Chapter 2716: Ban Gu sacrificed his life to remonstrate, and the ban relieved the madness of the Qiang people
Seeing Yang Guang's determination, Cheng Gongying, Ban Gu and others became anxious.
Ban Gu urged: "My lord, you must not do it. Although the situation is critical now, our army is united.
As long as we, the Sui Dynasty, are united as one, we will definitely be able to defeat the Qin Dynasty. "
What Ban Gu said was not wrong. Although the Qin army was powerful, the Sui state was still extremely united. The reason was that the people of Liangzhou had been too miserable in the past.
There was a century-old war between Han and Qiang in Liangzhou, and then there was a melee between Liangzhou princes. It was not until Yang Guang unified Liangzhou and implemented land reform that the life of the people of Liangzhou began to get better.
In addition to land reform, Yang Guang also vigorously controlled floods, dug canals, and restored agricultural production in Liangzhou.
He was also the first king to propose imperial examinations, breaking the monopoly of powerful families on officialdom and allowing ordinary people to advance.
For the people of Liangzhou, everything they have now was brought to them by Yang Guang, so the people at the bottom naturally support and love him.
Completely different from Cao Cao, who had mixed reputations and reputations, Yang Guang's reputation was not only good in Liangzhou, but also throughout the world. Everyone in the Sui Kingdom sincerely supported him.
This is also the main reason why the Sui Kingdom remained united even after the Qin army attacked on four fronts and formed a trap.
The infamous Sui Yang Emperor in history, but in this era, the Sui King Yang Guang was a wise king who was supported and loved by the people. It is hard to believe that this could be the same person.
As soon as Ban Gu finished speaking, Cheng Gongying couldn't wait to persuade: "Lord, the greatest advantage of our Sui Dynasty is not the large number of soldiers and generals, the vast territory, nor the strong people's customs, but the internal unity and unity of all people.
However, once the Jie Qiang Order is issued, our country will definitely be in turmoil. At that time, the people will be unstable and the soldiers will have no fighting spirit. There will be no need for the Qin army to invade. Our army will probably collapse without a fight. Please be careful, Lord. "
After saying that, Cheng Gongying knelt down.
"Please be careful, my lord."
Ban Gu and Li Delin also knelt down, hoping that Yang Guang could take back his life, but this move angered Yang Guang instead.
"presumptuous."
Yang Guang was like an angry lion, glaring at the three people and saying: "The Qiang people have already had their backs broken. If I lift the ban, the Qiang people will definitely be grateful. How can they dare to rebel against me? What you just said is really alarmist talk."
Today's Yang Guang has 100 in politics and 95 in intelligence. How can he not know the risks after the Qiang Order?
But it is precisely because he knows that the Jie Qiang Order is to cut off one's own arms and kill eight hundred enemies and lose one thousand, and even after losing one thousand, one may not be able to kill eight hundred enemies. This is what Yang Guang finds most difficult to accept.
Because facing Li Jing's trapped dragon situation, the Sui State had no other trump card except the evil trick of drinking poison to quench thirst.
Direct death is not terrible, waiting for death slowly is the most torture.
Yang Guang is a person who cannot afford to lose, and naturally he will not sit back and wait for death, so even though he is clear in his heart, he still chooses to comfort himself, only thinking about the good side, and deliberately ignoring the risks involved.
"My lord, the Qiang people are barbarians, barbarians, and beasts. They are afraid of power and have no morals. How can they be grateful for the lifting of the ban?"
Ban Gu raised his head and said seriously: "Lord, the general trend of the world is that if we divide for a long time, we will unite, and if we unite for a long time, we will divide.
The battle between Qin and Sui Dynasty was an internal fight among the Han people. Even if we lost the Sui Dynasty and lost Liangzhou and Haizhou, it was just bad luck and there was nothing to be ashamed of.
But if the ban is lifted and the Qiang people, who we Han people spent hundreds of years to exterminate with great difficulty, rise again, then I, the Sui general, will be the sinners of the Han people. Please be careful, my lord. "
It is not difficult to see from Ban Gu's words that in the hearts of many scholar-bureaucrats, they have gradually accepted the fact that Qin will unify the world as a general trend, so the perspective of considering the problem has begun to change to the entire Han nation.
In the minds of opponents such as Ban Gu and Cheng Gongying, the Sui Kingdom can be destroyed, but the Qiang Order cannot be issued because it will harm the interests of the entire Han nation. If it is implemented, they will be the sinners of all Han people.
However, in the hearts of Yang Guang, Yang Su, Gao Jiong and others, they put the interests of the Sui State above the entire Han nation.
What happened to the Han people? They couldn't control that much, but the Sui Kingdom must not be destroyed.
It is precisely because of this that Yang Guang, who was already angry, naturally became even more angry when he heard that Ban Gu had kidnapped his own morality for the sake of national justice.
Seeing how stubborn Ban Gu was, Gao Yan secretly thought in his heart. He was about to shut up Ban Gu immediately, but the furious Yang Guang got there first.
"Okay, okay, Ban Gu, you finally spoke your mind."
Yang Guang suppressed the anger in his heart and said loudly: "Even if Sui lost this battle, wouldn't it be embarrassing? Of course you wouldn't be embarrassed.
If the Sui Dynasty dies, you can take off your official uniform and put on the official uniform of the Great Qin Dynasty, and you will become an official of the Great Qin Dynasty, and you will still enjoy the glory and wealth.
But what about this king? Do you want me to surrender without mercy, beg for surrender from the enemy who killed my father, and live in humiliation for the rest of my life? "
Ban Gu was so frightened by Yang Guang's roar that his face turned pale, and he quickly defended with a look of fear: "Lord, calm down, Ban Gu has no intention of surrendering to Qin..."
Before Ban Gu finished speaking, he was directly interrupted by Yang Guang.
"You have no intention of surrendering to Qin? Do you, Ban Gu, have a younger brother who is the governor of Hanzhong in Daqin? Do you dare to say that he doesn't?"
Hearing Yang Guang's words, Ban Gu did not hesitate at all and said decisively: "No, Ban Gu has no intention of surrendering to the Qin Dynasty. All his words are for the lord and for me, the Sui Dynasty."
When Yang Guang heard this, he sneered: "You are so good for me, Da Sui. For my Da Sui, how can you say that you won't be ashamed if you lose? I think you have long wanted to sell the seller for glory and exchange your own for wealth." .”
As soon as Yang Guang said this, not only Ban Gu, but also Cheng Gongying and Li Delin also changed their expressions. However, due to the situation, they could not speak for Ban Gu, so they could only bend down lower.
Ban Gu's face was already pale at this time. Yang Guang not only questioned his position, but also questioned his loyalty. This was undoubtedly a great insult to him who had always fulfilled his duties and was loyal.
"Ban Gu is by no means a traitor to seek glory. If my lord does not believe it, Ban Gu is willing to die to prove his innocence."
As soon as Ban Gu said this, not only Gao Jun, Yang Su and others, but also Yang Guang could not help but change their expressions.
He naturally knew how loyal Ban Gu was to him. Over the years, Ban Gu's brother Ban Chao, the prefect of Hanzhong, had written to Ban Gu more than once to persuade him, but Ban Gu didn't even read it and handed it over to him to avoid suspicion.
There is no doubt about Ban Gu's loyalty, but now Ban Gu's words of death have made Yang Guang unable to step down.
Just when Yang Guang was hesitant, Ban Gu said again: "My lord, Ban Gu can die, but the ban cannot be lifted, otherwise we will all become sinners of the Han people."
As soon as these words came out, a cold light flashed in Yang Guang's eyes, and he had murderous intentions in his heart, but he still endured it in the end.
"Humph, you are stubborn. The order to remove the Qiang must be implemented. You are determined. If you want to die, just find a place to die by yourself. Don't act like a coward here."
After saying that, Yang Guang walked away without even looking at Ban Gu, leaving Ban Gu alone to kneel on the spot, his eyes full of disappointment and deathly silence.
Cheng Gongying and Li Delin looked at Yang Guang's back and became increasingly disappointed with Yang Guang's behavior in order to preserve the country regardless of national justice.
Seeing this, Gao Jun and Yang Su immediately stepped forward to comfort the three of them. After all, they had to clean up the mess Yang Guang made.
"Master Ban, my lord just said something out of anger, please don't take it seriously." Gao Qiao consoled him.
When Ban Gu heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He raised his head and looked at Gao Jiong and said, "Master Prime Minister, you must also think that the order to relieve the Qiang cannot be launched, right? Go and persuade the lord. Once the order to relieve the Qiang is implemented, I will They will all become sinners."
Gao Jiong's face suddenly stiffened, and after being silent for a while, he said: "Master Ban, you have to understand my lord's difficulties. Now that I, Sui Dynasty, want to protect myself, we have no other choice but to borrow strength from the Qiang people." It’s law.”
Ban Gu looked at Gao Jiong in disbelief. He couldn't believe that Prime Minister Gao, who was diligent and caring for the people, would support Yang Guang in launching the order to relieve the Qiang.
Suddenly, Ban Gu suddenly understood that he, who was born as a commoner, and Gao Jiong were never the same person.
Scholar-officials like Gao Jun and Yang Su, who were born in aristocratic families, have always focused on their own interests, without considering any national interests.
As for Yang Guang, he was born into the same aristocratic family, and he was essentially the same person as Gao Xuan Yang Su. In his heart, the interests of the Sui Kingdom were above all else.
He implemented so many benevolent policies in Liangzhou only because it was good for him and conducive to his hegemony, so he did it, not because he really cared about the common people.
Although it is said that a gentleman does not care about his heart when discussing his deeds, don't look at what people think in their hearts, but look at how they actually do it.
Ban Gu also saw Yang Guang's behavior and decided to swear allegiance to Yang Guang. But when Yang Guang exposed his selfish nature, he just felt like he was a joke.
"If we have different ways, we can't work together." Ban Gu said to himself with a look of despair.
Because the voice was too low, Gao Qiao didn't hear everything, so he asked, "What did you just say?"
But what he responded to was a roar.
"I said people who are different cannot work together." Ban Gu roared angrily.
This time everyone present heard it, and their expressions could not help but change. Gao Jiong even said with a serious face: "Master Ban, be careful what you say."
Gao Jun knew Ban Gu's character and abilities, and didn't want Ban Gu to go to a dead end, so he said this. He wanted to bring Ban Gu back from a dead end.
But Ban Gu could no longer care about this. He was heartbroken by Yang Guang and was already determined to die.
Ban Gu smiled self-deprecatingly and stumbled back to his home. What he had just said in the hall was quickly presented to Yang Guang.
Yang Guang was naturally furious when he learned that, and he even had murderous intentions in his heart. He knew that Ban Gu might have been disappointed in him, otherwise he would not have said such treasonous words in public.
However, considering Ban Gu's achievements and his prestige among the poor scholar-bureaucrats, Yang Guang suppressed his murderous intention and instead prepared to arrest him and imprison him.
The people sent to capture Ban Gu returned soon, but they did not catch Ban Gu and only brought back Ban Gu's body.
"Lord, something bad has happened. Mr. Ban committed suicide. This is the suicide note written by Mr. Ban before his death."
"What?"
Yang Guang was stunned and quickly took the suicide note. After reading it, he was so angry that he shivered and tore the suicide note into pieces.
Yang Guang never expected that Ban Gu would be so strong-willed. Just because of his angry words, he was determined to die and persuaded him not to implement the order to relieve the Qiang. In his suicide note, he also advised him to turn back and not make the same mistake again and again. Words of advice.
After reading Ban Gu's suicide note, Yang Guang was moved and angry at the same time. He was touched that Ban Gu had indeed been thinking about him until his death, but angry that Ban Gu's death made him completely unable to step down.
Yang Guang, with complicated emotions, pondered for a while and then ordered: "I'm sending you an order. Ban Gu committed suicide because he was afraid of the crime of being a traitor to the Qin Dynasty. I am a merciful king and will not deprive his family of his son for his crimes, and allow his family to collect his body and bury him."
"promise."
Yang Guang looked at the fragments of Bangu's suicide note on the ground and said to himself: "No one can stop the Qiang order, and no one can destroy the Sui Dynasty."
That night, several carrier pigeons flew from Daxing to Haizhou. Since it was late at night, the Qin Army's falcons could not intercept the carrier pigeons, so the Qin Army did not know the news about the Qiang Order.
As for Yang Xinmi, Yang Xiong and others in Haizhou, they were shocked after receiving the summons from Yang Guang. However, they were from the Sui royal family and naturally put the interests of the Yang family first, so they announced it without much hesitation. Understand the Qiang Order.
Overnight, the order to relieve Qiang spread throughout the seven counties of Haizhou.
After the Qiang people in the seven counties of Haizhou learned the news that the ban was lifted, they could no longer describe their joy. It was simply jubilation, even madness.
(End of chapter)
