Zhu Changxiao's version of the Sui Dynasty

In the 17th year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty, the crown prince Li Chengqian was abolished, and then the Wei Wang Li Tai who participated in the struggle for the throne was demoted to Shunyang Wang. The two princes that Emperor Taizong Li Shimin valued the most fought for the throne, which made Emperor Taizong Li Shimin feel sad and regretful.

Li Shimin had only three legitimate sons, Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi. Only Jin Wang Li Zhi was kind and honest, and had no faults. In order to prevent the three sons from harming each other in the future, he supported Li Zhi as the crown prince.

Although Crown Prince Li Zhi was kind to others, he lacked great talent and strategy. Emperor Taizong Li Shimin was worried that Li Zhi would be too weak to govern the country in the future, so he trained him in every way. Although he had been taught for several years, Li Zhi was not born to be a candidate with great talent and strategy, which made Li Shimin very embarrassed and added a lot of worries.

At this time, the prime ministers in the court were Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling. The two of them watched Tang Taizong Li Shimin plotting for the throne, and they were very worried. They came to the imperial study to see him.

Seeing the two important ministers entering the palace, Li Shimin held his forehead with his hand and asked worriedly: "You two dear ministers are here at this time. Is it possible that the prince has not handled something well again?"

"Although the prince is smart, he still needs to be tempered."

Li Shimin said: "The prince is the prince, but I can't rest assured if the prince takes charge of the Tang Dynasty."

Changsun Wuji said: "What does the emperor mean?"

"I want to follow the example of the ancient saints, extend my life by 20 years, and let the prince rule the world for a few more years."

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were stunned, looked at each other, and thought to themselves that Li Shimin was almost fifty years old, and he was already at the age of knowing his destiny, so it was reasonable for him to want to live a long life. Changsun Wuji took a step forward, bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, how do you plan to extend your life?"

"I have ordered the Ministry of Revenue to select the oldest people in the world to explore the secret of immortality. It is rare for people to live to 70, and the first person who can live to 80 and has a record is Empress Xiao of the previous dynasty."

"Your Majesty, why not ask Empress Xiao for the secret of longevity."

"That's exactly what I want. I order Fang Xuanling to go to Yang Mansion immediately to visit Xiao."

"Your Majesty, Fang Xuanling obeys your order."

Fang Xuanling rushed to Yang Mansion as ordered. As soon as he entered the mansion, no one came to greet him. For an important official like Fang Xuanling to visit, it would not be too much to ask Yang Zhengdao to personally greet him, not to mention the housekeeper. However, it was a bit deserted today.

After walking through the front yard, Yang Zhengdao came hurriedly from the backyard with his robe in hand. When he saw Fang Xuanling, Yang Zhengdao bowed and said, "Master Fang, I am sorry for not welcoming you in person. Please forgive me."

Fang Xuanling saw that Yang Zhengdao looked tired, thinking that he must have not had a good rest in the past few days, so he returned the greeting and asked, "I see that Master Yang is tired and exhausted. I wonder what has caused you to work so hard?"

Yang Zhengdao said, "To be honest, my grandmother Xiao has been ill for several days and I am afraid she can't stand it anymore."

"Oh... I am here on the orders of the emperor. Please lead the way, Master Yang."

"Prime Minister Fang, please." Yang Zhengdao and Fang Xuanling came to the backyard one after the other and went straight to Xiao Jun's bedroom. At this timeXiao Jun was already on her deathbed, her expression was stiff, and her breath was weak.

Yang Zhengdao approached and said, "Grandmother Bing, the emperor sent Lord Fang Xuanling to see you."

"Uh...". The maid next to her brought a wooden stool. Seeing that Xiao Jun was still somewhat conscious, Fang Xuanling sat down, leaned over and asked softly, "Madam Xiao, the emperor has ordered that you teach me the art of longevity."

"Hmm..." Xiao Jun hesitated for a moment, and said softly, "I don't have the art of longevity, but I have endured too much suffering. The more I suffer, the longer I live."

This was a meaningful statement, which made Fang Xuanling very puzzled, and Xiao Jun's consciousness gradually blurred, and she stopped talking. Fang Xuanling had no choice but to go back and tell Li Shimin about this meaningful statement.

Li Shimin did not understand Xiao Jun's last words, and did not ask for any useful longevity tips, so he had to invite Taoist priests to the palace to prepare elixirs and pursue the art of immortality.

November has arrived, and the cold wind of winter is tearing the streets of Chang'an. White banners and white silk are hung at the door of Yang Mansion in Xingdaoli. In the 21st year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty, in the Gengzi year of 647 AD, this Jiangnan woman who had experienced several ups and downs in life died at the age of 81.

Tang Taizong Li Shimin ordered Fang Xuanling to draft an imperial edict to restore Xiao Jun to the position of Empress, and posthumously named her "Min". She was known in history as Empress Min of the Great Sui Dynasty, also known as Empress Min of Emperor Yang of Sui; she was granted the third-rank funeral guard, prepared a funeral procession, and sent to Jiangdu to be buried with Emperor Yang of Sui. This is:

On the day when the immortal elixir is refined, the female ruler will die with her. I heard that destiny can prolong life, but the ascetic reincarnation is more painful.

Eighty-one years of honor and disgrace, don't sigh late for the blessings and disasters here. Who has ever asked in the long days, how many ups and downs have been known?

The cold wind kept blowing on the top of Chang'an City, and the flags were still fluttering in the wind. Accompanied by a cough, the curtain of the sedan chair was opened, and Prime Minister Fang Xuanling walked out of the sedan chair to see off the funeral procession.

A civil servant walked quickly, bowed and said: "The subordinate Yu Chang has prepared the funeral carriages and horses."

Yu Chang is seven feet tall. At first glance, he seems to be a little clumsy, but he has been working in the Ministry of Works for many years. This time, he was sent by Fang Xuanling to transport Xiao Jun's coffin to Jiangdu.

Why did Prime Minister Fang Xuanling use Yu Chang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, after considering many factors and carefully selecting him, he finally chose Yu Chang. Yu Chang's ancestral home is in Jiangdong. His father's name is Yu Shinan, who is the younger brother of Yu Shiji, a minister of the Sui Dynasty. Yu Chang is Yu Shiji's nephew. With this special relationship, his ancestral home in Jiangdong, and his nostalgia for the previous dynasty, Fang Xuanling felt that sending Yu Chang to the place was the most appropriate.

Looking at the team that was ready to go, Fang Xuanling took out a booklet and handed it to Yu Chang, and told him: "I have ordered the Ministry of Revenue to check the local chronicles of Jiangdu, and have made corrections to the location and changes of Emperor Yang of Sui's mausoleum, and compiled them in this booklet. When Yu Shilang arrives at the local area, he must bury the Emperor Yang of Sui and Empress Xiao together."

"The Prime Minister has good intentions, and I will keep it in mind. Please rest assured, Prime Minister, and take care of yourself."

Yu Chang and Fang Xuanling said goodbye to each other, waved their whips and left, and Yu Chang pressedAccording to the standards of a third-rank official, he led a team of people to escort Xiao Jun's coffin to Yangzhou.

The team of escorts went all the way, passed Luoyang, and prepared to take a boat to the canal, but at this time a large number of ferries gathered in the river, temporarily blocking it, and many soldiers on the shore were counting the boats.

A familiar figure came slowly, and Yu Chang looked carefully. It was none other than the general of the Right Guard, Xue Wanche. Speaking of this general of the previous dynasty, he couldn't help but think of the Sui general Xue Shixiong. At this time, Xue Wanche had already surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and was already a middle-aged veteran. Yu Chang bowed and asked, "General Xue, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Xue Wanche returned the greeting and looked at the coffin. Seeing that it was guarded by a third-rank funeral guard, he asked, "Mr. Shilang, which prince is guarding the coffin?"

"This is the coffin of Empress Xiao of the previous dynasty. I am ordered to escort the coffin to Jiangdu to be buried with Emperor Yang of Sui."

"Oh..." Xue Wanche was stunned. When Empress Xiao was mentioned, the old general couldn't help but recall the past. He was filled with emotion. Xue Wanche clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Xiao Jun's coffin to show his respect.

Xue Wanche turned around and said to Yu Chang: "I should have given way to the river for the coffin of Empress Xiao, but the emperor has ordered that he wants to attack Goguryeo in February of the 22nd year of Zhenguan. The river is in urgent need of transporting food and supplies, so I can only ask you to escort the coffin by land."

Yu Chang said: "That's fine. I just sigh that since the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty, Goguryeo has been conquered many times, which is really a great pity."

Xue Wanche also sighed: "I hope that my emperor will be blessed and defeat Goguryeo."

"In that case, I wish the old general success." Yu Chang and Xue Wanche thanked each other and said goodbye. Yu Chang could only take the land route to Jiangdu to escort the coffin. It can be said that:

Warships are roaring into the cold Liao Dynasty, and the years of eastward expedition are not yet over.

Bone remains exposed for years, and it is difficult to conquer them today.

Jiangdu is under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou Prefecture. Yu Chang, the Minister of Works, traveled eastward for a long time before reaching Yangzhou.

The imperial edict was sent by express horse. When they learned that the coffin of Empress Xiao was escorted here, officials of all sizes in Yangzhou Prefecture came to greet them, and even some elderly people lined the streets to welcome them.

Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty spent a lot of time in the palace of Jiangdu throughout his life, which made the people of Jiangdong miss him very much. Although Yang Guang failed the people of the world, the local people regarded Yang Guang as the emperor cultivated by their own family and had a lot of affection for him. Xiao Jun was buried in Yangzhou, which naturally made the people of Jiangdong very appreciative.

When he arrived at Yangzhou, Yu Chang asked about the old tomb of Emperor Yang of Sui. Although Yangzhou welcomed him with great fanfare, few people knew where the old tomb of Emperor Yang of Sui was. Yu Chang went to the local area to check it out according to the booklet given by Fang Xuanling.

The local area has undergone many changes over the years, and it is very different from the local chronicles compiled by Fang Xuanling. Although the locals are well-known to Emperor Yang of Sui, they have never found out where the tomb of Emperor Yang of Sui is. They went from house to house, but never got the answer. This is:

Looking back at the national disaster in Jiangdu, the couple separated for 29 years.

Reunited and buried togetherHope, thus the Sui and Tang dynasties came to an end.

Yu Chang sat on a grassy field in disappointment, and said to several guards around him: "If we can't find the whereabouts of Emperor Yang of Sui's tomb, we will have to spend this New Year in Yangzhou."

Several guards were scratching their heads, and suddenly someone shouted: "Sir, sir, we have found the whereabouts!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that it was Jia Laoqi, the chief clerk beside Yu Chang. Yu Chang tilted his neck and asked: "Laoqi, tell me what news you have?"

Jia Laoqi took two deep breaths and walked closer. With both hands on her waist, she said, "There is a blind old lady in front, called Wei. It is said that she worked as a female official for the empresses in the Sui Palace and knows some information about the tomb of Emperor Yang of Sui."

"Oh? If so, take me to visit her quickly." Yu Chang stood up excitedly, grabbed Jia Laoqi's wrist, and said excitedly, "Where is she, take me there quickly."

Everyone came to the home of old lady Wei. Seeing that the family was not rich, the old furnishings showed that the family was ordinary. Wei's hair was gray, she was seventy years old, blind, and lived alone here. She usually relied on the help of neighbors to survive.

After everyone explained their purpose, Yu Chang talked to Wei about some past events of the previous dynasty. Wei said, "I was a female official of Empress Xiao, and I even gave cloth shoes to Lord Yuwen Shu. Later, I took advantage of the chaos when the Jiangdu Palace was in chaos and escaped, and married into this village."

Yu Chang asked, "I heard that the coffin of Emperor Yang of Sui has been moved several times. Is that true?"

"That's true. Back then, Yu Wenhuaji's rebels went north and flattened Liuzhu Hall, and hastily erected a monument to bury it. Later, General Chen Leng suppressed the rebels and settled in Jiangdu. He held a formal tomb relocation ceremony for Emperor Yang of Sui at Wugongtai. I followed the villagers to watch." Wei said.

"So that's how it is." Yu Chang nodded and asked, "When did the tomb of Wugongtai disappear?"

Wei said, "After the Tang emperor unified the world, Wugongtai was burned down again. It was probably in the fifth year of Wude that the tomb of Emperor Yang was moved to Leitang. I also went there to pay my respects. When the floods hit the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers in the early years of Zhenguan, it was estimated that the old tomb was also covered by mud, sand and rocks, so you still need to go to Leitang to find the tomb."

After listening to what old lady Wei said, Yu Chang subconsciously took out the booklet that Fang Xuanling had given him from his pocket. According to the records on it, it was very similar to what Wei said.

Yu Chang was overjoyed and bowed to Wei, saying, "What the old man said is almost the same as the official records. I hope the old man can lead the way and help find the tomb of Emperor Yang. The government will never treat you unfairly."

Old lady Wei nodded. After all, this time Empress Xiao and Emperor Yang of Sui were buried together, which was also a long-cherished wish of this old friend from the previous dynasty.

Thanks to Wei, the memories led the way. Finally, in the winter of 647 AD, Emperor Yang of Sui and Empress Xiao were buried together in Yangzhou after 29 years of separation. Later, Luo Yin wrote a poem in the late Tang Dynasty as a testimony:

Enter the city and climb the bridge. Exit the city by boat. The red building is full of willows every day.

The king was reluctant to give up the cause of pacifying Chen, and only won a few acres of land in Leitang.

Yu Chang completed the important task of burying Empress Xiao and Emperor Yang of Sui.He was secretly happy, just waiting to return to Beijing to meet Fang Xuanling and wait for the reward from the court. This matter was not a big event in the eyes of outsiders, but it was extraordinary in the eyes of Yu Chang. As mentioned in the previous article, Yu Chang was the son of Yu Shinan, a famous minister of the Tang Dynasty, and his father was one of the twenty-four meritorious ministers of Lingyan Pavilion. However, Yu Chang was mediocre and did nothing. If it were not for his father's connections and family background, he would have been in a state of decline.

This time, the merging of the tombs of Emperor Yang of Sui and Empress Xiao, Yu Chang felt that this was the greatest achievement of his life, and it was recommended by the prime minister Fang Xuanling, so he naturally had to ask for credit from Fang Xuanling.

On the way back to Chang'an, it was already the 22nd year of Zhenguan. Emperor Taizong of Tang was preparing to personally lead the expedition to Goguryeo. There were still a lot of cars and people on the road, and food and supplies were transported to the north in an endless stream. Although Yu Chang was eager to return to the capital to report his achievements, he could only allow the Northern Expedition Army to avoid the main roads, so it was delayed for a few more days.

After finally arriving in the capital Chang'an, Yu Chang was ecstatic. He shook off the people and horses that accompanied him and went directly to Fang's mansion to meet Fang Xuanling and ask for credit.

When he arrived at the door, Yu Chang turned over and got off the horse. He couldn't wait to run to the mansion. At this time, the door of the mansion was wide open, and there were many people coming in and out. Yu Chang was stunned, thinking that this was not the day for Fang Xuanling to celebrate his birthday, why were there so many people coming in and out.

Just as he was wondering, he saw a servant dressed as a servant coming towards him from afar. Yu Chang greeted him with a smile and bowed, saying, "I am Yu Chang, the Minister of Works. I was ordered to bury Emperor Yang of Sui and Empress Xiao together. I am here today to report back to the court. I am here to ask for Fang..."

"That's enough, that's enough," the servant interrupted impatiently, "It's already this late, and you're still looking for Lord Fang..."

Yu Chang was stunned and said, "Why do you say that? I'm here on official business."

The servant said, "My Lord, you don't understand what's going on in the mansion. My son, Mr. Fang passed away last night, and he rode a crane to the west. Everyone is busy with funeral affairs. "

……

A dusty past event came to an end. I don't know how many people can understand the ancient style. However, Zhu Changxiao, a later scholar, composed miscellaneous poems and sang them while drinking tea. They are still sung today:

Tell an old history, taste a moving story; play a dirge, sing a sad song;

Recite an ancient rhyme, drink a cup of turbid wine; look at the bitterness, and watch the rise and fall of the country.

Life is full of ups and downs, who knows the difference between honor and disgrace.

The grand event of all nations, lonely souls in the wild. The sea and sky are endless, and the rhyme of thousands of years is fragrant.

Walking through the two capitals of the East and the West, I asked about the intertwined grievances of a hundred years; recalling the waves of the north and the south, I looked at the passage of the canal for thousands of years;

Watching the alternation of spring and autumn, I sighed at the pursuit of the sun by thousands of cavalrymen; looking for the purity of bamboo and chrysanthemums, I remembered the sufferings of hundreds of millions of people.

When the boat passed the West River, I indulged myself occasionally, and the horses were released in the South Mountain.

The Great Wall was empty to write poems, and the footsteps were slow. The spring night in the imperial palace was short, how many people knew the pain?

In the blink of an eye, the prosperous times of the Sui and Tang dynasties finally came to an end. I once lingered in my homeland, and turned over the old chapter to start a new chapter.

It is difficult for the beauty to look back, how many vicissitudes have changed her face. The people looked at each other from afar, how many honors and disgraces have changed.

The startled swan held a branch and laughed at the sea. The shepherd boy played the flute and watched the mulberry fields.

The heroic spirit filled the mountain top, and the lament was sent to the ripples.Ancient bluestone road, chanting history along the river.

End of the full text, thank you for your attention.

July 18, 2014

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