Chapter 603 Substituting one thing for another
Chapter 603 Substituting one thing for another
Soon, Yu Shiji came hurriedly and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, I just heard that Xiao Xia and Yang Yu rebelled in Chang'an!"
"Who?" Yang Guang didn't react at once.
"The second son of the former crown prince Yang Yong, Prince of Pingyuan Yang Yu."
Yang Guang's eyes suddenly widened. He found it unbelievable. Ever since the disappearance of Crown Prince Yang Yong and his family four years ago, there had been no news of them, and Yang Guang gradually forgot about them.
Unexpectedly, Yang Yong's son actually rebelled. Yang Guang paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, and asked anxiously: "What about Yang Qing, the governor of Xijing? He has 30,000 troops."
Prince Xun Yang Qing was an important member of the royal family. He was the representative of the royal power in Chang'an, the Western Capital. He was granted the title of Minister of the Imperial Clan Temple and Governor of the Western Capital.
"Your Majesty, it was Yang Qing who supported Yang Yu's rebellion. Not only Yang Qing, but also the Guanzhongdao Observation Envoy Yang Zhiji, the Taiji Palace Guardian Yang Shigui, and the Prince of Wei Yang Ji all supported Yang Yu's rebellion."
Yang Guang's body swayed and he almost fell. He sat down dejectedly. Yang Qing, Yang Ji, Yang Shigui, Yang Zhiji, the four pillars of the Chang'an faction of the royal family all supported Yang Yu's rebellion, and the royal family was divided.
This blow was much more serious than Yang Xuangan's rebellion, and it shook the foundation of the country.
"Why are they rebelling? Why are they going against me?" Yang Guang asked gritting his teeth.
Yu Shiji and Yin Shishi were speechless. In fact, they both understood that it was because of the disastrous defeat in the war against Goguryeo last year that a large number of powerful and noble families opposed the emperor.
This was the second expedition to Goguryeo, so the rebellion of the powerful and wealthy began. Yang Xuangan represented a part of the gentry, while King Pingyuan Yang Yu represented the royal family in his rebellion.
The world is really going to be in chaos. Yin Shishi said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to mobilize the army to Guanzhong to suppress them while they are just starting to rebel and their forces are relatively weak, and to wipe out Yang Xuangan and Yang Yu at the same time."
Yang Guang nodded, "Let me think about it, and we'll discuss this matter tomorrow morning!"
The next morning, news came from Chang'an that Song Laosheng, a general of the Tiger Guards, took advantage of Chen Leng's defense of Hangu Pass and led his troops to capture Tongguan. All the defenders of Tongguan surrendered to Song Laosheng, and Chen Leng had to defend the east side of Hangu Pass.
Yang Guang was furious and immediately sent Yu Juluo to lead an army of 100,000 to suppress the rebellion in Chang'an.
In a large mansion in Chang'an, more than a dozen royal family members from the Chang'an faction gathered together, as well as several representatives of Guanlong nobles, including Yuanshou, Dugu Zuan, Houmo Chentai, and Dou Wei.
There have always been two factions in the royal family of the Sui Dynasty, one is the Chang'an faction and the other is the Luoyang faction.
The Chang'an faction was headed by Xun Wang Yang Qing, and included Cai Wang Yang Zhiji, Wei Wang Yang Ji, Bian Wang Yang Shigui and others. The Luoyang faction of course included Emperor Yang Guang, Guan Wang Yang Xiong, Chen Wang Yang Da and others.
But sitting at the top at this time was the former crown prince Yang Yong and his representative, the second son Yang Yu.
In addition, Qin Wang Yang Jun was also present, and Han Wang Yang Liang was poisoned by the emperor's order after Qi Wang Yang Liang rebelled.
Crown Prince Yang Yong's body had completely collapsed, he was emaciated, and was in a semi-insanity state. In the words of his son Yang Yu, his father was in a fantasy all day long, talking to himself, saying that he was sent by the Emperor of Heaven to save the Sui Dynasty, and that he was originally from another dynasty.
Although Xun Wang Yang Qing was the leader of the Chang'an royal family, he did not want to stand out, so he recommended Yang Yu as the heir to the throne of the Sui Dynasty. Yang Yu certainly would not refuse, and he agreed immediately. He was hailed by everyone as Prince Xing.
But in the final analysis, strength determines status. Yang Qing was the garrison commander in Chang'an with 30,000 troops under his command, so Yang Yu was nominally their new leader, but the real power was still in Yang Qing's hands.
Yang Qing asked Yuanshou, "General, how many troops will Yang Xuangan bring to Guanzhong? Also, how can we seize the military power from Yang Xuangan?"
Yuan Shou smiled and said, "Yang Xuangan has about 60,000 troops, and they have already arrived at Shangluo County. But don't worry, Yang Xuangan's generals are all our men, and he has been injured. The military doctor who treated him has also been bribed by us. As long as we need him, we can kill him at any time!"
Yang Qing stroked his beard and smiled, "So that's how it is. Yang Xuangan worked so hard, but in the end he ended up making wedding clothes for others!"
Everyone laughed. At this time, Yang Yong suddenly shouted a few words. Everyone didn't know what he was talking about, and looked at Yang Yu together.
Yang Yu translated: "My father said that the tyrant would massacre the Guanlong nobles in Luoyang!"
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Yang Qing quickly asked Yuan Shou, "Excuse me, where are the heads of the Yuan family and Dugu family now?"
Yuanshou said calmly: "They have already left Luoyang and are coming to Guanzhong via the Hedong Road. I think they are almost entering Guanzhong."
Dugu Zuan is the grandson of Dugu Xin, the founder of the Dugu Family, and the eldest son of the Dugu Family. Once Dugu Tuo dies, he will be the new head of the Dugu Family. Dugu Zuan is about 40 years old, with the title of Duke of Zhao, and is a very stable person.
Dugu Zuan and Yuanshou exchanged a very secretive look, and Dugu Zuan slowly said: "Please rest assured, everyone. We have been planning for many years. All the noble families in Guanlong have entered Guanzhong. The tyrant cannot harm us."
The Guanlong nobles originally only supported Yang Yong, but they never expected that the Chang'an royal family headed by Yang Qing also contacted Yang Yong. Although it was a bit beyond the expectations of the Guanlong nobles, after discussions among several major families, they decided to make full use of the Chang'an royal family to overthrow the legitimacy of Emperor Yang Guang.
The two sides quickly reached an agreement and nominated Yang Yong as the new emperor and Yang Yu as the Prince of Yanxing.
But for the Guanlong nobles, what they really valued was Xiao Xia or Li Yuan. Yang Yong was just a transition, and the Chang'an royal family was just using them.
However, even if they were to use him, Yang Yong was not in a position to become the emperor in his current state, so they had to temporarily push forward Yang Yu, who was determined to become the emperor.
At this time, Yuan Shou's son Yuan Min hurried over to report, "The emperor sent Yu Juluo to lead an army of 100,000 to attack Guanzhong. In addition, Yang Xuangan's army has also arrived in Shangluo County."
Yuanshou nodded and winked at Dou Wei. The two stood up and said to Yang Qing, "Let's split up! Let's go and harvest Yang Xuangan!"
.........
Yang Xuangan's 60,000 troops are currently stationed in Shangluo County because Yang Xuangan is seriously injured. He was hit by three arrows in the back when he was in Hangu Pass, but the arrows were effectively blocked by the iron armor, and his back was only slightly injured.
It would have been fine with a little treatment, but for some reason, the wound on his back began to fester. Yang Xuangan had a fever and fainted, and it was obvious that the wound was infected.
Li Mi came to Yang Xuangan's tent. He glanced at the military doctor, and the doctor nodded to him.
Li Mi walked into the big tent and saw Yang Xuangan lying on the bed with red eyes.
His brother Yang Jishan sat by and took care of his brother. Yang Jishan sighed and said to Li Mi: "The military doctor said the arrowhead was poisonous, but it was too late when they found it."
"Let's do our best! You go first, I'll talk to Ming Gong about something."
Yang Jishan nodded, shook his brother's hand again, then stood up and left.
Li Mi sat down in front of Yang Xuangan and said, "We just got the news that the enemy is chasing us and is only fifty miles away from us. Now my brother has to hand over the power to others temporarily."
Yang Xuangan said in a hoarse voice: "Leave it to Xuan Zong!"
Li Mi wrote a letter of temporary transfer of military power on a piece of paper and handed it to Yang Xuangan. "Take a look. Is this okay?"
Yang Xuangan's eyes were very blurry. He took a quick look and saw a power transfer document. The transferors were himself and his brother Yang Xuanzong. He picked up the pen, signed his name, and put his seal on it.
When Yang Xuangan started his rebellion, he did not prepare any seals or military tokens. All important military orders were signed and sealed by him.
Li Mi took the document and nodded, "Brother, have a good rest. I will go find Xuan Zong to make arrangements!"
Li Mi got up and left. He came to his own tent, lowered the tent door, pulled out a sharp dagger, and lightly poked the handover book. The paper with Yang Xuanzong's name on it was picked up.
It turned out to be just a small piece of paper stuck on it. Li Mi wrote Yang Xuanzong's name on the small piece of paper. Yang Xuanzong's vision was blurred and he couldn't see clearly that it was actually two pieces of paper.
Li Mi wrote Dou Dexuan's name on the blank space on the paper again.
Dou Dexuan was naturally also a member of Yang Wuhui. He was a Huben general and was appointed as the general of the second army by Yang Xuangan. Yang Xuanzong was the general of the first guard.
Dou Dexuan was a member of the Dou family, a noble family in Guanlong, and an important figure planted by Dugutuo in Yang Xuangan's army.
In the end, Li Mi used another trick and transferred the military power of 60,000 troops to Dou Dexuan.
At this time, the military doctor gave Yang Xuangan the last bowl of medicine to treat his injuries. Yang Xuangan fainted completely and could never wake up again.
(End of this chapter)