Sui Yang Emperor - (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Wang Xiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: In the late 6th century, after the Jin Dynasty, China had been divided into two regimes along the Yangtze River for nearly three centuries. The (fēnliè - split) situation between the Northern and Southern Dynasties had reached a precarious state, nearing its end. Yang Jian, a key minister of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, seized the opportunity to support the young emperor and, through a forged imperial decree, usurped the throne, proclaiming the Sui Dynasty and changing the era name to Kaihuang. Eight years later, he launched an expedition to conquer the Chen Dynasty in the south, reunifying the nine provinces of China and turning a new page in Chinese history. This book portrays the passionate yet tragic life of Yang Guang against this backdrop of great historical turmoil. At the age of thirteen, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin and sent to govern Bingzhou. Later, at his father's command, he repelled the Turks in the north and pacified the northern frontier. At twenty, as the commander-in-chief, he led a half-million land and naval forces across the Yangtze River, suppressing the Chen Dynasty and earning remarkable merits for the unification of China. During his ten-year tenure as governor of Yangzhou, he gained a strong reputation in governance, further winning the favor and trust of his father and mother, which fueled his ambition to usurp the throne. Through cunning schemes and measures, he eventually convinced Emperor Wen of Zhou to depose his eldest son, Yang You, and crown him as the crown prince. When Emperor Wen grew critically ill, Yang Guang allied with several key ministers and generals to thwart a palace coup aimed at replacing him, thereby ascending the throne and changing the era name to Daye.