Chapter 116: The Siege of Yanmen (Part Two)

“It cannot go unpunished, yet it cannot be fully avenged.” Li Wenyuan closed his eyes, pondering how to report the crisis during his journey to Yanmen to Yang Guang.

Zhuang Fudi noticed Li Wenyuan had fallen silent and was deep in thought, so he too ceased speaking, bowed respectfully, and quietly withdrew.

Yang Guang’s imperial carriage had just arrived at Xihe Commandery when an official from the Censorate delivered an urgent memorial: “Your Majesty, an expedited memorial from Li Wenyuan, the Commander of the Western Regions.”

Yang Guang withdrew his gaze from the carriage window and said to those outside, “Bring it in.”

A eunuch entered, carrying a jade tray on which lay Li Wenyuan’s memorial. Bowing slightly, the eunuch carefully placed it on the desk before Yang Guang. Yang Guang reached out, took the document, and began reading:

“I, Li Wenyuan, respectfully report to Your Majesty that I have heard of Your Majesty’s personal inspection of the frontier and your efforts to comfort the northern border troops. I am deeply honored yet fearful. We, who receive the Emperor’s salary, ought to share your burdens; guarding the northern borders is our duty. I have heard rumors that the Eastern Turks have been restless lately, with large groups of young warriors repeatedly invading border counties such as Wuwei. I entreat Your Majesty to prioritize the affairs of the state and take care of your dragon body.”

Yang Guang closed the memorial with a faint smile, then picked up another report from the Eastern Turkic Khagan. It contained nothing more than some updates on the grasslands, a declaration of friendly relations with the Sui Dynasty, praises for Yang Guang, and prayers to Tengri for the everlasting prosperity of Sui.

Yang Guang read it several times; it was no different from previous reports. He set it aside and then took up another from the Censorate, which also mentioned disturbances among the Eastern Turks but in far greater detail than Li Wenyuan’s vague words. The Censorate report spoke of the frequent comings and goings of Yeon Gaesomun, son of the great Goguryeo Daedalu Yeon Taejo, on the steppe. He had held several secret meetings with the Eastern Turkic Khagan, each time dismissing all others from the tent, leaving only the two of them, so the contents remained unknown. Another report noted that following Yeon Gaesomun’s return to Goguryeo, the kingdom’s military movements had become increasingly frequent, often encamping near the Sui borders.

Yang Guang tossed the memorial down onto the desk and said to the eunuch standing by, “Summon Su Wei to see me.”

Soon, footsteps approached outside the door, and before entering, Su Wei announced, “Minister Su Wei requests an audience with Your Majesty.”

“Minister Su Wei, come in,” Yang Guang said directly.

“Minister Su Wei, Li Wenyuan also sent a memorial warning me that the northern Turks seem restless. You mentioned something similar to me just a few days ago. Could it be that the north is no longer stable?” Yang Guang, weary, sat upon the dragon throne and asked.

“Your Majesty, the north is not truly unstable, but the northern Turks have always been loosely organized. It is possible that some petty troublemakers, upon learning of Your Majesty’s movements, might attempt some underhanded acts. You, as the ruler of all under heaven, must be cautious and not recklessly endanger yourself,” Su Wei replied, carefully ignoring any subtext in Yang Guang’s words and offering reassurance.

Yang Guang stared intently at Su Wei until the minister’s back was soaked with cold sweat, then slowly said, “Where in my Great Sui is there any peace left?”

“Your Majesty, if you take time to let the people rest and recover and punish corruption, the Great Sui will soon be stable again,” Su Wei urged earnestly.

“Do you think the Turks will directly send troops to besiege me and kill me on the northern frontier?” Yang Guang suddenly asked, ignoring Su Wei’s words.

Su Wei was shaken to the core, falling to his knees and trembling as he said, “Your Majesty speaks gravely. As the Son of Heaven, please do not lightly speak of death.”

“You pedantic scholars, why so many words? If I say I will die, who else can kill me?” Yang Guang strode to the window, letting the breeze brush his face, and took a deep breath. “I want to see if these barbarians truly have the courage to offend the Heavenly Mandate.”

Another month passed in an instant before Yang Guang’s imperial carriage finally arrived at Yanmen Commandery.

The first thing Yang Guang did upon arrival was to issue an edict inviting the Eastern Turkic Khagan to meet and discuss the grand cause of peace between Sui and the Turks.

“Has the Central Plains Emperor already arrived at Yanmen Commandery?” the Eastern Turkic Khagan asked the envoy who brought the summons.

“His Majesty has arrived at Yanmen Commandery and invites the Khagan to meet,” the envoy replied with calm dignity.

“Hmm, I understand. I will bring the bravest warriors of the steppe to see him,” the Khagan said casually.

The envoy sensed something amiss in the Khagan’s words; his expression suddenly changed, but before he could react, he was seized by guards inside the tent, bound hand and foot, and thrown to the ground.

“Han man, listen well. After I kill your emperor, you will join him in death. Ha ha ha!” the Eastern Turkic Khagan laughed as he signaled his men to drag the captive out.

Then the Khagan stepped out of the tent and declared, “Warriors, pack up the camp; we are going south to seize women and grain!”

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“Yang Guang has arrived at Yanmen Commandery? And he even openly invited the Eastern Turkic Khagan to meet?” Li Wenyuan looked at the intelligence in his hands, astonished.

“That’s right. This information comes from our eyes within the Censorate,” Qiu Niang said.

“You have men inside the Censorate too?” Li Wenyuan was even more surprised. After all, the Censorate, as Yang Guang’s own intelligence agency, was notoriously difficult to infiltrate. Now Qiu Niang was telling him that Night Owl’s reach had already penetrated the Censorate.

“It’s all thanks to that Censorate official you treated so well. Under his patronage, we have already driven in three stakes,” Qiu Niang giggled, covering her mouth.

Li Wenyuan shook his head helplessly. He had invited the official to eat and drink purely out of official courtesy, never imagining that such casual hospitality would bear such fruit.

“But back to the matter at hand, Yang Guang is being so blatant about his whereabouts. Could it be a trap for the Turks?” Li Wenyuan asked Zhuang Fudi beside him.

“Hard to say. Perhaps it’s a trap for internal enemies, to draw out dissenters and suppress them all at once,” Zhuang Fudi frowned.

“So, like when he launched the campaign against Goguryeo?” Qiu Niang remarked.

Enticing someone into a trap—Li Wenyuan’s mind flashed with that phrase. But wherever Yang Guang aimed to fish now was no concern of his. All Li Wenyuan could do was wait here for news from Yanmen Commandery and then decide what to do.

Just as Li Wenyuan thought, other forces were doing the same. For a time, Yanmen Commandery became the most watched place in the entire realm.

(End of chapter)