The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 702
At a quarter of the next day, the sky was not completely bright yet, the eastern sky was dyed red by the morning glow, and rays of dawn passed through the clouds, covering the whole Luoyang with a layer of golden light.A group of Sui cavalry set off from Xinye and finally escorted the Tang envoy to Luoyang.

As an envoy of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jiancheng also brought a thousand soldiers, but they failed to enter the country and were instead escorted by the Sui army.

Looking around the world, only the Li and Tang dynasties are barely qualified to be enemies of the Sui Dynasty. However, not only did they have frequent internal strife, but even their troops were pinned down by the Sui army on the Hanshui defense line. The emperor was sure that they could not be unscrupulous, but on the other hand, it also proved that the Tang Dynasty did not have too many troops. Otherwise, how could the rebels be allowed to make trouble under their noses?If it was the Sui army, if the Sui army broke through a certain junction of the Hanshui defense line, the Sui army's next step would be like the Beizhen army, killing Xiangyang city.It can be said that the stalemate between the Beizhen Army and the Tang Army was a preview of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but can the Sui Army and the Beizhen Army be the same?

Out of this concern, Li Jiancheng thought of a truce with the Sui Dynasty in order to draw out the criss-crossed army.But at the same time, he also knew that the Tang Dynasty did not have any capital to tempt Yang Tong. If Yang Tong really wanted to count counties in Jingbei, the paper-like defense line of the Han River was broken as early as last year. How can we wait until today?Even if you want to break it now, it doesn't seem to be a big problem.To be honest, if Li Jiancheng and Yang Tong were to be relocated, he would definitely not agree to a truce, because Yizhou is already in danger of mountains and rivers. If the Tang army can completely retreat into Yizhou, it will only bring great harm to the people. It is the kingly way to destroy them in Jingbei.

It is impossible for Yang Tong to not be clear about such a simple truth, which also means that the truce agreement is only a hot topic in the Tang Dynasty, and it is not enough to impress Yang Tong if he does not come up with something that tempts Yang Tong.And what makes Yang Tong's heart beat?Li Jiancheng didn't know it at first, but it wasn't until his father mentioned the imperial examination that Li Jiancheng thought of Fang Xuanling's real intentions to go on an envoy, and deduced from this that the thing that attracted Yang Tong's heart was actually the gentry.Because he knows that Yang Tong doesn't like nobles, just like he doesn't like Guanlong nobles. He hates all the aristocratic families who have been domineering for hundreds of years. He wants to smash all the old forces, but he is worried that the unification of the world will be premature. Let these people become the surrenders of the Sui Dynasty. If they do it at that time, it will only lead to twists and turns. Therefore, he needs to slaughter them in the war. It is best for Li Tang to act as the executioner.And this is where he has the confidence to propose a fake imperial examination and a truce agreement to his father. If Yang Tong still refuses to agree, then he is really at a loss what to do.

Walking to the city gate, I saw a group of civil servants waiting beside the city gate, headed by a handsome young man wearing a royal robe.

There are few princes in the Sui Dynasty, and there is only one adult prince, Yang You, unlike their Li Tang Dynasty, where Li's clan and princes are all over the sky. If you have a prince, you have to have a fief, a private army, and loyal staff, even if you have no talent or virtue. You also have to occupy an important position, and you can make trouble for you if you have nothing to do. There are still many mediocre talents who have no achievements and mediocre talents. Headache...Looking at the Sui Dynasty, the prince only had two uncles and nephews, Yang You and Yang Rong, and the county king was Yang Gongren.The one in front of him, no need to guess, is also Yang You who was snatched by their Li family.

"Your honor is Tang envoy?" At this time, Yang You paced forward.

"My next Li Jiancheng is Tang envoy."

Yang You smiled and cupped his hands and said, "My servant, Yang You, is ordered by the emperor to welcome you specially. Brother Jiancheng has worked hard."

"There's Lao Ren's shop." Li Jiancheng, who returned the gift, was flattered, but also moved in his heart.

His current status is an envoy, and according to the usual practice, at most the Minister of Rites greets him, and there is indeed Du Ruhui, the Minister of Rites, beside him. It can be seen that Yang You has nothing to do with the exchanges between the two countries, but the display of Yang Tong's friendship.

At this moment, Li Jiancheng heard the sound of gongs and drums in the city, and bursts of cheers from time to time. He was taken aback. This early in the morning, what big happy event can happen in the city?

Du Ruhui, who was on the side, smiled and said, "The day before yesterday was the day when the imperial examinations were announced, and today is the day when the middle school students parade in the streets to praise officials; whether it is liberal arts or martial arts, it will be so grand, one is to make talented people feel proud, and the other is to inspire The people of our clan study poetry and books and practice martial arts diligently, so every time they parade in the streets to praise officials, the city is very lively."

"This is really a good way to have the best of both worlds." Li Jiancheng suddenly realized, and asked very curiously: "Can you take a closer look?"

"Of course, please!"

"Please."

A group of people rode their horses into the city, and saw that Tianjie was crowded with people, as if it was a New Year's festival. There were hundreds of thousands of people gathered on both sides of the street, and soldiers kept order every three steps and every five steps.

After a while, a large group of people appeared on the royal road, with a thousand cavalry in front of them, followed by a drum band beating gongs and drums, and the sound of suona, and finally about 200 young scholars.

They appeared on the street riding tall snow-white horses without variegation.They are dressed in scarlet brocade robes, gauze hats with wings on their heads, and clusters of brocade flowers hanging on their chests. They are like a group of bridegroom officials who are getting married.In order to prevent the horses from being frightened, each of the scholar's horses was led by a groom of a foreign race, and a group of people came in one file, attracting loud applause from the people on both sides.

Li Jiancheng was deeply touched. The Tang Dynasty was still arguing fiercely about opening the imperial examinations, but the imperial examinations had been implemented in the Sui Dynasty for many years.In the Tang Dynasty, the most discussed event was the student riot in Luoyang. The tone of many courtiers was full of a sense of schadenfreude, as if the Sui imperial examination had really suffered a serious setback.But in fact, the so-called riots in the Sui Dynasty were nothing more than a trickle flowing into the sea, unable to cause a ripple.

This made Li Jiancheng feel a strong sense of crisis in his heart. Their Tang Dynasty had fallen too far behind.The Sui Dynasty not only achieved major military victories one after another, but also developed at an astonishing speed in other aspects.

Along the way, he saw that the government organized the people to build water conservancy projects, and he also saw many young and strong working in the fields instead of wearing armor and serving as soldiers. Break away from the war to ensure the tax revenue of the court, so that the army will have no worries about food and military pay.

"This army seems to be different." At this time, the deputy envoy Chen Shuda found a group of Jinyi guards patrolling the street. They all had a cold face, giving him the feeling that they were the "Wuchuan Guards" of the Sui Dynasty.

"This is the Luoyang City Guards. They belong to the safety of the imperial capital. During their official duties, they are cold weapons and cannot chat with anyone. " Du Ru said with a dark smile.

"I've heard for a long time that Emperor Shengwu admired Legalism. Now it seems that it is effective. It's just that the city guards have suppressed their emotions for a long time. Sooner or later, there will be problems, right?" Chen Shuda said with a smile.Confucianism emphasizes the rule of virtue, admiring loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, propriety and other emotions, while Legalism uses laws to restrict personal behavior and emotions, but anyone with a little knowledge knows that once people are suppressed for a long time, all kinds of negative emotions , and one day it will erupt like a volcano.

"No." Du Ruhui shook his head and said, "The city guard army has a total of 3 people, and they are rotated once a month. The replaced soldiers can go home to plow the fields, do business, and return to duty after three months. Of course, in order to ensure Their combat effectiveness will be tested after they come back. If they fail, they will be kicked out of the city guards and replaced by other strong men. If you don’t pass, you can only leave the army, and if you want to continue to join the army, you can only wait until the time when the army expands to participate in the selection.”

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda looked at each other, and they both saw the horror in each other's eyes. If Yang Tong's troops were eliminated in such a way, how terrible would the Sui army's fighting power be?
"Once the army goes out, what if someone bribes them? Don't you worry at all?" Li Jiancheng forced a smile.

"Soldiers' children receive free education, their families can enjoy honor, and the people in the same village harvest food for the families of the military families; every year, the farmers in the same village send three hundred catties of dry firewood to the families of the military families... In short, any government policy to benefit the people is based on military families. Priority. The most important thing is the most important military exploits in the Sui Dynasty. There are many people who are eager to expand the territory. Eternal is not an exaggeration. If you were Mr. Chen, what choice would you make?" Du Ruhui asked rhetorically.

Chen Shuda was speechless to answer, this person needs nothing more than "fame and wealth" in his life, not to mention that being famous forever is the pursuit of most people, and even the soldiers of the Sui Army couldn't refuse the various preferential treatment for the families of the soldiers. The Tang Dynasty, which was an enemy of the Sui Dynasty, couldn't provide these at all. How could the soldiers be bribed after taking a backseat?
Chen Shuda glanced at the silent Yang You, his eyes suddenly moved, he put aside the topic, and said with a smile: "Du Shangshu leaked such military secrets of your army, are you not afraid of misfortune coming out of your mouth?"

"The Great Sui Dynasty acted upright, there was nothing shady, and it would not hide like a mouse. Everyone knows every word Du Shangshu said. What kind of secret is this?" Yang You has been Daxing for so many years Staying behind, dealing with a group of Guanlong nobles every day, watching Wei Xuan solve all kinds of conspiracies and tricks every day, of course he is not a political idiot, how can he not know Chen Shuda's sinister intentions to sow discord?

Yang You knew that Chen Shuda was talented, and he could understand the Southern Chen disciples' anti-Sui intentions, but he just looked down on this person. This Chen Shuda was obviously very powerful, but as a disciple of Emperor Zhou, he was subordinate to Li Yuan and became a lackey.Looking at Xiao Mian again, he was also a child of Emperor Zhou who was destroyed by the Sui Dynasty, but he blatantly played the banner of anti-Sui Fuliang. Even if he failed in the end, he would not lose the glory of the children of Emperor Zhou. , What a real man should do.

He looked down on Chen Shuda, so he not only explained a sentence, but also stabbed Chen Shuda severely, calling Chen Houzhu's younger brother a "hide and hide mouse", and would come out to do shameful things whenever he had the opportunity.

Chen Shuda's breathing was stagnant, he was embarrassed and angry.

"The posthouse is here." Du Ruhui smiled inwardly, and spoke out at the right time, dispelling the awkward atmosphere, and leading them towards a row of palace-like buildings.

Li Jiancheng looked up, but saw the three big characters of "Embassy" written on the top of the five-foot-high main building, each stroke was as majestic as a knife and an axe, and he couldn't help praising: "Good words."

"Brother Huang wrote it." Yang You said.

Li Jiancheng also recognized Yang Tong's handwriting, and said with emotion: "Renjin has learned extensively and profoundly, and every achievement is the best in the world; how is God treating Renjin so generously?"

"Who makes him a child of the times? The ordinary people of my generation are incomparable." Yang You said with a smile.

Li Jiancheng was stunned. Yang You's very casual words made him realize that Yang Tong and Yang You had a very good relationship, and when he thought about his restless brothers...it felt like tears.

"Who are those people?" At this time, Li Jiancheng saw rows of barbarians again. Although these people were dressed in jewels, they looked like Sui people and bowed their knees. Even ordinary guards were treated courteously by these people.

"Some are envoys from small foreign countries on the Silk Road, and some are envoys from the chiefs of various tribes in the Western Turks. The closest ones are small countries near the Western Regions, and the farthest reaches Persia. Either they want to claim their vassals to the Great Sui and join the Silk Road Alliance to seek protection. ; or they hope to open up a new Silk Road and bring them business opportunities to get rich." Du Ruhui said very casually.

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda only felt extremely bitter. They also had a Ministry of Rites, but the official office of the Ministry of Rites was very poor. Waiting in line, the Ministry of Rites arrived in the Sui Dynasty, and it was clearly the Yamen with real power.

Li Jiancheng is also keenly aware of the maids here, and she also has an arrogance that seems friendly but actually rejects people thousands of miles away. This kind of generous woman is only possessed by such a lady in Xiangyang.

Those foreign envoys were very polite and courteous to these maids, but from the inadvertently obscene eyes of many envoys, it can be seen that these foreign envoys are not kind, but they dare not have ill intentions towards these maids, why?Naturally, it was the powerful Sui Dynasty and the mighty military that forced them to put away their evil thoughts.

Looking back at the Tang Dynasty, which is about to make peace with Tubo, it's hard for Li Jiancheng not to feel discouraged.

"Everyone, we're here." Yang You and Du Ruhui led Li Jiancheng and others to an independent courtyard.

"This place seems to be twice as big as other yards. I don't know why?" Li Jiancheng asked with a smile.

"Those foreign and small countries, it's good to be able to come in, how can they be entitled to enjoy the best treatment." Du Ruhui's plain words were full of contemptuous arrogance.

Li Jiancheng nodded with a complicated expression. He was afraid that the more he knew, the less he would compete with the Sui Dynasty, so he simply stopped talking.

Everyone divided the guests into seats, and when the maid served tea and left, Du Ruhui asked, "The Tang envoy must have something important to do when he comes this time. If we don't even know the reason for your visit, we naturally don't know how to discuss it. Please tell me clearly." , so that we can get back to you.”

When it came to business, Li Jiancheng looked solemn, bowed his body, and said, "Jiancheng came here at the order of his father. One is to respond to Fang Shangshu and Du Shangshu's visit years ago. The other is that the two Shangshu were entrusted by the emperor of your dynasty to propose an end to the matter." We have a very clear attitude towards the proposal of hostility and peaceful coexistence, and we very much welcome such a reconciliation. After careful consideration, we agreed to the original reconciliation agreement of the Gui Dynasty, specifically using the Xiangyang, Chongling, Jingling, Yiling, and Qingjiang The five counties of Jingzhou reached a settlement."

Du Ruhui sneered inwardly.

What is promise?

If you really agreed, you would have signed it earlier.Li Yuan obviously saw that Li Mi was gone, and felt that he could not defend the five counties in Jingbei, so he simply used it for a year's respite and allowed the Tang army on the Hanshui defense line to withdraw completely.

It's a good idea, don't you know what is meant by 'the present is not what it used to be' and what is meant by 'the changes in the state of the world'?

He asked calmly: "Aside from this, is there any other purpose?"

"In addition, in order to prevent conflicts, the two sides have sent envoys to station in each other's capital for timely communication."

"I understand." Du Ruhui nodded and said, "I will definitely report the truth to the Holy One."

After finishing his official business, Li Jiancheng said to Yang You: "I have a personal request, please inform Renpu on your behalf."

"Brother Jiancheng, please tell me, only my younger brother can do it, and there will be no embarrassment." Yang You was very polite.

"I haven't been with my third sister for many years. I want to see her and my niece."

Li Jiancheng and Li Xiuning are brothers and sisters who are deeply in love. After many years of separation, they miss each other like old wine, getting better and better with age. Although we know that she had a good life in Sui Dynasty, after arriving in Luoyang, the heart of reunion is even more ardent.

When Yang You heard about this, he couldn't help laughing, "It's simple, I must report to Brother Huang. Your niece's name is Yang Lu, and her nickname is Xiaolu. That girl is eccentric and very cute. Seeing you, brother, I must I like it very much."

"Really? I can't wait." Li Jiancheng liked it, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "In addition, Changsun Wuji is also here. His mood is the same as mine. Can you..."

"I understand, let's report together." Yang You responded.

"Everyone is tired all the way, let's take a rest first. Let me go and report." Seeing that it was almost done, Du Ruhui took his leave and left.

"Thank you two."

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda got up and saw the guard leaving, Li Jiancheng suddenly gave a wry smile.

"Why are you laughing, Your Highness?" Chen Shuda looked at Li Jiancheng in confusion.

"Today I know what it means to sit in a well and look at the sky, without knowing the world." Li Jiancheng looked at the direction Yang You and Du Ruhui left, and sighed, "I think back then, the world said that Yang Yu was cruel, vulgar, lawless and unscrupulous. The gentry even criticized the Sui Dynasty. The legal system of the court was said to be the second tyranny of the Qin Dynasty, and Confucian scholars all over the world were encouraged to be against it, but looking at Luoyang today, and comparing it with Xiangyang, where the nobles are rampant, it is really ridiculous."

Chen Shuda nodded. There are at least hundreds of thousands of people on the street today, but although these people were emotional, he never found a single person who broke the rules. The reason why people obey the rules is probably because of Yang Tong's efforts. The implementation of the legal system has nothing to do with it. It is precisely because of a set of strict laws to restrict that dozens of people are so content.

The rule of virtue and the rule of law seem to run counter to each other, but they have a lot in common. The rule of virtue requires everyone to be a saint. When everyone becomes a moral saint, there will be no crimes.

But is it possible?of course not.

As long as people are selfish and have distracting thoughts, it is simply not feasible to ask the people to do what they want purely morally.In fact, the gentry who advocate the rule of virtue know this truth, because there are many intrigues among the gentry, and the family rules of each family are clearly the law. In such a situation, the rule of virtue should be replaced by the rule of law, purely to oppose And opposed.

The legal system is based on the premise that human nature is evil, using a set of rules and regulations to regulate people's bottom line, forcing people to be "moral saints".Although people in the world say that the rule of law is cruel, since the Han Dynasty, orthodox regimes of all sizes have been implementing the rule of law, but because of the compromise of interests, the rule of law cannot be fully implemented. The chaos of the great cause is not caused by the collapse of the rule of law?
Yang Tong insisted on governing the country by law and perfecting the law for many years. Only then did Luoyang take back Luoyang for a short time, but because the rule of law was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, although the occupation time was not as long as Xiangyang, the capital of Li and Tang Dynasties, it was longer than Xiangyang. Orderly and orderly countless times.

"Your Highness, when we return to Xiangyang, we must strongly recommend the Holy Majesty. Before we are insufficiently prepared, we must not rashly start a war with the Sui army." Chen Shuda said solemnly,
Yang Tong is really scary right now, just what Du Ruhui said in front of the door is enough to prove that the Sui army is a fierce army that is happy when it hears the battle and dares to fight. With this momentum alone, the Sui army has already surpassed the world , and thinking of the elimination method layer by layer, the combat power of the Sui army is chilling to think about.

"I understand." Li Jiancheng nodded silently.

(End of this chapter)