Emperor Sui Yang

At the end of April, Yang Ming received another letter from his father, to the effect that he planned to visit Jiangdu in the south after summer, asking how Yang Ming was doing.

It seems that Dad intends to solve He Ruobi's problem before going to Jiangdu.

There has been no news about Yuwen Shiji recently. Yang Ming thought that the matter was not progressing, but after calling the other party to inquire, he found out that He Ruobi's [-] generations of ancestors were all investigated by him.

A thick pile of criminal evidence was placed in front of Yang Ming, and Yang Ming picked up some of them to read through them, which was already shocking.

After a while, Yang Ming frowned and said:
"I asked you to check, not to plant you. Have you confirmed all the content on it?"

"His Highness, let me down. I will guarantee that none of the items are fakes," Yuwen Shi and Zheng Se said: "Time is running out, there are only omissions, and there are absolutely no false reports."

Yang Mingjiang put down the file and said, "I won't read it, you can give me a rough estimate."

Yuwen Shiji nodded: "In the first year of Emperor Kaihuang, Emperor Gaozu granted the thief Bi the general manager of Wuzhou to be in charge of managing the south of the Yangtze River. During this period, this thief falsely reported as much as 130 million yuan in military pay, and there is no way to check where the money was spent. "

"Wait," Yang Ming raised his hand and said, "There is nothing to check, how did you get this number? Can you find out what happened over 20 years now?"

"Yes," Yuwen Shiji said, "Back then, there were many generals under Bi Thief's command because they offended him over the years, and many of them were dismissed from office. I also investigated these people and got the answer."

"The words of criminals cannot be used as confessions, don't you know?" Yang Ming frowned.

Yuwen Shiji was taken aback, thinking that if you work for your father, you also pay attention to these things?Opening the imperial law doesn't care about you, does it?
"Your Majesty probably doesn't care who the confession comes from?" Yuwen Shiji asked tentatively.

Yang Ming vaguely felt that the pile of criminal evidence compiled by the kid in front of him might not be too watery.
"Go on," Yang Ming said.

Yuwen Shiji was relieved, and continued: "It was Han Qinhu who invaded Jiankang first, followed by He Ruobi, and they were also the ones who raided the old Chen palace. I also have a confession here to verify that this thief indeed embezzled the old Chen palace. Royal property."

"Wait," Yang Ming raised his hand again, frowned and said, "Don't bring up the old case."

Yuwen Shiji was stunned and said, "Why does Your Highness think that there is no need to mention it?"

"Do you really need me to explain what I said?" Yang Ming asked back: "Your father didn't get any money back then?"

Yuwen Shiji was taken aback, lowered his head in thought.

Yes, his father, Yu Wenshu, also participated in the battle against Chen, and when everyone shared the money, he also took the bulk of it.

Although many people know about this matter, it is not visible after all, and no one will say it in the open.

If He Ruobi was really to be held accountable for embezzling the property of the old Chen Palace, this matter would definitely be involved, and those who would get the money would not blame He Ruobi, but would blame him for being unfavorable.

Because the group of people who distributed the money back then are now the big bosses among the big bosses, and they can't afford to offend them.

It was so dangerous, so dangerous, that I almost made an enemy for Grandpa, Yuwen Shiji hurriedly said: "Your Highness reminded me that the subject was negligent."

"Go on," Yang Ming waved his hands helplessly.

Next, Yu Wenshiji narrated how many fields He Ruobi occupied, how much money he swallowed, and how many things he said should not be said.

To sum it up in one sentence: the treasures of the Bi family are innumerable, and there are countless maidservants and concubines.

Yuwen Shi and summed it up in four words: rich can rival a country.

It is obviously inappropriate to punish He Ruobi with this crime, because he is much richer than He Ruobi, and He Ruobi's method of making money is not his monopoly, many people make money in this way.

When Dad was King Jin, didn't he make money?I'm afraid Bi He Ruobi is more ruthless, right?

It is not certain that He Ruobi's family property has one-tenth of Yang Su's.

So Yang Ming asked: "Then, according to Shiji, what crime should Bi convict?"

Yuwen Shiji said directly: "Corruption and perversion of the law, no king."

"Remove the first four words, and use the last four words to convict," Yang Ming said.

Yuwen Shiji was confused again, isn't the bigger the crime, the better?

"This thief is clearly guilty, why should His Highness protect him?"

Yang Ming closed his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "The word "corruption and perverting the law" is also applicable to your father. If you are punished for this crime today, you will be punished for this crime in the future. Think about it carefully."

Yuwen Shiji was taken aback for a while, and after a long while of meditation, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

It seems that from the reign of Emperor Kaihuang to the present, there are really not many people who have been convicted and given to the dead for taking bribes and breaking the law. In my impression, it seems that Yanrong is the only one.

Today, His Majesty has not condemned a minister to death for this crime, so this precedent cannot be set.

Because his father, Yu Wenshu, was indeed corrupt and broke the law, not only his father, there were many people who were corrupt and broke the law.

He understood what Yang Ming meant. You can't kill people by taking bribes and breaking the law.

learned learned
Yuwen Shiji immediately changed his respectful expression, and said: "Your Highness' words are enlightening, and I have been educated."

Yang Ming said: "Since you collected the criminal evidence, then you can report it. After the memorial is prepared, hand it over to the king, and I will sign and seal it."

This is what Yuwen Shiji waited for, you want me to take the blame, hey, I am willing to take the blame, didn't you expect it?
"I'm going to prepare now,"

In addition to powerful ministers and favored ministers, there is actually another type called lonely ministers.

What is a lonely minister? It means that except for the emperor, the rest of the people are unhappy with you. Yang Ming can see that the boy Sangou seems to be quite happy to ask the emperor for credit in his own name, so that's fine.

This will make Yu Wenshu go further and further on the road of Guchen, and Guchen is destined not to have much influence.

Aren't you going to marry your second child?Then let's see how big waves you, a pair of lonely kings and ministers, can make.

Considering from many aspects, in fact, Yang Hao can no longer pose a threat to him, and flattering Yu Wenshu is just his last straw.

Now, at least on the surface, Yang Ming has the support of the clan, and behind him, there is the full support of the Hongnong Yang family and the Hedong Pei family.

Because Yang Su and Pei Ju are the talkers in their respective families, their positions represent the family's position to a great extent.

And Li Yuan is an old fox, he seems to be leaning towards Yang Ming on the surface, but he actually leaves room for himself. He belongs to the kind of Yang Ming who is weak and can make trouble, but Yang Ming is weak, but he won't send carbon in the snow people.

And Chen Shuyi's family can provide great help to Yang Ming in the Jiangnan area in the future, and it is still on the rise, and Yang Ming will do his best to help.

Before the child was three years old, Yang Ming was still very fond of him, and the second son, Yang Jin, was just at this stage.

He doesn't want his children to be divided into concubines and concubines, they are all his own flesh and blood, there is no distinction between high and low. On this point, Yang Yinjiang is very reasonable and treats Yang Jin as her own.

Holding the child in his arms, Yang Ming smiled at Pei Shuying and said, "The child is like you."

Pei Shuying frowned suddenly: "No, like you."

After finishing speaking, she burst out laughing, yes, the child is like her, but women don't want people to say that the child is like the mother, although she knows that Yang Ming doesn't care about these things, but she cares.

The advantage of being rich is that the child doesn't need to take care of it himself. Yang Ming just hugged him for a while, and the nurse next to him took the child.
Because Yang Ming held the child in the wrong position, the child was very uncomfortable.

"There are so many things going on now. I really miss the days when I was alone with you. It was so good to be carefree." After the wet nurse left, Pei Shuying snuggled into Yang Ming's arms and said, "You know, I don't like staying at home. , if you want to go out in the future, you must take me with you."

Yang Ming smiled and said, "What if you are going out to lead the army?"

"You have to bring me too," Pei Shuying said, "I have had someone tailor-make a suit of armor for me in private, and you know my riding skills, so I won't hold you back."

Yang Ming nodded: "Okay, it's up to you."

"There is one thing that is very strange," Pei Shuying said suddenly, "in the letter my grandfather sent me years ago, he hoped that I would practice riding and archery more, and it would be better to learn some martial arts, and his tone was quite serious. Say, Ah Why did the Lord ask me to do this?"

Yang Ming was taken aback, frowned and remained silent.

Perhaps, like Gao Jiong, Pei Ju could already foresee the future of the Sui Dynasty.

People, at the age of three, read what the old one said, and what his father Yang Guang has done in the two years since he was in power, perhaps in the eyes of Pei Ju and Gao Jiong, he can already foresee what will happen in the next few years.

As Gao Jiong said, if things go on like this, the country will be in chaos.

On the other side of Luoyang, Yang Yue sent a letter saying that the four counties of Runan County, Yuzhou, Zhenyang, Xinxi, Shangcai, and Pingyu all had civil uprisings during the canal period.

When the civil uprisings come together, the damage will be too great, because once the common people rebel, both the officials and the people will be killed.

This civil disturbance was quickly suppressed because it was discovered early, but it also caused immeasurable damage to Runan County.

Although there are only more than [-] thieves who rebelled this time, they have caused too much damage in the surrounding villages, and more than [-] to [-] people have suffered as a result. As a result, the farmland in the four counties has been abandoned, the cattle have not survived, and the houses have withered. .

But this civil uprising was suppressed by Luoyang, and few people knew about it. Yang Yue believed that Yu Wenkai should report it to the emperor, but he would definitely not tell anyone else.

It is possible to keep people from knowing about things like rebellion, and it is best not to let people know, for fear that someone will follow suit.

After listening to Pei Shuying's words, Yang Ming deeply agreed with Pei Ju's point of view, not to mention anything else, if he went out to lead the army to fight in the future, if the capital was in an emergency, his family members would be affected, and he didn't want this to happen.

Just like when Li Yuan rebelled in Taiyuan, he forgot to call his son Li Zhiyun away from Daxing, so that he was chopped up by Master Yin.

My family members must be protected, who knows what will happen in the future?

"In this case, you can learn from Ah Lou, she is proficient in riding and archery, and she is not an outsider," Yang Ming nodded and instructed.

Pei Shuying frowned suddenly: "So, you and Grandpa have the same idea, what are you two hiding from me?"

"How could it be?" Yang Ming hurriedly laughed and said, "I understand Mr. Pei's concerns. After all, I am likely to go out to fight frequently in the future. I am also worried that you are not by my side. After all, when I leave, It will take away the part of the palace, so that the defense of the palace will be empty, and your safety will also be affected."

Pei Shuying nodded: "I understand, especially now that the prince is not clear, and I don't know what will happen. Yin Jiang often tells me to guard against everyone. Now it seems that she has a vision."

Then, she said: "I'm not familiar with Ah Lou, after all, he is the one who serves the queen, I can't be regarded as such by others, you'd better say hello to him for me."

Yang Ming nodded: "This is very necessary, not only you have to learn it, Yin Jiang Shuyi and the others have to learn it too."

Pei Shuying hummed, and leaned into Yang Ming's arms,
"Don't move, I want to fall asleep in your arms, and when I fall asleep, you will carry me to the bed."

Yang Ming nodded, put his cheek against his wife's head, patted her on the back lightly, and hummed a little song that he forgot where he heard it.

After a while, Pei Shuying's breathing gradually stabilized, but Yang Ming did not let go.
According to Ah Lou, Feng'er's martial arts is very strong, and she can be a master, otherwise it would be too tiring to rely on her to teach alone.

The concubine Yinjiang and the concubine Shuying have a bit of foundation, but the others are complete beginners, and Li Xiuning can't ride a horse.Why send me this drudgery?
What surprised Yan Xiaotang the most was that she was also included in the list, which made her feel very honored, especially Pei Shuying, who was really easy to get along with, and did not regard her as a concubine as a servant, but treated her as an equal .

Ever since, Yan Xiaotang subconsciously regarded Pei Shuying as her backer.

As for Yang Ming, after these celestial meetings, he would meet with Shi Wansui to discuss matters concerning He Ruobi.

"Oh, although I have always disliked him, I don't want to watch him end like this," Shi Wansui sighed after taking a few sips of wine.

Yang Ming also sighed and said: "There is no way, no one can stop my father from plotting against him. He is a ungrateful person. Even if I try my best to protect him, they may not think of me well."

He Ruobi is useless to Yang Ming, and Yang Ming can't control him at all.

Yang Guang wouldn't be happy if he insisted on it, and He Ruobi didn't know how to be grateful, and Yang Ming would be at a disadvantage inside and out, so he wouldn't do this.

Shi Wansui nodded: "He is a man, he has a personality for success and a personality for failure. He used to be suppressed by Gao Jiong and Yang Su, but he was still restrained. Now, look at how he bosses people around in court meetings these days. The posture, as if he is in charge of the defense of the capital, he dares to order me?"

Then, Shi Wansui sighed again and again.

It's a bit sad for the death of a rabbit, but also a bit of sympathy for each other. Heroes value heroes.

Of the four people who were ranked in the Martial Temple during the Sui Dynasty, now only he and He Ruobi are left. Apart from Gao Jiong, they are also the most outstanding fighters today.

Shi Wansui even felt that once He Ruobi died, would it be his turn next?
Yang Ming raised his glass and said, "It won't be long before there should be a decree from Luoyang. I don't want to do murder and ransack, and you don't want to go either. It will offend people."

Shi Wansui was stunned and said: "At present, the capital is your decision, and His Majesty's will will definitely make you responsible. If you don't do it, who will do it?"

"You don't need many people to raid the house, let Yuwen Shiji go, doesn't he really want to show his face? Allocating him 5000 people is enough," Yang Ming said with a frown:

"But if something happened to He Ruobi, the right guard might cause chaos. I want Changsun Sheng to lead the right guard, and Qu Tutong to lead the left guard, and take over the camps of the right guard one step ahead of time to avoid mutiny in the army."

Shi Wansui nodded and said: "It is necessary, but I am afraid it will not be easy. If you send someone to take over, they must know that something has happened. I am afraid that a dispute cannot be avoided. Do you want to say hello to Zheng Yuanshou and Wei Baoluan in advance? It’s very convenient to cooperate inside and outside.”

Yang Ming shook his head and said, "That's not right, these two people have been taken over by He Ruobi long ago, they have no real power at all, and two people who have never been on the battlefield will not be able to hold back the elite soldiers in the army, and will startle them instead."

Shi Wansui sighed again: "Since there are two chicks, I really don't know why His Majesty put them in such an important position."

"A good background, a strong background, it's as simple as that," Yang Ming said with a smile: "I have plenty of generals in the Sui Dynasty, and there is no shortage of people to charge forward, but when it comes to asking for credit and receiving rewards, I have to stand aside."

Shi Wansui laughed at himself: "I have a deep understanding."

What he said was an insinuation that Yang Su had robbed him of merit back then.

If he wanted to deal with He Ruobi smoothly as soon as possible, he had to succeed in one fell swoop with lightning speed.

The longer it drags on, the bigger the mess.

Yang Jian's killing of He Ruobi and Yang Guang's killing of He Ruobi are two completely different concepts. The former is easy, but the latter is difficult. Because everything about He Ruobi was given by Yang Jian, so it will be easy to take it back.

Yang Guang left this difficult job to his son, but his son didn't want to take the blame, otherwise it will be recorded in future history books that Yang Ming killed the hero.

He Ruobi's merits are worth the corruption and perverting the law, but they can't be worth the lack of a king.

To convict the Duke of the State, Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, and Yushitai all got people. Yang Wang of Dali Temple and Wei Xuan of the Ministry of Punishment are all in the capital now, and they have nothing to do with He Ruobi.

The boss of the Yushitai is Zhang Heng, the doctor of the Yushi. There are two people who are in charge of the book and the Yushi. One is Lu Zhiming and the other is Liu Ziyi. All three of them left with Yang Guang.

Further down, there are eight censors, four of whom are in Beijing, namely Huang Fenglin, Chen Xiaoyi, Pei Ji, and You Yuan.

There is no Yushitai who is not loyal to the emperor, so it is absolutely reliable. Of course, history has proved that Pei Ji is an exception.

But Yang Ming was still worried about leaking the news in advance, because this matter was too big for him to be careless. If He Ruobi received the news in advance, it would be a big deal.

So he made an excuse to adjust the garrison, and ordered Zuo Xiaowei General Shi Xiang to allocate [-] soldiers and horses from the military mansion and hand them over to Yuwen Shi and his command. The order to transfer troops was to let them go out of the city to transfer troops to take over the right guard.

The soldiers of the Sui Dynasty also used the old system of Qin, Han, and Jin, that is, tiger charms, but they changed from crouching tigers to standing tigers. The sixteen guards all had sixteen specific tiger charms, but Yang Ming didn't have any. , all with Yang Guang.

Therefore, he can only use Qin Wang's warrant to transfer troops. Right now he is on guard in the capital, so all sixteen guards recognize his warrant. No way, this is Dad's way of defending him.

In case of special circumstances, such as the danger of the capital, Yang Ming can mobilize all the troops after discussing with the generals of the guards.

Military power needs to be controlled, and there are many rules and regulations in it. Yang Guang will not hand over military power unless it is a last resort.

At the end of May, Yang Guang's imperial edict came. He Ruobi's last crime was slandering the emperor, confiscating his family by death, and exiling his sons.

After receiving the imperial decree, Yang Ming urgently summoned the officials from Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, and Yushitai to prepare for action.