Did Yang Guang really use millions of peasants to dig the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal?

The traces of history are often in the hands of the next king, who writes whatever the king tells him to write, while the historian is only an indirect recorder. So is Emperor Yang Di a bad king, a mediocre king or a tyrant? Then please read on.

In the dynastic history of China, the Sui Dynasty existed for a relatively short time, only more than 30 years. The Tang Dynasty inherited the Sui Dynasty, and its existence time was 289 years, nearly 10 times that of the Sui Dynasty. So a lot of history about the Sui Dynasty was recorded by the Tang Dynasty.

At that time, Tang gaozu hated Yang Guang, because Yang Guang had plotted to kill Tang gaozu, but it didn't work. I don't know if it's an opportunity given by heaven or the reason why the tables have turned. Later, Li Yuan successfully staged a coup, changed the dynasty and established the Tang Dynasty.

Tang Gaozu Ethan stills

In fact, Yang Guang and Li Yuan have a long history, but they didn't care about it at all in the imperial struggle.

As far as family relations are concerned, Yang Guang's mother and Ethan's mother are sisters, so they are cousins. Secondly, Yang, the queen of Emperor Taizong, is her daughter. In popular parlance, Yang Di's daughter became the daughter-in-law of Tang gaozu, and they were in-laws. Li Shimin called Emperor Yang Di his father-in-law. Third, Princess Tongan is a relative of Li Yuan.

Having said that, Yang Guang will eventually kill Tang Gaozu despite their seemingly close relationship. Who makes Tang Gaozu so powerful? In order to be emperor, Li Shimin killed his own brother, not to mention the relationship between his cousin and his father-in-law.

Historically, in order to leave a beautiful stroke, Li Yuan shaped himself into a gentleman with a good heart. He overthrew tyranny and established a benevolent government. Therefore, thinking Yang Guang at worst will make future generations praise him!

Although Yang Guang also has his shortcomings, every emperor has his advantages and disadvantages. First of all, at the age of 20, Yang Guang began to take charge of the army and suppress foreigners.

According to unofficial history's records, Koguryo is a thief and disgusting country. The civil war in the Three Kingdoms period took the opportunity to develop. When Cao Wei was at its peak, he attacked western Liaoning and Wei sent Wu Dongzheng. This battle almost killed Goguryeo and made him tremble for 40 years.

In the Sui Dynasty, Goguryeo began to harass the border, and then Yang Guang waved his sleeves and made a personal expedition. He beat Goguryeo out of the water, Goguryeo knelt down and begged for mercy, and Yang Guang let them go.

After the troops moved back to Korea, Goguryeo harassed them again, and Yang Guang revived the army and attacked each other everywhere. Goguryeo asked Yang Guang for forgiveness, and Yang Guang forgave them and sent the troops back to North Korea. (In fact, Yang Guang is not so cruel, but he is still very kind. However, when the army returned to North Korea, Goguryeo fell ill again, which completely angered Yang Guang. He vowed to annihilate Koguryo, but he was hit in the war.

Yang Guang had to transfer his troops back to North Korea. But the official statement is that Yang Guang was defeated for the first time, the second time and the third time, that is, Goguryeo dragged down the Sui Dynasty alive. The history of the Sui Dynasty was basically recorded by the Tang Dynasty. As to whether it is true or not, we have to ask Ethan.

Another is to defeat Tuguhun. Not long ago, a news about the discovery of Tuguhun Mausoleum in Tianzhu County, Gansu Province was successfully searched. The owner of the tomb is Tuguhun's third son, Xi Wang Murong Zhi. From ancient times to the Tang Dynasty, Tuguhun harassed the Central Plains. However, why is there a tomb in Gansu? The epitaph unearthed from this tomb reads? The general probably guards the left, and the general guards the king? Murong Zhi's third son, Murong Zhi, became a general of the Tang Dynasty in the Zhou Dynasty, that is, during the period of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, guarding the northwest for him.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Tugu Hunqiang, Yue? East Lake? They often competed for land with Yan, Zhao and Jin at that time. With their strength, any one of the three countries was fearless to fight with them. During the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms War, Tuguhun also frequently harassed the border, so whenever there was a war in the Central Plains, it began to stir.

Therefore, Yang Guang's idea is: Does one side of the sofa allow others to snore and sleep? This is a great threat to the Central Plains, and once the time is ripe, it will cause great disasters. Therefore, Yang Guang decided to personally attack Tuguhun.

As a result of this war, Tuguhun was beaten by Sui Jun, and Yang Guang finally let them go. After that, Tuyuhun, who was recuperating, was attacked by Tubo again, so King Tuyuhun led the rest of the people to attach themselves to the later Tang Dynasty and served as the secretariat of Anle Prefecture to manage Gansu.

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal

Say one more thing. Yang Guang ordered the construction of the Grand Canal.

In this respect, it should be said that corvee is not only used by farmers, but also used by most troops to dig the Grand Canal. After all, how can only farmers do such a big project? So this big project also used a lot of soldiers to gather together, but in the end it was actually used now. Millions of farmers? I suspect that Li Yuan deliberately slandered Yang Guang, but I won't comment here.

Cities along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal

The excavation of the Grand Canal made today's Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal a reality. The Sui Grand Canal spanned Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and other regions, which had a far-reaching impact on China's economy and development. At the same time, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has also become the world's largest and longest-running ancient canal, which ranks among the world's cultural heritage, leaving a brilliant legacy for the world.

The examiner is correcting the candidates' papers.

In addition, Yang Guang selected talents by initiating the imperial examination system, which gave folk experts the opportunity to make a name for themselves and created a precedent in the history of education. Otherwise, if we live in ancient times, maybe I, you and he are all farming with their backs to the sky and their backs to the loess (only when farmers have a way out). Moreover, the imperial examination system can be said to have laid the foundation for the current college entrance examination system. In other words, the college entrance examination is unique. You don't look at your face, your father, or your money. As long as you have the ability and ability, you will fly to the sky and start a turning point in your life. This will also give Yang Guangji a credit!

Generally speaking, Yang Guang has at least made the country's development go forward, not backward, regardless of merits and demerits. You don't have to sing the success or failure of history yourself, let others say it. Their merits and demerits have their own comments. However, judging from the historical development of China, Yang Guang is still one of the emperors.