The defeat of the Sui army shocked the world. Yang Guang also knew that he could not explain to the people of the world. On the grounds that the "benevolent and righteous decree" was against his will, he ordered the beheading of Minister Youcheng Liu Shilong to apologize to the world and at the same time shift the blame for the defeat to the world.
To Wang Rengong and Yu Wenshu.
Wang Rengong is dead, and his children and their families have been implicated and thrown into prison. However, Yu Wenshu has a different relationship with Yang Guang. He has been his staunchest supporter since Yang Guang was still a prince, so he was only demoted and dismissed from office.
, but his sons Yu Wenhua and He Yuwenzhi and their official positions remained unchanged.
But even so, Yu Wenshu became ill with grief and anger, and fell ill on the way back to Luoyang.
After retreating to Youzhou, Yang Guang paced back and forth in the imperial book with his hands behind his back. His mood was extremely bad, and his expression was extremely gloomy. Four of the chamberlains and bodyguards around him had been scolded by him, and two of them were killed alive.
The failure of the Battle of Goguryeo greatly tarnished his face and made him feel very embarrassed. It was an unparalleled blow to him. Especially being accompanied by envoys from the Ninety-nine Kingdoms made him feel even more embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, Master Yu is here." The eunuch's report came from the door.
The arrival of Yu Shiji refreshed Yang Guang's spirits. Now he urgently needs someone to share his worries. Although he believes in Yuwenshu more, Yuwenshu is now the guilty minister. There used to be Pei Shiju, but recently he feels that Pei Shiju seems to be with Wang Junlin.
The close contact made him unhappy.
Yang Guang is now at the most decadent time in his life, and also the time when he has been hit the hardest. Although he is the emperor, he is not beyond the scope of a human being. When his heart is the most vulnerable, he also needs someone to comfort him.
So, at this time, he needed Yu Shiji.
"Announce his presence!"
After a while, Yu Shiji hurriedly walked in, bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, Yu Shiji, comes to see you!"
"Yu Aiqing is exempt from the courtesy."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yu Shiji bowed, straightened up, bowed and said, "I am very happy to see that Your Majesty is in good health."
Yu Shiji's expression was very sincere when he said this, which made Yang Guang feel a little warm in his heart. He sighed slightly and said: "I didn't expect that I would lose this battle so miserably and in such embarrassment that it would be difficult for me to express my gratitude to the world.
People explain."
Yang Guang is actually a person who is not very well-known in the city. Over time, his cronies and confidants actually know him very well, and Yu Shiji is very good at figuring out Yang Guang's thoughts, so he can gain Yang Guang's favor.
Now Yu Shiji understood Yang Guang's mood at this time very well. He also knew that Yang Guang came to him because he hoped that he could untie this knot for him.
Yu Shiji said seriously: "With all due respect, I already realized in May that the battle of Goryeo was likely to fail."
Yang Guang was stunned and said displeasedly: "What does this mean, Ai Qing?"
"Your Majesty, in May, a large number of civilians fled south, and many people were sick of the epidemic. I knew that an epidemic broke out in Liaodong, and I realized that this Liaodong battle was probably a disaster. Since ancient times, no battle has broken out.
I believe everyone can understand that we can win despite the epidemic, just like the late Emperor once conquered Goguryeo in the 18th year of Emperor Kai Huang's reign. Although he failed, no one complained about the late Emperor."
Yu Shiji's words were like lifting a heavy boulder from Yang Guang's heart. Yang Guang's heart suddenly relaxed a lot. Yes! The outbreak of the epidemic was beyond his control. How could it be the main reason for the failure of this battle?
It must be an epidemic.
Yang Guang smiled approvingly and said: "Yu Aiqing is right. The reason why we were defeated was because the disease appeared among the untouchables and spread it to the army, so I was defeated miserably."
"Your Majesty is wise. It's all the fault of those untouchables, not your Majesty!"
Yu Shiji could feel the joy in Yang Guang's heart, and knew that Yang Guang had solved the tangle in his heart. Yu Shiji said solemnly: "Your Majesty, it is not enough for the ministers and your majesty to know this reason. We must let everyone in the world know about Goguryeo."
The real cause of the defeat was the epidemic."
Yang Guang nodded and said deeply: "What Aiqing said makes sense. I plan to issue an edict and announce this reason to the world."
"Your Majesty is wise, but I have a suggestion. It is better to select some eloquent ministers and sergeants and let them travel around the world to give lectures at the official schools in various counties and counties to tell the story of the Goryeo War and the threat of Goryeo to the Sui Dynasty.
, Let the people of the world understand the need to attack Goryeo, and at the same time feel the tragedy of the epidemic firsthand. I believe that by doing so, the people of the world will understand why Your Majesty launched the War of Goryeo, and also let them know that the failure is not Your Majesty's.
Responsibility, but just like in the 18th year of the founding of the Emperor, the disease is raging."
Yang Guang's eyes lit up at Yu Shiji's suggestion. Although he was reluctant to lower his noble head, he also understood that the failure of the Battle of Goguryeo had a great impact on his reputation. Yu Shiji's suggestion might be helpful in maintaining his dignity as an emperor.
will be very effective.
Yang Guang thought for a long time and finally nodded and said: "As Aiqing said, this is a good idea, so I will leave it to you and implement it as soon as I return to Luoyang."
The shadow of failure faded a lot in Yang Guang's heart. Yang Guang stood up and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. He sighed slightly and said: "Yu Aiqing, although the defeat in the Battle of Goryeo was due to the appearance of those untouchables,
The epidemic is still the biggest shame in my life. I want to attack Goryeo again, what do you think?"
Yu Shiji wanted to say that if he continued to fight, the Sui Dynasty would be ruined, but he knew what kind of person Yang Guang was and what kind of words he could say to please Yang Guang, so he immediately said: "Your Majesty is wise.
, the wolfish ambitions of the people of Goguryeo are really the thorn in my side during the Sui Dynasty. Your Majesty, if you want to become an emperor throughout the ages, you will definitely turn Goguryeo into a county of the Sui Dynasty."
Having said this, Yu Shiji glanced at Yang Guang's satisfied expression and sighed softly in his heart. He and the Sui Dynasty shared weal and woe. All glory and wealth came from the Sui Dynasty and from the emperor. If the Sui Dynasty disappeared, it would really be a disaster for him.
There was no benefit at all, so he gritted his teeth and continued: "But I think that after the Battle of Goryeo, many people's mentality will change and many people will have ideas. I suggest that your Majesty not make a decision for the time being and observe it for a few months.
Then consider countermeasures.”
Yang Guang nodded. Yu Shiji was worthy of being one of his most favored ministers, so he considered this very carefully: "Ai Qing's suggestion is well versed in relaxation. We have just finished the Battle of Goryeo and suffered such heavy losses. The army and courtiers really need it."
After relaxing for a while, I heard that during my expedition to Goguryeo, all the young people in the country jumped out to cause trouble again. I just happened to take advantage of this time to kill all these rebels."