Yu Shiji is a very cunning person. Since he felt that the Sui Dynasty was overthrowing, he began to actively seek a way out for his son and family. He knew that he had helped Yang Guang suppress the Guanlong nobles over the years and offended the Guanlong nobles Taishen, Dugu Luo, Yuan Zhou, Yuan Min, He Ruobi and other Guanlong nobles' deaths were related to him. His son had no choice but to surrender to Zhang Xuan.

But Yu Shiji also knew that he didn't have many things to do, unlike the Pei family who could use marriage to hold Zhang Xuan's relationship. Apart from part of the money, he had nothing worthy of Zhang Xuan's attention. If the Yu family had any influence in Jiangnan, it was also far away. Yu Shiji thought about it and found that he had something that Zhang Xuan needed, that was the power in his hands.

Yu Shiji waited for seven days before he finally waited for the opportunity. That afternoon, a eunuch came to find him. The emperor summoned him in urgent need of an emergency. This was the first time Yu Shiji was summoned by the emperor in nearly two months. He knew that this was also his last chance.

Yu Shiji quickly changed into court clothes and followed the eunuchs to the palace. They came to the Lotus Heart Hall, which was the place where the queen lived. At this time, Yang Guang was talking to the queen in the Queen's Living Hall. This was also a very rare situation. Yang Guang spent most of his time in wine and sex, and had no time to accompany his family. However, today his chest was severely cramped, and a eunuch urgently reported to the queen and invited the imperial doctor to treat it. It took him a long time to stabilize Yang Guang's condition.

This time, Empress Xiao did not hide the emperor Yang Guang, but told him clearly that he was too drunk and had extremely weak body. If he indulged in, he might not be able to protect his life.

If it were the usual, Empress Xiao dared to say this, Yang Guang would have been furious, but today Yang Guang was not angry. He understood his body by himself, and the feeling of heart pain made him feel as if he was about to die.

Yang Guang was a little discouraged. It was not until this time that he remembered the funeral. He had to think about what happened behind him, but excessive alcohol and sex made his mind confused. He no longer knew what he should do.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Yu is here."

Yang Guang half lay on the soft couch and nodded, "Please come up!"

After a moment, Yu Shiji walked up quickly and bowed, "I'm going to see Your Majesty."

"Plain, please sit down Yu Qing!"

Yu Shiji sat down, and Yang Guang in front of him suddenly shocked him. He saw his cheeks were deep, his face was pale, and his eyes turned dark gray. He was neither the vitality he used to be nor the jealousy he had a few months ago. He was like an old man who was about to reach the end of his life. From the emperor, Yu Shiji actually smelled the breath of death.

He suddenly understood why the emperor came to him, and must have wanted to ask himself how to arrange his funeral.

Yang Guang sighed and said, "Even if I don't say much about the current situation, Yu Qing should understand that my heart is in chaos. I want to hear Yu Qing's plan."

Yu Shiji has been thinking carefully in the past few months and has already drawn up a plan for Yang Guang's funeral. He said calmly: "Your Majesty, I have argued with the court officials these days. Many court officials believe that Your Majesty is best to pass the throne to the grandson. As the Supreme Emperor, you can rest assured to recuperate, but I believe that you must not pass the throne now."

The matter of passing the throne was also a heart-wrenching problem of Yang Guang. He kept hesitating. Yu Shiji said it must not be done, but he became a little interested.

"Why can't it be now?"

"Your Majesty, the problem of the Great Sui Dynasty is not to revitalize the court, but to maintain stability. The reason why Jiangdu is still orthodox is that His Majesty is still the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty. No one dares to deny this. As long as Your Majesty is the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty one day, there will be a pseudo-court in Chang'an one day. But if Your Majesty abdicates as the Supreme Emperor, then the orthodox nature of Jiangdu will be reduced. After all, His Highness, King Yan, is still far from his qualifications. The subjects in the world do not recognize him very much, and instead give Chang'an a chance."

Yang Guang nodded, Yu Shiji said that his heart had risen. If he abdicated at this time, he would just fulfill Li Yuan's wishes.

Thinking of Li Yuan, Yang Guang couldn't help but grit his teeth, but at the same time he had no choice but to do anything. It was really out of reach. Yang Guang sighed tiredly again: "The bandits in various places are not worth worrying about, but Li Yuan is my confidant. He has received the support of the Guanlong nobles, which will be the biggest threat to our Great Sui Dynasty. I don't know how to deal with him?"

Yu Shiji knew that Yang Guanghui mentioned Li Yuan, and he was confident and said calmly: "Although Li Yuan has a huge threat, there are people who restrain him."

"You mean Zhang Hyun?"

“That’s right!”

Yang Guang sneered, "He is also an ambitious person, and there is no difference between him and Li Yuan."

"Your Majesty, everyone can see Zhang Xuan's ambitions, but after all, he recognizes the Jiangdu court and is still the minister of Your Majesty in name. This is the biggest difference between him and Li Yuan. My memory thinks that our last glimmer of hope is Zhang Xuan now, because only he can fight against Li Yuan, and even finally can destroy Li Yuan. If Your Majesty does not win him over, once he also openly supports Chang'an, then we will be in a big way."

Yang Guang asked hesitantly after a while: "Yu Qing thinks he will surrender to Li Yuan?"

Yu Shiji nodded slowly, "He has not publicly accused Li Yuan of rebelling and usurping the throne so far. In fact, he has left a way out for himself. If Jiang Du completely disappointed him, he may turn to admit Chang'an, and at least he can still get a title from Chang'an."

Yang Guang pondered for a long time and asked, "Yu Qing really thinks Zhang Xuan can defeat Li Yuan?"

"Your Majesty, Zhang Xuan's strength and Li Yuan are also between him. If Zhang Xuan is weaker, it is just a loss in his reputation. After all, Li Yuan uses the King of Dai to command the world, and Zhang Xuan is just a Duke of Qi, which is not enough to fight against Li Yuan. Therefore, I suggest that Your Majesty give Zhang Xuan a title, one is to cut off his desire to surrender to Chang'an, and the other is to allow him to continue to be his minister. I dare to say that at least he will not be unfaithful before destroying Li Yuan. When he destroys Li Yuan, we will find a way to deal with him. I believe that it is at least easier to deal with Zhang Xuan than to deal with Li Yuan who is supported by the nobles of Long."

The reason why Yu Shiji became Yang Guang's confidant was that he knew Yang Guang's thoughts more than anyone else. He knew that Yang Guang had never officially appointed King Yan as the crown prince in recent years because Yang Guang was extremely attached to his throne and did not want to pass the throne to his grandson.

So when everyone thought that Yang Guang should pass the throne to Changsun, Yu Shiji firmly opposed the throne. Of course, his reasons also have some truth. The emperor's abdication now will cause chaos, which will affect the orthodox of Jiangdu. However, the real reason for Yu Shiji's opposition is that he knows that the emperor will not retreat.

It is precisely because Yu Shiji accurately grasped Yang Guang's thoughts that his suggestions were adopted repeatedly. He just hasn't had the chance to meet Yang Guang in the past two months. As long as he sees Yang Guang, he is confident to persuade Yang Guang to enfeoff Zhang Xuan according to his own ideas.

Yu Shiji knew that the person Yang Guang hated the most was Li Yuan, the person he was most worried and afraid the most was Li Yuan. As long as he could wipe out Li Yuan, Yang Guang would do anything. As long as he could firmly grasp this point, Yang Guang would definitely accept his suggestions.

Yang Guang was indeed called a demon by Yu Shiji. He also realized that only Zhang Xuan was the only force to check and balance Li Yuan. Although Zhang Xuan was also ambitious, as Yu Shiji said, Zhang Xuan admitted that he was a Sui minister and that Yang Guang was the emperor. But once Zhang Xuan accepted the enthronement from Chang'an, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yu Shiji is right. He must win over Zhang Xuan, let him become the sharp sword in his hand, and cut off Li Yuan's wolfish ambitions.

As long as Li Yuan can be wiped out, Yang Guang can do anything, what is a little bit of title?

"What status do Yu Qing thinks I can give Zhang Xuan to compete with Li Yuan?"

"Your Majesty, Li Yuan has proclaimed himself the King of Tang!"

Yang Guang frowned. Yu Shiji wanted to make him appoint Zhang Xuan as the prince, but Zhang Xuan was not a royal family member. How could he be the prince? It would be very difficult to give him a prince.

Yu Shiji was determined to give Zhang Xuan a big gift, but the little prince felt that he could not make any move, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, now the royal family cannot protect the Great Sui Dynasty. In the extraordinary period, extraordinary means should be used. Didn't Emperor Gaozu of Han also named Han Xin the King of Qi?"

One sentence tells Yang Guang's thoughts, so what about Han Xinfeng King Qi? Wouldn't he also die at the hands of the emperor? Then let Zhang Xuan be Han Xin's second!

In fact, King Qi was the title of king of Yang Guang's second son Yang Ming. Later, because of his attempt to rebel, he was stripped of the title of king by Yang Guang and imprisoned for life.

Qin, Jin, Qi, and Chu, these are the four most important kings of the Sui Dynasty. They cannot be conferred titles unless the son of an emperor. However, in order to eliminate Li Yuan, Yang Guang also took the initiative. He finally made up his mind to grant Zhang Xuan the title of the third-ranked King of Qi.

"Yu Aiqing is right. In extraordinary times, he should use extraordinary means and grant Zhang Xuan the King of Qi and let him eliminate Li Yuan for me."

...
Chapter completed!