Zhu Changxiao's version of the Sui Dynasty

Good and evil, loyalty and treachery are known everywhere. Later generations write history to narrate the past generations.

If you have not personally experienced the past years, how can the history books record the truth?

Xiao Jun scolded Kong Yingda, Wei Zheng's face changed drastically, he paced back and forth in the study room with his hands behind his back, pointed at Kong Yingda and blamed him: "Before leaving, I repeatedly reminded you that Xiao Niangniang is old and must be careful in what she says and does. This is terrible. How can we historians lose face by being blamed like this?"

Kong Yingda cried and bowed: "I know I am wrong, I know I am wrong, but what should I do next?"

Wei Zheng shook his head: "This compilation "Book of Sui", I have been cautious again and again, but I never thought that I would be blamed by Empress Xiao. It seems that it is difficult to know the truth about the old events of the previous dynasty without visiting the old people in person. "

Kong Yingda said: "I also think that the old events of the previous dynasty need to be verified by Lord Wei in person so that the history books are correct."

Wei Zheng stroked his beard and nodded slightly: "In three days, Li Yanshou and I will visit Empress Xiao again."

It is said that three days later, Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou came to the mansion to meet Xiao Jun. When Xiao Jun heard that Wei Zheng was visiting, he expected that it must be about writing "Book of Sui". Wei Zheng was not a person of the same level as Kong Yingda, and he needed to be treated with great courtesy. Xiao Jun went to the front hall to meet the guest in person.

Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou met Xiao Jun and bowed: "The subordinate Wei Zheng greets Madam Xiao."

"Your Excellencies, please do not be so polite. Please sit down and chat."

Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou sat on one side. The maidservant brought tea. Xiao Jun said: "There are few officials visiting my mansion. I wonder if you two gentlemen have any advice for this trip?"

Wei Zheng said: "How dare I say it is advice? Your subordinate was ordered to compile the "Book of Sui". Now I have something to ask Xiao first. The queen must signal to me before I can write it. ”

Xiao Jun laughed and asked, “Sir Wei is so good at telling jokes. You are a historian, and I am a woman. I have a deep background in writing history books. You can write it as you wish. Why ask me?”

“The queen Xiao is the queen of the Sui Dynasty. She has a noble status and should have a biography. However, there is an unwritten rule in writing history books. You can only write biographies for the deceased.”

There was some tentativeness in Wei Zheng’s words. Xiao Jun said, “ I understand that the dead can be recorded in history, but not the living. ”

“Yes,” Wei Zheng continued, “There were only two emperors, Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang, and two empresses in the Sui Dynasty. If the Empress is missing from the book, it would not be a complete Sui Shu. So I would like to boldly write the Empress into the Sui Shu. What do you think?”

“I can see myself in the history books during my lifetime, so why not, please write it.”

Wei Zheng nodded and asked again He said: "Your Highness must be most familiar with the biographies of the harem in the Book of Sui. I hope your Highness can clarify some old things so that the historical records can be accurate and avoid misrepresentation."

"Your Excellency, please feel free to ask."

Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou gestured, and Li Yanshou bowed and asked: "May I ask Your Highness Xiao, everyone knows that Emperor Yang of Sui went to Jiangdu three times and was accompanied by countless beauties. It is rumored that there were 3,000 beauties in Emperor Yang's harem. I wonder if it is true or false?"

Xiao Jun sneered and asked:"Lord Li, Emperor Yang was in power for fourteen years. He conquered Korea three times, went west through Yumen, conquered the south and the north, and had very few children. How many years would it take for the three thousand concubines to visit him?"

Wei Zheng asked again: "To this day, there are still sixteen courtyards in the Jiangdu Palace. Everyone knows that it is where Emperor Yang enjoyed himself. May I ask Empress Xiao if this is true?"

"Although there are many palace ladies, they are just beautiful and elegant, accompanying him at banquets and outings." Xiao Jun said.

"So that's how it is." Wei Zheng also thought it made sense. Li Yanshou asked again: "After the Jiangdu Palace Incident, Empress Xiao was appointed as the harem four times. She was the queen of Yu Wenzhi, the imperial concubine of Dou Jiande, the beauty of Chuluo Khan, and the Khan concubine of Jie Li Khan. I am not mistaken."

This touched Xiao Jun's sore spot. Xiao Jun raised his head and suppressed the tears that were about to come out. He said: "I have been wandering around, and I have met five masters in six generations. I have no choice but to be a barbarian. , it is a violation of chastity, so don't write it. "

Wei Zheng said: "As a historian, I should write honestly, be upright and ruthless, and record the violation of chastity in history. I hope Madam Xiao will forgive me."

"In the past, I followed the customs of the barbarians, but now I follow the etiquette of the Han Dynasty. Now I am in the Tang Dynasty, and I have to follow the rules of women. I will have to see people in the future. For the sake of my being a living person, please give Xiao Jun some face." Xiao Jun's voice trembled and his face was bleak.

"Oh..." Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou looked at each other, and Wei Zheng said: "My words are offensive, I hope Madam Xiao will not be offended."

Xiao Jun couldn't help shedding tears, and she felt sad when she recalled the past. Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou did not ask any more questions, so they stood up and bowed, saying, "Madam Xiao, please do not be too sad. You should be sensible when writing. We will take our leave."

Xiao Jun wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and bowed in return, saying, "I will not see you off."

Wei Zheng and Li Yanshou left Yang's house. The attendants brought horses and were about to mount them. Li Yanshou asked, "Your Excellency has always been upright and impartial. After listening to our conversation today, did you feel compassion for me?"

Wei Zheng said, "Although I am upright, I am concerned about the overall situation in the court. Don't offend me."

"What's the big picture?"

Wei Zheng said: "Prime Minister Xiao Yu is an old minister of two dynasties; Xiao Siye was sent to Mobei as an envoy and served as the chief historian of the Shanyu Governor's Office; other members of the Xiao family each hold important positions; if the scandal of Empress Xiao's betrayal was written, it would be a disgrace to the Xiao family, and the Xiao family and the historian would be at odds, wouldn't it mess up the big picture?"

Li Yanshou nodded, and Wei Zheng said: "Imagine that Empress Xiao's country was destroyed and her family was ruined. She had no place to live and was in grief and pain. I can't open my mouth to ask more questions." The two sighed and rode away. This is:

Six generations and five rulers had many misfortunes, and returned to the north after twelve years.

The ups and downs of life are not easy, and the past is reflected in the history books.

When compiling the "Book of Sui", the historian often came to ask about the old things, which made Xiao Jun nostalgic for his old friends and reminiscing about the past. As luck would have it, on this day, Xiao Jun woke up from her nap and saw a stack of manuscripts in her room. She called the maid and asked, "When were these manuscripts delivered?"

"Reporting to the queen, the historian delivered them at noon. The queen was sleeping soundly, so I didn't dare disturb her. Lord Wei asked the queen to help review them and take them back in a few days.. "

Xiao Jun opened the manuscript, read it carefully, and recalled the past. When he was reading the draft of "Book of Sui", he was thoughtful and accidentally dropped the manuscript on the ground. His grandson Yang Zhengdao saw it. Yang Zhengdao saw that Xiao Jun's eyes were dull and he was worried, so he stepped forward and picked up the manuscript. He took a quick look and found that it was the Biography of Yao Junsu in Volume 71 of "Book of Sui".

Yang Zhengdao asked softly: "Grandma, why are you stunned?"

Xiao Jun glanced at Yang Zhengdao: "Looking at the name of Yao Junsu, I feel sad about the past."

"What is the past? You may as well tell your grandson. ”

Xiao Jun talked about the past in bits and pieces, and mentioned Yao Junsu from time to time. Xiao Jun sighed: "I don't know military affairs. Yao Junsu is the only one I sent. If it weren't for me, Yao Junsu might not have died in Hedong."

Yang Zhengdao nodded and looked at the draft, comforting him: "Grandma, don't be sad. It's natural for a minister to die for his loyalty."

"Alas." Xiao Jun sighed: "If Yao Junsu had followed the trend and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, maybe he could still see me today."

"Grandma, don't worry. There were many loyal ministers in the previous dynasty, not just Yao Junsu. Yin Shishi, Chen Leng, and Gu Yi all died for the country." Zhengdao said.

"Only Yao Junsu died because of me, so I feel guilty. ”

Yang Zhengdao said: "I heard that the emperor has issued an order to divide the prefectures and counties in the world into ten regions. After the New Year, he will tour Hedong Road and appease the people who moved from outside the Great Wall. Grandmother, why don't you ask for an order to rush to Hedong together, maybe you can pay homage to the tomb of Emperor Yao."

"That's great." Hearing that Emperor Taizong of Tang wanted to appease Hedong, Xiao Jun couldn't help but think of the people who moved from Dingxiang County back then. With a happy face, she readily agreed.

In the twelfth year of the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, in 638 AD, Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin toured Hedong Road, accompanied by countless royal relatives, civil and military ministers, and local celebrities. Xiao Jun also went to Hedong Road with the royal family.

When the army arrived in Hedong, Yang Zhengdao rode his horse to the front of Xiao Jun's carriage. Xiao Jun lifted the curtain and asked: "When can we reach Dingxiang County? ”

Yang Zheng said: "Reporting to the grandmother, the emperor has issued an order that he will go to Linfen Palace in person, and he can pass through Dingxiang after lunch."

"If you arrive in Dingxiang, I will just take a look at it, so as not to delay the emperor's important affairs."

"Grandson understands."

When Emperor Taizong of Tang was approaching Dingxiang County during his tour, he suddenly stopped the imperial sedan chair, and Li Shimin asked: "Which prefecture is the next stop?"

The accompanying eunuch said: "The guide reported that the next stop is Dingxiang County."

"Dingxiang? Isn't it the people from Hedong who moved back from outside the Great Wall?"

"The emperor remembers it very clearly, it is the people who moved from outside the Great Wall. ”

Li Shimin nodded and said: "Pass down the decree, asking Empress Xiao to accompany me to Dingxiang County to visit the people. Without Empress Xiao, there would be no Dingxiang County in the Tang Dynasty."

After receiving the decree, after noon, Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin and Xiao Jun came to Dingxiang County together. Li Shimin's imperial sedan chair was in front, and Xiao Jun's sedan chair was behind. The county magistrate led the people of the county to kneel down and worship.Respectfully welcome the emperor.

The Tang Emperor Li Shimin's visit to the people was just a ceremony, a formality. After all, he met many people along the way, and Xiao Jun returned to Dingxiang when she was already in her seventies. The people here still had some feelings about the post-Sui Dynasty. It was well deserved and reasonable for her to meet Empress Xiao.

After paying homage, Xiao Jun looked at the people of Dingxiang County. Men, women, old and young were all smiling and living in peace and contentment. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yang Zhengdao, who was accompanying him, said: "Grandmother's kindness has benefited the people of Dingxiang. From ancient times to the present, it is difficult for a woman to compare with grandma."

"The people can have a good life, not because of me, but because the people have caught up with the prosperous times."

"Prosperous times?"

"Yes, the prosperous times of the Tang Dynasty." Xiao Jun's words were meaningful. The grandfather and grandson looked at the setting sun from afar, recalling the ups and downs of the years and the suffering of the world. Now the world is in great order, making people feel the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

After following Tang Taizong Li Shimin to tour several counties in Hedong, the army came to Yongji. It was also a multi-day tour, and the journey was tiring. Li Shimin ordered the accompanying people to walk around and visit on their own.

After the decree was passed down, Yang Zhengdao walked quickly to Xiao Jun's carriage and said to Xiao Jun: "Grandmother, the emperor ordered the entourage to visit on their own. I have inquired and found that there is indeed a tomb of Yao Junsu in Yongji."

"Oh, are you serious?"

"The tombstone is not far ahead."

"Take me to have a look." Yang Zhengdao helped Xiao Jun walk quickly to the tomb of Yao Junsu not far away, and saw a stone tablet in sight. The tablet was not big, and it clearly engraved "Tomb of Yao Junsu, the Eagle Strike Langjiang of Sui Dynasty". Xiao Jun was an elderly man, and for a moment he could not help but burst into tears and was moved.

Xiao Jun knelt down with a slight tremor, and said with tears in his eyes: "Lord Yao, if I hadn't ordered you to pass the decree to Xijing, you wouldn't have died in Yongji." As he said that, Xiao Jun covered his face with a handkerchief and cried.

While they were mourning Yao Junsu, they heard a eunuch shouting, "The Emperor has arrived!"

Hearing the shout, everyone turned around and knelt before Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. Only Xiao Jun turned her back to Li Shimin and continued to kneel before Yao Junsu. A eunuch approached Xiao Jun, bent down and whispered, "Madam Xiao, how can you mourn for Yao Junsu? He resisted the power of heaven and refused to submit to Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty. Yao Junsu deserved to die."

Xiao Jun stared blankly at Yao Junsu's tombstone. She knew that Li Shimin was behind her, and asked indifferently, " If His Majesty the Emperor also thought so, why did he exile Pei Qiantong in the first place? "

Li Shimin took over the conversation from behind him and said: "What Empress Xiao said is that the current situation is different, and there is a difference between loyalty and treachery. Pass on my decree, 'Yao Junsu, the former Eagle-strike General of the Sui Dynasty, although he barks at Yao like a dog, has the intention to turn against his enemies, but the strong wind and strong grass show his heart of winter; he can be awarded the title of Governor of Puzhou, and his descendants should be visited to report it.'"

When Xiao Jun heard that Li Shimin not only did not blame him, but posthumously awarded Yao Junsu the title of Governor of Puzhou, he was very touched. He hurriedly stood up, turned around, and thanked Li Shimin. Everyone was happy to meet a wise leader. It can be said that:

The rebel king has been the hegemon for many years, and he never surrendered to Lord Yao until his death.

It is difficult to take away his loyalty, and it is difficult to change his lonely heart to build Hedong.

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