sovbooks Chapter 70: Four Rumors Spread, Yang Ruyi Blocks the Establishment of a New Emperor
Chapter 70: Four Rumors Spread, Yang Ruyi Blocks the Establishment of a New Emperor
In Luoyang, the eastern capital, streets and alleys crisscrossed, and peddlers and laborers carried goods on their shoulders and in their hands, moving through the bustling city.
Even faster than the goods were a few earth-shattering rumors, which swept through every corner of the city like a whirlwind.
"Yang Guang is dead! He died on the northern grasslands, and even his remains have never been recovered!"
"And Lu Xiao, the greatest general of the Sui Dynasty, also perished in that surprise attack!"
Rumors spread like wildfire from the eastern capital, along official roads and post stations, reaching all surrounding prefectures and counties.
Behind this storm of rumors, powerful and influential families are fueling the flames with all their might.
During his reign, Yang Guang certainly caused them a lot of trouble.
The imperial examination system forced people to bypass the barriers of aristocratic families and promote talents from outside these families to the court.
In the eyes of the aristocratic families, this was simply wishful thinking, an attempt to uproot them and cut off their path.
"If he had simply been a dutiful ruler, preserving the legacy of his ancestors, he wouldn't have ended up in such an absurd state!"
"To die in the northern desert is divine retribution!"
The scions of powerful families spoke arrogantly, showing no regard for the so-called imperial power, and their tone was full of schadenfreude.
As for Lü Xiao, those pampered aristocratic families looked down on him even more.
He was just a brute; his death was nothing to them.
Of all the people in Dongdu, only Zheng Ji truly cared about Lü Xiao.
He would slap his thigh and lament to everyone he met, "Lü Xiao is dead! Good riddance!"
He would repeat it eight hundred times a day, as if only in this way could he comfort the spirit of his unjustly deceased grandson, Zheng Kun.
Inside the Prince Kao Shan's mansion, Yang Lin listened to the rumors and gossip, his anger burning fiercely, yet he had nowhere to vent it.
excuse?
Now that the whole city is in turmoil, any explanation seems pale and powerless.
Unless Yang Guang himself stands atop the city walls of Luoyang, it's all just empty talk.
But a month passed in the blink of an eye, and there was still no news from Yanmen Pass.
His Majesty and Lü Xiao are still nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead.
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost frozen.
Yu Juluo, Yang Yichen, Yuwen Shu, and other senior officials, all dressed in court robes, sat upright behind their desks, but no one spoke for a long time.
Only the smoke from sandalwood lingered silently in the air.
"King Kao Shan, it's time to make a decision."
After a long silence, Yang Yichen finally broke the silence.
"You also think His Majesty won't be coming back?"
Yang Lin lowered his head, his voice heavy with emotion.
"That's not what I think, but that's what people think."
You can wait, but the Sui Dynasty cannot.
Yang Yichen argued vehemently that he did not force Yang Lin.
Rather, the rumors have been spreading too quickly these days, which is very detrimental to the Sui Dynasty.
In particular, Emperor Yang Guang utilized the people's manpower to the fullest extent when building the Great Wall and digging canals.
This is tantamount to offending the people of the world.
Previously, voices of discontent with the Sui Dynasty had emerged, and some people had even risen up in rebellion; now, this situation is only intensifying.
If no new ruler ascends the throne, the world will descend into complete chaos.
Yang Lin raised his head, his eyes losing their former luster and becoming somewhat cloudy.
He opened his mouth, but swallowed his words several times.
Finally, he spoke up, asking, "Who would be most suitable to be the emperor?"
"His Majesty greatly favors the heir of Crown Prince Yuande and has allowed him to remain in Luoyang, which shows His Majesty's intentions."
Yang Yichen revealed his choice.
"The Prince of Dai is too young to rule the country, and it is feared that treacherous people will seize control of the government."
Yuwen Shu spoke up.
"What about the King of Qi?"
Yu Juluo remembered that Yang Guang once greatly favored Yang Jian and even planned to make him the crown prince.
However, many things happened later that gradually alienated him from Yang Guang.
But in any case, there are talents who can earn Yang Guang's favor.
Compared to Yang You, Yang Jian is superior in both status and age.
"Today I will go and see the King of Qi."
Upon hearing this, Yang Lin slowly stood up, his once straight spine now somewhat hunched.
Yu Juluo's suggestion is good; King Yang Jian of Qi is far more suitable than Yang You.
Once Yang You ascends the throne and returns to Dengzhou to take charge, the court will inevitably fall into the hands of powerful clans.
"Father, the princess has come to visit."
Xue Liang hurriedly arrived at the main hall, with Yang Ruyi following behind him.
"Ruyi, why aren't you staying in the palace? What are you doing here?"
When Yang Lin saw Yang Ruyi, a slight smile appeared on his face.
"Grand Uncle, what are you doing now?"
Yang Ruyi noticed that these old ministers could not have gathered together unless there was something important to discuss.
Yang Lin sighed and said bluntly:
"Your father has disappeared without a trace, and the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day."
"Since you've arrived, please show me the way to the Qi King's residence."
Having lived in Dengzhou for a long time, he was already unfamiliar with the layout of the mansions in Luoyang.
"Grand Uncle! You cannot install a new emperor!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Ruyi's expression changed drastically. She suddenly spread her arms and blocked the crowd, her tone urgent.
"My father is still alive! He's not dead at all!"
Yang Lin straightened his face and said in a deep voice, "Ruyi, stop fooling around!"
"I'm not being ridiculous!" Yang Ruyi's eyes reddened with anxiety, but she still stood up straight and spoke emphatically.
"I even dreamt of my father yesterday! He and Lü Xiao not only survived, but they also captured Shibi Khan alive and are currently on their way back to Yanmen Pass!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall looked at each other with varying expressions.
The things in dreams are a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, so how can they be taken seriously?
But a glint suddenly flashed in Yang Lin's eyes, and he quickly asked, "Is that really true?"
Why would he want to establish a new emperor?
It was only because the situation forced us to do it.
Yang Ruyi's words undoubtedly gave him an excuse to delay and a faint hope.
"Absolutely no lie!"
Yang Ruyi said without hesitation.
She did indeed dream of Yang Guang and his entourage yesterday, and Lü Xiao even dug empty graves for the fallen soldiers.
Perhaps it won't be long before news reaches the Eastern Capital.
"Okay, then we'll wait!"
Yang Lin returned to his seat, steeling his resolve.
Anyway, it's been so long, even if a new emperor is established, the world will still be in chaos.
Besides, he didn't believe that Lü Xiao and Yang Guang were really dead.
Yang Yichen and the others had no choice but to accept Yang Lin's decision.
Yu Juluo rubbed his hands together and asked with a smile, "Princess, besides His Majesty and Lü Xiao, did you dream of any other soldiers?"
His eight hundred children are still in Lü Xiao's hands. Although Yang Ruyi was only talking about things in her dreams, it still gave him some comfort.
"Yes, they dug up more than a hundred empty graves with Lü Xiao."
Yang Ruyi recalled for a moment and then spoke.
"More than a hundred..."
Yu Julu muttered to himself, his tense nerves suddenly relaxing, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.
If it's true that only a little over a hundred people were lost, that would be a miracle!
Back then, when the late emperor campaigned against Goguryeo, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were defeated and their bodies piled up like mountains.
This expedition deep into the northern desert and the surprise attack on the Turkic royal court has yielded such results, which is already extremely fortunate.
If that were truly the case, he would gladly kowtow three times to Lü Xiao!