Chapter Thirty-two: Definitely Betraying You

  The borders of the Great Sui Empire stretch over ten thousand li from south to north and from east to west. The entire territory of the Great Sui looks like an inverted pear, with the north being large and the south being small. The length from north to south is much greater than that from east to west. Even from the westernmost Yong Prefecture to the easternmost Jiangdu Prefecture, it exceeds ten thousand li, which shows the vastness of the Great Sui territory.

  Yongzhou Prefecture was taken over by the Great Sui fifteen years ago, after it destroyed the Shang Kingdom and occupied two-thirds of its territory. Yongzhou is also the largest prefecture in the Great Sui, and the city of Yongzhou was once the capital of the Shang Kingdom. After the fall of the Shang Kingdom, the escaped crown prince Murong Chi established the Southern Yan Kingdom in Dali City, paying tribute to the Great Sui and calling himself the Son Emperor. Perhaps because the land of Southern Yan was too exhausted and small, it did not arouse the appetite of the Great Sui Emperor, so Southern Yan was able to barely survive.

  The Great Sui was founded by military power, and emperors of all generations launched at least one external campaign to show that they did not abandon their ancestors' martial spirit. As a result, the military has always occupied an important position in the court for over a hundred years since the founding of the Great Sui. Many countries, when they were first founded, valued military achievements. But after several years, decades, or even tens of years, they would gradually weaken the power of their generals and emphasize civil governance over military might. However, the Great Sui was different. From the time of Emperor Taizu of the Great Sui, who rose up in arms to conquer the Central Plains, every emperor of the Great Sui took it as their duty to expand the territory. If anyone failed to capture a piece of land, they would not even be able to look themselves in the eye.

  It is precisely because of this that some countries around the Great Sui are unbearable. The Liang State, Zhou State, Wei State, Zhao State, Southern Qi, Northern Qi, and Eastern Wei, these states became the capital of the Great Sui emperors' self-praise one after another. The territories of these states also became certain counties of the Great Sui.

  By the time of the previous emperor, because there was no other way to fight, he had to take military action against the merchant country that had always maintained good relations with Great Sui. It's not that the previous emperor of Great Sui was too cruel and ruthless, but it's strange that the emperor before him defeated Eastern Chu, the last one who dared to challenge Great Sui, leaving only one-fifth of its original size. If it weren't for the fact that Eastern Chu's remaining territory was a peninsula, and its naval forces were far stronger than its land army, then that peninsula would have been taken by Great Sui as well.

  So when it came to Emperor Yang of Sui, he was also very worried. For eleven years since his ascension to the throne, he would look at the huge map in the luxurious and spacious imperial study every day, trying to find a place that dared to disobey the Great Sui. In eleven years, apart from the Mongol Empire on the vast grasslands, he really couldn't find anywhere else.

  As for taking military action against the Mongol Empire, what is needed is not just bravery. The emperors of successive Sui dynasties were not lacking in bravery, but all chose to maintain peaceful relations with the Mongol Empire.

  It's not that I don't want to fight, nor is it that I dare not fight, but rather that I am unable to fight.

  The vast grasslands stretch for tens of thousands of miles, far exceeding the territory of the Great Sui. Even if the Great Sui is rich and confident in its infantry defeating the Mongol Empire's cavalry, it would still be impossible to support such a massive war. The consumption of the army alone would be enough to drag the empire to death.

  Without an army of at least 500,000 troops, it's not even worth considering taking military action against the Mongols and Yuans. An army of 500,000 men marching thousands of miles would consume enormous resources.

  It's not a matter of daring or not, but it's simply impossible to bring down.

  Unless the Sui dynasty had a cavalry strong enough to counterbalance the Mongols.

  Cavalry was forever a thorn in Emperor Yang of Sui's heart.

  However, by the spring of the eleventh year of Daxing Tianyou, it seemed that Emperor Yang of Sui's heart disease had a cure. At the end of March, a team of people from the Right Rongwei Army stationed in the northwest border arrived in Chang'an, the capital city, with only twenty or so men, lightly equipped and traveling quickly, each riding two horses, taking two months to arrive in Chang'an.

  You Xiwei's twenty-odd cavalrymen escorted three Northern Liao people into the imperial capital.

  These three Northern Liao people were the ones who had been detained by Li Xiaozong for selling war horses in Fan Gu. The leader was a young and robust man with physical characteristics unique to the harsh lands of Northern Liao. He was tall, sturdy, and fair-skinned, regardless of gender. This seemed to defy logic, as the extreme cold of Northern Liao should have made their skin red and rough from the freezing temperatures.

  But in fact, the skin of the Northern Liaoning people is very good.

  Especially the women of Northern Liaoning, white as if transparent and crystal clear like a snowman.

  The leader of the Northern Liao people was a young man named Wanyan Liuyao, who looked to be in his early twenties. His hair was styled in a way unique to the Northern Liao people, with the front shaved smooth and the back braided into a long, glossy queue. He wore clothing that differed greatly from that of the Central Plains people, including a horsehide jacket, a shoulder cape, and a sable-trimmed long robe.

  This was the first time Wanyan Luyu had entered the Central Plains, and on his way, he had imagined countless times what the imperial capital Chang'an of the Great Sui Dynasty would look like. He had used all his imagination to imagine Chang'an City big enough, but when he saw it from afar, he still couldn't help but open his mouth in surprise.

  Majestic! Grandiose!

  Just like the endless Great Wall of China.

  When the Chang'an City appeared in his line of sight, Wanyan Liuyao couldn't see the end of it. It was as if this magnificent city had been naturally formed, standing tall between heaven and earth. When he rode his horse closer to Chang'an City, his mouth was already open so wide that it hurt a little.

  Looking up, the city wall is as high as a sharp sword piercing through the clouds. Looking left and right, the city wall stretches endlessly without bounds.

  He rode through the Dingqiang Gate, one of the thirteen gates in Chang'an's west city wall. It was also the least noticeable of the thirteen gates, yet despite this, the massive gate could still allow eight horse-drawn carriages to pass through side by side with ease. The bronze studs on the vermilion giant gate looked bigger than a human head.

  Wanyan Liao's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he swallowed hard: "I didn't expect... I really didn't expect that even with my greatest effort to imagine the grandeur of Chang'an City, I could only imagine one percent of its true appearance. This is not a city, it's clearly a great mountain!"

  You Xun's team leader disdainfully curled his lip and after going through the formalities with the soldiers guarding the city gate, directly entered the city.

  ……

  ……

  Originally, a few barbarians from the poorest and coldest place in the world, Beili, would not have received high-level treatment. Even the special envoy sent by Wanyan Yong, the Khan of Beili, last time was only received by a sixth-grade official from the Ministry of Rites of the Great Sui Dynasty.

  But this time it was obviously different, when the scene of Wan Yan Liao's departure was seen to be continuously shocking and numb, the leading officer said that he had arrived, and he slightly regained some consciousness.

  The relay station was originally supposed to be built outside the city of Chang'an. However, because the Great Sui is too big and Chang'an City is also too big, foreign envoys and high-ranking officials who returned to the capital to report on their duties would spend too much time coming and going if they lived outside the city. Therefore, the relay station was built on the East Ping Fourth Street, about ten miles away from the Taiji Palace.

  When Wanyan Liao arrived at the gate of the post station, he was still marveling that a single post station was more majestic than the palace of the Khan of Northern Liao. His eyes were completely insufficient, looking left and right, as curious as an infant opening its eyes to see the world for the first time.

  "Are you Wanyan Lieyao?"

  Just as he was feeling sentimental, a cold and detached voice with a hint of disdain sounded from behind him. Wanyan Liuyao hastily turned around to see a person wearing a green official robe. This green official robe, according to the Great Sui officials' ceremonial attire, could be identified at a glance as being worn by a minor official below the seventh rank.

  In Chang'an, even a third-grade official was not considered a big shot. A minor official like this one would be even less noticeable to the citizens of Chang'an. However, Wanyan Liuyao couldn't help but take notice of him because he carried a huge mission on his shoulders this time. He had read all the books about Great Sui, so he could also tell that this person was only an eighth-grade minor official who didn't even enter the mainstream. Yet, he still showed sufficient humility and displayed the most sincere smile.

  "The grassland is the father of all the people in the ten million mountains of Beiliao, and the great and kind Wu De Khan has sent his envoy, Wanyan Liuyao, to pay homage to the Heavenly Khan. May I ask who this noble person is?"

  Only people from Northern Liaoning can speak such a long and tedious dialect.

  That person, slightly impatiently, said: "I am the Recording Secretary of the Ministry of Rites of the Great Sui. I have been ordered to wait here for you. Don't go into the post station just yet, our Minister of Rites is waiting for you, come with me."

  "Does the Minister of Rites want to see me in person?"

  Wanyan Lie's expression clearly showed that he didn't quite believe his own ears.

  That recorder didn't want to say anything else and got on a horse-drawn carriage. Wanyan Liyou didn't dare to delay either, and followed him up.

  ……

  ……

  Huai Qiu Gong, the Minister of Rites of the Great Sui Dynasty, was a veteran of three dynasties and was already 72 years old. In fact, since Emperor Yang Yi ascended to the throne, he had rarely asked about the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Usually, it was the Vice Minister of Rites, Pei Xuan, who presided over the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. However, today, this venerable old man arrived at the Ministry of Rites very early in the morning. Except for Pei Xuan, who had received prior information, none of the officials in the Ministry of Rites were not surprised. It was worth noting that this old man, who dared to point out that His Majesty the Emperor did not understand etiquette, had not come to the Ministry of Rites for four months and twenty-nine days.

  Because the Great Sui is too big, the northwest border in March is still windy and snowy, but the willow branches on the main street of the imperial capital have already sprouted new green. However, perhaps because they are worried that the Minister of Rites is too old, the warming stove is still lit in the wing room.

  The Minister of Rites, Pei, sat respectfully with his hands hanging down, chatting with the elderly gentleman.

  "Ah, you've got everything under control here, not bad... Tomorrow I'll submit another memorial and step down, that way the Ministry of Rites will truly be in your hands."

  Your humble servant is terrified

  "Your old self is still so robust, and the emperor's kindness to you is so profound. How can you lightly speak of retiring from court? The Ministry of Rites cannot do without you either."

  "This horse's fart doesn't sound good at all."

  Huaiqiu Gong smiled and said, "You've already added the word 'old' to your title, how can you say I'm not old? Having served three generations of emperors, I should have retired long ago. It's just that people get more greedy for power as they age, it's shameful even to think about it myself. As for what you said about the Ministry of Rites being unable to do without me, that's purely a lie... haven't I been gone for two months now? New people have been added and don't even know them."

  He smiled awkwardly: "You haven't been here for almost five months."

  "Huh?"

  Huaiqiu hesitated for a moment, chuckled and said: "Walking the dog, fighting birds, feeding fish, planting grass, raising flowers, pruning trees... this life is actually passing by so quickly... Ah yes, I was too busy chatting and forgot about the important matter entrusted to me by Your Majesty."

  The old man stroked his snowy beard and said: "Later, you go see those people from Northern Liao, and receive them according to the etiquette for envoys of a great nation."

  "Didn't they usually just arrange for a single officer to meet with him before? What's different this time?"

  "Of course not."

  Huaiqiu Gong smiled, the wrinkles on his face gathered into a flower: "The northwest is not peaceful... At this time, people from Beiliao came to the door by themselves, isn't that just what Your Majesty wants? Haha... When you want wind, you get wind, when you want rain, you get rain. Just thinking about it makes me feel refreshed."

  Pei Yun's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked incredulously: "Your Majesty wants... to take military action against Mongolia?"

  "Otherwise, who would dare to move? Is Your Majesty comparing with Emperor Taizu?"

  The old man laughed like an old fox, revealing a hint of complacency and a few parts of rare cuteness: "But I only told you this, whatever rumors are circulating in the imperial court... You know that I, the old man, am greedy for power and afraid of trouble, and will definitely betray you."