RPAGF Chapter 67 Holding a Small Meeting
Chapter 67 Holding a Small Meeting
"I suggest that we should prioritize appeasement and use military force as a secondary measure."
Gao Jiong cupped his hands and said, "We will select a capable minister to lead an imperial envoy south, ostensibly for inspection, but in reality for sowing discord. We will use the imperial authority to intimidate Li Xian, preventing him from acting rashly; at the same time, we will offer him substantial rewards to win over the various Li and Liao tribes, thus dividing his allies. This is what military strategy calls 'subduing the enemy without fighting!'"
"To subdue the enemy without fighting..."
Yang Jian muttered to himself, his fingers lightly tapping on the imperial desk.
This plan is cost-effective, saves manpower, and carries low risk, which indeed meets his current expectations.
"The Duke of Qi is a wise and experienced strategist, and his plan is very much to my liking."
Yang Jian breathed a long sigh of relief. As long as a large-scale military operation wasn't needed, things would be much easier to handle.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, looking at their faces—some relieved, some harboring ulterior motives—and a deep weariness and boredom welled up within him.
The court appears to be full of talented people, but in reality, each has their own agenda, and very few can truly share his burdens.
"Let's conclude today's court discussion here."
Yang Jian waved his hand, his voice tinged with a hint of dejection: "The campaign against Liaodong is to be postponed for now. All departments, go back and draft a detailed plan for pacifying Lingnan. We will discuss it again tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, all the officials were overjoyed and bowed in unison, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! We take our leave!"
This thrilling grand court assembly seemed destined to end abruptly.
However, just as everyone was about to leave, Yang Jian's voice rang out again, this time with an undeniable coldness.
"Gao Jiong, Yang Su, Yu Qingze, Su Wei."
The person whose name was called immediately stopped in their tracks.
"The Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin."
Yang Yong and Yang Guang quickly responded.
"And... Minister of War Liu Shu, and Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Xue Daoheng."
"You few, stay here and come with me to the Liangyi Hall for a meeting."
Yang Yan stood there, a slight thought stirring in his heart.
This is a small meeting.
The moment that will truly determine the fate of the Sui Dynasty, or rather, the moment that will truly determine Yang Yan's life or death, has only just begun.
What happened in the court just now was nothing more than a performance for outsiders.
He instinctively wanted to step forward and follow behind his father, Yang Yong.
"Wait a minute."
Yang Jian's icy voice, like a spell, froze Yang Yan's foot, which he had just raised, in mid-air.
Yang Yan raised his head and saw Yang Jian looking down at him. The admiration in his eyes was gone, replaced by an unfathomable depth.
"Yang Yan".
"My grandson is here."
"Although you have some sophistry... no, some reasoning, deceiving the emperor is a grave crime."
"As a grandson of the emperor, he acted recklessly, disregarding the dignity of the royal family, and nearly caused a great disaster. He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment."
Yang Jian's voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an unyielding authority.
"Go and kneel outside the Liangyi Hall first."
"I'm discussing matters inside; you stay outside and reflect on your actions."
"Think about what 'arrogance' is and what 'duty' is! Without my decree, you are not to rise!"
Having said that, Yang Jian waved his sleeve and walked towards the back hall without looking back.
When Yang Guang passed by Yang Yan, he paused slightly.
He didn't speak, but looked at Yang Yan with an extremely compassionate gaze, as if looking at a dead man whose fate was already sealed. Then he straightened his clothes and followed calmly.
Yang Yong looked worried and wanted to say something, but Gao Jiong subtly tugged at his sleeve, so he could only sigh and leave in a hurry.
The once grand Daxing Hall instantly became empty.
He raised his head, his gaze passing through the crowd, and briefly met that of Prince Yang Guang of Jin not far away.
Yang Guang's face still held that perfectly measured worry.
But in those deep, phoenix-shaped eyes, Yang Yan clearly saw a fleeting, triumphant smile.
"We are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board." Yang Yan shook his head self-deprecatingly as he watched the departing figures of the crowd.
In late autumn, the wind at Daxing Palace carried a biting chill.
Outside the Liangyi Hall, Yang Yan knelt upright on the hard stone slab.
However, his mind remained unusually clear.
He had no time to think about the pain in his knee; instead, he was mentally reviewing every detail of the day's court proceedings.
From Prince Yang Guang's sudden attack to the relentless pressure from Imperial Censor Yuan Xiaosun, and then to his own "three-crime self-defense."
Ultimately, the deadly situation was temporarily averted by the meaningful remark from Emperor Yang Jian, the emperor's grandfather: "Like me."
But he knew very well that the phrase "like me" was only meant for the court officials, to maintain the dignity of the royal family, and even more so to maintain Yang Jian's own unquestionable authority.
But this kneeling punishment outside the palace was just for show, meant for everyone to see.
This is the emperor's reprimand, a silent warning.
It is telling everyone that even if the imperial grandson makes a mistake, he will still be punished.
It also tells Yang Yan that no matter how clever you are or how brilliant your strategies are, you will be punished if you don't clean up your mess. In this palace, the distinction between ruler and subject and the order of rank are the insurmountable barriers.
Yang Yan raised his head and looked at the tightly closed vermilion gate of the Liangyi Hall.
He knew that the "mini court assembly" taking place inside the gate at this moment was the key to truly determining his fate, and even the future direction of the Sui Dynasty.
……
Inside the Liangyi Hall, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.
Yang Jian sat high on his throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of his ministers and sons below.
Gao Jiong, Yang Su, Crown Prince Yang Yong, Prince Yang Guang of Jin...
"Gentlemen, please speak about the affairs of Lingnan."
Yang Jian's calm voice broke the deathly silence in the hall, and the prayer beads in his hand stopped moving.
"Since this is a family-style discussion, there's no need for formalities. Let's all sit down and talk."
Although seats were offered, everyone still stood up straight.
Gao Jiong stepped forward first, his expression solemn. As the pillar of the Sui Dynasty, he was used to thinking about the fate of the nation from the most prudent perspective.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the best course of action in Lingnan is to appease the people, and to wage war is the worst possible strategy."
Gao Jiong cupped his hands and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Lingnan is a land of high mountains and dense forests, rife with miasma. Historical records say that of the armies that marched south, three out of ten returned home. This was not due to a lack of skill, but rather because the timing and terrain were not favorable to us. If our army rashly ventures deep into the region, the transport of supplies will be difficult, and we will be extremely vulnerable to losses due to acclimatization issues."
He paused, glanced at Yang Jian's expression, and continued his analysis: "Although Li Xian has shown unusual behavior, he has not yet raised the banner of rebellion. What he relies on is nothing more than his alliance with the various Li and Liao tribes. If the court were to send a high-ranking official south at this time, with imperial authority to intimidate him and appease him with the court's favor, thus dividing his allies and leaving him isolated and helpless, then perhaps we could subdue him without a fight. This is the best strategy."
This is a wise and experienced statement on governing the country.
This not only avoided military risks but also saved on national treasury expenditures. More importantly, it aligned with Yang Jian's mindset of not valuing Lingnan.
Yang Jian nodded slightly, clearly quite interested.
However, at that moment, a soft laugh broke the atmosphere that Gao Jiong had created.
"While Minister Gao's words are a prudent opinion, I cannot agree with them!"