Chapter 12: Usurping the Throne

  The misty rain is hazy and continuous, just like the mood of Yang Guang in the Yangzhou General Administration at this time, gloomy and depressing without end.

  In the rain and fog, Yangzhou City is still full of noise. Since the fall of Southern Chen, the emperor ordered the destruction of Jiankang City in Jiangnan, and this city in northern Jiangsu, Yangzhou, naturally became the new center of eastern China, with one day's prosperity following another.

  He stood quietly by the window, naked, gazing out at the vast and dark night sky. The cold wind swept across his body, but he didn't seem to mind. Although he had been in Jiangnan for many years, deep down he was still a true northerner. Xiao Meiniang leaned against the soft pillow, pulled over the warm silk quilt, covering that snow-white body that her husband couldn't get enough of, all the way up to his chin, hiding that stunning beauty. She silently watched her husband, feeling that he seemed to have become more rugged and weathered, completely unlike the gentle and refined Duke of Jinwang she was used to seeing every day. It was as if he had suddenly returned to the young man she first met sixteen years ago when she arrived in Chang'an from Jiangling. Although he was three years younger than her, his gaze at that time was so fiery and direct. A wave of burning pain came from below, due to his overly fierce and domineering movements earlier. However, she felt a sense of beauty - even when her husband's mood was the worst, he would still come find her. She didn't immediately go wipe herself clean, but instead reached out to grab a pillow and stuffed it under the quilt to cushion her full buttocks. She could feel his seed inside her, and she hoped that this seed would bloom and bear fruit. Their eldest son, Yang Zhao, was born in the fourth year of the Kaihuang era, and now he was already fourteen years old. Among their four children, even their youngest daughter, Jiji, who was born two years ago, was growing up quickly. She was still young, but her heart longed to give him a few more legitimate sons and daughters.

  The royal family was sparse, and Emperor Yang of Sui had a deep affection for Empress Dugu. He once vowed to love only her. Therefore, in his lifetime, he only had five sons and five daughters with Empress Dugu. Crown Prince Yang Yong had ten children, but not even one legitimate son. Jin Wang, as the current emperor's second son, now has only two sons and five daughters. Although she also took in several concubines for him, he didn't often go to them, so four of their five children were born by her. In any case, she still hoped that her husband would have many descendants and more children.

  "He's getting closer and closer!" He said, turning around to face him, his eyes cloudy and unopened, his tone filled with gloom. "Those black-clad men who infiltrated Yangzhou are the Black Iron Guards, the elite troops of the Eastern Palace. They're looking for me!"

  The guards who went out have returned to Yangzhou, and Pei Li secretly informed him of the news that someone is looking for Yi Feng and Ji Yao in Yangzhou. Who is Ji Yao, Yang Guang does not know, but the two words "Yi Feng" are not unfamiliar to him. Although the memories that had been sealed for a long time, even now he still remembers the two words "Yi Feng" as if they were new, and will never forget them.

  He didn't expect that eighteen years later, someone would bring up this matter again, and even involve two forces fighting on his turf.

  Another group of people were unclear who they were, but the identities of the corpses that had been brought back, he had already figured out, were actually the dead soldiers of the Eastern Palace's secret training, the Black Iron Guard.

  Yang Yong finally couldn't help but take action against him?

  Xiao kept his posture, lying on the bed and said: "Withdrawal is impossible, so fight back!"

  "But once this step is taken, there will be no turning back."

  "When you don't cut off, you will be affected by the chaos!" said Xiao Shi calmly. "In fact, even if you retreat now, where can you retreat to? At present, he is just a prince and cannot tolerate you. If one day he becomes the emperor, how can he let you go? Moreover, I know your ambition, with your ability, you are far superior to the prince by thousands of times. These years you have been guarding the northern border for the empire, defeating the Turks, pacifying the Southern Chen, and stabilizing Jiangnan, your labor and achievements are high, and your talent is more suitable for inheriting the great Sui dynasty than the prince. You understand the prince, he can't even manage a small Eastern Palace, how can he inherit the entire Great Sui in the future? Now the two saints in the palace and the people of the world are all looking at you, whether you like it or not, you have already completely taken the opposite side of Prince Yang. Can't you see that if you retreat now, it may bring disaster to us?"

  Yang Guang shook his head: "Jian Di Fa won't do that, even if he wants to, he doesn't dare. We five brothers, Jian Di Fa lives in the East Palace, while the other four of us are stationed in Jianghuai, Shu, Guanzhong and Hebei. If he dares to make a move, the consequences will be unbearable for him, he doesn't have the ability or courage. What I'm really worried about is Father Emperor, until now I still can't fully grasp his thoughts. In this matter, it ultimately depends on Father's decision. If he still has any hesitation, that would be a huge trouble for us. Once we take action and Father Emperor refuses to abolish Jian Di Fa, we will have to bear the backlash. Perhaps at that time, Father Emperor will destroy us in order to stabilize Jian Di Fa's position."

  "The Emperor may still be hesitant," she replied, "but in this matter, the key is still the Empress Dowager. She has long been disgusted with the Crown Prince and fully supports my husband." Although Xiao was born in Jiangnan, she had close ties with Dugu Qieluo of Chang'an and even interacted closely with the wives of the noble families in Daxing City. She was deeply favored by Dugu Qieluo, so she understood the wind direction of Daxing City very well. "Your Highness, although the Emperor is still hesitant, the Empress Dowager has already fully supported us. Now, we can only make a desperate bid!"

  "It's still not enough!" Yang Guang said with a bitter smile. Dugu Qieluo indeed liked him, and the Emperor also liked him, but they didn't only like him alone. When it came to favoritism, among the five brothers, the one who received the most imperial favor was actually the fifth prince, Han Wang Yang Yu. Yang Yu was six years younger than him, but he was more favored by the two emperors. Yang Guang and his other two brothers had all started taking on local posts when they were barely over ten years old. But Yang Yu was kept in the capital by the two emperors until last year, when he finally took on the post of Governor of Bingzhou. When he took office, the Emperor even personally escorted him to Bingzhou. As Governor of Bingzhou, the territory under his command stretched from Mount Hua in the west to Bohai in the east, and from Yanmen Pass in the north to the Yellow River in the south, covering a total of 52 states, completely entrusting Yang Yu with the former territories of Northern Qi. This was not all - the Emperor even granted Yang Yu special privileges, allowing him to handle matters without being bound by the law, and giving him the power to act on his own initiative.

  Yang Guang was not worried about pulling down the crown prince, as the crown prince had too many weaknesses. But what he had been hesitating about was whether he could smoothly take over as the new crown prince after pulling down Yang Yong. If not, everything would be meaningless. Among his five brothers, Yang Yong didn't put him in his eyes, and the third brother Qin Wang Yang Jun was not good at fighting, but liked luxury, and had been repeatedly scolded by the emperor for this reason, and even lost his official position last year, he was not an opponent.

  Fourth Prince of Shu, Yang Xiu, was enfeoffed as the King of Shu since the first year of Kaihuang. He was sent to govern Yizhou and oversee the military affairs of twenty-four states. Yang Xiu had been in Shu for eighteen years, occupying the heavenly land of Shu, which possessed many fierce barbarian troops. Moreover, among his brothers, Yang Xiu was exceptionally brave and had spent many years developing his power base in Shu, making him a true force to be reckoned with.

  The fifth prince Yang Yan was the most favored by Emperor Taizong of Tang and Empress Zhangsun, with vast territory and strong military.

  If he were to contend with the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince was deposed, then apart from Yang Jun who had already been dismissed from office, there would still be two others who posed a great threat to him: Shu King Yang Xiu and Han King Yang Guang. Both of these men held sway over their own territories and commanded large armies.

  Yang Guang was stationed in Jianghuai, commanding the 44 states of Jianghuai. Yang Xiu was stationed in Shu, commanding the military affairs of the 24 states of Shucheng. Yang Yan was also stationed in Guandong, owning the old land of Northern Qi with 52 states. In terms of territory, Yang Guang's territory was not the largest. In terms of geography, both Shu and Guandong were lands that were easy to defend and difficult to attack, which were the foundation of a king's career. However, his Jiangnan was the most unfavorable. His only advantages were his reputation for virtue and his status as the eldest son.

  Yang Xiu may not be able to contend with himself, but Yang Rong is hard to say. Moreover, there is another point that Yang Xiu and Yang Yong have a close relationship, Yang Xiu may not fight for the position of crown prince himself, but it's hard to guarantee that he won't support Yang Yong to keep his position.

  "Not enough chips? Then think of a way to get some more!" she replied.

  "Do you have any good advice?"

  "I'm just a woman, I shouldn't have a say in such important matters. But as your wife, I am one with you, and at this moment, I won't hold back. In my opinion, Your Highness is already prepared, all that's lacking is the determination. Such a great matter should be decided with wholehearted dedication, without any hesitation or wavering." He would reveal a hint of inner hesitation in front of her, but he wouldn't show such an attitude to others. This made her happy, for she was a princess from a fallen kingdom and knew that this struggle for power was all-in, allowing no room for hesitation. Even if her husband were to lose one day, she would have no regrets.

  "Yes, Yang Guang relies on Gao Jie's support in the court, which is his greatest pillar. Gao Jie was the most important minister of this dynasty and originally a servant of my maternal grandfather's household. He later followed Emperor Wen and achieved countless merits, being deeply trusted by both Emperor Wen and Empress Wei. Otherwise, Yang Yong would not have married his daughter to Gao Jie's son. More than half of the officials in the court are under Gao Jie's wing, with his support, it will be difficult to overthrow Yang Yong."

  "Then think of a way to overthrow Gao Jiong first," said Xiao Shi, "Gao Jiong has been in power for eighteen years, sitting as the prime minister until now, he must have made many enemies and there are definitely people who want to take his place."

  Yang Guang's mouth slightly curved upwards at these words, "The princess is right, with great merit comes great danger to the ruler. Gao Jiong is the most powerful minister in the current court, and has been in his position for over ten years, an unprecedented event. Even more than half of the officials in the court were promoted or recommended by him, just like Su Wei and Yang Su, two of the four nobles in the current court, who were also promoted by him. It's difficult to take him down, but it's not entirely impossible."

  "Su Wei or Yang Su?"

  Since the founding of the country, there have been only a handful of powerful ministers who truly held power in the court. They were Gao Jiong, Li Deling, Su Wei, Yu Qingchen, and Yang Su. Li Deling was once the first meritorious subject of the emperor's conquest of Zhou, but unfortunately, he later opposed the emperor's extermination of the Northern Zhou royal family and was disliked by the emperor, thus withdrawing from the central government. Su Wei, although a famous reformer and son of Su Shi, also entered the central government solely due to Gao Jiong's recommendation. Yu Qingchen and Yang Su were both military generals who turned to civil administration. However, Yu Qingchen's achievements were too great, which led to his downfall as he was accused of treason and executed last year. Currently, the court is dominated by Gao Jiong, Su Wei, and Yang Su, with Su Wei and Yang Su having been recommended by Gao Jiong for their positions. Therefore, it can be said that the court is completely under Gao Jiong's leadership. If he supports Yang Yong, then the entire court will basically support Yang Yong as well.

  Xiao Shi said that Su Wei and Yang Su's names mean that if you want to overthrow Gao Jiong, the only reliable way is to use his left and right hands to overthrow him.

  "Su Wei is a man with strong administrative abilities, but lacks charisma. He's the type who will change his stance according to the situation, but won't take the lead. On the other hand, Yang Su was originally a military general, and his tactics are divine, never having lost a battle. Observing how he commands troops, he is bold and aggressive, with great charisma. Now that he's the Right Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat, he's just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of power among officials. I think he must hope to take another step forward and replace Gao Jiong."

  "Then unite with Yang Su and first overthrow Gao Jiong!"

  "Hmm!"

  Yang Guang turned around again, his eyes cast back into the darkness. He stood there, gazing out at the darkness outside the house, as if he had already made up his mind and was making a comprehensive plan.