Volume One, Chapter Two: Where the Slanting Sun Sets

“Kill Yang Guang! Destroy the Sui! Kill Yang Guang! Destroy the Sui!” The rebel kings led their thousands upon thousands of soldiers toward Jiangdu Palace, sweeping through all obstacles with unstoppable force, their momentum at its peak.

Troops raised the banners of the righteous army high, dazzling colors gleaming ahead. If nothing unexpected happened, this would be the final battle against the Great Sui; after this conflict, the world would be utterly transformed.

The righteous army surged forward, waving flags and shouting, their determination unshakable. Meanwhile, inside Jiangdu Palace, the atmosphere was strikingly different. The vast palace grounds were eerily silent, save for the continuous sound of poetry and verse—

“I dream of the beauty of Jiangnan... The campaign against the Liao was but a whim... How tragic, how tragic... In those years, the autumn wind blew briskly, and I traveled far and wide... How lamentable... I departed last autumn, and now another autumn returns... I—ah... Where the slanting sun nearly falls, the gaze is bleak and heartbreaking...” Alone, he sat with eyes closed, fingers gently touching the zither as he murmured, sometimes sorrowful, sometimes passionate. These were all poems he had composed, some in times of prosperity, others in chaos. By now, everything in Yang Guang’s mind had become muddled; his spirit was showing signs of fracture.

Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu knelt outside the hall.

“Your Majesty, the rebel kings are attacking. Chengdu requests permission to join the battle!” Yuwen Chengdu called out repeatedly from outside the hall, but no reply came from within.

At such a moment of crisis, the invincible General Tianbao, Yuwen Chengdu, had been confined to the palace by Yang Guang, forbidden to leave. This meant that the front lines were without anyone to resist the rebel kings.

The two remained kneeling, refusing to rise. Without an imperial decree, even the great general dared not act rashly.

Outside the palace, the rebel kings drew ever closer. Those at the front could already see the distant city gate, and they waved their arms, signaling the troops behind to advance at full speed.

At this point, it was assumed Yang Guang had little usable strength left, so there was hope the city gates could be breached.

“Full attack! Capture old Yang Guang alive!” someone commanded from the front. Instantly, the army surged forward, soldiers began to carry battering rams to assault the gates.

Just as the righteous army was brimming with confidence, countless arrows flew from the top of the city walls, revealing that the palace’s defenses were not as feeble as the rebel kings had imagined.

Unexpectedly, the Sui dynasty still retained some strength.

The siege quickly stalled.

More Sui soldiers poured from the city, engaging the righteous army in fierce combat. Though they had no commanding officer, they remained well-trained elite troops, and facing the rebels attacking from all directions, they retained the advantage of a regular army.

This battle’s outcome became unpredictable.

“Second Brother, at this crucial moment, preserving our strength is most important. Even if we take Jiangdu, we’ll need a stronger army to seize the throne in the future!” someone among the rebels advised.

In the current situation, everyone treated Yang Guang as irrelevant. Various factions held their own territories. Just consider Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, who had just established Yang You in Daxing—his forces were robust, and the war had hardly weakened him. Likewise, the rebel kings could not afford for their troops to be exhausted here.

The leader nodded, acknowledging the wisdom of the advice, and ultimately ordered a full retreat.

The Sui troops, naturally, did not pursue, withdrawing back into the city.

The battle, like a farce, ended in confusion and anticlimax.

In these unusual times, everyone harbored their own intentions.

News of the rebels’ retreat quickly reached the palace. As soldiers reported outside the gates, the music from Yang Guang’s zither stopped within.

Silence fell.

Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu breathed a temporary sigh of relief, but still knelt outside, wishing to see the emperor.

Moments later, the hall doors slowly opened. “Come in…” Yang Guang stood at the entrance, gazing at the two.

“Yes,” they replied in unison, following Yang Guang into the hall.

“Brother…” With some urgency, Yang Xiangning spoke before Yang Guang could say anything: “Why would you not let Chengdu go to battle? You know he is capable of repelling the rebel kings…”

Yuwen Chengdu shared the same question. He knew Yang Guang’s confinement was merely a pretext, but could not fathom the reasoning behind it.

Such questions were within Yang Guang’s expectations. He stood on the steps, slowly raising his head to look at the dragon throne, as if sighing deeply.

“I know… But Chengdu must not suffer any mishap…” He spoke with a tone of helplessness.

The two pondered his words, unable to grasp their full meaning. Before they could think further, that heavy voice sounded again—

“Chengdu, with your abilities, you could easily ensure the survival of the Yang family’s bloodline…” Yang Guang’s words were laden with meaning. Yang Xiangning’s expression darkened further.

Their elder brother was already considering the fate of his kin after he was gone…

For a moment, Yang Xiangning was choked with emotion, unable to speak. Yuwen Chengdu frowned, lowering his head, his face grim.

Yang Guang continued, “I have already heard the Imperial Physician’s report—you are gravely wounded, recovery will not come easily… The most urgent matter is for you to restore your health.” Yang Guang had always cared deeply for Yuwen Chengdu, and Yuwen Chengdu had always been fiercely loyal.

“My body is not seriously harmed!” Yuwen Chengdu looked firmly at Yang Guang, unwilling to let his personal condition affect matters of state.

Yang Guang merely smiled, refusing to discuss the matter further. He understood Chengdu’s nature and hoped he could ultimately safeguard the Yang family.

He must first recover his strength.

At last, Yang Guang shifted the topic, explaining the events to the two: “The soldiers who fought outside the city today were my final reserve, my only contingency, originally meant to guard against Yuwen Huaji. Their numbers are few, their strength inferior to the rebels, but I anticipated they would withdraw on their own.”

Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu understood the situation. Yuwen Chengdu replied, “Firstly, the rebel kings could not gauge our true strength and feared defeat. Secondly, their own selfish motives—they worried that fighting us would sap their forces and delay their greater ambitions.”

It was these two reasons that led to the rebels’ retreat, allowing the Sui to survive for now, though still in peril.

“This strategy only buys a little time. My present predicament cannot be changed… I can only delay for another day, as long as possible…” Yang Guang slowly walked to the dragon throne, gently caressing the armrest, saying nothing more. He waved his hand, signaling Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu to withdraw.

After bowing, the two left the hall. They knew further words would be meaningless; Yang Guang needed solitude, and they themselves had more pressing matters to attend to.

Now, aside from the forces commanded by Yuwen Chengdu, Yang Guang had no more troops at his disposal. Across the empire, the emperor’s decrees could not even exit the palace gates, let alone be obeyed.

The causes of this predicament lay largely with Yuwen Huaji…

More crucially, Yuwen Chengdu’s forces, after the last battle, had been greatly depleted.

Yang Guang—truly, there was no chance of reversal.

Even he himself believed so.

But Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu refused to accept this fate. Now, they had to seek out Yuwen Huaji and negotiate, not as members of the Yuwen clan, but as ministers of the Great Sui.