History has its own life, it is like a person, both easy-going and self-respecting. ——Yu Qiuyu
In the impression of many people, Yang Guang, the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, has always been an image of extreme fierceness and tyranny. In the Chronicle of History. There is a saying in the "Interpretation of the Law of the Law": Good Inner Far Rites are known as Jiao. Fornication at home, no courtesy. It can be seen that his nickname is a very negative evaluation. However, this title was not given to him during the Sui Dynasty, but was added by Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and it is inevitable that there are some personal feelings.
The late Tang Dynasty literary scholar Pi Rixiu commented on Yang Guang in his poem: "The Sui Dynasty died in this river, and it has been thousands of miles to this day. If there is no Water Temple Dragon Boat Matter, there is not much Gongyu Theory. In his eyes, Yang Guang is not as faint as people say, but he has left immortal merits for more than 1,400 years of benefit for future generations in his 14 years of reign.
One and three marches on Goguryeo
Near the Yalu River in present-day northeast China, it was the seat of Goguryeo during the Sui Dynasty, and before Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, Goguryeo repeatedly invaded the western Liaoning region. Although his father, Emperor Yang Jian of Sui, also led an army to attack Goguryeo, in the end he reached a reconciliation because the soldiers on both sides fell ill. Yang Guang and even now that they have grown, they are bound to have endless troubles if they let it go.
Beginning in the eighth year of Daye (612 AD), Yang Guang led his troops to conquer Goguryeo three times, mobilizing more than 1.3 million soldiers and soldiers, in addition to 2 million peasants transporting equipment and grain and grass for the front line, and building ships and weapons in the rear day and night. This wanton crusade really made the people of the Sui Dynasty unhappy and reborn.
However, it was precisely because Yang Guang did not hesitate to fight it this time that the strength of Goguryeo was greatly weakened, otherwise perhaps Tang Taizong Li Shimin would have taken him for granted by the Tang Dynasty.
2. Open the examination
The imperial examination has a history of more than 1300 years in China, and it originated in the Sui Dynasty and was basically formed and established during the Tang Dynasty. The establishment of the imperial examination system fundamentally changed the talent selection system of China's feudal dynasty, and it provided an opportunity for hanmen students to change the fate of their families.
But it was precisely because of this that it also touched the interests of the feudal nobility, so it led many powerful families to revolt, and eventually caused the collapse of the Sui Dynasty. But interestingly, although the Sui Dynasty perished, the imperial examination was preserved in all dynasties.
3. Construction of the Grand Canal
Early canals have begun to take shape from the Spring and Autumn Period, and by the time of the reign of the Sui Emperor, in order to strengthen the economic interconnection between the north and the south, in the first year of Daye (605 AD), he ordered the excavation of the canal from the Beijing-Huai section to the south of the Yangtze River, extending the canal by 2400 kilometers. In the Yuan Dynasty, in order to transport grain, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was expanded.
The reason why the "fireworks in Yangzhou in March" described in the poem can appear is due to the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and it is also because of this that many cities along the canal, including Yangzhou, have developed into rich hubs because of convenient shipping.
4. Tour west
During the Sui Dynasty, there was a force in Qinghai called Tuguhun, because after years of recuperation and strength, it was eager to move the territory of the Central Dynasty. The Sui Emperor intended to lead an army to tuguhun, so he led the concubines of the harem of the wen and wu officials to the west. According to the Book of Sui, "In March (the fourth year of Daye), the car was on patrol. ”
Seeing the mighty 100,000 people and horses of the Sui Dynasty, many countries along the way were afraid and lamented that their national strength was not as good. In May of the same year, the Sui Emperor led an army to attack Tuguhun, conquered it, and opened the Silk Road.
Yang Guang reigned for only 14 years, and these four things he did at that time caused great repercussions, creating a depression in the Sui Dynasty and the phenomenon that the people were miserable, and also gave Li Tang an opportunity to replace him. However, in the long run, what he has done has affected China for more than 1,400 years, and it can be said that "sin" is in the contemporary era and the benefit is in the future.