In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, I wrote my will in the examination hall.

Chapter 68 Atonement Through Merit, King Qin Enters the Game

Yang Guang stood up, his expression changed. He was no longer the sorrowful look of "sacrificing family for the greater good" that he had shown in the court just now, but instead, his brows revealed a sharp and enterprising spirit.

He bowed to Yang Jian and said loudly, "Father! Li Xian is a general who surrendered from the Chen Dynasty! Father has treated him well, bestowing upon him high office and generous salary, yet he harbors treacherous intentions and plots to establish his own independent regime! If we simply appease such fickle traitors, they will only think that our Great Sui Dynasty is weak and easily bullied!"

Yang Guang's voice suddenly rose, his gaze blazing: "If we appease Li Xian today, Zhang Xian and Wang Xian will appear tomorrow! The southern border will never have peace! I believe we should use both suppression and appeasement, both kindness and severity! We must not only send people to appease them, but also demonstrate the might of our dynasty, so that those two-faced treacherous chieftains can see clearly that those who submit to me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish!"

A glint of light flashed in Yang Jian's cloudy old eyes.

These words struck a chord with him. As the founding emperor, he had the blood of a conqueror flowing in his veins, and simple appeasement did indeed make him feel somewhat stifled.

"Hmm..." Yang Jian pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to the somewhat uneasy Crown Prince beside him. "Crown Prince, you are the heir apparent. What are your thoughts?"

Yang Yong's heart tightened.

He had been observing the situation, and now that he heard his father call his name, his mind raced.

Although he was not as politically as Yang Guang, he was not entirely without cunning.

He glanced at Gao Jiong beside him, then at his imposing second brother Yang Guang, and suddenly an idea came to him.

Lingnan is a mess; whoever goes there is doomed.

Moreover, if Yang Guang could be sent to that wild and uncivilized place like Lingnan...

A hint of joy flashed in Yang Yong's eyes, and he quickly stood up and said, "Father, I think what the Duke of Qi and my second brother said makes sense. We need to appease them while also deterring them, so the people who go to Lingnan must be of high status and their methods must be firm."

At this point, Yang Yong looked at Yang Guang with feigned sincerity: "My second brother has been in charge of Yangzhou for many years, and his prestige in Jiangnan is unparalleled. He is most familiar with the customs and culture of the South. Moreover, my second brother has extremely high prestige in the army. If my second brother were to be appointed as the governor of Lingnan, he could both intimidate Li Xian with his princely status and resolve the crisis with swift and decisive measures. He is truly the best choice!"

What a brilliant move to go with the flow!

Yang Su looked down at her nose, her nose reflecting her inner thoughts, and a playful smile curved her lips slightly.

The Crown Prince is trying to use someone else to do his dirty work and kick the Prince of Jin out of Yangzhou.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jiong's heart stirred.

Although he supported Yang Yong, he was also aware of Yang Yong's shortcomings.

The reason why Yang Guang is able to gain so much power in the capital is inseparable from the taxes levied on Yangzhou. If we can take this opportunity to transfer Yang Guang away from Yangzhou, even if it's just to Lingnan for a year or two, it will give the Crown Prince a precious chance to catch his breath.

Gao Jiong immediately seconded the motion: "The Crown Prince is absolutely right! His Highness Prince Jin has been stationed in Yangzhou since the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, more than seven years now. The gentry of Jiangdong are all loyal to him, and his achievements are truly remarkable. If His Highness Prince Jin were willing to personally go south, Li Xian would surely be terrified and dare not act rashly. For the sake of the eternal security of the southern border of the Sui Dynasty, I earnestly request that His Highness Prince Jin go south!"

They joined forces to force the emperor to abdicate!

We must drive this fierce tiger, Yang Guang, into the deep mountains and forests of Lingnan!

Yang Jian tapped his fingers lightly on the imperial desk, his gaze fixed intently on Yang Guang.

"Guang'er, both the Crown Prince and Minister Gao have recommended you. What do you think?"

Yang Yong nervously clenched his sleeves, eagerly awaiting the moment his father would issue the imperial decree.

Yang Guang stood still, showing no sign of panic, but instead a knowing smile.

Yang Su, who had been leaning back in his chair, leaned forward slightly: "With the Prince of Jin stationed in Yangzhou, half of Jiangnan is at peace. Even if there are disturbances in Lingnan, their impact will not be so great as to cross the Five Ridges and disturb Jiangdong. If we were to shift the main pillar because of a minor problem, causing the foundation of Jiangnan to be shaken, that would be putting the cart before the horse. I hope Your Majesty will make a wise decision."

"Father," Yang Guang sighed, a hint of helplessness and bitterness on his face, "My elder brother and Minister Gao value me so highly, I should have been willing to give my life for them. But..."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Gao Jiong before finally settling on Yang Yong's face with a hint of mockery: "But it seems that you've forgotten something, elder brother. Although I have been in charge of Yangzhou, my main focus has been on pacifying the gentry of Jiangnan and guarding against the remnants of the former Chen dynasty. The Lingnan region, on the other hand, is mostly inhabited by barbarians and savages, whose languages ​​are different and whose customs are entirely different from those of Jiangnan."

"More importantly..." Yang Guang turned to look at Yang Jian, his expression turning solemn. "The canal transport in Jiangnan is the lifeblood of the nation. Yangzhou is a complex and multifaceted situation. The Southern Chen dynasty has been in power for a century, and rebellions have occurred from time to time. It's just that I've always been prepared for any eventuality. If I were to become bogged down in the swamps of Lingnan, who would shoulder this heavy responsibility should something happen in Jiangnan? Does Your Highness intend to go and oversee Yangzhou?"

Yang Yong choked. Send him to Yangzhou? It wasn't a question of whether he wanted to or not, but whether he could. How could the Crown Prince leave the capital so easily?

"Besides—"

Yang Guang didn't give Yang Yong a chance to refute him at all. He took a step forward, his voice revealing a chilling intent.

"This trip to Lingnan, though seemingly perilous, is actually a good opportunity for training. Although I am not talented, I know that good steel should be used where it is needed most. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"

"Why would we need a prince to lead the army to deal with a mere Li Xian? Sending a prince would only make the court appear to be bluffing and cowardly!"

Yang Guang's excuse of "why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut" was shameless, but it formed a perfect closed loop in logic.

He positioned himself in the high ground of "guarding the foundation of the nation in Jiangnan," making it impossible for anyone to forcibly transfer him away.

Gao Jiong frowned, his hand gripping the scepter tightly.

He knew that if a suitable candidate could not be chosen today, the situation in Lingnan would deteriorate, and the imperial court would ultimately have to bear the blame.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Yu Qingze, the Right Attendant who had been silent all along, slowly stood up.

This veteran general, who pacified the Turks and dominated the northern frontier in the early years of the Kaihuang era, has become increasingly low-key in the court in recent years, but no one dares to underestimate his importance.

He first glanced at the somewhat smug Yang Guang, then swept his gaze over the anxious Crown Prince, and finally bowed deeply to Yang Jian on the throne.

"His Majesty."

Yu Qingze's voice was hoarse yet steady, carrying the sound of someone who had been through many battles: "I believe that although what His Highness Prince Jin said may seem like an excuse, he is right about one thing—if we send a large army or a powerful prince to march south in a grand manner at this time, it will inevitably alarm Li Xian and may even force the entire Lingnan region to rebel."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guang's lips curled up slightly, and he was about to speak in agreement.

Yu Qingze then changed the subject, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "However, the situation in Lingnan is turbulent and unpredictable. Ordinary officials lack the prestige to control those unruly local chieftains; and without the personal presence of a member of the royal family, the emperor's benevolence and power cannot be demonstrated."

"Therefore, we need a sufficiently prestigious identity, yet we must also have a 'legitimate excuse' for going to Lingnan, an excuse that makes Li Xian feel that the court is not going to 'suppress bandits,' but to 'exile' him!"

Yang Jian's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly snapped open: "What you mean, my dear minister, is..."

Yu Qingze cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his words ringing out firmly: "Your Highness, Prince Qin, I recommend you!"