In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, I wrote my will in the examination hall.

Chapter 111 The Unpredictable Situation [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Inside the Xiande Hall of the East Palace, however, the lights were on full display.

"I have troubled you three gentlemen to come here so late at night."

Yang Yong was dressed in casual clothes, and although he looked somewhat haggard, he forced himself to be energetic.

He dismissed the maids who were about to step forward, and personally picked up the Yue kiln celadon teapot with a handle to pour tea for the three important ministers below him.

The tea is poured into the cup, and a gentle swirl forms.

"Since Father has inquired about the Liaodong matter, the Duke of Qi will soon travel north to inspect the border on behalf of the Emperor. His arrival at the palace late at night must have something to teach me."

Gao Jiong sat in the first seat on the left, leaning forward with his hands lightly supporting the teacup, his voice deep and powerful.

"Your Highness, after I left the capital, the most important thing in all matters of the court is to maintain stability. His Majesty's mind is unique and unpredictable. Whether to fight or appease in Liaodong remains uncertain. While Your Highness is in court, you should discuss politics, economics, and people's livelihood with Minister Su more often, and be cautious about discussing matters of war."

Yang Yong nodded solemnly, "I will heed Duke Qi's teachings. However... Yan'er is about to head south, and Lingnan is inhabited by various ethnic groups, a land rife with miasma. I am truly worried and uneasy. Minister Yu, who is in charge of the Ministry of War and has long been experienced in military affairs, could you offer me some advice?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingze, who was sitting opposite him, put down his teacup and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Your Highness, do not worry. Prince Changning Yan is no ordinary man!"

A hint of admiration flashed in Yu Qingze's eyes. "The 'Changning Breaking Formation Army' displayed its might at the drill ground last time, and its banners were already impressive. I just received a secret report today that His Majesty is deeply displeased with the lax state of the local militias and has already shown his intention to carry out a swift and decisive crackdown. Prince Yan's move may seem reckless, but it is actually perfectly timed."

He paused briefly, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a hawk hunting its prey: "Prince Jin has cultivated the Jiangnan region for many years, winning the hearts of the Jiangnan gentry and attracting many young soldiers to his side. This is a major threat to the Crown Prince. Now, Prince Yan is making a desperate gamble, establishing military might in full view of everyone. Firstly, it demonstrates that the Crown Prince has a worthy successor and is not weak and easily bullied; secondly, His Majesty can use this opportunity to assess the situation. If it truly succeeds, it will surely be used as a chance to reorganize the military system. Although Lingnan is far away, it is indeed the key to succession."

"The key point?" Yang Yong murmured repeatedly.

Su Wei, who had been silent all along, stroked his long beard and said slowly, "The greater the profit, the greater the risk. If we are too sharp, we may be disliked by the Prince of Jin, and we may also provoke a backlash from those old nobles of Guanzhong. In the situation in Lingnan, we should seek stability rather than speed, and be pragmatic rather than seeking fame."

"What Su Gong said is the way of governing a country with wisdom and experience."

Gao Jiong continued, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

"However, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Prince Yan possesses courage, quick wit, a willingness to take responsibility, and a strong will; he is a promising young talent. We should now use the land of Lingnan to solidify his foundation. Minister Yu has many old subordinates in Lingnan and also has connections within the Guangzhou Governor's Office; this is divine assistance."

"Your Highness, I have prepared several letters, all from former subordinates who followed me in suppressing the rebellion. They are now scattered among the various prefectures of Lingnan, serving as generals. There will be people in the military post stations of Lingnan to meet you, Your Highness. Although the Prince of Qin (Yang Jun) is nominally the governor of Lingnan, if Your Highness goes to persuade him personally, appealing to your brotherly affection and explaining the importance of jointly securing the foundation of the nation, even if the Prince of Qin cannot openly help, he will surely lend a helping hand in secret."

"In this way, with Prince Yan there, protected by princes above, supported by old subordinates in the middle, and backed by the new army below, we can remain invincible and gradually plan our advance."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yong was so excited that he stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Yu Qingze: "Lord Yu, your wisdom is profound! These letters are of immense weight! On behalf of Yan'er, I thank Lord Yu for his noble sentiments!"

"Your Highness is too kind to this old minister!" Yu Qingze quickly stepped aside to avoid the curtsy, his expression resolute. "It is my duty."

After everyone returned to their seats, the topic returned to the Northern Expedition.

Gao Jiong took out a simple sheepskin map from his wide sleeve and slowly spread it on the table. His withered fingers crossed the Central Plains and pointed directly to the harsh, cold land to the northeast—the banks of the Liao River.

"King Gowon of Goguryeo has been raiding our borders since last year. Now he has built a fortress on the north bank of the Pae River, stockpiling grass and grain. His intentions are unfathomable."

Yang Yong frowned, looking at the glaring red mark on the map: "What exactly is Father's intention?"

"Your Majesty's intentions were already hinted at in the court recently. Your Majesty has granted me three years to demonstrate the nation's power in Liaodong."

Gao Jiong put down his wine cup and turned his gaze to Yu Qingze: "Lord Qi, you are in charge of the Ministry of War. His Majesty specifically summoned you today to inquire about the true strength of the Fubing (military garrison). How will you respond? Why do you think His Majesty asked this at this time?"

Yu Qingze's face was ashen, and he gave a bitter laugh: "To be frank, in the prefectures of Guanzhong, after a long period of peace, less than half are skilled in archery and horsemanship; in the prefectures of Hedong and Henan, three or four out of ten have rotten weapons and insufficient farmland. We were already aware of the problems with the local militia when the system was first established. How can we have the best of both worlds? Now that our fighting strength has declined, if we force a northern expedition, the risks are difficult to weigh!"

"The greatest difficulty in the Northern Expedition lay in the transportation of grain."

Su Wei sighed, pointing to the waterway running north to south on the map. "I will petition to continue the construction of the Yongji Canal, but the project is enormous and will take at least two years to complete. Once construction begins, money, grain, and manpower will all be poured in. If the south falls into chaos again at this time..."

Yang Yong stared at the map. His gaze slowly moved from the complex mountain and sea outline of Liaodong to the bottom of the map, to that wild land that was not drawn in detail and was only marked with the words "Lingnan".

He suddenly recalled Yang Yan's almost heretical words in the study a few days ago.

"If... if Lingnan can be pacified quickly, the court will have no worries about the south and can devote all its efforts to the northern expedition. Do you gentlemen agree?" Yang Yong asked tentatively.

"That's right." The three senior ministers nodded in unison; this was a consensus in the court.

"But if we proceed slowly..." Yang Yong's voice hesitated, "If we proceed slowly, and the two places are locked in a stalemate, could we... avoid war?"

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze instantly.

Gao Jiong, Yu Qingze, and Su Wei, the three pillars of the Sui Dynasty, all looked up at Yang Yong with piercing eyes, their gazes filled with astonishment.

"What makes you say that, Your Highness?" Gao Jiong's voice deepened.

Yang Yong was oblivious to the strange expressions on the three men's faces. He slowly shook his head, as if recalling something, or perhaps talking to himself: "Four days ago, Yan'er asked me: 'If Grandfather is determined to exert his power over the world, why not use Liaodong as a lock to contain Goguryeo and weaken its national strength; and use Lingnan as a tripod to slowly subdue the Baiyue people and win their hearts? With the two regions in a standoff, although there will be no glorious military achievements in expanding territory, the country will not be crippled, and with the long-term power, it will be possible to subdue the enemy without fighting. This may be... the way to last?'"

He recounted it in a lighthearted manner, even somewhat incoherently, after all, he was not an expert in military strategy.

However, to the three veteran ministers, these words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere.

"Liaodong is a lock, Lingnan is a tripod... If the two regions stand in opposition, will there be no war?"

Gao Jiong's hand holding the cup hovered in mid-air, and the clear tea soup in the cup rippled.

His eyes, which were always half-open, suddenly snapped open, revealing a deep, calm depth beneath which a turbulent undercurrent of emotion was firmly locked.

Yu Qingze's fist, resting on his knee, turned slightly white at the knuckles from the sudden tension, as if he were gripping an invisible hilt. Having fought for half his life, he naturally understood the weight of this feeling!

Su Wei's fingers, which were stroking his beard, froze in mid-air, and he seemed to have turned into a clay sculpture.

"...This is by no means childish nonsense!"

A glint flashed in Gao Jiong's eyes, and he quickly exchanged a fleeting glance with Yu Qingze.

These words were far beyond the Crown Prince's comprehension. Given his nature, he could not have conceived of such a seemingly conservative yet incisive strategy. It must have originated from the deepest thoughts of that young Prince Yan.

Although this strategy appears to be "cowardly in the face of war," it directly addresses the fatal flaw that would lead to the collapse of the empire if it fought on two fronts. Moreover, it subtly aligns with the hidden anxieties of the separatist forces in the north and south who were attempting to drag down the Sui Dynasty.

The deathly silence lasted for the duration of three breaths.

The weight of that silence made Yang Yong somewhat uncomfortable. He looked at the three of them with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong? Is Yan'er's statement too absurd?"

Finally, Gao Jiong slowly put down his teacup. The bottom of the cup touched the table with a soft "tap," breaking the suffocating silence.

When he spoke again, his voice was as steady as an ancient well, as if his earlier lapse in composure had never happened; he simply spoke very slowly, choosing each word carefully.

"Your Highness, the Prince's question may seem naive, but it touches upon the essence of governance. His Majesty's primary concern now is to consolidate the foundation and strengthen the nation. The military forces need to be well-organized, the granaries need to be full, and the South needs to be secure. If Lingnan can maintain overall stability, it will be the greatest contribution to the Northern Expedition. His Majesty will surely make the wise decision regarding the priorities."

He did not comment on "not fighting" nor endorse "slow fighting," but simply elevated and purified the topic to the level of "consolidating the foundation" and "ensuring the overall situation."

Yu Qing immediately followed up, his voice resounding: "What Prime Minister Gao said is absolutely right. The Ministry of War is piled high with paperwork, and the local officials in Lingnan are unpredictable in their loyalty and defection. This is not a situation that can be resolved in one fell swoop. Managing the South requires a long-term plan and perseverance; haste is not an option."

Yang Yong seemed to understand but not quite, but seeing that neither of the two senior officials refuted him and instead seemed to agree, he felt relieved and said, "In that case, I will submit a memorial tomorrow requesting the establishment of more prefectural and county schools in the Lingnan prefectures, allowing the sons of the Li and Liao chieftains to attend. I will also request the allocation of 200,000 shi of grain from Jiangnan to the south, to show the court's sincerity in appeasement."

"Your Highness is wise," Su Wei praised first, "Educating and pacifying distant lands is the beginning of benevolent governance."

Yu Qingze added a crucial sentence, chillingly clear: "But Your Highness must remember, appeasement must be backed by swords. For Prince Yan's southward campaign, strengthening his army is of paramount importance. Only with a strong army can education be meaningful and confrontation be truly effective. I will return tonight and make immediate arrangements to ensure Prince Changning's safety!"

The atmosphere eased slightly, but Gao Jiong changed the subject, lowering his voice even further, and even adding a touch of sternness: "Your Highness, there is one more matter. A relative of Consort Yun of the Eastern Palace recently submitted a memorial requesting that she be formally appointed as the Crown Princess. I have temporarily kept it and have not yet presented it to Your Majesty for review."

Yang Yong was taken aback, his expression changing slightly: "This is a family matter, and the Empress Dowager and the Yuan clan will certainly not be pleased. Why is the Duke of Qi bringing it up now?"

"This is not a family matter, but a matter of state," Su Wei leaned forward and explained in a low voice, a shrewd glint in his cloudy old eyes.

"If the Yun family were to assume the throne, Prince Yan would be the rightful eldest son. This legitimacy and righteousness are of paramount importance. In the future struggle for the throne, this is of utmost importance. However, acting rashly now would surely anger Empress Dugu and make the Guanzhong nobles feel that Your Highness is challenging their bottom line, which would inevitably cause a great uproar. Therefore, the Duke of Qi has held back, intending to wait for the right time."

Gao Jiong gave Yang Yong a deep look: "Once Prince Yan's foothold in Lingnan is solid and he has accumulated merits, we can discuss this matter again, and it will be a natural outcome. If we rush things now, chaos will ensue; if we slow down, success will come."

Yang Yong suddenly realized, his heart filled with turmoil. Looking at the three old ministers who had devoted themselves to the Eastern Palace, he finally sighed and said, "Thank you all for your profound plans for Yan'er."

After the discussion, it was already past midnight.

Yang Yong personally escorted the three to the gate of Xiande Hall.

Yu Qing deliberately slowed his pace, falling half a body length behind Gao Jiong, and whispered to Yang Yong beside him, speaking very quickly: "Your Highness, I have something else to say. The Prince of Jin's residence and the Duke of Yue's residence have been having secretive dealings lately."

He paused, a murderous glint appearing in his eyes: "Your Highness, please rest assured. Although I do not oversee the Imperial Guards, I have dispatched capable men to monitor the perimeter. If anything changes, I will risk losing my official hat to ensure that Prince Yan is not harmed in the slightest."

Yang Yong's heart skipped a beat. He gripped Yu Qingze's rough, bark-like hands tightly, his words unspoken: "I... thank you!"

The night swallowed up the departing carriages and horses like a tidal wave.

Yang Yong stood alone atop the high steps, gazing at the vast night. The night breeze stirred his clothes, bringing a touch of early summer coolness.

He vaguely sensed that what he had just discussed with the senior officials had gone far beyond a simple farewell between father and son or a discussion on frontier policies.

It was as if an invisible hand, through his words, had placed a piece on the chessboard of the Great Sui Empire that would stir up the winds and clouds and even tear apart the existing order.

……

The following day, on the south bank of Kunming Pool.

Autumn frost covers the grass, and the cold wind sweeps across this land that is about to be irrigated by blood and sweat.

The two armies faced each other a hundred paces apart, their grim atmosphere freezing the morning mist.

On the east side, the Imperial Guard formation.

More than a thousand elite soldiers, their brand-new leather armor gleaming with a cold, hard lacquer sheen in the dim morning light, their swords still sheathed.

At the front of the battle, Yang Xuangan held the reins in the center, his face stern.

Yuwen Huaji slightly spurred his horse forward, his whip flicking out like a viper's tongue, pointing casually at the other side.

"Did you see that?"

His laughter echoed wildly in the wind: "So that's the 'Changning Breaking Army' His Highness spoke of! A bunch of bastards whose legs have just been pulled from the fields! Today, we'll show them what imperial might is, and what rules are!"

A suppressed yet clear sneer rang out from within the Imperial Guard formation.

On the west side, the Changning Breaking Formation Army.

Fifteen hundred people, silent as a mountain.

They wore no gleaming armor, only old leather armor and tattered cloth clothes. The weapons in their hands were of varying lengths, and some even gripped sharpened wooden sticks tightly. But they stood, shoulder to shoulder, their heels rooted to the ground.

Those faces, etched with the wrinkles of time and despair, were expressionless.

Only those 1,500 pairs of eyes burned with the same thing: the shame of being clamored to be "demoted to slavery" five days ago; the desperation of being forced to the edge of a cliff, where one step back meant an abyss.

They only have one path left: to defeat their opponent!

Silence is the most deafening roar.

Li Jing, Qin Qiong, and Li Mi rode out from the crowd.

Surprisingly, Li Mi was in first place.

He was dressed in smart riding attire, his face calm and expressionless.

Yang Yan stood alone on a low hill in the center, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance with a calm expression. Now that things had come to this, all he could do was trust the military genius Li Jing.

Behind him, a group of finely dressed and spirited young noblemen leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance and pointing and whispering.

"The betting's open! Brother Yang, how many hours will it take your Imperial Guards to wipe out those peasant lads?"

"An hour will suffice! I'll bet ten bushels of pearls!"

"I bet they'll be crying for their parents within half an hour..."