Gaozu had five sons, all born to Empress Wenxian. The eldest was Prince Fangling Yong, followed by Emperor Yang, then Prince Jun of Qin, followed by a commoner named Xiu, and finally a commoner named Liang. Prince Fangling Yong, also known as Xiandi Fa, was Gaozu's eldest son. During the Zhou Dynasty, he was granted the title of Marquis of Boping due to Gaozu's military achievements. When Gaozu seized power, he appointed Yong as Crown Prince, appointed him as Grand General, and to the position of Left Guard, and granted him the title of Duke of Changning Commandery. Later, he was sent to serve as the Governor of Luozhou and the Prefect of Dongjing, tasked with overseeing the territory of former Qi. He was later recalled to the capital, promoted to Grand Master and appointed Grand Marshal, responsible for the Imperial Guards and palace guards. After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed him as Crown Prince, entrusting Yong with significant state affairs and cases involving death sentences and lesser penalties in official documents.
The emperor felt that there were too many people in the Shandong region, which was causing numerous issues, so he sent officials to conduct an investigation and planned to move these people to the north to strengthen the border. A minister advised in a memorial: "I think changing the customs and practices should be done gradually, not all at once. People are attached to their homeland and have fond memories of their old homes; this is human nature. They flee out of necessity. At the end of the Qi dynasty, the last emperor was incompetent, and after the Zhou dynasty pacified the Eastern Xia, they implemented tyranny, causing the common people to flee. It's not that they hate their hometowns; they're simply forced to leave. In addition, last year there were rebellions in all directions; thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence and wisdom, peace was restored. Although the fighting has stopped, the scars remain. If the people are given a few more years to feel the imperial grace, those who have fled will naturally find their way back home. As for the minority ethnic groups in the north who are unruly and often invade the border, the cities are now strong and well defended, so why should we uproot the people and add to their burdens? My abilities are limited, but I have taken on the responsibility of the crown prince. These are just some humble opinions; I hope Your Majesty will pardon my boldness." The emperor appreciated the memorial and canceled the plan to move the people. Afterwards, whenever there were inappropriate political matters, the minister would propose modifications, most of which were accepted by the emperor.
The emperor once casually talked with his ministers and said, "The emperors of the past were overly fond of concubines, which often led to their downfall. I do not have any concubines, and my five sons are all born to the same mother; they can truly be called true brothers. Unlike in the past, when there were many concubines, the sons would fight amongst themselves, ultimately leading to the downfall of the dynasty!"
Gao Yong is particularly studious and very talented in writing poetry and essays. He has a kind and generous personality, is easygoing and down-to-earth, and not at all pretentious. He also befriends famous scholars such as Ming Kerang, Yao Cha, and Lu Kaiming. One time, Gao Yong decorated his armor with lavish Shu brocade, which displeased his father, Emperor Gaozu, who was worried that it would create a trend of extravagance. He warned him, saying, "I've heard that Heaven is just and impartial, and only virtue can receive the blessings of Heaven. Look at the emperors of the past, who could enjoy luxury and pleasure for a long time? In the future, you will inherit the throne. If you cannot conform to the will of Heaven and gain the support of the people, how can you bear the heavy responsibilities of our ancestors and lead the people of the world? I used to keep one of each piece of clothing I wore and would often take them out to remind myself. Now I am giving you this sword; you should understand my intentions."
After the Winter Solstice, all the officials went to congratulate Gao Yong, who hosted a banquet for them. When Emperor Gaozu learned about this, he asked the ministers, "I heard that during the Winter Solstice, all the officials from inside and outside the palace went to the Eastern Palace to pay respects to the Crown Prince. What's happening?" The Minister of Rites, Xin Dan, replied, "They are going to the Eastern Palace to offer congratulations; it cannot be called paying respects." Emperor Gaozu said, "Even if the ceremony is changed to congratulations, there should only be around thirty to forty people, each going on their own. How did they all gather at the Eastern Palace at once? The Crown Prince even wore formal clothing and arranged banquets and music to entertain them? This behavior at the Eastern Palace is a violation of proper etiquette!" He then decreed, "There are distinctions in rituals, and the relationship between ruler and subjects should not be confused. Since recent times, the teachings have been in decline, and everyone is only concerned with their own happiness, which has become a custom. Although the Crown Prince is the future emperor, he should still adhere to the etiquette expected of a subject. Officials from various regions going to pay respects during the Winter Solstice and present local specialties, but specifically going to the Eastern Palace is not in accordance with proper etiquette and should be stopped altogether." From that point on, Emperor Gaozu's favor for Gao Yong started to wane, and suspicions and estrangement gradually arose.
At that time, the Emperor Gaozu had to select officials from the royal family and the guards to stay in the palace. Gao Jiong reported that if only strong individuals were selected, the quality of the guards in the Eastern Palace would be compromised. The Emperor Gaozu became angry upon hearing this: "When I travel, the guards need to be strong and courageous. The Crown Prince is nurturing virtue in the Eastern Palace; why do the guards need to be so strong? This is contrary to the rules; it is not what I meant. In my opinion, during shifts, some should be assigned to guard inside and outside the Eastern Palace, with no distinction between the teams; wouldn't that be a better approach? I am well-versed in the history of previous dynasties; there is no need to adhere to old rules anymore." In fact, Emperor Gaozu suspected that Gao Jiong's son was going to marry Gao Yong's daughter, which is why he said this, as a precaution.
Gao Yong was highly favored, especially Lady Zhao Xunyun, who was particularly favored and held a position almost equal to the Empress. Lady Yongfei Yuan was not favored; she once had a heart attack and died within two days. The Empress Consort felt something was amiss and severely reprimanded Yong. Since then, Lady Zhao Xunyun monopolized the internal affairs, leading the Empress to feel increasingly unsettled, often secretly sending people to monitor and find faults with Yong. Prince Jin knew about this, so he became even more cautious, only residing with Lady Xiao Fei in the harem. As a result, the Empress held Yong in even greater disdain, but instead came to admire Prince Jin's character.
Later on, Prince Jin attended court, and when he traveled, the carriages and horses accompanying him were quite modest. He was very respectful and humble towards the court officials, with meticulous manners. His reputation was very good, ranking at the top among the princes. Before leaving for Yangzhou, he bid farewell to the Empress in the palace, saying, "I have been stationed outside for a long time and haven't seen you in a while. My thoughts as a subject have always been with you. It will be difficult to serve you after leaving the palace this time, and I don't know when we will meet again." As he spoke, he choked up and tears flowed, falling to the ground, unable to rise. The Empress also said, "You have been stationed outside, and I am getting older. This parting feels like a permanent separation." As she spoke, she also cried, and the two of them wept facing each other, overwhelmed with sorrow.
Prince Jin said, "I am foolish and have always treated you as if you were my brother. I don't know what mistake I made to lose your favor. You have always harbored resentment towards me, wanting to see me dead. I am always worried that someone will plot against me behind my back, poison my food, so I have been anxious, fearful of dying at any moment." The Empress angrily said, "I cannot tolerate your actions any longer! I arranged for you to marry the daughter of the Yuan family, hoping that you would achieve something, but you didn't treat her as a wife at all, instead favoring Ah Yun alone, treating her like a treasure. Your former wife was not sick, but suddenly died. You had someone poison her, leading to her untimely death. Given the circumstances, I cannot delve deeper. Why do you still talk about this in front of me? While I am alive, I can control you. After I am gone, do you intend to act as you wish? I have always been worried that the Eastern Palace has no legitimate wife. After I die and the Emperor lives long, will you and your brothers have to bow to Ah Yun again? How intolerable that would be!" Prince Jin kowtowed again, weeping inconsolably, and the Empress, too, was overwhelmed with grief.
After their separation, Prince Jin knew that the Empress's mind had changed, so he began to plan to usurp the throne. He asked Zhang Heng to help him strategize, sent Bao Gong Yuwen Shu to deepen his relationship with Yang Yue, and had Yang Yue convey the Empress's intentions to Duke Yang Su of Yueguo, detailing what the Empress had just said. Yang Su was surprised and said, "I just want to know what the Empress is really thinking." If it is true, then what should I do? A few days later, Yang Su attended a court banquet and casually mentioned that Prince Jin was filial, respectful, and frugal, much like the Emperor, in an attempt to test the Empress's intentions. The Empress cried and said, "You are right. My son is very filial. Every time he hears that the Emperor or I have sent eunuchs, he will meet them at the border. When it comes to parting, he always cries endlessly. His wife is also pitiful. The maids I sent always share her meals and bed. It's not like you and A Yun who drink and have fun together all day, getting cozy with the wrong crowd and pushing away family. The reason I love A Duo more is that I'm afraid he will be secretly killed by you." Yang Su understood the Empress's intentions, so he began to strongly argue against the Crown Prince. The Empress then gave Yang Su a lot of gold and silver treasures, which gave rise to the idea of deposing the Crown Prince.
Yongge was well aware of the Crown Prince's rebellion, feeling anxious, unable to come up with a good solution. He heard that there was a fortune-teller named Wang Fuxian in Xinfeng who was very accurate at fortune-telling, so he brought him in to ask. Wang Fuxian said, "Ah, I saw a white rainbow piercing through the main gate of the Eastern Palace, and the Tai Bai star blocking the moon. These are signs that the Crown Prince is about to be deposed!" He then crafted some talismans to ward off bad luck using copper and iron weapons and had a village of commoners built in the backyard of the Eastern Palace, with run-down, dilapidated houses, so that the Crown Prince could rest there during his free time, sleeping on straw mats and wearing coarse clothes, in hopes of averting disaster.
Emperor Gaozu knew that the Crown Prince was uneasy, so he stayed in the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity and sent Yang Su to observe the Crown Prince Yang Yong. When Yang Su arrived at the East Palace, he deliberately hesitated to enter, while Yang Yong had already dressed up and was waiting for him. Yang Su refused to enter, aiming to provoke Yang Yong. Yang Yong took the bait, his face changed, showing his displeasure. After returning, Yang Su complained to Emperor Gaozu, saying that Yang Yong was full of resentment and might cause trouble, suggesting that the emperor be more vigilant. The emperor, misled by Yang Su's slander, became more suspicious of Yang Yong. The empress also secretly sent people to monitor the East Palace, reporting all of Yang Yong's actions to the emperor. The empress also exaggerated Yang Yong's faults. Emperor Gaozu, confused by these rumors, began to alienate and marginalize Yang Yong.
He ordered a large number of soldiers to guard between the Xuanwu Gate and the Zhide Gate, keeping watch on the East Palace and reporting any incidents immediately. He also handed over a list of the East Palace guards and officials, from senior to junior, to the Guard Bureau. Those who were fit and capable were transferred away. Prince Jin, Yang Guang, secretly sent Duan Da to bribe the courtier Ji Wei in the East Palace, giving him a lot of money to snoop on the Crown Prince and report it to Yang Su. Now, both inside and outside the palace, rumors about Yang Yong's misdeeds were spreading, with his misdeeds piling up. Duan Da threatened Ji Wei, saying, "The emperor is already aware of the East Palace's wrongdoings and has issued a secret decree to depose the Crown Prince. If you help us, you will enjoy a life of luxury and power in the future!" Ji Wei, afraid, agreed.
In early September, the emperor returned to the capital from the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity. The next day at court, he said to the ministers, "I have just returned to the capital, and I should be feeling happy, but why am I so uneasy?" The Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, replied, "It's because we, your loyal subjects, have not done well, causing Your Majesty to worry and tire yourself out."
The emperor had actually heard a lot of rumors about the Crown Prince's faults, suspecting that the courtiers were all hiding it, so he asked in this way, wanting to hear what faults the Crown Prince had. Niu Hong's response completely missed the mark. The emperor's face darkened and he said to the officials of the Eastern Palace, "Ren Shou Palace isn't far from here, but every time I return to the capital, it feels like a heavily fortified war zone, almost like stepping into enemy territory! I’m on edge all day, can’t even take off my clothes or get a good night's sleep. Last night, when I wanted to go to the toilet, I had to wait in the rear hall first, worried about any mishaps, and then returned to the front hall. Are you trying to bring down my empire?" So, he immediately arrested Tang Lingze and others, handing them over to the proper authorities for interrogation.
He also asked Yang Su to investigate the situation in the Eastern Palace and then report back to the courtiers. Yang Su stated candidly, "I was ordered to investigate the Crown Prince and Liu Jushi's remaining party. After receiving the imperial edict, the Crown Prince's expression darkened, furiously and excitedly told me, 'Liu Jushi's remaining party has all been punished, why should I have to investigate this? You are the Right Chief Minister, with great responsibility, you investigate yourself, what’s that got to do with me?' He also said, 'If I mess this up, I'll be the first to lose my head. Now I am the Crown Prince, but you treat me worse than my brothers; I can’t make any decisions for myself.' The Crown Prince sighed deeply and remarked, 'I feel like I’m living a really exhausting life.'"
The emperor said, "This child can no longer inherit the throne. The empress has been urging me to depose him, but I have been holding back because he is my eldest son born during my commoner days. I thought he would eventually change for the better, so I’ve tolerated him until now. When Yong (referring to the crown prince) came from Nanyanzhou before, he told Prince Wei, 'My mother won't find me a good wife, it's really annoying!' He even pointed to the empress's maidservants and said, 'These are all mine!' What nonsense he spouts! His first wife had just died, and he housed an old woman in a tent; when his new wife died, I suspected he had Ma Siming poison her. I once questioned him, and he actually defied me by saying, 'I will kill Yuan Xiaozhu!' He’s trying to harm me while deflecting the blame onto others. When Princess Changning was born, the empress and I raised her together, we both loved her dearly, yet he even sent people to take her away. He even said Dingxing's daughter was born out of wedlock; thinking about all these things, how can he possibly be worthy of being my successor!
In the past, the crown prince of the Jin Dynasty married a butcher's daughter, and his son enjoyed slaughtering pigs and sheep. If the crown prince is like this now, the country would fall into chaos. There is also Liu Jinlin, a flatterer who made Dingxing believe he was his father-in-law; Dingxing, that fool, actually believed his words. I dismissed Jinlin before because of this. Yong once drank and had fun with Cao Miaoda and Dingxing's daughter. Miaoda even said, 'I persuaded the consort to drink today.' He indulges those illegitimate sons out of fear they won't obey, wanting to buy the favor of the people. Although I may not be as virtuous as Yao and Shun, I cannot entrust the country to unworthy heirs! I've always been on guard against him, like watching for a great enemy; now I’ve decided to depose him to bring stability back to the realm."
General Zuo Wei and Duke Wuyuan, Yuan Min, directly advised the emperor, "Regarding the matter of deposing and appointing an emperor, the emperor must not waver. Once the decree is issued, it will be too late to change your mind. All that's being said now is negative; Your Majesty needs to be discerning!" Yuan Min spoke bluntly, with a forceful demeanor and a loud voice, but the emperor paid him no mind.
At this time, Ji Wei once again accused the Crown Prince of misconduct in a formal report. Gaozu asked Ji Wei, "Tell me about the things the Crown Prince has done." Ji Wei replied, "The Crown Prince always speaks arrogantly to the ministers, wanting to turn the area from Fanchuan to Sanguan into his own private domain. He also said, 'When Emperor Hanwu wanted to build Shanglin Park, Dongfang Shuo advised him, and Emperor Hanwu rewarded Dongfang Shuo with one hundred catties of gold, which is absurd. I don't have that much gold to reward people. If anyone dares to advise me, I’ll kill him—maybe even a hundred or so—so that no one will dare to speak up again.' When Su Xiaoci was dismissed from his position as Left Guard, the Crown Prince slammed the table and said, 'A true man will eventually make a name for himself. I will never forget this, and I will seek revenge in the future!' When the palace needed things, the officials from the Ministry of Personnel often disagreed with him due to the regulations, and he angrily said, 'I will kill several officials below the rank of Pushe to let them know the consequences of offending me!' He also built a small city in the park, working on it continuously in all seasons, building pavilions and palaces, completing them today and redesigning them the next day. He often said, 'The Emperor always says I have too many sons. Are Gao Wei and Chen Shubao not bad sons?' He also had the diviner predict his fortune and misfortune, telling the ministers, 'The Emperor's year of taboo is the eighteenth, and time is running short.' " Gaozu listened, his eyes moistened, and said, "Everyone is born of parents, how can it be like this! I sent a few palace maids to the Eastern Palace before, and they reported to me, 'Don't let the Prince of Guangping go to the Crown Prince's place. The Crown Prince hates those palace maids, and it was also instigated by the Prince of Guangping.' Yuan Zan also knew about the Crown Prince's treacherousness and advised me to send two more teams of soldiers to guard the east of the Left Treasury. After pacifying the Chen Dynasty, all the beautiful palace maids in the palace were given to Chunfang. I've heard he wasn't satisfied and was still searching for more outside. I recently read 'Book of Qi' and saw that Gao Huan indulged his son, which really angered me. How can I emulate him?" So, Yong and his sons were imprisoned, and some of his supporters were arrested. Yang Su cleverly distorted the facts, aggravated the crimes, and ultimately led to Yong's failure.
After a few days, the authorities reported to the emperor that General Yuan Min, who was usually in charge of guarding the palace, was trying to win favor with Yang Yong. It was obvious that he was aligning himself with Yang Yong. When he was in the Renshou Palace, Pei Hong even handed Yuan Min a letter from Yang Yong with the words "Do not let others see" written on the envelope. Emperor Gaozu said, "When I was in the Renshou Palace, as soon as there was a small matter, the East Palace would hear about it right away. The news spread faster than a speeding horse. I've been suspicious for a while. Isn't it these guys who are up to something?" So he sent soldiers to arrest Yuan Min and Pei Hong and dealt with them accordingly.
Can you believe this speed? It's faster than express delivery! The emperor had been suspicious for a while. The news spread too quickly. It turned out that these two were plotting behind the scenes! So, they were directly arrested and dealt with according to the law! This efficiency is excellent!
When Yang Yong returned from the Renshou Palace, he saw a dead locust tree on the road. The tree roots and trunk were twisted and thick enough to be hugged by five or six people. He asked the people around him, "What can this tree be used for?" Someone answered, "This old locust tree is perfect for firewood." At that time, the guards were carrying fire sickles, so Yang Yong had craftsmen make thousands of fire sickles to give out to those around him. In the end, those fire sickles were found in the warehouse. They also found several bushels of mugwort in the medicinal warehouse.
The generals found it strange and went to ask Ji Wei. Ji Wei said, "The Crown Prince has another purpose for doing this. Those under the King of Changning must ride swiftly and arrive in one night. He usually keeps thousands of horses, saying it is for quick entry into the city, but those horses ended up starving to death." Ji Wei told Yang Su about these words, and Yang Su disagreed. He said, "I heard that there are tens of thousands of horses in the court. As the Crown Prince, is keeping a thousand horses considered rebellion?" Yang Su also took out the lavish clothing and jewelry from the Eastern Palace, displayed them before the court, and showed them to the civil and military officials to prove the Crown Prince's guilt. Gaozu showed these things to Yang Yong and questioned him. The Empress also rebuked him for his wrongdoing. Gaozu sent people to question Yang Yong, yet Yang Yong still refused to acknowledge it. The Imperial Historian Yuan Chong advised, "I have observed celestial phenomena, and the Crown Prince should be deposed." Gaozu said, "The celestial phenomena have already manifested, but no one among the courtiers dared to speak." So he sent for Yang Yong. When Yang Yong saw the messenger, he was terrified and exclaimed, "You’re not here to kill me, are you?"
Emperor Gaozu was dressed in military attire, with his troops assembled, holding court in the Wude Hall. Both civil and military officials were gathered there, with Emperor Gaozu sitting to the east and the imperial relatives to the west. Yang Yong and his sons were brought to the front of the hall. The emperor ordered Xue Daoheng to read the decree deposing Yang Yong, which stated: "The position of the crown prince is the foundation of the country. If the right person isn't chosen, the position cannot remain vacant. Historically, there have been incompetent heirs who retained their titles despite their misconduct and lack of improvement, all because emperors indulged and favored them, which led to the downfall of the nation and the suffering of the people. It can be seen that the safety of the world depends on the heir, and the inheritance of the country's great cause cannot be taken lightly! Crown Prince Yang Yong, although the eldest son, was dearly loved by me. When he was first appointed as crown prince, I even had a spring palace built for him, hoping that he would progress and take on heavy responsibilities. However, he is dull-witted, lacking in benevolence and filial piety, and is close to villains, favoring flatterers, committing countless mistakes. The people are a blessing from heaven, and I must follow the will of heaven and nurture them well. Even if I want to protect my own son, I must also respect the will of heaven. How could I possibly disturb the realm with an unworthy son? Yang Yong and his descendants, whether they are princes or princesses, will all be demoted to commoners. I do this out of necessity, feeling profoundly guilty." Xue Daoheng then said to Yang Yong, "Your crimes have angered both heaven and earth. Do you still expect not to be deposed?" Yang Yong knelt and said, "I am willing to die in the capital as a warning to future generations. I hope Your Majesty will have mercy on me and spare my life." After speaking, Yang Yong cried and then danced away. Everyone present felt a deep sympathy for him.
Since ancient times, the unrest in the country has always been caused by those treacherous officials who stir up discord and ultimately bring disaster to the country, causing suffering to the people. If they are not severely punished, how can we achieve peace in the realm?
General Zuo Wei, Duke of Wuyuan, Yuan Min, who holds military power and is deeply trusted by the emperor, secretly engages in conspiracies and schemes to sow discord between the monarch and his subjects, leading this group of people. The Left Attendant of the Crown Prince, Tang Lingze, with a prominent position, flatters and indulges the prince, even going so far as to personally teach palace maids to sing and dance, fueling the prince's extravagance. The Prince's Household Manager, Zou Wenteng, superstitious and frequently divining national affairs, attempting to profit from national affairs. Left Guard Marshal Xiahou Fu, fawning on superiors and acting arrogantly towards subordinates, behaving recklessly in the palace. The Director of Food Supply, Yuan Yan, sowing discord and spreading rumors, and secretly practicing witchcraft. Former Assistant Minister of Personnel, Xiao Zibao, though not a court official, harbors ulterior motives and plots conspiracies to seek high positions and wealth. Former Master of the Imperial Seal, He Shang, under the pretense of astrology, spreads falsehoods to mislead the public, plotting misconduct, and even creating extravagant clothing, exacerbating the prince's extravagance.
These seven individuals committed egregious crimes and were all sentenced to death, with their assets confiscated.
The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yan Pi, Duke of Dong County, Cui Junchuo, Deputy Commander, Shen Fubao, and Yizhou resident, Zhangqiu Taiyi, all acted against the law and should have been sentenced to death. However, taking into account their remaining humanity, I cannot bring myself to execute them all, so the death penalty is commuted to 100 strokes each, and their assets are confiscated.
Deputy Commander and Chief Architect, Gao Longyi, who illegally mobilized laborers to build pavilions for the prince; Deputy Commander Jin Wenjian and Attendant of the Imperial Stud Farm, Yuan Heng, who embezzled public funds and wasted national resources. These three individuals will also face severe punishment.
Goodness, under the Emperor's order, a large group of officials were summoned to Guangyang Gate to read the imperial edict, condemning Yang Yong to death. Prince Guangping, Yang Xiong, received the imperial edict and immediately expressed, "Your Majesty, you truly are willing to make sacrifices for the people! Abolishing the incompetent Yang Yong is a great thing for the country, and everyone should be happy!" Then, Yang Xiong transferred Yang Yong's military power to the Ministry of Interior and appointed Prince Jin, Yang Guang, as the Crown Prince, keeping Yang Yong imprisoned in the Eastern Palace. The Emperor also rewarded Yang Su with three thousand rolls of cloth, Yuan Zhou and Yang Yue with one thousand rolls each, and Yang Nandi with five hundred rolls, all because they participated in overthrowing Yang Yong.
At this moment, a courtier named Yang Xiaozheng submitted a memorial advising, "The Crown Prince has been misled by bad people; he should be properly educated, not abolished." The Emperor, upon hearing this, was furious and directly slapped him on the chest. Shortly after, the Prefect of Beizhou, Pei Su, submitted a report saying, "Yang Yong has been deposed for a long time; he should be given a chance to reform and be granted a small fiefdom." The Emperor realized that his decision to depose Yang Yong did not align with the will of the people, so he summoned Pei Su to the capital to carefully investigate the circumstances of deposing and appointing the Crown Prince.
Feeling unjustly deposed, Yang Yong sought an audience with the Emperor to plead his grievances. However, Crown Prince Yang Guang obstructed him at every turn, not allowing him to approach the Emperor. In desperation, Yang Yong climbed a tree and shouted loudly, hoping the Emperor would hear his voice and summon him. Seizing the opportunity, Yang Su reported to the Emperor, "Yang Yong is acting crazy, like he’s possessed, beyond help!" The Emperor believed this and ultimately did not see Yang Yong. Yang Su used the same tactics to frame and accuse others.
The founding emperor fell seriously ill and was residing in the Renshou Palace. He called the Crown Prince to serve him, but the Crown Prince got involved in a series of chaotic incidents in the palace. When the founding emperor found out, he struck the bed and said, "I wrongly accused my son!" He then sent people to fetch Yang Yong. Before they could do so, the founding emperor suddenly passed away, and this was initially kept a secret. The emperor immediately arrested Liu Shu and Yuan Yan, imprisoning them in the Dali Temple. He then forged the founding emperor's will and sentenced Yang Yong to death. He was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Fangling, but no successor was appointed for him.
Yang Yong had a total of ten sons: the eldest son Yang Yan was titled as the Prince of Changning, Yang Yu as the Prince of Pingyuan, and Yang Jun as the Prince of Ancheng, all of whom were born to Yun Zhaoxun. Yang Yi was titled as the Prince of Anping, Yang Ke as the Prince of Xiangcheng, born to Gao Liangdi. Yang Gai was titled as the Prince of Gaoyang, Yang Shao as the Prince of Jian'an, born to Wang Liangyuan. Yang Jue was titled as the Prince of Yingchuan, born to Cheng Ji. There were also two sons, Yang Xiaoshi and Yang Xiaofan, born to the palace concubines.
The Prince of Changning, Yang Yan, was Yang Yong's eldest son, a very brave child. When he was born, Yang Yong hurried to tell his grandfather Yang Jian (the founding emperor). Yang Jian said, "This child will be the future crown prince; how unfortunate that he was born at this time." Yun Dingxing quickly stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, "He was born from the dragon seed; that's why he arrived on the clouds." People at the time thought his response was very clever.
At the age of six, Yang Yan was titled as the Marquis of Changning County. Later, when Yang Yong was deposed due to defeat, Yang Yan also suffered and was dismissed. He wrote a letter to Yang Jian, requesting to stay in the palace to serve, writing with deep emotion. Yang Jian felt sympathetic after reading it. However, Yang Su interjected, saying, "I hope the emperor can quickly forget about this matter like a bee sting and not bother with it anymore."
After Yang Guang (Emperor Yang of Sui) became emperor, Yang Zhan often followed him on tours, but he died on the road, having been poisoned by someone. Yang Guang also sent several of Yang Zhan's younger brothers to the Lingnan region and ordered their execution. "Heaven breeds dragons, so they emerge from the clouds." This phrase was regarded as a clever retort at the time, and it now carries a deeper meaning.
Prince Xiao of Qin, named Yang Jun, styled A Zhi, was the third son of Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the Prince of Qin. In the spring of the second year, at the age of twelve, he became the Chief of the Upper Pillar, the Grand Secretary of the Henan Circuit, and the Inspector of Luozhou, holding prestigious positions. Later, he was also appointed as the General of the Right Wuwei, commanding the army in the eastern region. Three years later, he was promoted to the Governor of Qinzhou, overseeing the entire Longyou region.
Yang Jun was kind and benevolent, devout in Buddhism and Taoism, and once wanted to become a monk, but the emperor did not agree. Six years later, he was promoted to the Prefect of the Grand Secretary of the Mountain South Circuit. During the campaign against the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Mountain South Circuit, leading thirty commanders and overseeing over one hundred thousand troops stationed in Hankou, responsible for military operations upstream. The Chen dynasty's generals Zhou Luohou, Xun Fashang, and others, with tens of thousands of elite soldiers stationed at Yingwuzhou, had General Cui Hongdu suggest attacking them. However, Yang Jun deemed the potential casualties too great and chose not to proceed. As a result, Zhou Luohou and his men voluntarily surrendered.
Later, Yang Jun sent envoys to report to the emperor, tearfully telling them, "I have been appointed to such an important position, yet I have not achieved anything; I am truly ashamed!" The emperor, upon hearing this, greatly appreciated his humility. As a result, Yang Jun was appointed Governor of Yangzhou, overseeing military matters in forty-four states, stationed in Guangling. Over a year later, he was transferred to the Governor of Bingzhou, overseeing military affairs in twenty-four states. Initially, he was quite diligent, which pleased the emperor greatly, prompting him to issue a decree commending Yang Jun.
However, later on, Yang Jun gradually became extravagant and wasteful, violating the rules, even engaging in usury, causing the people and officials to suffer greatly. The emperor sent people to investigate his affairs, and more than a hundred people were implicated with him. Yang Jun remained unrepentant and began large-scale construction projects, building luxurious palaces. He had a talent for design, often personally wielding an axe and chisel to create exquisite items adorned with pearls and jade. He built a magnificent palace decorated with seven treasures for his consort and also constructed a palace on the water, with walls coated in fragrant spices and decorative finishes, and stairs paved with jade and gold. The beams, pillars, doors, and windows were all inlaid with mirrors and precious pearls, exceedingly opulent. He frequently hosted singing and dancing parties with guests and entertainers in the palace.
Yang Jun favored his consort, Lady Cui, but filled with jealousy, she was discontented with Yang Jun's actions, so she decided to poison him. Yang Jun fell ill and was called back to the capital. The emperor, because of his extravagant and indulgent behavior, dismissed him from his official position and permitted him to reside in a mansion as a prince. General Liu Sheng of the Left Wuwei Guard advised, stating, "Prince Qin has no other faults; he only spent some official resources on building houses. I think he can be forgiven." The emperor replied, "The law must not be broken." Liu Sheng continued to counsel, but the emperor's expression darkened with anger, and Liu Sheng stopped advising. Later, Yang Su also offered counsel, saying, "Prince Qin's fault should not be punished in this way; I hope Your Majesty will give it careful consideration." The emperor said, "I am the father of five sons; if we follow your suggestion, why not establish a separate set of laws for the princes? Even someone like the Duke of Zhou had to execute Guan Shu and Cai Shu; I am certainly not as virtuous as the Duke of Zhou, how can I violate the law?" Ultimately, the emperor refused to acquiesce.
Wang Jun's health was very poor, unable to rise from bed, so he sent someone to submit a memorial to express his apologies. The Emperor said to his messenger, "I risked my life at the frontier to achieve this great feat, set rules as an example, hoping that my subjects would all abide by them and not mess it up. You are my son, yet you want to destroy it; how can I blame you for this?" Wang Jun felt ashamed and scared, and his condition worsened. The Grand General Huangfu Tong submitted a request to restore Wang Jun's title, but the Emperor did not agree. Over a year later, due to Wang Jun's severe illness, the Emperor appointed him as a Chancellor. In June of the twentieth year, Wang Jun died in the Qin Prince's residence. The Emperor wept only briefly. The Emperor ordered all of Wang Jun's extravagant possessions to be burned. The Emperor also ordered that Wang Jun's funeral be kept simple, as a lesson for future generations. Officials of the Wang family wanted to erect a monument, but the Emperor said, "If you want to leave a legacy, one history book is enough; why erect a monument? If future generations cannot preserve the family business, then the monument will become someone else's stepping stone."
Wang Jun's concubine, Lady Cui, was deposed by the Emperor for poisoning Wang Jun and was sentenced to death at home. Wang Jun's son, Hao, was born to Lady Cui. There was also an illegitimate son named Zhan. The ministers discussed, "According to the principles of the 'Spring and Autumn Annals,' a mother's status is elevated by her son's prominence, and a son's status is elevated by his mother's prominence. Since they were both prominent before, now that they have committed crimes, the consequences are all too predictable. During the Han Dynasty, Lady Li made a mistake, and her son was deposed; Empress Guo was deposed, and her son was also deposed. This principle holds true on both a grand and a small scale. Now the two sons of the Qin Prince, their mother has been deposed; they should not inherit the throne." Therefore, officials of the Qin state took charge of the funeral arrangements. Wang Jun's eldest daughter, Princess Yongfeng, was only twelve years old at the time of her father's death. She was very sad, observed the mourning period as per tradition, and did not eat fish or meat. On the anniversaries of his death, she would weep and refuse to eat.
There was a man called Wang Yan, a man of integrity and loyalty. He had been in charge of the trusted troops for over ten years, and Wang Jun respected him greatly. When Wang Jun fell ill, Wang Yan stayed by his bedside, not changing out of his clothes for several days and nights. After Wang Jun passed away, Wang Yan went several days without eating or drinking, growing as thin as a rake. The emperor, upon hearing this, felt a deep sympathy for him and gave him medicine from the imperial physician. He also appointed him General of the Cavalry, overseeing the imperial guards. On the day of Wang Jun's funeral, Wang Yan was overcome with grief and fainted. The emperor was taken aback and sent an envoy to pay his respects, and ordered that Wang Yan be buried next to Wang Jun's tomb.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed Yang Hao as the Prince of Qin, inheriting the title of Prince Xiao; and named Yang Zhan the Marquis of Jibei. Later, Yang Hao was transferred to Heyang as a Colonel. When Yang Xuan rebelled, the Grand General of the Left, Yuchi Shu, led troops to suppress the rebellion. When they reached Heyang, Yuchi Shu sent a letter to Yang Hao, who then went to Yuchi Shu's camp in person, leading to frequent interactions between the two. Some accused Yang Hao of colluding with noble families and court officials, which ultimately led to his dismissal. Yuchi Huajiji initially proclaimed Yang Hao emperor at the start of his rebellion. However, after Yuchi Huajiji was defeated at Liyang and retreated to Weixian, he declared himself emperor and ordered the execution of Yang Hao. Yang Zhan was renowned for his bravery and exceptional insight. During the early years of the Sui Dynasty, he served as the Governor of Xingyang and was executed by Yuchi Huajiji as a consequence of his ties to Yang Hao's dismissal.
Yang Xiu was the fourth son of the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, he was made the Prince of Yue. Shortly after, he was reassigned to Shu, where he was appointed Chief Minister, Governor of Yizhou, and Commander-in-Chief of the military in twenty-four provinces. The following year, he was promoted to Chief Minister, Prefect of the Southwest, and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, while keeping his previous titles. He was dismissed after a year. In the twelfth year, he was appointed Minister of the Interior and Right Commander-in-Chief, and was soon dispatched back to Shu to oversee the region.
Yang Xiu has outstanding courage and intelligence, is tall and imposing in appearance, with a handsome beard, and is highly skilled in martial arts. The court ministers are all wary of him. Emperor Sui Yang often said to the empress, "Yang Xiu will definitely do something bad in the future. While I am alive, it's fine, but when I die, my brothers will definitely rebel." When Yuan Heng, the Minister of War, was dispatched to Shu, Yang Xiu was closely associated with him and requested the emperor to increase his personal guards several times. After Yuan Heng returned to the capital, Yang Xiu also requested the emperor to increase his guards, but the emperor did not agree. When General Liu Kui was attacking the Western Cuan, Emperor Sui Yang ordered Yang Wutong to lead troops to reinforce. Yang Xiu surprisingly appointed his favored official, Wan Zhiguang, as the army's chief of staff under Yang Wutong, which drew harsh criticism from the emperor, believing that Yang Xiu was mismanaging his personnel. He told the courtiers, "Will those who undermine my laws surely appear among my descendants? Just like a wild beast, external threats cannot harm it, but will be gradually eroded by the parasites in its fur!" Therefore, he reduced Yang Xiu's military power. Oh, Yang Xiu is becoming increasingly extravagant, utterly disregarding the rules; his clothing and belongings are almost the same as the emperor's! Later, Crown Prince Yong was deposed due to being framed by villains, and Prince Guang became the crown prince, which greatly displeased Yang Xiu. The crown prince feared that Yang Xiu might rebel, so he secretly instructed Yang Su to find evidence of Yang Xiu's crimes and report him. In the second year of the reign of Ren Shou, Yang Xiu was summoned back to the capital, and the emperor remained silent during their meeting. The following day, the emperor sent someone to deliver a stern reprimand. Yang Xiu said, "I am grateful for the emperor's favor, allowing me to serve as an official in various places, but I have failed to abide by the laws, and I deserve the harshest punishment!" The crown prince and other princes wept and pleaded for the emperor's forgiveness. The emperor said, "Some time ago, Prince Qin spent money recklessly, and I advised him as a father would. Now, Yang Xiu has harmed the people, so I must punish him as a ruler!" He then turned Yang Xiu over to the authorities for prosecution.
Kai Fuqing stepped forward to advise, saying, "Prince Yong has been deposed, the King of Qin is also dead, Your Majesty doesn’t have many sons to begin with, why do this? Besides, the Prince of Shu (Yang Xiu) is straightforward in character; now that he has received such a heavy punishment, he might not make it!" The Emperor was furious when he heard this, wanting to have Qing Zheng's tongue cut out! He then told the ministers, "Yang Xiu must be executed in public to apologize to the people!" So Yang Su, Su Wei, Niu Hong, Liu Shu, Zhao Chuo, and others were given the task of dealing with Yang Xiu. The Crown Prince secretly made a puppet with the names of Yang Xiu and the King of Han written on it, tied its hands, nailed its heart, and buried it under Huashan, then had Yang Su dig it out. The Crown Prince also wrote a proclamation saying, "This traitor Yang Xiu abuses his power, and Your Majesty knows nothing about it!" The proclamation also inflated the military strength, claiming to punish Yang Xiu. The evidence of Yang Xiu's crimes and the proclamation were presented to the Emperor. After reading it, the Emperor said, "How could this happen in the world!" Yang Xiu was then reduced to commoner status, confined to the Inner Palace, not allowed to see his wife and was only given two maidservants to attend to him. More than a hundred people were implicated with him.
Alas, Xiu, he was forced into a corner, feeling utterly frustrated, not knowing what to do. In the end, he wrote a memorial, stating: "Your servant has been incredibly fortunate, bathed in royal favor and enjoying a life of wealth and luxury since childhood. At the age of nine, I enjoyed a life of wealth and luxury, only knowing pleasure, never considering sorrow and fear. I was reckless and utterly foolish, falling into the clutches of the law, deeply sinful, not fearing death, willing to go to hell. I never expected Your Majesty to grant me a sliver of hope. It is only now that I realize how naive and unaware I was, how the laws of the country cannot be violated. I regret deeply, wishing to start anew, but it is too late. I still wish to repay Your Majesty's kindness, but my fortunes have faded, and heaven no longer favors me. My husband and I miss our child terribly; this longing is beyond words. I fear that my time in this world is coming to an end, returning to the earth. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy, pity me, and allow me to see my child before I pass away. Please grant me a burial site, a place where I can finally rest." The term "Claw" refers to his beloved son.
After reading the memorial, the emperor issued a decree outlining his offenses.
You were appointed to that position as an official, appearing to be a loyal subject, but in reality harboring thoughts of personal gain. The provinces of Yongzhou and Shuzhou are so important, I have entrusted them to your jurisdiction. Yet you consistently break the law and defy common sense, harbor ill intentions, yearn for chaos to ensue, secretly observe the palace, wait for the opportunity to cause trouble, shelter evildoers, form factions, and engage in those crooked ways. Whenever I feel even a bit unwell, you secretly observe, hoping for my downfall so you can usurp my position. The crown prince is your brother and should rightfully inherit the throne, but you spread rumors that he is unfit to be emperor. You spout nonsense about ghosts and spirits haunting you, claiming you cannot enter the palace, and boasting about your exceptional lineage, that you are capable of shouldering great responsibilities, falsely asserting that a sage will emerge in Qingcheng, wanting to portray yourself as the sage, and fabricating auspicious signs of dragons appearing in Yizhou, calling it an omen. You changed the surname of Mu Yi and rebuilt the palace in Chengdu; you falsely claimed the name of He Nai corresponds to the fortune of eight thousand years. You orchestrated strange occurrences in the capital, foretelling disasters for your family; and forged auspicious signs in Shu to fulfill the prophecy of your own ascension to the throne. Don't you desire the downfall of the nation and chaos to reign? You even fashioned a white jade tablet and crafted white feather arrows, not acting like a loyal subject whatsoever, and gathered those who practice unorthodox methods to suppress evil spirits with talismans. The Han prince is your younger brother, yet you painted his portrait, inscribed his name, bound his hands, pierced his heart, and shackled him. You also claimed you would summon the divine army of the Holy Mother of Mount Hua to arrest the soul of Yang Liang and detain him below Mount Hua, preventing him from causing trouble. As for me, your father, you said you would summon the divine army of the Holy Mother of Mount Hua to reconcile me with your mother, Yang Jian, so we could live happily together. You even painted my portrait, bound my hands, and covered my head, and said you would summon the divine army of Mount Hua to capture Yang Jian's soul.
What’s your goal with this? What’s exactly the connection between Yang Liangg and Yang Jian?
You harbor malice and plot treason; this is the behavior of a traitor. You hope for your father's misfortune so you can take his place; this reflects the mindset of a thief. You covet what you shouldn't have and even poison your brother; this is an act of unfiliality. You envy your younger brother and commit all sorts of evil deeds, showing no brotherly love. You violate the system and disrupt the court's order to an extreme degree. You kill innocents indiscriminately, as cruel as a jackal. You oppress the people, extremely cruel. You are only after wealth, like a petty commoner. You cling to superstitions, stubborn and unyielding. You lack the ability to shoulder heavy responsibilities.
These ten things go against morality and reason; you have done them all, that's incredibly unlucky! Still want to avoid disaster and be wealthy for a long time? How is that possible?
Later, I heard that he and his son were living together. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he remained under house arrest just like before. After Yuwen Huaji rebelled and killed Yang Guang, he sought to install Yang Xiu as emperor, but no one supported him. So Yuwen Huaji killed him, along with his other sons.
Speaking of the Prince of Han, Yang Liang, style name Dezhang, nickname Jie, was made Prince of Han in the first year of Kaihuang. In the twelfth year, he became the governor of Yongzhou and was also appointed as the General of the Right Guard. A year later, he was promoted to General of the Left Guard. In the seventeenth year, he was sent to be the commander of Bingzhou, and the emperor personally sent him off to Wenshang. The area under his jurisdiction extended east to the sea and south to the Yellow River, encompassing fifty-two provinces. The emperor specially allowed him to act as he pleased, not bound by legal provisions. In the eighteenth year, due to the Liaodong war, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief, leading the army to the Liao River, but encountered an epidemic and had to retreat without achieving victory. In the nineteenth year, the Turks invaded the border, and he was appointed as the commander-in-chief again, but this time he chose not to go into battle. Emperor Gaozu held a particular fondness for him.
Yang Liang felt increasingly discontented, and when he heard that the crown prince had been deposed, he began secretly plotting a rebellion. So he advised Emperor Gaozu, saying, "The Turks are very powerful now; Taiyuan is an important military stronghold, and we should strengthen military preparations." Emperor Gaozu took his advice. He mobilized a large workforce, manufactured weapons, and stored them in Bingzhou. He also recruited some fugitives and his own confidants, commanding nearly ten thousand troops. Wang Kui, the son of Wang Sengbian, a general of the Liang Dynasty, was a gifted and resourceful strategist for Yang Liang. Xiao Moha, a former general of the Chen Dynasty, was overlooked and had been harboring resentment and contemplating rebellion, so both of them were very close to Yang Liang.
The King of Shu was deposed, and Dou Jiande felt anxious and insecure. Later, when Yang Guang died, the court summoned him, but he refused to go and chose to rebel instead. General Sima Huangfu Dan pleaded with him, but Dou Jiande got angry and had him arrested and dealt with harshly. Wang Kui suggested to Dou Jiande, "Your subordinates' families are all in the Guanzhong region. If you use these people, you should go straight in and seize the capital, like a bolt of lightning. If you only want to occupy the old Qi territory, then you should use more people from Shandong." Dou Jiande couldn't decide, so he opted for both approaches, and publicly declared, "Yang Su has rebelled; I will take action against him!"
Pei Wen'an, the chief military officer of Wenxi, suggested to Dou Jiande: "Everything west of Jingxing is under your command, and the troops of Shandong are also at our disposal; they should all be mobilized. Deploy some less experienced soldiers to secure key intersections, allowing them to adapt based on local conditions. Lead the elite troops directly to Pujin Pass. I ask to take the lead; you lead the army to follow, swift as the wind and fierce as lightning. Stationed in Ba Shang, we can easily capture the area east of Xianyang. The capital will surely descend into chaos, unable to assemble troops in time, with suspicion rife among court officials and the populace in panic. Once we display our army and issue orders, who would dare to defy us? We can resolve this within ten days!" Dou Jiande was very happy to hear this.
He then dispatched his appointed general, Yu Gongli, to attack Heyang from Taigu; General Qi Liang to attack Liyang from Fukou; General Liu Jian to attack the Yan-Zhao region from Jingxing; Zhuguo Qiao Zhongkui to set out from Yanmen; appointed Pei Wen'an as Zhuguo, Gedan Gui, Wang Dan, General Ruru Tianbao, and Houmo Chen Hui directly towards the capital. Before reaching Pujin Pass, over a hundred miles away, Dou Jiande suddenly had a change of heart, ordering Gedan Gui to sever the river bridge and secure Puzhou, and then recalled Pei Wen'an. Upon Pei Wen'an's return, he remarked, "Effective military strategy relies on surprise and speed. If you don't act now, and I return, allowing the enemy to succeed, it will spell disaster!" Dou Jiande dismissed him.
He appointed Wang Dan (王聃) as the prefect of Puzhou, Pei Wen'an (裴文安) as the prefect of Jinzhou, Xue Cui (薛粹) as the prefect of Jiangzhou, Liang Pusa (梁菩萨) as the prefect of Luzhou, Wei Daozheng (韦道正) as the prefect of Hanzhou, and Zhang Boying (张伯英) as the prefect of Zezhou. Emperor Yang of Sui sent Yang Su (杨素) to lead five thousand cavalry to attack Wang Dan and Ge Shangu's forces stationed in Puzhou, defeating them. Then, Yang Su led forty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Taiyuan. Dou Jiande (窦建德) sent Zhao Zikai (赵子开) to defend Gaobi, but Yang Su defeated him. Dou Jiande was very afraid and resisted Yang Su in Haoze. Just as a heavy rain started, Dou Jiande wanted to retreat, but Wang Kui (王頍) advised him, saying, "Yang Su's army is exhausted, Your Majesty. If you lead the elite troops to attack them, you will surely defeat them. Running away at the sight of the enemy will make us look cowardly, demoralize the soldiers, and instead boost the morale of the Western Army. I hope Your Majesty will not retreat!" Dou Jiande did not listen and retreated to Qingyuan. Yang Su pursued, and Dou Jiande fought a major battle with his army and the officials, resulting in nearly twenty thousand deaths. Dou Jiande retreated to Binxian, and Yang Su besieged Binxian. With no way out, Dou Jiande surrendered to Yang Su. The officials requested Dou Jiande's execution, but Emperor Yang said, "I have no brothers in my lifetime, and I really cannot bear to kill him. I will spare his life against the law." So, Dou Jiande was stripped of his title and became a commoner, his household registration status was canceled, and he ultimately died in despair. His son Dou Hao (窦颢) was also imprisoned and later killed during the rebellion of Yuwen Huaji (宇文化及). The history books say: None of the five sons of the founding emperor had a good ending, which is indeed quite strange!
Prince Fangling, Yang Liang, while relying on familial bonds, fulfilled his duties as a subject to the emperor, participating in the country's affairs for twenty years. Although he accomplished many good deeds, he was far from perfect. However, his daily conduct was without error. As the emperor's favor shifted and corrupt officials sowed discord, Yang Liang's hopes of regaining his father's love were dashed, resulting in a complete breakdown of their father-son relationship. The signs of the Sui Dynasty's imminent collapse were evident to the people. Ultimately, Yang Liang's ambitions for the throne grew, which ultimately led to his rebellion against the throne. His death stemmed from his anxieties and growing ambitions. In the ensuing chaos, people were unwilling to assist one another, and Yang Liang's descendants faced lifelong imprisonment and poisonings. Ultimately, the ancestral temples and altars of the Sui Dynasty fell into ruin.
Historically, there have been countless examples of displacing the legitimate son in favor of the illegitimate one, leading to the ruin of families. However, in examining these calamities that brought about ruin, none was as brutal as the Sui Dynasty. The Book of Songs states: "The lessons of the Yin Dynasty are close at hand, just after the Xia Dynasty." Shouldn't future generations with nations and families heed this warning?
