After Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, he unified the Northern and Southern Dynasties and established the Sui Dynasty, which was known as Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of Sui. Born in 541, Yang Jian promoted a series of reforms after the unification of the Sui Dynasty, including the introduction of the Juntian system and the establishment of the imperial examination system.
He laid the foundation of the Sui Dynasty and laid the foundation for the succession of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty and the short-lived prosperity of the Sui Dynasty.
The summer heat has shrouded the entire continent in the scorching sun. In order to escape the summer, Emperor Wen of Sui Emperor Yang Jian traveled south from Chang'an (today's Xi'an) to Renshou Palace in 600 AD with court manners.
Renshou Palace is located at the foot of the pleasant Minshan Mountain, and is one of Yang Jian's favorite palaces.
At night, Inshou Palace is completely different from the bustle of the day, and the emperor's palace is quiet. On such a cool night, the court astronomer Zhang Qiu Taiyi climbed alone to the high platform near the dormitory, preparing for his routine astronomical observations.
Zhang Qiu Taiyi was a scholar with a deep interest and knowledge of astronomy, who studied the stars for decades, provided astronomical prediction services to Emperor Wen of Sui, and was also a courtier who was greatly trusted by Yang Jian.
The sky is vast, the stars are dotted, and the midsummer night sky is clear and deep. Zhang Qiu Taiyi, as usual, carefully recorded the changing stars in the night sky.
He noticed an anomalous celestial phenomenon: Saturn and Mars consected in the night sky, creating a rare sight. In ancient astrology, such celestial phenomena were often considered a bad omen.
Zhang Qiu Taiyi was shocked in his heart, he knew very well that this kind of celestial phenomenon was often interpreted as a catastrophe from the sky in ancient times, especially for the monarch. He even remembered that in the past, during the historical events of the change of dynasties, there had been such astrological phenomena.
He felt the need to report this observation to Yang Jian, but he also knew that it would be very sensitive and dangerous news.
After hesitating, Zhang Qiu Taiyi finally decided to go to Yang Jian's dormitory alone late at night. After all, he was a court astronomer trusted by the emperor, and it was his duty to inform the emperor of his observations. When Yang Jian heard the news, he came out to meet him in person.
"Your Majesty, the minister watched the stars at night and found an unusual celestial phenomenon. Zhang Qiu Taiyi said in a low voice.
Yang Jian looked at his astronomer, his gaze scrutinizing and profound: "Why is it so urgent that you need to report it late at night?"
"Your Majesty, the minister observed that Mars and Saturn are in an unusual close proximity in the night sky, according to the interpretation of ancient astronomy, this usually indicates that the country will have a great calamity, or even the monarch's..."
"Are you saying that something will happen to this king?" Yang Jian spoke, his voice low and firm.
Zhang Qiu Taiyi knew that his words might be taken as ominous words and cause trouble to himself, but for the sake of the emperor's safety, he still decided to honestly state his prediction, "According to the auspicious and evil phases of the stars, Your Majesty is afraid..."
Yang Jian was silent for a moment, and asked softly, "You mean, this king's lifespan is short?" Although he is the king of a country and controls the lives of all people, he is small and powerless in the face of fate, like everyone.
Zhang Qiu Taiyi didn't answer directly, he lowered his head and said softly: "Your Majesty, the will of heaven is unpredictable, the minister is only based on the trend of the heavens, and the minister also prays that this is a false alarm." ”
Yang Jian stared at the night sky, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long while, he said to Zhang Qiu Taiyi: "What you saw tonight, there is no need to say much in the world. Step aside. ”
In the autumn of that year, the signs of celestial signs were revealed. There was an accident in the imperial court, and Yang Jian was seriously ill and could not be cured. Emperor Wen of Sui, who reigned for fourteen years, finally died at the age of sixty.
The Sui Dynasty also ushered in a turning point, and Yang Jian's son Yang Guang inherited the throne, that is, Emperor Yang of Sui.
Zhang Qiu Taiyi's prediction that night has become a myth left by history, but it has become an indelible legend in the Sui court. His seemingly simple words actually interfered with the course of history and became a harbinger of Yang Jian's fame.
This has become a mysterious and thought-provoking story in ancient astronomical history and the record of the rise and fall of dynasties.