only by offering sacrifices to heaven and earth can he be an emperor and reflect the divine right of the emperor. Only by offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple can the throne be proved to be legitimate and reasonable and make the people of the world aware of the arrival of the new emperor."
Wei Chong said, "Your Majesty has already established a new era name, conferred titles on the empress and the crown prince, and issued a general amnesty. These extremely important things have all been done. Who can say that Your Majesty has not ascended the throne? You can build a separate altar to worship the emperor, and you can also do sacrifices to the Imperial Ancestral Temple separately. It doesn't have to be linked to the ascension to the throne."
There were many different opinions, but Yang Guang had already made up his mind. He said slowly, "The coronation ceremony must be held. It can be simplified, but it cannot be abolished. August 18 is the auspicious day for offering sacrifices to heaven and ascending the throne. Let's hold the coronation ceremony on August 18!"
(End of this chapter)