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墨書 Inktalez
"Your Highness, please accept my condolences."
Gao Shan, who had just entered, spoke softly, "The Late Emperor and the Empress are watching over you from above."
Yang Zhao wiped his tears and stood up with concern, "Lord Gao? I heard you were unwell, so I specifically instructed my people not to disturb you. Why have you still come?"
Gao Shan stepped forward and grasped Yang Zhao's hand. "I am fine, just a minor illness. But Your Highness, you must take care of your health. You are the foundation of the nation; we cannot afford any loss."
He still believed that among the Late Emperor's sons, Yang Yong was the most suitable to inherit Great Unity. However, among the Late Emperor's grandchildren, it was indeed this young man before him who was the most outstanding.
This was one of the few things that brought him comfort. The Late Emperor and Empress had spent their lives accumulating wealth for the Sui Dynasty. As long as they could hold on until the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, the prosperity of the Sui Dynasty could continue.
Li Jian Cheng bowed to Gao Shan. Looking at Li Jian Cheng, Gao Shan said, "I once thought Lord was a sycophant, but I did not expect you to speak candidly. I was mistaken in my judgment and should apologize to you."
"You flatter me."
Seeing that Gao Shan seemed to have something he wanted to discuss privately with the Crown Prince, Li Jian Cheng tactfully found an excuse to step away.
With no one around, Gao Shan turned to the Crown Prince and said, "It is the duty of all ministers to advise His Majesty. Your Highness should focus on governance and must not provoke His Majesty's anger."
Yang Zhao sighed, "But my father is unwilling to listen to the advice of his ministers. My private counsel with the Empress has some effect."
"As Crown Prince, I cannot ignore the suffering of the common people. Even if I am reprimanded by my father, as long as it benefits them in some way, I will gladly accept it."
Gao Shan could not hold back any longer: "His Majesty does not have only you as a son; Prince Qi is just one year younger than you."
Yang Zhao disliked hearing such words but could only frown in response to Gao Shan's respectful demeanor. "If my father believes Er Lang is more worthy of the Crown Prince position, I am not someone who clings stubbornly to power. I would willingly abdicate for a more capable person."
Gao Shan showed a look of helplessness. It felt like he had returned to those years when he tried to persuade Yang Yong—no matter how much he advised him, he would not listen. The affairs of state were indeed difficult.
Yet he could not refrain from advising—not out of a sense of obligation to repay any favor from the Late Emperor but because he had poured his heart and soul into the Sui Dynasty for over a decade.
He had no choice but to break down these political intrigues and personal grievances into manageable pieces and share them with Yang Zhao.
...
After accompanying the Crown Prince in worship, Li Jian Cheng returned to the capital just in time for a court meeting where officials from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Civil Affairs were arguing over whether to continue sending troops to Lin Yi (central Vietnam).
Governor Liu Fang, under imperial orders, had launched an attack on Lin Yi, besieging its capital last month and forcing its Sovereign to abandon the city and flee to the sea.
After successfully breaching the city, Lin Fang seized eighteen ancestral tablets from the national temple, all made of gold, along with numerous rare treasures accumulated within the capital. Liu Fang also erected a stone monument to commemorate his achievements.
Having supported a new king and recognized the Sui Dynasty as his suzerain, he led his army back. However, on the way, many suffered from foot swelling due to unfamiliar terrain, resulting in the deaths of about forty to fifty percent of the soldiers. Governor Liu Fang also perished during the journey.
Taking advantage of the Sui Army's departure, the ruler of Lin Yi returned to the capital, rallied troops, killed the newly appointed king, and reclaimed the throne, executing all remaining officials from the Sui Dynasty.
The attack on Lin Yi had been ordered during the reign of the Predecessor Emperor and was not due to any disrespect from Lin Yi. The Predecessor Emperor had heard from certain courtiers about Lin Yi's many treasures and had specifically commanded Liu Fang to launch an assault for plunder.
Now, however, deep-seated animosity had developed. The Minister of War believed that since matters had escalated this far, it was necessary to mobilize troops to completely annihilate Lin Yi in order to demonstrate the Celestial Empire's might.
Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Rites argued that this was an Unjustified War; there was no need to continue entangling themselves in it, especially since there was no remedy for the ailments caused by unfamiliar terrain.
Yet, His Majesty had recently dispatched Imperial Historian Wei Jie and Deputy Director Du Xingman to the Western Regions and sent Pei Ju to Zhangye to connect with merchants from those areas, persuading various nations to pay tribute.
He could not allow a mere small nation like Lin Yi to insult the Sui Dynasty. As for how many soldiers would die in maintaining dignity, that was not a consideration for him.
He first acknowledged Liu Fang's contributions with a decree stating: "You have diligently carried out your duties and executed divine retribution with courage. You have faced dangers head-on and achieved remarkable victories. Your accomplishments are commendable; you may be awarded the title of Grand Minister and Duke Lu."
Thus, he appointed generals to lead tens of thousands of troops to pacify Lin Yi and capture its Sovereign. When foreign envoys arrived next year, they would be executed as a warning to other nations about what constituted heavenly authority.
Just as he was about to dismiss court proceedings, the emperor noticed Li Jian Cheng and said thoughtfully: "Order Crown Prince's Imperial Guard Li Jian Cheng to patrol the Eastern Capital for me."
"I accept your command."
Having just returned to court, Li Jian Cheng reluctantly went home to prepare his belongings before heading straight for the construction site of the Eastern Capital with his Guardians.
In just nine months, the court had completed Chang'an; this time they were building Luoyang, which was considerably smaller than Chang'an. Moreover, according to the emperor's edict forbidding extravagant walls and palatial structures, they were required to keep things modest.
Logically speaking, construction should have been nearly finished by now. However, upon Li Jian Cheng's arrival, he found that while much was complete, work within the palace continued with intricate carvings aimed at creating an opulent structure.
"Yang Gong, it has been a long time since we last met."
Li Jian Cheng greeted Yang Su. The Minister of Rites appeared worn down after overseeing two hundred thousand commoners; he looked frail and exhausted—an elderly man with graying hair.
"It must be His Majesty who sent you here. Ha ha! Come take a look at how this city is shaping up!"
Li Jian Cheng's eyes fell upon the endless crowd, laboring, stumbling, and rising again. The shouts and whips of officials and laborers echoed around him, while dark clouds loomed over the new city, consuming the lives of its people.
The grandeur was nothing but a result of public grievances, and the brilliance was blurred by blood.
Li Jian Cheng remained silent as Yang Su smiled and said, "South Facing Yique, backed by Mang Mountain, with Chanh River to the east and Luo River running through it. Guo Jian, the palace, Imperial Ditch, East City..."
"Yang Gong, I saw many new graves by the roadside outside the city. They can hardly be called graves since they are hastily covered; some corpses even have their limbs exposed to the wild."
"How many common people have died here?"
Yang Su turned to glance at him and replied, "I know, and His Majesty knows. You do not need to know."
"Jian Cheng, you are still young. Do not think about becoming a loyal minister or a good official. Just be content as your noble self; in the future, inherit your title, take more concubines, and bear more children."
Li Jian Cheng looked into the distance and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your guidance, Yang Gong. Jian Cheng understands."
Yang Su chuckled. "Come on, let me show you Qianyang Palace. His Majesty will summon the Vassal State Emissary here next year. Then we can visit the Forbidden Garden, and you can return to report back."
The streets within the city crisscrossed and varied in width, divided into numerous inner blocks that formed a chessboard-like urban layout, clearly modeled after Chang'an.
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