It was getting daylight, and there was an empty space outside Yanmen City. The army was pressing down on the border, and the densely packed tents were no longer visible. There were only a few isolated tents in the open field. The Turkic army withdrew north, and cheers broke out on the top of the city.
On the street, hundreds of guards gathered around a carriage and rushed towards the city. Yang Guang also heard the cheers. He vaguely guessed something. He could no longer hold back his excitement and rushed to the city to inspect.
Other officials also followed his car on horseback.
At this time, Shi Xiang, the right-guard general, rushed up, knelt down on one knee and said: "Your Majesty, the Turkic army has retreated."
“Well done”
Yang Guang was elated. The big stone that had been weighing on his heart for more than ten days was lifted at this moment. He felt extremely light in his heart and said with a smile: "Where is General Yuwen, why don't you come to see me?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, he led three thousand troops to check the situation and will be back soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier on the top of the city shouted: "General Yuwen is back and has captured prisoners of war."
The city gate opened, and Yuwen Chengdu led 3,000 cavalry back to Yanmen City. There were more than 300 prisoners of war mixed in the team. Yuwen Chengdu saw Yang Guang's chariot from afar. He got off his horse and ran towards the chariot.
"Chen Yuwen meets His Majesty in Chengdu"
Yang Guang looked at the more than 300 Turkic prisoners of war from a distance and asked with a smile: "Did you really retreat?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yang Yuanqing cut off the Turkic food and grass, and the Turkic army was forced to withdraw northward."
Yang Guang looked a little unnatural. He didn't want the Turks to be forced to withdraw because of Yang Yuanqing. He didn't want to owe Yang Yuanqing a favor for a long time. He asked: "What about Yang Yuanqing's army?"
"I heard from prisoners of war that Yang Yuanqing's army was fighting a battle with 100,000 Turkic troops to the west of Xixing Pass. One of his scouts captured Xixing Pass yesterday, making it impossible for the main Turks to support them."
"Um"
Yang Guang agreed with great reluctance. He had no intention of going to the city for inspection anymore, so he ordered "Go back to the palace."
Yang Guang was in a complicated mood. Although he was relieved to return to the palace and the Turks retreated, he was a little embarrassed about how to deal with Yang Yuanqing. He did not deny Yang Yuanqing's role in rescuing him, but Yang Yuanqing's independent establishment of Fengzhou made him extremely unhappy and helpless.
I wanted to take advantage of this northern patrol to deal with him, but I didn't expect that I almost died in the hands of the Turks. Pei Ju was also kidnapped by the Turks, and I don't know whether he is alive or dead.
Yang Guang let out a long sigh. At this time, his daughter Yang Fangxin's voice suddenly came from behind him, "Father, it is a good thing that the Northern Captives retreated. Why did Father sigh?"
Yang Guang turned around and saw his daughter's eyes filled with joy. This bright look made all the unhappiness in his heart disappear. He chuckled and said: "Father is very happy without sighing. I am going to celebrate tonight."
"Father, I heard that Yang Yuanqing led the army to rescue the siege this time and forced the Turkic army back. Father, I must reward him well and not let the world laugh at my father."
When Yang Guang heard his daughter's unintentional words, he smiled bitterly in his heart and said: "My father knows how to reward him. You go to see your mother and your father is going to have a meeting with the ministers."
"My daughter resigned"
Yang Fangxin bowed and retreated out of the room. Yang Fangxin thought that she no longer had to marry that vicious Turkic Hu chief. She jumped up with joy, like a happy deer, and ran towards the backyard.
Just then, four people, including Yang Gongdao, Xiao Yu, Pei Yun and Fan Zigai, came over and saw the princess's childlike naughtiness. They looked at each other and laughed knowingly. Even the princess was so happy that the Turks retreated.
The four of them walked into the temporary imperial study. After a while, Yu Wenshu and Yu Shiji also came. Yu Shiji had been feeling a little sick for the past two days and his mind was dizzy. He didn't know what to say. He was also afraid of saying the wrong thing and attracting the Holy Emperor.
Displeased, he simply said nothing
Yang Yuanqing glanced at the crowd and said slowly: "The Turkic army has withdrawn to the north. I plan to wait for the southern aid army to arrive before returning to the capital. I came to see all my dear friends. I want to discuss with you how to deal with Yang Yuanqing's matter.
Want to hear everyone’s opinions”
There was silence in the room. No one knew what Yang Guang was thinking or how to answer. Xiao Yu was an upright person. He stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, I think this matter is a good thing. If it is handled well, it can be eased."
The conflict between Yang Yuanqing and the imperial court made him gradually rely on the imperial court, and finally completely eliminate the hidden dangers in Fengzhou. Therefore, my opinion is to recognize his achievements and appease him first."
Yu Wenshu said coldly: "Didn't he come to the aid of His Majesty just to seek the name of righteousness? If we continue to acknowledge his achievements, wouldn't it be fulfilling his wish?"
Pei Yun couldn't bear it anymore and stood up and said: "Xiangguo Yuwen, you can't say this. Yang Yuanqing came to save the emperor because he always thought that he was a Sui minister. It was only natural for Sui ministers to come to rescue him. If he didn't come to save him,
So how can he explain it to the world? So he has to come, and he has come. If he hadn't forced the Turks to retreat north, I'm afraid Xiangguo Yuwen would have been imprisoned in the Turk camp at this time, and would not have had the opportunity to sneer here.
"
"Shang Shu Pei, please be polite when you speak."
Yu Wenshu was a little annoyed and said angrily: "I am just discussing the matter. Your Majesty also wants to hear the opposite opinion. Is it true that everyone just sings praises to Yang Yuanqing? Is that what it means to be loyal?"
Fan Zigai laughed and said: "Prime Minister Yu Wen, it's not that you can't express negative opinions, but that your words must be meaningful. Your Majesty wants to know how to deal with Yang Yuanqing's matter. So what is your negative opinion? Do you not recognize him?
Should you take the opportunity to send troops to annihilate him, or coax him into Yanmen City and kill him with one blow? You didn't say it, you just said that he was just trying to gain fame, which is a bit mysterious. In fact, if Yuwen Xiangguo didn't think of it, he could wait a moment before talking about it.
Don’t fight like this.”
This is Fan Zigai's characteristic. He likes to step on others to move up. He is not targeting Yuwenshu specifically, but he found that Yuwenshu was the only one who opposed him. Yuwenshu was so angry that his face was livid, and he was speechless for a long time.
Pei Yun slapped him in the face, but Fan Zigai stabbed him in the back, which is even more hateful.
Yang Guang glanced at Yu Shiji and saw a sick look on his face, so he turned his attention to Yang Gongdao. Yang Gongdao was from the royal family. Most of his thoughts were based on safeguarding the country, and he always hit the point.
"Yang Shangshu, what's your opinion?"
Yang Gongdao quickly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I agree with Xiao Xiangguo's opinion, not because of Yang Yuanqing, but because Your Majesty wants to consider the dignity of the emperor. Since he saved his life, he should reward him. This shows your Majesty's generosity and is conducive to bribery."
The hearts of the state officers and soldiers made them feel that they were serving His Majesty rather than serving Yang Yuanqing. If His Majesty did not recognize his achievements, it would be tantamount to denying the achievements of the Fengzhou Army. I believe that this would put the Fengzhou Army at risk.
If you push Yang Yuanqing completely, there will be no room for recovery in the future, so what I mean is to commend the Fengzhou Army as the leader and commend Yang Yuanqing as the auxiliary. If you do this once and for all, Fengzhou will still be your Majesty's Fengzhou."
Yang Guang nodded happily, and Yang Gongdao said it clearly. He praised the Fengzhou Army as the main one, and praised Yang Yuanqing as the assistant. This was a brilliant move. He said to everyone: "Everyone, please step aside and Yang Shangshu will stay."
Everyone retreated, and only Yang Guang and Yang Gongdao were left in the study. Yang Guang slowly said to him: "Yu Wenshu has selfish motives, and Pei Ju also has selfish motives. Fan Zigai likes to exercise power instead of sharing my worries. Yu Shiji
I have a personal feud with Yang Yuanqing. Xiao Yu is the successor of Xiao Liang, and I can’t trust him. You are the only one from the royal family, and it is rare for you to have a clear mind. I think you still have something to say, so please continue."
Yang Gongdao sighed and said: "I have something to say. I think Yang Yuanqing is indeed a threat. Now that he is a separatist vassal town, there is no guarantee that he will not have the ambition to conquer the world in the future. He is the grandson of Yang Su, so he should have peace in his heart."
Yang Su has the same ambition. My opinion is to eradicate him completely, but not now."
Yang Guang nodded, and Yang Gongdao spoke to his heart, "Continue talking."
"I believe that Yang Yuanqing's support for the Sui Dynasty to establish independence, although it gave him the support of Fengzhou officials and people, it also restrained him and prevented him from openly rebelling. His expansion of the six counties in Guanbei is the best illustration.
In this way, your majesty can let him go temporarily, win over him first, and let him guard the border for the Sui Dynasty. After your majesty has extinguished all the domestic rebellions one by one and the domestic situation has stabilized, he can then turn around and wipe out Yang Yuanqing in one fell swoop.
Think this is the best way”
Yang Guang sighed softly, "I am a fan of the authorities. Thanks to Aiqing's reminder, I suddenly woke up. I know what to do. I will follow your advice and win over him first. When the Central Plains is stabilized, I will turn around and eliminate him."
...........
On the morning of the next day, there was a commotion on the top of Yanmen City, and the city gate was quickly closed. Outside the city, tens of thousands of Fengzhou Sui troops appeared neatly a few miles away. Yang Yuanqing slowly came to the city with hundreds of soldiers.
When he saw Yuwen Chengdu, he shouted loudly: "Please tell your majesty, General Yuwen, that Yang Yuanqing defeated the Turks and came here to show his merits."
Yuwen Chengdu was also a little nervous. Yang Yuanqing actually led his troops. He immediately sent someone to report to the emperor. He asked loudly: "But the 100,000 Turkic troops west of Xixingguan have been annihilated?"
Yang Yuanqing nodded, "I wiped out an entire army of 100,000 people, and less than 20,000 escaped."
Yuwen Chengdu sighed softly. Sure enough, he had guessed it. At this time, there was a sound of footsteps behind him. Yang Guang walked forward quickly surrounded by a large group of guards, and more than a hundred officials followed him.
Yang Guang looked at Yang Yuanqing, his eyes were very complicated. This was a minister that he hated and loved, wanted to reuse, but also wanted to kill.
Yang Yuanqing spoke first, and he stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty was frightened because Yang Yuanqing came late to save you. I would like to apologize to Your Majesty."
"Are you still a minister of the Sui Dynasty?" Yang Guang said coldly.
"I am a minister of the Great Sui Dynasty. I once swore an oath to be the shield of the Great Sui Dynasty. I still abide by my oath today."
Yang Guang suddenly remembered the situation when Yang Yuanqing saved him in Renshou Palace. Today he saved his life again. Yang Guang's face began to soften. He sighed and said: "I recognize your achievements today. You did save me."
If you have merit, I will reward you, but what do you want?"
Yang Yuanqing took the Red Eagle battle flag from the guard. He unfolded the battle flag, revealing the bright red Red flag and the black eagle flying on it. He said loudly: "Your Majesty, this is the Red Eagle battle flag of the Fengzhou Army. The Red Flag
It is the flag of the Sui Dynasty, and the goshawk is the symbol of Fengzhou. I sincerely ask your Majesty to give this flag to the minister."
Yang Guang understood what Yang Yuanqing meant. His recognition of this battle flag was equivalent to his recognition of Yang Yuanqing's support for Sui independence. He hesitated a little, but Yang Gongdao reminded him from behind, "Your Majesty, give the flag to Fengzhou."
Yang Guang nodded and said loudly: "I will give this battle flag to the officers and soldiers of the Fengzhou Army to commend your achievements. From now on, this battle flag will be the battle flag of the Sui Dynasty."
Yang Yuanqing got off his horse, knelt down on one knee and said, "I thank your Majesty for the flag."
The 40,000 Fengzhou army also dismounted and knelt down on one knee. The majestic voice echoed over Yanmen City, "Long live your Majesty!"
Yang Guang felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. Such a sharp army of tens of thousands was not serving him. He said loudly: "Yang Aiqing, you have made great contributions to the rescue. I will officially make you the general manager of Fengzhou and change your title to Duke of Chu.
As always, you are loyal to me and to the officers and soldiers of the three armies of Sui Dynasty and Fengzhou. I will reward you with a million pieces of silk as a reward."
"I thank your Majesty for the reward."
Yang Yuanqing stood up, clasped his fists on his horse again and said: "Although the Turks have been defeated, their vitality has not been lost. Fengzhou is empty. I must rush back immediately. I have recaptured the capital city for your majesty. It is just outside Shanyang County. I hope your majesty
Take care of your dragon body, and I’ll take my leave.”
After saying that, without waiting for Yang Guang's permission, he turned his horse and left the city, leading the army to rush towards Xixingguan.
Yang Guang looked at Yang Yuanqing's retreating figure and couldn't help but sigh slightly, feeling lost in his heart.
...........
[Lao Gao works hard to code, I hope everyone will support Lao Gao and win the first place in history] (To be continued)