The civil and military officials who stayed in Chengqing Hall were all high-ranking ministers and generals. No one who could hold an official position to this level was a fool. After these years of getting along in close proximity, everyone here knew Yang Guang well and knew in his heart. The emperor was an impatient person. The biggest difference between him and the previous emperor was that he had to do whatever he thought of immediately, and he also required the best results in the shortest time. It is quite rare for him to repeatedly give in on the issue of Yongji Canal excavation progress.
In fact, the reason why Yang Guang made successive "compromises" on the Yongji Canal: on the one hand, he was very pursuing perfection and wanted to build the Yongji Canal into a grand canal that would run for thousands of generations without siltation, so that he would be remembered in history. Yan Bi gave His new plan was indeed much better than Tongji Canal, so he was willing to make concessions again and again.
On the other hand, this Yang Guang has been under the subtle influence of Yang Ji for a long time, and has become completely different from the "historical" Yang Guang. Yang Ji was Yang Guang's "cheating device and plug-in" and "tyrant system". In order to prevent problems before they happened, he often told the radical methods of Yang Guang in history and "encouraged" Yang Guang to do the same. It is true that Yang Guang is impatient, but he is not a brainless idiot. When he thought of the huge drawbacks and serious consequences of "Yang Ji's various radical plans", he was frightened and said that Yang Ji was too radical. He had no choice but to do it. Now Yang Guang was even frightened and broke into a cold sweat by some of the practices of "experimenter" Yang Ji. How could he dare to follow "Yang Ji's prescriptions"?
To put it bluntly, Yang Guang's vigorous projects in "history" caused huge casualties, widespread complaints, and shaken the foundation of the country. Although it was due to Yang Guang's eagerness for quick success and insufficient supervision, the reality that there was no precedent to learn from, to some extent made the DPRK The church officials have some sense of "crossing the river by feeling for the stones" and some luck. As a result, everyone's opposition is not so firm. But now, with a living reference who is "more cruel and eager for quick success" than him, Yang Guang is scared and dare not do anything. In contrast, because of Yang Ji, a cruel reference, he became very concerned about the people and people's livelihood, and he also listened to good advice.
However, Yang Guang also has a bottom line in his "compromise" on the progress of Yongji Canal excavation: for the sake of people's livelihood, national foundation, and reputation, he can agree to modify the route and delay the navigation time, but he cannot affect the situation in the Northeast and the Northeast. strategy, let alone sacrifice the security of Northeast China and Hebei. Nowadays, there is a huge conflict between the two, and Yang Guang is dissatisfied with the progress of Yongji Canal.
The summer grain harvest, drought relief in the north, and flood control in the south mentioned just now are all related to people's livelihood. Zuopushe Suwei is in charge of this aspect. Once such a thing happens, it is usually Suwei and important officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel who come forward to respond. If they say If it is right and the plan is good, others will agree, if it is not good, they will oppose it, and then work together to come up with a good plan; but just now it was mainly Yang Guang who gave the order, so the ministers had no room to play, Su Wei, Niu Hong and others only had to Just follow the orders. The Yongji Canal is an engineering project. This thing is under the control of Youpu She Gao Jiong and Ministry of Industry Minister Yu Wenkai. At this time, after listening to the words of the young eunuch Li Yuan in the palace, they all understood that this was an issue that Yang Guang had put up for discussion, so the officials present couldn't help but He looked at Gao Qiao, who was in charge of the military, criminal, and industrial departments, and waited for him to come out and answer.
Gao Jong was not stupid. When he saw Yang Guang's face sinking like water, and some people who were unhappy with him even pretended to mess with him, he stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Sage, regarding matters related to Yongji Canal, The meeting hall has repeatedly discussed with the chief officials of the three provinces, six ministries and nine temples, and they all agreed that the current construction methods and the civilian labor employed by the contractors in each section have not affected the people's livelihood in Hebei, but they have also reached the limit of endurance. If the number of civilian labor is increased, of course The Yongji Canal can be opened to navigation earlier, but the livelihood of the people in Jizhou and Youzhou will be affected. In addition, there was no urgent need for the Yongji Canal at that time, so everyone fully recognized the conservative and prudent construction plan of the craftsman Yan Bi. "
In short, everyone agreed on this matter at the beginning; if we are going to die now, let’s die together, and don’t let me, the old man, bear it alone. However, his political IQ is not low, and he knew that such shirk of responsibility would easily arouse Yang Guang's disgust and anger. After finishing speaking, he then expressed his own opinion: "Sage, the drought in the north and the heavy troops sent by King Gaoyuan of Goguryeo The two major events on the northward journey were both real events, and their occurrence made the value of Yongji Canal particularly prominent. However,
The matter has reached this point, even if Jizhou and all its people are mobilized to build the Yongji Canal, the urgent need will not be solved. "
"Besides, the Yongji Canal has been built about half way, and the people are very satisfied with the current progress and intensity of the construction. If the imperial court rashly mobilizes a large number of people or intensifies the construction intensity at this time, the people will definitely complain, and the good reputation gained before will also be lost. All previous efforts have been wasted, and since it cannot be opened to navigation in the near future no matter how hard it is repaired, it is better to just pretend that the Yongji Canal does not exist, just like how to solve the disaster, and Yan Jiang will do whatever he wants to build it."
Having said this, Gao Jiong bowed his hand to Yang Guang and said in a deep voice: "Sage, I believe that instead of forcing the people to build the Yongji Canal, which cannot be completed in the near future, as for how to transport weapons, equipment and military supplies to Zhuojun, the imperial court It’s better to find another way.”
After listening to Gao Jiong's reasonable statement, Yang Guang and the civil and military officials in the palace weighed it in their hearts, and they all agreed with Gao Jiong's statement: If we follow Gao Jiong's words, at least it will not affect people's livelihood, at least it will not cause complaints, and at least it will not cause complaints. All efforts will not be wasted, at least the good reputation that the court has worked hard to create will not be lost.
If the people are rashly recruited, the result will be that the Yongji Canal cannot be repaired, the two major emergencies cannot be solved, and the people of Jizhou and Youzhou will be resentful and angry. Therefore, this kind of "business" that is not worth the gain and loses money, No need to even think about it, let alone do it.
"Gao Gong said it is absolutely true!" Yang Guang's eyes softened when he looked at Gao Jiong. In addition to what Gao Jiong said, he also understood the virtues of local officials very well.
Most of those local officials are opportunistic bastards who always turn good things into bad things. They often take advantage of the court's construction of water conservancy projects and digging roads to levy large sums of money. Doesn't the court want us to build water conservancy projects and dig roads? Then I will assign corvees to dredge the river in the east, and then mobilize the people to build the river.
The people went, but instead of providing food and drink, these damn dog officials tortured the people until they were half dead or completely dead. In the end, not only did the people not get the "project funds" issued by the court, but they were forced to fight in order to survive, or for To redeem the bodies of relatives, one can only pay money to bribe the officials responsible for supervising the work.
If things go on like this, civil unrest will often occur, and these bastard local officials will either go to the court and suggest a strike; or they say that the mob is opposed to the court's good policies, gather people to rebel, and suggest sending troops to suppress it. As for more bastards, they directly send troops to suppress them, so that they can gain enough military merit for promotion.
All of the above incidents happened countless times when Yang Guang served as the General Manager of Bingzhou and the General Manager of Yangzhou. Although he gave a satisfactory explanation to the people every time, those bastard officials embezzled the "project money and food" issued by the court. He committed bloody acts of exploiting the people, but it was up to the emperor and the court to take responsibility.
In view of past experiences, Yang Guang, who has become more concerned about the people, generally does not dare to forcefully recruit people or force slave labor. Even if he carries out a large project, he must be closely supervised throughout the process to prevent local unscrupulous officials from getting rich. , but the imperial court has to bear the sins they have committed.
He was silent for a long time, and then slowly asked Gao Jiong: "But according to Gao Gong's opinion, how should the imperial court transport weapons, equipment, and grain to the north?"
"Sage, I remember that during King Wei's northern expedition to Khitan last year, the Goguryeo army suddenly launched a fierce offensive against Sumo Mohe. In order to rush to the aid of Sumo Mohe and curb Goguryeo's ambition to advance north and west, King Wei asked Jizhou to Mu Teng and Youzhou The governor Li Zixiong provided supplies." Gao Jiong glanced at Yang Ji, who was sitting high and silent, and then said to Yang Guang: "It is said that King Teng and the governor Li replenished troops, weapons and equipment, and grain and grass supplies to Liaodong by sea. Yes. The veteran feels that King Wei has practical experience and is also the person who has the most say at the moment."
After Gao Jiong's repeated attacks, all the questions and countless gazes fell on Yang Ji, who was the minister.
"King Wei, what do you think?" Yang Guang feels that Yang Ji is weird now. Since he returned to the court, although he has participated in court meetings every day, Yang Ji has become very quiet and polite, no longer like before. Yang Guang felt very unaccustomed to being so rude.
But he was wrong. Although Yang Ji became more polite and courtier-like when facing Yang Guang, he was still so rude to others with ill intentions.
First
After listening to what Gao Jiong and Yang Guang said, Yang Ji immediately stood up, first saluted Yang Guang, and then opened fire directly at Gao Jiong: "Gao Xiangguo, if I remember correctly, Yang Liang was ordered by the late emperor to expedition to Goguryeo. At that time, our army of more than 300,000 troops marched by land and water, and you were the marching commander. If you ask me this question now, aren't you riding on a donkey looking for a donkey?"
In February of the 18th year of Kaihuang's reign, King Gaoyuan of Goguryeo saw that the Great Sui Dynasty was about to break out in a decisive battle with the Turkic Khanate, so he ambitiously led the Northeastern Allied Forces to invade the Great Sui Dynasty in an attempt to seize Liaodong and Yanjun counties, thereby leaving Goguryeo in Liao River. They established a bridgehead on the west bank so that they could further capture Liucheng, Peiping, Yuyang, Anle, Zhuojun and other counties. However, they had a bad start. At the first step, they encountered Wei Chong, the general manager of Yingzhou (Liucheng County), and were beaten by Wei Chong. The army was defeated and fled.
After Yang Jian heard the news, he simply went on the defensive against the powerful Turkic Khanate. In the same month, he appointed Yang Liang as March Marshal and Wang Shiji as March Marshal, and sent 300,000 land and sea troops to attack Goguryeo. At the same time, Zhou Luohu was appointed as Navy Marshal. General Manager, coordinated action. However, the army encountered a mudslide in the Liaoxi Corridor and was unable to move forward, and then a plague broke out; the navy was even worse, as the storm overturned more than 90% of its ships. In the end, both armies returned in vain, and all the soldiers died ten times. Eighty-nine. The Sui army suffered heavy losses and was severely weakened.
In that unforgettable battle that was defeated by the weather, Gao Jiong was the military advisor and chief of the general staff. After hearing Yang Ji's poisonous words, his face turned red, ashamed, and speechless. He even wanted to fight back but was not qualified. After all, Yang Ji had fought so many battles and had never been defeated.
Seeing this, Yang Guang felt relieved, it still smelled the same.
The others looked at each other in shock and did not dare to speak. After all, these two were not good people, and neither of them were big shots that ordinary people could provoke.
And Yang Ji felt relieved. If Gao Jiong discussed things and told the truth, he would naturally discuss things and tell the truth. But the problem is that Gao Jiong, an old and immortal thing, not only speaks with thorns, but also has the kind of poisonous thorns that divert trouble from the east. , this was unbearable for him.
Although Yang Ji also knows that this is a common official habit and custom in the court, you can play with each other, but don't use this trick on me and my people, otherwise, don't blame me for falling out.
In the silence of everyone, Gao Jiong took a deep breath and turned to Yang Guang: "Does the saint just allow King Wei to be arrogant and rude and mess around?"
Yang Guang clicked his tongue but didn't say anything. He thought it was you who was arrogant, rude, and reckless, right?
With the vajra slave's temperament and work style, if you hadn't been the first to play your tricks, how could he have attacked you like this? If you extend your point of view, shouldn't everyone be tricked before doing anything, and then everyone can argue for a long time?
Although Yang Guang was thinking this, Gao Jiong's age, achievements, and qualifications were all here after all. Now he pointed the finger at himself. He couldn't pretend to be indifferent and indifferent in front of everyone. ; Moreover, not only is his brother not very shameless, but he is also the father of a young child...well, a child, so it is nothing to ask him to apologize to a senior who has made outstanding achievements.
Thinking of this, Yang Guang had a long face and said to Yang Ji angrily: "Wen Hui, listen to yourselves, what nonsense did you say, and why don't you apologize to Mr. Gao?"
Yang Ji was very straightforward, and he didn't want to lose Yang Guang's face in front of many ministers. When he listened to Yang Guang's words, he immediately bowed to Gao Jiong and saluted, clasped his fists sincerely and said: "Mr. Gao, I, Yang Ji, I have little talent and knowledge, and I can’t speak, let alone tell the straight truth. After listening to the teachings of the saints, I finally realized my mistake. When I am free when I am free, I will bring my wife and children to the door to apologize. However, I think you are highly respected and respected. He is magnanimous, and he is also a prime minister with a belly that can support a boat. He is definitely not as knowledgeable as the young and ignorant me!"
"..." Everyone was dumbfounded. What kind of apology are you doing? You clearly want to piss Gao Jiong off to death.
As the person involved, Gao Jiong heard the insincere "apology" and pointed at Yang Ji with trembling lips, but he was so angry that he couldn't speak.
I, Gao Jiong, have already lived to this stage, and I have lived to be like you.
"What year" did he come to apologize with his wife and children?
And according to what you say, as the prime minister, I, Gao Jiong, must be "highly respected and magnanimous" and must have a "belly that can hold a boat." Otherwise, I am not qualified to be the prime minister?
What kind of truth is this?
However, Yang Ji didn't give him a chance to lose his temper. "After apologizing," he immediately saluted Yang Guang and said in a deep voice: "Sage, the wind and waves on the sea are very strong, but the grain ships are big and heavy. As long as they stick to the Driving along the coast, safety issues are not an issue at all.”
People in later generations often say that the Ming Dynasty, which traveled across the ocean, had a powerful navy and advanced shipbuilding technology. This is true. After all, Zheng He did sail to Southeast Asia. But what Yang Ji wants to say is that the Sui Dynasty's navy and shipbuilding technology were not bad either. .
What is lacking now is only incomplete nautical charts, unclear navigation, and a poor understanding of the celestial phenomena and monsoons of the sea; if these problems are solved, the Sui Dynasty ships and navy can still navigate the four seas like the Ming Dynasty. Although he can draw the earth, other problems cannot be solved by him.
But no matter what, if the official Sui Dynasty ships sailed close to the coastline, there would be no problem at all.
Not to mention other ships, the five-tooth ship invented and created by Yang Su alone is a terrifying behemoth.
When Yang Su was in Yong'an County, he was ordered by Yang Jian to develop and train the Sui navy. In order to better defeat the powerful Nanchen Dynasty of the navy, he worked with shipbuilders to search for materials and experiments, and finally they worked together to invent the Five-tooth battleship.
Small and medium-sized five-toothed ships are suitable for traveling on large rivers, but the three heavy-duty five-toothed ships they built to use as flagship battleships are jaw-dropping. This type of five-toothed ship is more than 100 meters long and 20 wide. The deck is 28 meters wide, the draft is five to three meters, and the buildings on the water are five stories high, which can accommodate more than a thousand soldiers to fight freely, excluding auxiliary personnel such as helmsmen and crew members.
In addition, in order to enable small warships to swim quickly in gentle rivers and lakes, Yang Su invented a small warship called a wheel battleship. This so-called wheel battleship actually made full use of a very labor-saving pulley combination.
These seemingly unbelievable achievements, as well as those that are considered impossible by ignorant future generations, are clearly stated in the "History of Chinese Machinery" written by the Chinese and "Science and China's Influence on the World" written by the Westerners. , detailed records. Therefore, those who always think that this was not possible or impossible in ancient times, and who always think that the Sui Dynasty was inferior to the Tang Dynasty in all aspects, are actually pitifully ignorant, pathetic, and even more ridiculous!
Later generations of "Tang Fans" are as stupid as "Goose Fans". The Tang Dynasty Ning/Bo/ class battleships and wheel battleships that they desperately tout and brag about and can swim between China and Japan at any time are actually seriously degraded in terms of technology. Reflected; whether it is size or seaworthiness and other performance, it is far inferior to the medium-heavy five-tooth ship and wheel battleship of the Sui Dynasty.
In front of the Sui Dynasty warships and the large grain ships that can be used as warships at any time, they are actually nothing; they are not qualified to discuss with the Sui Dynasty ships.
The so-called system inherited from the Tang Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty may only be limited to the political system. As for the technology field, that’s haha...
Thinking of this, Yang Ji couldn't help but glance at Li Yuan, who was serving His Majesty Li Dan.
In order to seize the world in history, this guy not only "changed the flag and mixed it with crimson and white to show the Turks", but also promised the Turks that "all the proceeds from the conquest will be his children's treasures and silk." However, although he successfully conquered the world, he suffered retribution in his middle and later years. Not only did his descendants die at the hands of another son, but he himself was also placed under house arrest in the palace, silently savoring and reminiscing about fratricide. The wonderful taste seems to be quite miserable.
But he deserves it! Who allowed him to become a filial son and grandson of the Turks and persecute his own people?
Fortunately, the people who imprisoned him also suffered the same retribution. During his lifetime, his sons rebelled against him, and after his death, his sons killed his sons. Even the world that he thought he could inherit for thousands of years died in three generations; The Qin Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty, what is even more ridiculous is that his little wife and daughter-in-law usurped the world. And this should be considered retribution and deserved right?
In Yang Ji's view, Xue Ju, the overlord of the Western Qin Dynasty in history, and his sons
Zibi, a bastard like this, and a Han/female man, are both admirable and tough people. They, father and son, would not settle with the Turks until their death or defeat, so they were killed by Li Za, Li Gui, Tujue, and Tuyuhun. However, Although the Xue family lost in the end, compared with the winner Li Za, they lost very respectably!
According to his limited historical knowledge, whether Li Za rebelled against the Sui Dynasty or became a filial son and grandson of the Turks and betrayed the nation, the leading and main figure was decided by the second son of the Li family.
In response to this kind of bastard, Yang Ji felt that as Li Yuan's cousin, he had the responsibility and obligation to help his cousin kill the unprecedented bastard who killed his brother, murdered his father, and bullied his sister-in-law (Li Yuan's wife and concubine).
Together with this thought, I can no longer stop it.
Yang Ji has decided in his heart: Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng and others can be let go, but that bastard who cannot be called a human at all must die. And with his current strength, it would be too easy to kill a young boy of the Li family who was not taken seriously.
Although this approach is a bit excessive, Yang Ji has killed at least millions of people directly and indirectly. What does a mere little Li Er mean?
By the way, there is also Liu Wenjing who needs to be found and eliminated. That person is Li Za's contact person with the Turks. He even promised many things to the Turks behind his master's back.
This thing, it's better to die sooner than later.
In addition, there is Yuan Min. Not only did this guy join forces with Tuoba Ningcong to create trouble for him, but he was also the culprit in history who encouraged the Yuwen brothers to rebel and kill Yang Guang. Therefore, this person must die. He must die.
Although Yang Ji had countless thoughts at this time, as the later generations of commentaries said, "It is said that it is too late, but it is too soon." The time was only a few dozen breaths, and the "lords" present also He didn't expect that he would have so many thoughts in this instant.
Everyone is considering his proposal of "food ships... sailing close to the coast, and safety issues are not a problem at all."
