usatvline Chapter 15 Thunderclap in Liaodong, Wind Rises on the Green Grass
Chapter 15 Thunderclap in Liaodong, Wind Rises on the Green Grass
Yang Yan had just regained his footing, enduring the excruciating pain, and was ready to strike while the iron was hot.
He wanted to offer a few more insights into the "crisis of the Kaihuang era's golden age".
This will further consolidate this hard-won imperial favor.
However, before he could speak, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
The chaotic sounds instantly shattered the relaxed atmosphere that had just taken place in the Daxing Hall.
"Report—!"
A military messenger, covered in dust, staggered and almost crashed open the palace door.
His helmet was askew, and his armor was covered in dried mud, clearly indicating that he had been on a long march and had not slept for several days.
Before he could even stand up straight, he fell to his knees with a thud.
He crawled a few steps until he reached the foot of the imperial steps.
"Your Majesty! Urgent report! A message sent from Liaodong via express courier!!"
Qianniu Wei was panting heavily, his voice hoarse.
He took out a bamboo tube sealed with sealing wax from his pocket and held it high above his head.
Yang Yue quickly stepped forward, took it, and presented it to the imperial desk with both hands.
Yang Jian grabbed the bamboo tube, crushed the sealing wax, and pulled out the military report inside.
He unfolded the rough hemp paper and scanned it quickly with his eyes.
As he read, his face, which had just calmed down, instantly turned ashen.
"Bang!"
With a loud bang, Yang Jian slammed his palm hard on the sandalwood imperial desk.
"Bold Gowon!"
"I have treated him well! I have sent envoys to establish friendly relations every year and bestowed countless gifts upon him, yet he dared to secretly collude with the Mohe and launch a surprise attack on my Liaoxi region!"
"They wounded my soldiers and plundered my supplies! Do they think my Sui Dynasty is made of paper?!"
Yang Jian was furious and slammed the memorial in his hand to the ground.
The wide sleeves of his dragon robe billowed as he moved violently.
Dugu Jialuo, who was standing nearby, quickly got up and walked behind him.
She didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently stroked Yang Jian's violently heaving back.
She knew that this founding emperor had spent his life fighting and hated nothing more than the humiliation of the border regions.
Goguryeo's move undoubtedly struck a nerve with him.
Yang Jian was like an enraged lion at that moment.
He glanced at Yang Yan standing below, his eyes filled with impatience.
"What are you still standing here for?"
Yang Jian waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.
"This is none of your business! Go back to the East Palace and reflect on your actions! Don't get in the way!"
After saying that, he shouted at Yang Yue.
"Immediately issue my decree! Summon Gao Jiong, Yang Su, Su Wei, Niu Hong, and Yuwen Shu to the palace for a meeting!"
"I will show that brat Gao Yuan what the wrath of the Celestial Empire truly is!"
"This old servant obeys the order!" Yang Yue bowed and accepted the command, then turned and strode quickly outside.
Yang Yan looked at the furious Yang Jian, and his heart sank.
Urgent report from Liaodong! Goguryeo!
As a time traveler familiar with this period of history, Yang Yan understood the significance of this "urgent report" better than anyone else.
As a time traveler, he understood the weight of this "urgent report" better than anyone else.
In the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era in history, the Sui Dynasty suffered a disastrous defeat in its first eastern expedition against Goguryeo.
Yang Liang, the King of Han, was appointed as the commander-in-chief, and Gao Jiong was appointed as the chief clerk of the marshal, in charge of all military affairs.
Ultimately, due to heavy rain and disease, eight or nine out of ten of the 300,000-strong army were lost, and they returned empty-handed.
After this battle, Gao Jiong's favor with the emperor greatly diminished, and Yang Su and others seized upon this as leverage, ultimately leading to his dismissal as prime minister.
Gao Jiong—the pillar that has kept Yang Yong alive until now—was the only one who survived. After the defeat of Goguryeo, the Crown Prince's palace collapsed completely, and this marked the beginning of the new era.
Yang Yan's mind raced as he weighed the options.
Tonight marks a turning point in history.
If I were to simply withdraw like this, I would be handing my fate over to the inertia of history.
Once Yang Su and his men arrived, a few slanderous words and several attempts to frame them were made.
With Gao Jiong's expedition now a certainty, the death knell for the Crown Prince was tolled.
We can't leave!
We absolutely cannot leave!
Yang Yan's eyes narrowed, and he disregarded the pain in his buttocks.
He stepped forward abruptly, cupped his hands in greeting again, and spoke in a loud voice.
"Grandfather, please calm your anger! Your grandson dares to request to stay!"
Yang Jian was on the verge of exploding in rage.
Upon hearing this, his brows furrowed, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"What did you say? Matters of national importance are not something a mere child like you should meddle in!"
"Those twenty strokes of the cane didn't teach you a lesson, did they?!"
Faced with the emperor's oppressive aura, Yang Yan did not back down.
Instead, he straightened his back and spoke very quickly but clearly.
"Your grandson dares not presume to discuss state affairs! But since childhood, I have studied the Art of War, and in the past, my father often told me about his experiences guarding the northern border when he was young. My heart has long yearned for the battlefield!"
"Moreover, as a descendant of the Yang family, I should naturally share the burdens of the imperial clan! My grandfather had long ago formulated the national policy of 'sending princes to govern,' intending to train the imperial clan's sons."
Yang Yan raised his head and stared intently at Yang Jian.
He presented Yang Jian with a reason that he couldn't refuse.
"My grandson is sixteen years old now; he's reached adulthood!"
"Since Your Majesty wishes to discuss the war in Liaodong, I humbly request to listen in."
"Not for political interference, but simply to learn how to govern the four directions, so that I may share the burdens of the court and my imperial grandfather in the future!"
That was an extremely well said statement.
This both invoked ancestral traditions and demonstrated an attitude of learning.
Yang Jian stared at Yang Yan for a long time, and the anger in his eyes subsided slightly, replaced by scrutiny.
This kid was just beaten black and blue, and now he dares to stay and refuse to leave just to listen to the government? This kind of courage is really unlike Yang Yong.
"snort!"
Yang Jian remained silent for a moment, then finally snorted coldly: "Fine! If you want to learn, then keep it. But remember this—in front of all the ministers, you are not allowed to speak, only listen! If you dare to utter even half a word, I will have you thrown out immediately!"
"Your grandson obeys!"
Yang Yan felt reassured and quickly bowed in agreement.
Then, enduring the pain, she obediently retreated to a shady corner of the main hall.
But he didn't really intend to remain mute.
The prime ministers will need some time to arrive from their respective residences.
This period of inactivity is his only chance.
He had to plant a thorn in Yang Jian's heart before Yang Su and the others arrived.
A single thorn powerful enough to change the course of the battle.
Yang Yan went over what he was going to say in his mind several times, and after confirming that there were no obvious loopholes, he took a deep breath and stepped forward again.
He feigned a humble and eager-to-learn demeanor: "Grandfather, since the gentlemen have not yet arrived, I have a question that I am puzzled by and cannot understand. I humbly request your guidance."
Yang Jian was pacing impatiently in the hall when he heard this. He paused slightly and said irritably, "Speak."
Yang Yan frowned slightly, a hint of confusion appearing on his face.
"My grandson doesn't understand."
"As far as I know, our Great Sui Dynasty had the intention of launching a northern expedition against the Turks last year, but it was temporarily shelved because Tuli Khan requested a marriage alliance."
"Now the army is well-prepared and supplies are stockpiled, all preparing to march north."
"Goguryeo is far away in Liaodong, and has always been fearful of our power but not grateful for our virtue. Why, at this particular time, have they suddenly become so bold as to jump out and harass our border?"
He raised his head, his eyes clear, as if he were truly just a young man full of curiosity about the world.
"Grandfather, could this be related to the Turks? Or could it just be a setup?"