Chapter 1: The Changes in Yingzhou

In Liaodong of the Great Sui Dynasty, it was a region where multi-ethnic and multi-tribe gathered. With Yanshan as the boundary, there were tribes and countries such as Khitan, Xi, Wu, Shiwei, Mohe, Goguryeo and other tribes and countries distributed north of Yanshan. They all surrendered to the Great Sui Dynasty and accepted the title of the Sui Dynasty.

However, the Sui Dynasty also had prefectures and counties north of Yanshan Mountain, namely Yingzhou County and Yan County, which controlled today's Liaodong Corridor. Since the 18th year of Kaihuang, Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian sent troops to attack Goguryeo, the Liaodong region has been calm, and the tribes of the Han and Hu lived in peace and did not violate each other.

But the peace of mind was broken one night in late July.

There is a village near the border of Khitan north of Yingzhou. A small river flows west of the gate. There are more than 100 families living in the gate, mostly soldiers from the mainland. Thousands of hectares of land have been reclaimed near the village. Because they are military households, they can get tax-free treatment, work from sunrise and rest from sunset. More than 100 families and more than 600 people live a life of peace. By chance, some Khitan herders would cross the river and exchange cattle, sheep, livestock and Han people for a little food. The Han people also give more and take less, trying to maintain friendship and harmony with the Khitans.

At night, the hot summer weather made it difficult for people in Ji'antun to fall asleep. The baby cried because of the heat. This year's summer heat was extremely hot. Living in the westernmost part of the village was a family named Liu. Old Man Liu was from Hejian County. He moved to Ji'antun three years ago and reclaimed 80 acres of land. His two sons joined the army in Yingzhou. He and his wife, with their two daughters-in-law and three grandsons, lived in a yard covering an acre of land.

At night, the cry of babies kept coming from the east courtyard. The little daughter-in-law held the child and patted her back and forth in front of the window. Her slim figure was reflected by the light on the oil tiles of the window. She was the youngest grandson of Old Man Liu, who was just born in November last year.

"I said, the head of the family is abnormally hot this day! It was already very cold at night in the past year, but why is it still so hot this year?"

Old Man Liu's wife looked worried, "I heard that the weather is abnormal and it is a sign of military disaster, so I am very worried..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Old Man Liu interrupted his wife with great displeasure, "If you can't sleep, go coax your grandson."

Old Man Liu's wife muttered that she opened the door and went out, but as soon as she opened the door, Old Man Liu heard a strange sound from the wind, faintly like a muffled thunder blew in the sky. The sound was getting closer and closer, and even the table trembled.

‘Not the wild boars have entered the village!’ He thought to himself. He remembered that when he first moved here, hundreds of wild boars rushed into the village one night. This was the feeling at that time, but it was far less intense.

He immediately stood up and headed towards the courtyard gate. He was a little worried that the courtyard gate would not be closed properly, but as soon as he walked to the courtyard gate, the courtyard gate was knocked open for a sensation, and a flame rushed into the courtyard, making him unable to open his eyes. But when he saw the situation outside clearly, he was stunned. Hundreds of cavalry outside held torches and long swords, their eyes more fierce than robbers. He saw bare heads, these hair-haired Khitans.

"It's a Khitan!"

Old Man Liu shouted in fear, turned around and fled. Several Khitan cavalry rushed into his yard. A cavalry swung his sword like lightning and slashed Old Man Liu's head with one knife.

A large group of Khitan cavalry rushed into his home and began to kill and loot. Old Man Liu's wife and two daughters-in-law were pressed to the ground. Several Khitans crazily tore their clothes. Three grandsons were killed and the youngest grandson was picked at the tip of the spear.

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Not only Liu's house, but also Ji'antun was trapped in the crazy massacre and looting of the Khitans. There was a raging fire everywhere, with the elderly and children killed, women raped, property robbed, and houses burned.

The cause of this Khitan attack that occurred at the beginning of Daye was unknown. Perhaps it was a bet made by a group of Khitan chiefs after drinking, or a long-term peeping of the wealth of the Han people, but the incident became more and more intense, and tens of thousands of Khitan cavalry began to attack Yingzhou County.

At the head of Yingzhou County, thousands of Sui soldiers looked nervously in the distance. In the distance, the dust was rolling and dust was flying. Thousands of women and children in ragged clothes were driven by Khitan cavalry and stumbled towards the city. The crying sounded shook the sky. After a little slower, they were killed by Khitan cavalry. Each Khitan cavalry had his head hanging under the neck.

In order to incite the Sui army to fight, the Khitan cavalry became very beastly and began to rape these women and kill children in front of the Sui army on the city.

On the top of the city, the tragic appearance of women and children made the Sui soldiers' eyes red. They shouted that they wanted to go to fight, but Wei Qiyun, the prefect of Yingzhou County, understood in his heart that this was the Khitans who were inciting them to fight. There were only a few thousand defenders in Yingzhou, and they would not be opponents of the Khitans. If they were attacked by Khitan cavalry, the tens of thousands of refugees hiding in the city would be slaughtered.

He shouted, "No one is allowed to fight, those who violate the order will be killed!"

Wei Qiyun turned around and looked south, his heart full of worry. Three days ago, he had sent someone to Beijing to ask for help from the emperor. I wonder when the emperor would send a reinforcement?

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The journey in Liaodong is long. When Yingzhou County sent a letter of help from him to Luoyang, it was already early August. The prince Yang Zhao had passed away for nearly half a month. Yang Guang had gradually recovered from his grief and posthumously named his eldest son Yang Zhao as Prince Yuande and ordered his grand burial in the imperial tomb of Mangshan.

In the imperial study, Yang Guang was reviewing the memorials sent from Yingzhou. This was actually the second memorial. The first memorial was delivered three days ago. He had ordered Cui Hongsheng, the general manager of Yingzhou, to send troops to rescue Yingzhou. In this memorial, Wei Qiyun, the prefect of Yingzhou County, said that the Khitans had retreated and sent someone to express their apology. He had severely punished the criminal chief.

Yang Guang sneered, destroying dozens of villages and killing tens of thousands of people from the Sui Dynasty. Can you finish it with just an apology? If the Khitans did not give them a little color, they would not have learned a lesson.

Yang Guang walked slowly in the imperial study with his hands behind his back. For a long time, he had an idea to make the Turkic cavalry a knife in his hand and to deal with the small tribes that violated Tianyan, such as Tiel, Khitan, Goguryeo and so on.

This idea has been in his mind for a long time, but he has never had the opportunity to realize it. Isn’t this Khitan invasion the best opportunity?

Yang Guang made up his mind that he must send a capable general to complete this for him, a general who can lead troops to fight and shock the Turkic.

At this time, the eunuch reported at the door, "Your Majesty, Yang Yuanqing has arrived."

Yang Guang nodded, "Supreme him come in!"

After a moment, Yang Yuanqing quickly walked into the imperial study room and bowed, "Since Yang Yuanqing, please see Your Majesty!"

Yang Guang smiled and said, "Yuan Qing, I heard that you are engaged, congratulations!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I live alone and have no support, I feel a little lonely."

"Well! The Pei family is good. Your choice is very wise. You can choose aristocrats as your wives, but you did not choose the nobles of Guanlong. You did not let down the words on the tower, but I still remember it."

Yang Guang didn't want to mention the matter on the tower more. He changed his mind and asked again: "Do you want to go back to Wuyuan County?"

"Report to your Majesty, I really want to go back."

Originally, Yang Yuanqing was going to go to Yang Guang for a southern tour, but because of the death of the prince, Yang Guang canceled the southern tour plan. Yang Yuanqing stayed in the capital and did nothing. In the past two days, he was also preparing to propose to Yang Guang to return to Wuyuan.

"Before returning to Wuyuan County, do something for me!"

"I dare not, please give me instructions."

Yang Guang took two memorials from Wei Qiyun and handed them to him, "You can take a look first."

A eunuch presented the memorial to Yang Yuanqing, and Yang Guang ordered Yang Yuanqing to get a couch and give him a seat.

After Yang Yuanqing carefully read the memorial, he realized what Yang Guang meant, and he actually asked him to deal with the Khitans. He was a little puzzled for a moment. If he was to attack the Western Turks, there would be no problem with letting him go, but attacking the Khitan was so far away from Wuyuan County. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to let the Youzhou General Manager go?

Yang Guang saw his doubts and smiled and said, "This time I want the Turks to fight the Khitan, but the lord must be the Sui general. I have been thinking about it and you are the most suitable."

Only then did Yang Yuanqing understand Yang Guang's idea, which was to let Rangan send troops. He immediately stood up and bowed and said, "I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty!"

"very good!"

Yang Guang nodded, took out a golden arrow and handed it to Yang Yuanqing, and said coldly: "This is the golden arrow that rangan sent me to the Great Sui Dynasty. With this arrow, you can transfer the Turkic army at will. I will give it to you. I have only one requirement, and I want the Khitans to regret their evil deeds!"

"I obey the order!"

Yang Yuanqing took the Qilin Golden Arrow, "I will not let Your Majesty down, I will take my leave!"

"Go! Let's go as soon as possible."

When Yang Yuanqing was about to retreat, Yang Guang suddenly remembered something and called him again, "Yuanqing, last time you received two letters of arrows, warning you that the Red Rust Tea House would be attacked. I later asked the King of Qi. He admitted that the person who attacked the Red Rust Tea House was sent by him, but he did not give you any letters of arrows. Those two letters were not given to you, and I believe his words."

Yang Yuanqing was stunned. There were only three parties in total. If it weren't for the arrow letter shot by King Qi, could it be Yuwen Shu, who exposed that he had smuggled pig iron? It was impossible, so who would it be?

The sudden change made Yang Yuan confused all of a sudden. Could it be that the fourth party was not done?

Yang Guang was a little suspicious that it was written by Yang Yuanqing himself, but looking at his puzzled eyes, he knew that it was not written by Yang Yuanqing, so he deliberately came to deceive himself. Yang Guang smiled, "After this matter is over, don't think about it anymore. Do the Liaodong affairs well for me. If I make great contributions this time, I will have a great reward."

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When I returned to the "Buyi Inn", I saw Green Tea facing his back, standing at the door and looking into the distance.

"Green Tea, what are you looking at?" Yang Yuanqing asked strangely.

"Ah! No... I didn't see anything."

Green Tea was shocked and turned around and left in a panic.

"This little girl is a little strange!"

Yang Yuanqing smiled and quickly walked back to the house. He opened a nanmu box and searched for something inside. Green tea brought a cup of tea in. Seeing Yang Yuanqing taking out everything, she asked curiously: "Young Master, what are you looking for?"

"Did you see a red oil cloth bag?"

"It seems to be at the bottom of the box."

A word reminded Yang Yuanqing, and he continued to search again and finally found the oil cloth bag. He took out the two arrow letters from the last time and opened the two arrow letters.

‘If you look closely at the iron shops in a hundred-forged iron shops, you will get a big gain.’

‘Tonight Yuwen Shu will attack the Red Rust Tea House at night, and the Hundred-Wrought Iron Shop is actually a place where the Yuwen family sells pig iron privately to the Turks.’

It was these two letters, Yang Guang said that it was not what King Qi shot, who would it be? He carefully identified the handwriting. Although the handwriting was written vigorously, Yang Yuanqing suddenly felt that the handwriting seemed to be written by a woman.

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Note: The change in Yingzhou should have occurred in August of the first year of Daye. Lao Gao pushed it back a year according to the plot needs. The person who took on this task in history was Wei Qiyun, a very exciting period of history. Here he was the supporting role.

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Chapter completed!