LFHYB -Chapter 157 Su Wei, You’re Risking Your Life

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, this pair of twins, were the absolute protagonists of this era. Yet, over the next year or two, they barely appeared in the official histories.

What they did was summarized in the annals with just one line: “At this time, the Central Plains were in chaos; the Emperor and the Prince of Jin defended Zhangye against the Turks.”

At this time, the real protagonist of the Central Plains was still Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang.

After returning to Luoyang, Yang Guang found that Yang Xuangan and the other rebels, who had originally planned to attack the city, had all retreated.

The eastern capital of Luoyang was extremely fortified. Back when Yang Guang campaigned against Goguryeo, Yang Xuangan had failed to take Luoyang. Now that Yang Guang was back, and with the Sui elite concentrated in Luoyang, nobody would foolishly believe that sheer numbers alone could capture the city.

In this coordinated retreat, each side gained some benefits. To consolidate these gains, the rebels lay low again, clashing occasionally with various imperial envoys.

Yang Xuangan had thought he could triumphantly lead the allied forces and capture Luoyang in one fell swoop. But the rebels were a disorganized bunch; once they saw Yang Guang alive, they scattered, leaving Yang Xuangan frustrated. His newfound calm, cultivated over time, unraveled, and he sank daily into wine and women.

He had been confident in his own status and abilities, thinking that if he marched against Yang Guang, he would have universal support and effortlessly seize the empire.

Now he hid like a beaten dog, never feeling so helpless. Just when he glimpsed hope, it was immediately dashed. Yang Xuangan could barely bear it.

Li Mi repeatedly advised him, but to no avail, sighing each time.

Yang Xuangan’s subordinates were anxious, many considering fleeing. Unfortunately, there was no other noble able to raise an army yet, or they would have already fled.

Yang Xuangan despaired; the rebels lay low; and for a moment, the Sui dynasty seemed peaceful again.

Seeing the temporary calm, Su Wei quickly used the dying words of Yuwen Shu to urge Yang Guang to return to Daxing and stabilize the people.

Yang Guang asked Yuwen Huaji, “Su Wei says I should return to Daxing to calm the people. Your father advised me the same. What do you think?”

Yuwen Huaji replied respectfully, “Your Majesty is the emperor; wherever you are, you can stabilize the people. Wherever Your Majesty wishes to go, that is the capital.”

Yang Guang was immensely pleased.

Seeing Yang Guang’s posture, Yu Shiji and Pei Yun supported him staying in Luoyang, while Pei Shiju remained neutral. Thus, Su Wei’s persuasion failed.

Su Wei had thought to let it go—the eastern and western capitals were both capitals. It was fine for His Majesty to remain in Luoyang. As long as he did not attempt another campaign against Goguryeo, the common rebels would be easy to suppress.

Who would have expected that Yang Guang would not only bring up the Goguryeo campaign again but also conscript laborers to build dragon boats, intending to head south to Jiangdu?

During Yang Xuangan’s rebellion, all of Yang Guang’s dragon boats had been burned, preventing him from going south for years.

Now, having finally stayed quietly in Luoyang for a while, Yang Guang began to entertain the idea of rebuilding the dragon boats and heading south.

The previously silent ministers could no longer remain quiet.

The empire is in chaos, the Turks are invading, yet Your Majesty still wants to build dragon boats and go south? The Sui dynasty’s foundation is trembling—this is the time to go south?!

But when had Yang Guang ever listened to his ministers?

Thus, this year, there was no campaign against Goguryeo, no construction of the Great Wall, no extension of roads or canals—but he still conscripted laborers to build dragon boats.

Yang Guang intended to go south in spring next year, so the laborers had very little time to complete the boats.

It was already late autumn. Though Luoyang’s climate was mild, the laborers wore thin clothing and worked tirelessly on the construction site. The autumn rains drenched them, yet they could not stop. By winter, countless laborers would die from starvation, exhaustion, cold, or disease.

Su Wei wished to advise the emperor again, but Pei Shiju stopped him.

Pei Shiju said, “Su Gong, do you know why His Majesty insists on going south?”

Su Wei frowned. “Isn’t it just that he loves the beauty of Jiangnan? But now is hardly the time to admire scenery!”

Pei Shiju shook his head and sighed. “His Majesty knows that the Sui dynasty is in decline and that rebels are rising across the empire. Ever since he was frightened by the rebels, he has had trouble sleeping at night, often waking in terror, crying out that the rebels have come.”

Pei Shiju didn’t want Su Wei to walk into a dead-end, so he quietly revealed this truth.

Su Wei, at his advanced age, lived day by day—why risk angering the emperor with admonitions while half a foot in the grave?

Consider Yuwen Shu—the old traitor had been cunning his entire life. Even in death, he left advice alongside his achievements protecting the emperor. Did His Majesty cherish Yuwen Shu’s good deeds?

All in court could see clearly. Yang Guang thought that pardoning Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji showed great favor to the Yuwen family, but everyone knew that the so-called “relegation to slavery” had never been carried out; at most, they were demoted to commoners.

Even if Yuwen Shu hadn’t saved the emperor, by virtue of his lifetime contributions, his two sons could have held office after his death—hardly an extra reward. Moreover, Yang Guang withheld Yuwen Shu’s title, preventing his sons from inheriting it.

Even if Yang Guang said he wanted to see whether Yuwen Huaji had corrected his errors, he could easily have granted Yuwen Shiji an additional duke title.

Yuwen Shu died saving the emperor. Wasn’t it worth giving his family another dukedom? Yuwen Shiji was also Yang Guang’s son-in-law, so promoting his rank benefited Yang Guang’s family. Even the stingy Yang Guang had no reason to be miserly here.

Hence, how could the ministers not know that Yuwen Shu’s final remonstrances offended Yang Guang?

Even Yuwen Shu, favored by Yang Guang in life and dying to save him, was hated for his remonstrances. How could anyone dare to speak openly to Yang Guang?

Su Wei had now become the most influential figure at court, and his temperament was no longer as cautious as before. When Pei Shiju saw Su Wei about to collide head-on with Yang Guang, he, out of collegial concern, gave him a warning.

Su Wei, however, had paid little attention to Yang Guang’s behavior in the inner palace and was unaware of the emperor’s insomnia and restlessness.

After hearing Pei Shiju’s words, he said in a strange tone, “You mean to say that His Majesty is not pursuing the beauty and scenery of Jiangnan, but is trying to escape?”

Pei Shiju replied, “I didn’t say anything.”

Su Wei spun around several times with his hands behind his back, then clenched his fists and said, “If he doesn’t see, has the Sui Dynasty really not fallen into chaos?! No, I must persuade His Majesty to reconsider!”

Pei Shiju grasped Su Wei’s arm. “Sir Su, the emperor is extremely concerned with his face and dignity. How do you plan to persuade him? Do you mean to tell him not to deceive himself?”

Su Wei said dejectedly, “I refuse to believe that His Majesty does not care at all about the Sui Empire. If he just pulls himself together a little, the Sui could be saved. How can he do nothing? No, I won’t believe it.”

Pei Shiju sighed in silence, released Su Wei’s hand, and no longer tried to stop him.

Yet Su Wei did not continue his counsel.

He wanted to observe with his own eyes whether the emperor was truly foolish or merely trying to escape.

In winter, when all life withers, even the righteous armies rarely ventured out. Only the laborers and displaced civilians quietly froze to death. The empire was quiet, and months passed in the blink of an eye.

While Li Xuanba stayed in Zhangye for the winter, lying on his kang all day and leaving the house rarely, Yang Guang issued another order. He summoned tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians from counties along the road from Luoyang to Jiangdu to select a site in Jiangnan and build him a new palace.

This palace was modeled after the Western Garden in Luoyang but was grander and more imposing in its design.

When Su Wei saw Yang Guang’s obstinate decree, he could no longer deceive himself.

It was clear—the emperor did not even want to stay in Luoyang.

Did he intend to divide the empire with the rebels and the Turks and move the capital to Jiangnan?!

But Jiangdu also had its share of rebels!

During the first month, when envoys from various counties came to pay tribute, over twenty counties could not send representatives because of rebel activity. The palace ceremonies were cold and desolate.

Yang Guang issued another order to suppress the rebels, but when his ministers spoke of the rebels, he only wanted to hear that their numbers were dwindling.

Su Wei could not bear to watch and hid behind a pillar to listen as the ministers flattered Yang Guang.

Pei Shiju saw Su Wei hiding behind the pillar, hesitant to speak.

“Isn’t hiding like that even more conspicuous?!”

As expected, Yang Guang immediately noticed Su Wei’s strange behavior and asked curiously, “Sir Su, what is your view of the rebels?”

Su Wei responded sarcastically, “They say the rebels are dwindling, but the battle reports show them approaching ever closer to Luoyang.”

Yang Guang flew into a rage and swept out with a flick of his sleeve.

The ministers all looked at Su Wei.

Pei Shiju sighed and privately approached Su Wei again. “Even if you wish to counsel the emperor, don’t publicly offend his dignity.”

Su Wei stiffened his neck. “His Majesty has already seen the battle reports and summoned the ministers to say that the rebels are nearly pacified. Does he himself believe the words he speaks?”

Pei Shiju said, “His Majesty now wakes more often at night; naturally, he does not believe.”

Su Wei said sorrowfully, “Even he does not believe himself.”

Pei Shiju also sighed. But what could they do? The emperor himself refused to change. The more they advised, the more rebellious he became.

Moreover, the emperor’s health was poor, and his spirit increasingly debilitated. At the slightest commotion in the palace, he would exclaim, “The enemy is attacking!” Once, when a fire broke out in the palace, he even hid in the grass like a madman, only emerging after Empress Xiao had comforted him for a long time.

The emperor’s mental state was already seriously troubled. Rather than letting him stay in Luoyang and suffer, perhaps in Jiangdu his mind would stabilize, and he might listen to the ministers’ counsel.

Yet Su Wei and most officials did not believe so.

The Sui army was not incapable of defeating the rebels. If only the emperor pulled himself together a little, the veteran generals were still in their prime.

Once they pacified the civil unrest, the emperor could reduce taxes and corvée for a few years and adopt the appearance of diligence and frugality. The Sui treasury was ample—what could possibly fail?

Back in the day, Emperor Wu of Han nearly ruined the empire by overhauling the census, but after he adjusted policies and rested the country, the Han recovered.

Even after Emperor Wu, the Han throne saw succession turmoil for a while. If His Majesty eliminates his brothers, no one will contest the throne with his youngest son, and the Sui could regain its strength even faster than after Emperor Wu’s death.

Yang Guang’s youngest son was a good child, showing no vice or love for extravagance. Though a bit weak in appearance, he was filial to both Yang Guang and Empress Xiao, his non-biological mother, often displaying a pure and virtuous nature.

In this timeline, Yang Guang had three sons: one benevolent, one resolute, and one pure and virtuous. To the ministers, all were suitable heirs.

Although Yang Guang had not made his youngest son crown prince, the ministers’ loyalty leaned toward the Prince of Yue.

If Yang Guang changed his ways and adopted an attitude of repentance and care for the people, and his successor continued the policy of rest for a few years, the civil unrest could be resolved.

Everyone knew that commoners were lower than pigs, dogs, or cattle. They had no pride. As long as they survived, even by eating grass and drinking water, they would not rebel.

Was it really so difficult to turn things around?

When Li Xuanba learned that Yang Guang planned to go south again, the flowers in Zhangye had already bloomed, and the two brothers had grown another year older.

Liu Heng returned to Zhangye to report on the grand wedding of Li Jiancheng.

Because of the fame of Li Shimin and Li Xuanba, the prominent families of the Central Plains could not travel all the way to Zhangye to meet the miraculous twins. Instead, they sent their gifts to Li Yuan during Li Jiancheng’s wedding. Li Yuan’s influence grew ever stronger.

Liu Heng observed that Li Yuan seemed unable to suppress his rebellious intent.

He sighed: “The guests surround Li Jiancheng, yet only praise you and Li Sanlang. Li Jiancheng looks displeased. The Zheng family is making every effort to boost Li Jiancheng, but I wonder if they will regret it. Yet a few days after the wedding, Li Jiancheng finally stood tall. He fathered a grandson for the Duke of Tang.”

Li Xuanba said, “Li Jiancheng can still have children? That’s… miraculous!”

Li Shimin lightly kicked his younger brother—whose health had finally improved enough to walk without a wheelchair—“What nonsense are you talking? Of course it’s Zheng Ying’s child. Zheng Ying worked hard all these years, and finally, her wish came true.”

Li Xuanba resumed a serious tone: “But the timing seems a bit off. Li Jiancheng’s principal wife had just entered the household, and yet she already gave birth to the eldest son. But you can’t really blame Zheng Ying. A full nine months of pregnancy, one delivery—this was just coincidental.”

Liu Heng added, “Of course it’s just coincidence. I heard there was a bit of trouble in Li Jiancheng’s rear court. All were women of the Zheng family, so who knows how Li Jiancheng would handle it. The guests were all curious, since the rear court flared up just after the wedding. But the Tang Duke’s wife is a very capable woman. She quickly resolved the issue, frequently took the new bride out, gave her the keys to the Duke’s storage, and personally looked after Zheng Ying and her child.”

Li Shimin rolled his eyes sharply. “Mother is naturally formidable; such a small matter is nothing for her. But for our own rear court to require Mother’s soothing? Li Jiancheng is truly useless.”

Li Xuanba, however, spoke a good word for Li Jiancheng: “Li Jiancheng does have some skill managing the rear court. The principal wife has a better family background than the concubines, and the legitimate son is more important than the eldest son of a concubine. So if Li Jiancheng handled this matter himself, he would probably only consider giving face to his newly married wife. Mother intervened simply out of concern for Zheng Ying and her child—giving the daughter-in-law face while preserving Zheng Ying’s life.”

Because Zheng Ying had been trying to bear sons year after year, and the principal wife had only recently established herself in the household before entering, her health was extremely weak. By the time Li Xuanba left Taiyuan, Zheng Ying almost never went out.

He had once glimpsed Zheng Ying and could hardly recognize the lively woman who had schemed against him and his second brother back in Daxing.

Yet her frail and delicate appearance was quite favored by Li Jiancheng, so he was still willing to continue having children with her.

Mother had intervened, and Zheng Ying was likely extremely weak after childbirth, unable to withstand even the slightest strain.

After finishing his speculation, Li Xuanba pinched his brow: “We talk about Yang Guang as the one causing the state to decline, and about ourselves as the warlike ones, yet whenever it comes to the Tang Duke’s household and Li Jiancheng, it’s all about rear court affairs. Why do we care about their backyard?”

Li Shimin said earnestly, “Because it’s interesting.”

Liu Heng agreed: “Indeed, very interesting.”

Li Xuanba: “…” You two really like listening to others’ rear-court gossip, huh?! Absolutely speechless.

“Enough about the Tang Duke’s rear court. Since you’re back, get to work,” Li Xuanba urged. “Fang Xuanling and Du Kemin are about to collapse from making fake accounts. If you don’t return, those two might roll up their sleeves and come after me and our second brother.”

Liu Heng asked, puzzled: “Fake accounts?”

Li Shimin shrugged: “The Western Turkic Khan is weakened, causing instability in the Western Turkic region. They don’t have the energy to bother Eastern Turkic or the Central Plains. Eastern Turkic is also in chaos because Khan Shibi hasn’t appointed a successor, and his two younger brothers are fighting his cousins to the death.”

Li Shimin didn’t spell it out, but Liu Heng understood.

His pupils trembled: “The Battle of Dunhuang was fake?!”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba nodded in perfect synchronization.

Liu Heng looked at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin widened his innocent eyes.

Liu Heng looked at Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba mimicked his elder brother’s innocent expression.

Liu Heng stared at the tall-and-short, strong-and-skinny twin brothers, trembling all over: “This is a crime punishable by extermination!”

Li Shimin asked, confused: “So what?”

Li Xuanba was also puzzled: “Aren’t we accumulating strength for rebellion?”

Liu Heng stopped trembling: “Seems so. Right, we were planning to rebel anyway. Then it’s fine.”

Liu Heng took a few deep breaths to steady his heart rate: “Leave it to me; I’ll help Xuanling and Kemin. In the Great Sui, there isn’t a county magistrate who can’t do fake accounts. Why can’t the Xue uncle and nephew help? Why is it all on Xuanling and Kemin?”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba said: “They’ve never been county magistrates.”

Liu Heng laughed heartily: “Then let them make up the experience of being county magistrates.”

Li Shimin and Li Xuanba sighed simultaneously. They hadn’t expected that having been a magistrate or not made such a big difference in efficiency.

“Isn’t Xue Bapao coming back?” Li Shimin sighed. “If he doesn’t return soon, the Xue family of Hedong will lose face.”

Li Xuanba glanced at his elder brother: “Would you dare say that in front of the Xue uncle and nephew?”

Li Shimin immediately assumed a serious tone: “I said nothing.”

Liu Heng watched the two brothers echoing each other and felt suspicious.

These two can so skillfully badmouth others behind their backs… have they ever badmouthed me when I wasn’t around?

Even with this suspicion, Liu Heng didn’t feel any less fond of Li Shimin or Li Xuanba; rather, he felt very comforted.

True friends are those you can badmouth others with. He had been uneasy about the Hedong Liu family possibly breaking off the engagement, and whether he might be excluded from the hard-to-join core circle. But with the elder brothers’ “mischief,” he felt much reassured.

Liu Heng enthusiastically went to help Fang Qiao and Du Ruhui make fake accounts, and Li Shimin and Li Xuanba quietly high-fived.

Li Shimin: “Brother Liu is so delicate-minded, needing to be coaxed.”

Li Xuanba: “You can give him a nickname—‘Delicate Liu.’”

Li Shimin: “Good idea.”

Recently, having seen their second and third brothers show off affection with their wives, Li Zhiyun, who was curious about his own fiancée, deliberately waited for Liu Heng to leave to ask his second and third brothers about her.

Hearing them call Liu Heng, his future half-father-in-law, “Delicate Liu,” Li Zhiyun quietly stopped in his tracks and turned away.

He went to Luo Shixin to complain: “My second and third brothers keep saying I’m learning bad habits. Who am I learning from? Don’t they even know themselves?!”

Luo Shixin covered his ears: “Don’t tell me, I don’t want to hear it!”

I don’t want to see Liu Heng in the future and think of the nickname “Delicate Liu,” or I’ll laugh out loud!

Li Zhiyun pulled his little companions’ hands away and continued to complain, completely ignoring Luo Shixin’s personal wishes.

This domineering trait was very much like his second and third brothers.

…

In Luoyang, the tension at court was escalating.

Su Wei seemed to have no fear of death anymore. He had completely positioned himself in opposition to Yang Guang, becoming a master of contradiction who deliberately argued with him.

Yang Guang wanted the ministers to tell him that banditry was decreasing.

Su Wei said, “Your Majesty promised not to campaign against Goguryeo and temporarily halted corvée labor. Now you’re conscripting soldiers and civilians again. No wonder banditry keeps increasing.”

During festivals, Yang Guang expected ministers to present him with rare treasures.

Su Wei sent Yang Guang a copy of the Book of Documents, suggesting he carefully study the words of the sages and reflect on himself.

Yang Guang then brought up the campaign against Goguryeo again and proudly boasted of having defeated the Eastern Turks. He said that once Goguryeo was destroyed, he could go to Mount Tai for the Fengshan sacrifices.

Su Wei sneered sarcastically, “Your Majesty need not worry about conscripting soldiers. I have a plan: why not pardon all the thieves in the realm and let them attack Goguryeo? That way, the Sui Dynasty would effortlessly have hundreds of thousands of troops, and the bandit problem would also be solved. Two birds with one stone.”

Pei Shiju was stunned.

He secretly wrote to Xue Daoheng, asking if Su Wei’s advice was prompted by him. This sharp, sarcastic style of counsel was exactly like Xue Daoheng’s. Su Wei hadn’t been like this before!

Xue Daoheng received the letter and cursed, “What does this have to do with me?!”

Gao Jiong was puzzled. “Did Su Wei eat something bad? Is he not afraid of death? Does he really intend to live up to his name?”

Su Wei, whose courtesy name was Wuwei (“Fearless”), had always been a cautious sycophant under Yang Guang, keeping a low profile and turning a blind eye to matters he could not bear to see.

How could he suddenly be truly fearless now? Was he not worried that Yang Guang would kill him?

Xue Daoheng thought for a moment and cautiously said, “Perhaps… perhaps he is genuinely loyal to the Sui Dynasty and cannot bear to see it perish.”

Gao Jiong remained silent, then let out a long sigh.

As Pei Shiju and the others had predicted, after Su Wei delivered his pointed advice, Yang Guang indeed imprisoned him.

Yang Guang instructed Pei Yun to fabricate charges against Su Wei. Pei Yun accused Su Wei of secretly colluding with the Turks, claiming that the intelligence leak during the Battle of Yanmen was Su Wei’s doing, and sought his execution.

Pei Shiju was shocked when he learned what Pei Yun had done.

If Su Wei hadn’t stopped the panicking emperor from fleeing with the cavalry, the emperor would not have survived until the arrival of Li Erlang and Li Sanlang. There could have been a disaster at Yanmen. In that battle, despite his age, Su Wei had wielded a long sword to personally protect the emperor. Who would believe the claim that Su Wei colluded with the Turks?

Indeed, Su Wei, hearing such an absurd charge, merely bowed in tears in prison, saying he deserved death. Even Yang Guang thought it ridiculous. Seeing Su Wei was old and near death, and recalling their past relationship, he only demoted Su Wei’s descendants for three generations to commoner status.

Pei Yun’s rare failure in fabricating charges was noted.

Pei Shiju observed Pei Yun carefully. Pei Yun had risen by flattering the emperor and was well-versed in the law—how could he make such a serious mistake?

After Su Wei left, Pei Yun resumed his usual flattering behavior toward Yang Guang. Pei Shiju saw nothing suspicious and considered the matter unimportant, so he reverted to his usual caution, keeping his eyes closed and ears shut to protect himself.

Yang Guang, believing the palace was now quiet and his path south unobstructed, issued orders to prepare for a ceremonial procession down the Yangtze.

About to head south, Yang Guang’s mood improved, his spirits lifted, and he even had fewer nightmares at night.

He happily wrote a poem: “I dream of Jiangdu in good fortune, campaigns to Liao merely by chance.”

At that moment, Yang Guang felt as elated as in his most ambitious days.

Meanwhile, the righteous armies were quietly regrouping.