After a while, the city gate opened and the prefect Yang Shanhui came out. Yang Shanhui was about fifty years old, tall and thin, with bright eyes on his dark face.

Yang Shanhui is also from the Yang clan of Hongnong, and is of the same clan as Yang Su but has different branches. According to generation, he and Yang Xuanzhuo are of the same generation. He has been an official in Hebei. In the ninth year of Daye, his clan member Yang Xuangan rebelled, but Yang Guang did not implicate the Yang clan of Hongnong.

Yang Shanhui was instead highly valued, and he took over Feng Xiaoci as the governor of Qinghe County, assisting Yang Yichen in killing Gao Shida, the leader of the Hebei bandits, and was commended by Yang Guang.

After Yang Yichen was transferred back to the court, Dou Jiande swept over again, conquered cities and plundered the villages, and was invincible. However, he fought with Yang Shanhui, but was defeated repeatedly. Yang Shanhui became the mainstay of Hebei's fight against Dou Jiande.

At the beginning of last year, due to insufficient food, Yang Shanhui was forced to withdraw his troops to Wei County and was named the prefect of Wei County. A few months later, because Qu Tutong surrendered to Li Yuan, Deputy General Yao Junsu fled back to Wei County, and was granted the title of Chief of Wei County by Yang Tong, and together with Yang Shanhui, he defended Wei County.

At this time, Dou Jiande was defeated in Leshou County and the news that Dou Jiande's 300,000 troops were wiped out has reached Anyang City, which made the soldiers and people in Anyang City cheer and Yang Shanhui was also happy. But while he was happy, he also had a kind of worry. Where did Anyang City go?

Yang Shanhui walked out of the city with a smile, bowed to Yang Xuanzhuo and said, "I heard that you are in Lingwu County. When will you run to Hebei?"

"I just arrived in Hebei and was appointed as the prefect of Hejian County, so I came to see my brother."

Of course, Yang Shanhui knew the intention of Yang Xuanzhuo coming to Anyang City. Without saying it thoroughly, he smiled and said, "We have disappeared for almost five years! We are here just in time, follow me to the city and have a good talk."

He brought Yang Xuanbao to Anyang City. The structure of Anyang City and Chang'an is the same, and it is also divided into neighborhoods. In the middle is Yecheng Street, and walking to the end is Weijun Prefect's Mansion, entering the prefect's Mansion, and entering the official room to sit down.

Yang Shanhui poured him a cup of hot tea. Then he sighed and said, "I have been besieged by Dou Jiande for nearly a year. The war has finally ended. Instead, I feel that my heart is empty and I don't know where to go?"

Yang Xuanbao took a sip of tea slowly and said calmly: "Second brother, you have to face the reality of some things. Now Dou Jiande has been finished and Hebei has been occupied by the court. You must make a choice. You can't be vague any more."

Yang Shanhui nodded silently. Of course, he knew that the Northern Sui Dynasty could not allow him to occupy Anyang again and not leave unless he surrendered. However, this Sui Dynasty was not the Sui Dynasty.

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He sighed and asked, "Do I have any choice?"

"Yes! You have two choices. One is to surrender to the court, with the second brother in official reputation and qualifications. You will have a good official position arrangement. If you refuse to surrender, then it is the second choice. The army stays, and the second brother leaves by himself."

Yang Shanhui lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Did Yang Yuanqing ask you to come?"

When Yang Xuanbao heard him calling Yang Yuanqing's name, he couldn't help but frown slightly, "Does the second brother dislike the King of Chu?"

"I don't feel disgusted, but some of his previous actions made me a little dissatisfied."

Yang Shanhui didn't hide it. He said frankly: "I mean he left the Yang family. Of course, it was the Yang family that was wrong at first and drove him out of the family, but later the Yang family admitted it wrong, and Xuangan personally wanted to take him back to the family, but he refused. Alas! This is a bit too affectionate."

Yang Xuanbao shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Second brother, this matter is not as simple as you think. The reason why he has been slow to return to the family is that the emperor is making a hindrance. He has no choice!"

"The Lord?"

Yang Shan would be a little confused. After all, he was not a fellow disciple. He had heard of some of the details and he didn't know the specific details. Yang Xuanzhuo told him everything that happened that year, and finally sighed: "When he was only five years old, I felt that this son was unusual and would achieve success in the future, but I never dreamed that he was the dragon seed given to me by God. He would be the first emperor of our Yang family!"

Yang Xuanbao thought about the ups and downs of the Yang family over the past decade, and his eyes were filled with tears, and his voice trembled with excitement.

"Second brother, the Pei family can become a powerful man in the court, the Cui family, the Wang family, and the Lu family, they can all occupy a high position in the court. Why does our Yang family have no chance? Yuan Qing is a member of the Yang family. He only sees him burying his father with great care, and then he knows that he has not forgotten his roots. It's just that there is no one in the Yang family. I can tell my second brother frankly that it was me who took the initiative to come to Anyang City. I want to persuade you to surrender voluntarily, and I want you to become the representative of our Yang family's power in the court."

Yang Shanhui pondered for a long time, and then said to Yang Xuanzhuo: "I will consider this matter a little. I will discuss it with Changshi Yao. Thank you for your hard work. Let's go and rest first!"

...........

Yang Xuanzhao went down to rest with a maid. Yang Shanhui walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. He was also moved. He knew that Yang Xuanzhao was Yang Yuanqing's legitimate uncle, but he would not be reused and it would be difficult to enter the core decision-making level. If it were himself, it would be different.

He was very clear about the situation in the Taiyuan court. Now that he saw Pei Ju and Su Wei were old, the five prime ministers were going to be added to the seven prime ministers. In fact, there were four quotas. Will Yang Yuanqing consider choosing one of his family as prime ministers?

In the Hongnong Yang family, no one must be the one who is in charge of qualifications and achievements. Perhaps as Yang Xuanzhao said, he will become the representative of the power of the Hongnong Yang family in the court, and then he is the second Yang Su.

Yang Shanhui was honest and honest in Hebei, and was highly valued by Yang Guang and Yang Tong in the court. If it weren't for his repeated defeats on Dou Jiande, he would have entered the court as a higher vocational position. Like all court officials, he would have to consider his future.

At this time, the sound of rapid footsteps came from outside the door, and Changshi Yaojunsu appeared at the door, "Is envoy Yang looking for me?"

Yao Junsu was also an extremely upright person and was loyal to the Sui Dynasty. After Qu Tutong surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he came to persuade him specifically, but he scolded him. However, he could not stay in Hedong County, so he returned to his hometown Wei County. Yang Tong was grateful for his loyalty and righteousness, so he appointed him as the chief of Wei County.

It was the tacit cooperation between Yao Junsu and Yang Shanhui that Dou Jiande attacked Anyang City dozens of times but could not win it. If Dou Jiande perished, they would have reached the time to break up.

Yao Junsu sat down without saying a word. Yang Shanhui also poured him a cup of hot tea, glanced at him and asked with a smile, "Do you understand?"

Yao Junsu nodded. He had already received the news that the Yang Xuan Award had arrived.

"Then tell me, what should we do next?"

"If we don't surrender to the Northern Sui Dynasty, we will not be able to stay in Wei County, right?" Yao Junsu asked.

Yang Shanhui sighed, "This is for sure. If we don't leave and do not surrender, the army will come unless we continue to resist."

"The soldiers cannot sacrifice themselves for no longer needlessly."

Yao Junsu opposes continuing to resist, "Give everyone a way out, but I don't want to surrender to Yang Yuanqing. In my opinion, there is no difference between Yang Yuanqing and Li Yuan, but it's better to disguise."

Yang Shanhui was stunned, "Do you want to go back to Luoyang?"

They all knew the situation in Luoyang very well. It was a matter of time before Wang Shichong usurped the throne. They had already reached a consensus that they would not serve Wang Shichong. Yao Junsu's answer really puzzled Yang Shanhui.

Yao Junsu sighed softly, "I plan to go to Jiangdu to worship the former emperor, and then I will go back to my hometown in Tangyin and cannot retire. In my opinion, the Sui Dynasty has perished and I cannot be buried with it. At least I should keep my pride for it."

The two were silent for a moment. Yao Junsu put the seal of the long history brought together on the table, "Take me, take care of me, I'll leave."

The two stood up and hugged each other tightly, tears pouring out of their eyes. Yao Junsu turned around and left. He had no nostalgia for his official career. Although his family was barely left, he threw away all his wealth and glory for the sake of his belief and loyalty.

On the top of the city, Yang Shanhui silently looked at Yao Junsu, who was wearing a green shirt and a small hat, riding a thin donkey away. At this moment, he felt so ashamed.

.........

Yang Yuanqing was still waiting for news about Yang Xuan Prize in Hejian County. The final battle ended more than ten days ago. For more than ten days, he has been meeting officials from various counties and counties in Hebei almost every day, accepting their allegiance, and listening to their difficulties and expectations.

He had no time to inspect all counties and counties, and from the oral narratives of the officials of each county, he deeply felt the serious damage suffered by Hebei during the years of war. Nine out of ten houses were empty, a large amount of fertile land was deserted, the countryside was empty, and the granaries of more than a dozen counties were empty.

As soon as Dou Jiande collapsed, no one gave him any more food, so it is better to say that these officials are here to seek food instead of being loyal to them.

Yang Yuanqing paced the room with his hands behind his back. Although he knew that the situation in Hebei was very bad, he did not expect that it would worsen to this extent. Even the government organized the yamen runners to dig out wild vegetables.

If Hedong County did not suffer too much banditry and could preserve the arable land and population and become his powerful struggle for the world's resources, then the decline of Hebei would be a mountain ahead of him. Not to mention that he could send troops to support the army, he should at least be able to be independent.

The imperial court did not store much grain, only 600,000 stones, and just saving Hebei would have to consume half of it, let alone military rations. At this time, Yang Yuanqing deeply realized that war was a contest of national strength. Without sufficient money, grain and military sources, he could only win for a while, and it was difficult to last.

At this time, a soldier guarding the city at the door reported, "Report to the general manager, there were thousands of people outside the southern city, all of whom were shipbuilders. One of them was Zhang Long and the other was Zhang Hu. He said that the general manager gave them some tasks."

Yang Yuanqing suddenly remembered the affairs of the Beiping County Shipbuilding Station. He was overjoyed and immediately turned around and walked out of the government office. Soon he came to the top of the city and saw a large group of people in ragged clothes standing outside the city, including men and women, and children. There were more than 2,000 people. The leaders were Zhang Long and Zhang Hu.

They also saw Yang Yuanqing and shouted excitedly: "Your Highness, King Chu, we have brought eight hundred craftsmen, all of whom are good at building sea boats!"

.........{Piaotianwen Thank you for your support, your support is our greatest motivation}
Chapter completed!