On May 13th, Yang Guang set out to patrol the west. As for which road to take, there was actually only one road. Drawing an east-west line along the map of Gansu Province was the only way out of the Central Plains to the west.
When he left this time, Yang Guang took not many officials, not many concubines, but most of them were monks, Taoists, opera artists and some business groups.
That's right, Yang Guang went to Zhangye and planned to sign some trade agreements with the countries in the Western Regions. It was a national-level trade.
The purpose of opening up the Hexi Corridor is for foreign trade. Trade is a major means of resolving conflicts between countries. It not only makes money, but also promotes border stability and can also resolve internal conflicts within a country.
Commerce drives the economy upward. As the economy rises, the country must be prosperous. Now that the Sui Dynasty is connected from north to south due to the canal, plus the Hexi Corridor, the economy is in a period of explosive growth that is about to blow out. Many southerners have entered Luoyang through the canal, and then from there.
Luoyang passed through the capital and went out of Yumen Pass to do business with the Western Regions.
No matter who sits in Yang Guang's position, he will be in high spirits, because everyone can see that the Sui Dynasty is in a rapid upward process.
But Yang Ming knew that many policies of the Sui Dynasty had shortcomings. If they could not set off a reform that affected the whole country, the current prosperity would be just a flash in the pan.
The key is that if Yang Ming doesn't dare to reform, it will be a matter of life and death.
This time, Sun Sheng, the only top diplomat in the Sui Dynasty, did not leave with Yang Guang because in April, Sun Sheng suddenly fell ill.
Yang Ming was busy with government affairs in the East Palace and did not have time to visit. After the meeting today, he took Yang Yinjiang to Changsun Sheng's house in person.
"Don't get up, just lie down," Yang Ming felt bad when he saw Chang Sun Sheng's current appearance.
Humans are emotional creatures after all. Yang Ming always watched helplessly as one of the important figures in history passed away, feeling sad in his heart.
No matter how beautiful you were during your lifetime, you will eventually be buried one day.
Changsun Sheng's illness came on quickly, and he suddenly became ill. He had not been seen for more than a month, and he had already lost a lot of weight.
People are afraid of suddenly losing weight for no reason, which must be a serious problem with their body.
"I have a ruined body. I have the prince to visit me personally, but I can't get down to greet you. I am rude, and the prince should not blame me." It was obvious that Zhang Sun Sheng was already speaking very reluctantly.
Yang Yinjiang, who had experienced the death of her grandfather Yang Su, also saw that his life was running out.
Yang Ming sat beside the bed, holding Chang Sun Sheng's withered palm: "You and I are not outsiders, so don't be rude. I have brought the imperial doctors here, so I will let them live in your house and treat you properly."
Changsun Sheng forced a smile: "I know that my body has never been so sick before. I'm afraid I won't be able to survive this."
Perhaps out of sympathy and pity, Yang Ming couldn't help but shed a few tears and subconsciously raised his sleeves to wipe them away.
This scene was clearly seen by Changsun Wuji, who was standing aside.
"I was granted the title of Zhuguo in the early years because of the crown prince. I have not repaid this favor to this day. I feel so ashamed." Changsun Sheng also cried, perhaps because he knew that he could not survive this time.
Yang Ming said: "I recommend you, the most important weapon of the Changsun Kingdom, not out of selfish motives. How can I be grateful? Don't say this anymore. You should cultivate yourself well now. I look forward to seeing you again at the court meeting."
Changsun Sheng smiled, then looked at his children and said slowly:
"You all kneel down to the prince."
The eldest son, grandson Xingbu, took the lead, and the four sons and the unmarried youngest daughter, grandson Wugao, all knelt down towards Yang Ming.
Changsun Sheng continued: "You all listen to me. I owe the prince a great favor as my father, and I may not be able to repay it in this life. You should carry on my ambition and repay the prince. If you have any different intentions, you will not be allowed to enter the ancestral grave."
.”
"My son understands," a group of people suddenly started crying.
Yang Ming also knew that this was Sun Sheng's last scheming, and he hoped that he could take care of his children.
So taking advantage of the current opportunity, Yang Ming said directly:
"We are getting older. When our eldest grandson is healthy, we will go to the East Palace and take up his post as the Right Military Attendant. Wuji is the youngest, so I still have to learn more from Li Baiyao. When you grow up, I will make my own arrangements."
The two of them quickly thanked each other.
Of the four sons, Yang Ming decided to have two at once, one from his ex-wife and one from his current wife, Mrs. Gao, which allowed his eldest son, Sun Sheng, to die in peace.
Changsun Sheng couldn't stay in front of the sick bed for too long, so Yang Ming left early and was sent out of the mansion by Changsun Xingbu. He only waited until Yang Ming's motorcade had gone far and Changsun Xingbu stood up and returned to the mansion.
"Wuji is only eleven years old, why should he be valued by the prince? The two of us are not doing well," Sun Anye, the third eldest son, complained to Hengye, the second eldest son, in the yard.
Changsun Hengye was relatively honest. Hearing this, he frowned and said:
"We are all brothers, so the benefits are not passed on to others, right? When Wuji followed me from Luoyang back to the capital, he fell in love with the prince. Now he has been following the prince for three years. What do you have to be dissatisfied with?"
Changsun Wuji was also present, but said nothing.
He has long been used to it. He and his sister have little status in this family.
Ancient times were different from modern times. Although his biological mother, Mrs. Gao, was his current wife, after her death, she was not buried in the same hole as Changsun Sheng, but in the front.
The one who can be buried with Changsun Sheng is the biological mother of Changsun Xingbu and the others.
If this were placed in modern times, the wife's son would definitely be the most favored at the moment, but this was not the case in ancient times. In ancient times, the first wife was respected. If the Gao family had a good family background, it was called a stepmother.
After Xingbu came back, he happened to hear this sentence. He frowned and said:
"The prince arranges it, don't discuss it in private, and don't dare to talk about the family law again."
After saying that, Xingbu returned to his room to wait on his father.
The boss is the boss after all, and his authority is unquestionable. What's more, the ages of the four brothers are also different. Xingbu is already thirty-four this year, but Wuji is only eleven. His sons are all older than Zhangsun Wuji. He is the family.
Heir to the business.
Changsun Wuji said nothing and turned away.
That night, Wuji waited until his mother came out of the ward, then took her to the foot of a small tree and said:
"I'm afraid our life will be difficult in the future. I can say that I serve the prince in the East Palace and they can't do anything to me, but I'm afraid my mother and sister will have to suffer."
Mrs. Gao frowned and said, "They don't dare to mess around, do they?"
Faced with my mother's naivety, Changsun Wuji was a little speechless: "We are just a family. How have the three of them ever given my mother a good look in all these years? If my father is really my mother, I should have made plans earlier."
"Alas," Mrs. Gao sighed, "How can I plan? I am not in charge of the family. Even if I wanted to move to another place, I don't have the capital. What's more, leaving home as a widow will harm my reputation."
Changsun Wuji said: "Don't worry about reputation. Maybe people will kick us out by then. If we don't have money, we can borrow some from my uncle. I can also borrow some from my mentor."
His mentor was Li Baiyao. Li Baiyao had a lot of money and had spent it all long ago. He hoped that Gao Shilian would be more reliable.
Mrs. Gao was silent for a long time and sighed: "Let's talk about this later. I don't want to leave home unless I have to."
Changsun Wuji saw that he could not be persuaded, so he could only give up temporarily. After all, he was only eleven years old. He could see that the Changsun brothers would drive them out of the house, which was already very powerful. As for how to deal with it, he could not figure out for a while.
At the moment, Wuji and his good friend Li Shimin are both in the East Palace. The two of them now have more opportunities to come into contact, and there is also an extra troublemaker, Yang Rui.
When the three of them were wandering around the palace, either Shimin was carrying Yang Rui or Wuji was carrying Yang Rui. After all, Yang Rui was still young and could not walk as fast as the two of them.
"I have long disliked your three brothers," Li Shimin said directly: "Xingbu is self-righteous, Anye is treacherous and despicable, and the second brother Hengye is just a loser. If you expect him to protect you mother and son, you might as well count on me.
"
"Alas" Wuji carried Yang Rui on his back and walked on the corridor of the inner palace, saying: "My mother-in-law has no involvement in the affairs of the family. The palace in the capital is expensive. With her little savings, she can't even buy a courtyard wall.
Can you lend me some?"
"I'm poorer than you," Shimin said with a smile, "Don't forget, I'm the second eldest child in the family, where do I get the money? My eldest brother is so picky that I can't borrow much from him."
After saying that, Li Shimin winked at Wuji, meaning that you have a big benefactor on your back.
Are you kidding? Can I open my mouth to borrow money from His Highness? Changsun Wuji glared back at him.
Is Yang Rui rich? He is stupid. During the two years when he was the king of Hedong, all the taxes paid by Hedong were taken away by his parents. He has never seen any money at all.
"Don't expect anything from Li Jijiu," Li Shimin struck: "Although his house is huge, I'm afraid his storehouse is empty. Haven't you seen that he always drinks with Du Ruhui?"
Changsun Wuji became more and more discouraged. He looked up to the sky and sighed: "Is it so difficult to find a place to live in the capital?"
"It's not difficult." At this time, Yang Rui finally spoke: "I know that my mother-in-law has many vacant houses. Do you want them?"
Yang Yinjiang is a top rich man. She is in charge of her husband's money, and she always feeds her husband's money, and her mother's family is the richest man in the capital.
Despite Yang Rui's young age, he is the direct eldest son of Yang Ming and Yang Yinjiang. He has been talking a lot about eavesdropping. Although he has not yet developed a scheming mind, his speaking routine is completely imitated by his parents.
Li Shimin quickly winked at Changsun Wuji. Seeing that the other person looked embarrassed, he helped:
"Wuji may not have a place to live in the future. Your Highness can't bear to see him living on the streets, right?"
"I won't bear it if you live on the street," Yang Rui patted Wuji's shoulder and said, "I will beg my mother and concubine. You don't need to worry about your whereabouts. I will never leave you without a place to live."
Changsun Wuji suddenly looked grateful and said: "Your Highness, don't rush to ask the Crown Princess for instructions now. The matter is not clear yet. Maybe you won't need your help in the future."
"Okay, you and I don't have to see each other. If you have any difficulties, it's okay to just ask," Yang Rui nodded and said nothing.
Changsun Wuji was very happy and walked with Yang Rui on his back even more vigorously.
Li Shimin was also happy and opened his mouth to play a tune. Then the three little guys sang loudly and returned to the East Palace in the afterglow.