[History of the Sui Dynasty Palace] [65]

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Chapter Sixty-Five: In the Jiangdu Palace, Wu Songs Resound; In Liaodong City, the Sui General Suffers a Great Defeat; A Fifteen-Year-Old Wu Woman, Graceful and Light, Performs a Song at the Banquet, Captivating the Emperor. Amidst the green wine and red lanterns, and the profusion of flowers, enchanting music drifted from all sides, its melodious strains enchanting the soul. At the central seat sat the amorous Emperor Yang. Surrounding him were beautiful young women, each one exquisitely dressed, their features alluring, all beauties of the Wu region. "The golden powder of the Southern Dynasties surpasses the rouge of the North," Emperor Yang thought.
He had spent considerable time in the Eastern Capital and found the scenery of the Western Garden less appealing than before. In truth, the Western Garden remained beautiful, with its charming flowers and willows, and its elegant women and melodious songs; however, Emperor Yang had grown weary of it and felt its allure had diminished. Longing for Jiangdu, he decided to return. Although Empress Xiao and others tried to dissuade him gently, Emperor Yang was overjoyed and determined to go.
The concubines and other officials could not stop him and could only let him proceed. Empress Xiao, however, did not accompany him. Of the sixteen ladies of the palace, only four—Huang Yayun, Fan Yu'er, Liu Yunfen, and Liu Xiufeng—who enjoyed traveling, accompanied Emperor Yang. Yuan Bao'er and Yuan Ziyan, who had never been to Jiangdu, also went. Among the beauties, Tuo Niang, Jun'e, Ji'er, and Ye'er also wished to go to Jiangdu again. Emperor Yang also selected several hundred more palace women to accompany him, and they sailed south on the dragon boat.
Upon arriving in Jiangdu, Wang Shichong, the palace eunuch, upon hearing of Emperor Yang's arrival, went out to greet him and welcomed him into the city. Emperor Yang inspected the palace and found the newly built palaces fully furnished and ready to his liking. When palace maids came to pay their respects, they were all graceful women from Wu, their voices ringing out "Long live the Emperor!" in a soft, melodious tone. Emperor Yang was delighted and, glancing at Wang Shichong, smiled, "Your arrangements are excellent; you truly are a capable man." It turned out that Wang Shichong was originally a Western Region barbarian. His original surname was Zhi, but his father died early, and his mother, unable to bear widowhood, married into the Wang family, thus adopting their surname. Wang Shichong was extremely cunning, skilled in rhetoric, fond of reading, adept at military strategy, and knowledgeable in law. He was originally the Assistant Prefect of Jiangdu and the Supervisor of the Jiangdu Palace, a position previously held by Zhang Heng, the Prefect of Yulin. Why was Zhang Heng, initially the Grand Censor, demoted to Prefect of Yulin? It was because Emperor Yang was building the Fenyang Palace in Taiyuan, and Zhang Heng, seeing that the Jinyang Palace in Taiyuan was still under construction, advised the emperor to reduce the burden on the people and economize on resources. This angered the emperor, leading to his demotion to Prefect of Yulin. Emperor Yang then ordered Zhang Heng to oversee the construction of the Jiangdu Palace. Zhang Heng, unable to contain his anger, spoke out, which was reported to him by Wang Shichong. Emperor Yang was furious and initially intended to kill Zhang Heng, but remembering the "killing of traitors" in the Grand Hall and the Hibiscus Pavilion, he spared Zhang Heng's life, stripping him of
his title and reducing him to commoner status. He then appointed Wang Shichong as the supervisor of the Jiangdu Palace. Wang Shichong knew Emperor Yang's temperament well; he only cared about sensual pleasures. Therefore, he selected beautiful women from Wu (present-day Sichuan) to serve in the palace. Emperor Yang, seeing the women's graceful figures, was deeply impressed. Receiving the emperor's praise, Wang Shichong became even more obsequious, thus gaining the emperor's favor. The emperor then showered Wang Shichong with gold and silk, which Wang Shichong readily accepted.
Immediately, a grand banquet was held in the palace, with fine wine and delicacies served. The Wu women, each carrying musical instruments, sang and danced. Not only did Emperor Yang notice his beloved, but Ya Yun, who was accompanying the banquet, also smiled and said to Lady Liu, "She is indeed a beauty from the South, with a voice so naturally clear and melodious. Compared to the singing girls from the North, whose voices are both delicate and rough, she is even more captivating!" Yun Fen then added with a smile, "Lady Liu is originally from Wu. Now that she has heard the beautiful sounds of her hometown, she must be somewhat moved and her homesickness has been stirred up, right?" Xiu Feng smiled and said, "Not necessarily."
Tuo Niang laughed and said, "Lady, you're so happy that you don't miss Shu anymore?" Emperor Yang couldn't help but laugh as well. At this moment, another Wu woman appeared quietly at the banquet, gracefully singing several songs in the Wu dialect. The first song went: "Sending my lover to Yangzhou in August, I sleep alone in the painted tower all night; the woman and I cannot be together, but our hearts are filled with sorrow."
The second song went: "I made an appointment with my lover when the moon was high, but now the moon has set in the west; I wonder if the moon rises earlier where I am on a lower mountain, or if the moon sets later where I am on a higher mountain."
The third verse goes: When you are in the east, I am in the west; you have no man, I have no wife; when I have no wife, I am still alright, but when you have no man, you are so lonely.
The fourth verse goes: Hanging a net on the tree is futile in trying to catch shrimp; there is no gold in the mud, only sand is being poured in; planting dog oranges by the thorny tree, when will the peonies bloom?
Emperor Yang found the songs captivating and alluring. Xiu Feng smiled and said to him, "These are mostly folk songs from Wu, country tunes. Though they are melodious and pleasant to the ear, they are not suitable for refined occasions. In my humble opinion, it would be better to transcribe His Majesty's 'Qingye You' and have them learn to sing it. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Emperor Yang was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I was just thinking about it, and I also felt that what they were singing was not very appropriate for the palace."
Shi Chong, who was serving nearby, had already overheard Xiu Feng and Emperor Yang's conversation. He stepped forward with a smile and said, "The language of the common people is disrespectful to the Emperor. Since there is an imperial song, it is only right that I transcribe it for them." Emperor Yang smiled and looked at Tuo Niang, who then recited the melody of "Qingye You" line by line. Shi Chong transcribed it quickly, and in no time, the entire song was copied. Shi Chong then showed it to the women. These women, all from Wu, were exceptionally beautiful and naturally intelligent. A large portion of them were literate and could recite poems by heart. One particularly remarkable woman, having memorized a poem after only one reading, gracefully approached the banquet and, with a smile, said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to sing this humble servant's music. If there are any errors, please forgive me!" Emperor Yang was greatly surprised, as were his fourth consort and the five beauties. The woman wore a light green palace dress, a pale yellow skirt, a purple handkerchief tied around her waist, and blue satin shoes. Judging from her appearance, she was probably not yet of childbearing age. She was incredibly beautiful, with delicate features, a captivating gaze, and a rosy complexion reflecting off her fair skin. Her slender waist accentuated her graceful figure; she was truly the most beautiful woman from Wu, a peerless palace maid. Emperor Yang, a notorious lecherous man, was stunned for a long while before smiling and saying to her, "Sing a song."
The woman from Wu, unhurriedly, spontaneously composed a melody, her voice melodious and graceful, and finished the song flawlessly. Emperor Yang was overjoyed, saying, "A woman of exquisite talent and eloquent speech, she truly deserves this." He then summoned her to his seat, offered her a cup of wine, and asked her name and age. She bowed her head and replied, "This humble servant's surname is Jiang, my given name is Yue'er, and I am sixteen years old." Emperor Yang...? Shichong said, "This girl is exceptionally beautiful!" Knowing Emperor Yang's subtle intention, Shichong added, "Your Majesty's favor is also Yue'er's good fortune." Emperor Yang nodded and then asked Yue'er, "Who gave you your nickname, Yue'er?" Yue'er smiled and said, "On the night my mother gave birth, she dreamt of a beautiful woman emerging from the moon in the sky. My mother mistook her for a fairy in her dream and was about to kneel and kowtow when the beauty gracefully landed on the ground and pounced on my mother. My mother awoke from her dream with a start and felt abdominal pain, thus giving birth to this humble servant. Because of the wonder of the dream, we were given the nickname Yue'er." Emperor Yang laughed, "No wonder you are so beautiful and intelligent; you are a beauty descended from the moon. I will now change your name to Yue Mei, which suits your dream." Yue'er thanked Emperor Yang and from then on, she was called Yue Mei.
At this time, the remaining palace maids, having memorized the "Qingye You" melody perfectly, sang it in unison, their voices several times more melodious than those sung by the palace maids of the Eastern Capital. Emperor Yang was delighted and overjoyed. When the banquet ended, Emperor Yang did not allow Yue Mei to leave, but Shi Chong invited Emperor Yang to retire for the night, then took his leave. The Fourth Consort and Yuan Bao'er, having discerned Emperor Yang's mood, all smiled and took their leave, but Emperor Yang deliberately refused. Tuo Niang laughed, "The new bride is as beautiful as jade, yet you won't let us rest? Does Your Majesty intend for us to conjure clouds and rain?" Emperor Yang feigned anger, saying, "You're so quick-witted, I'll tear your mouth apart!" After a few laughs, they all withdrew to rest. Emperor Yang, however, took Yue Mei's slender hand and retreated into his bedchamber. What happened next is unnecessary to elaborate on, but it inevitably involved amorous affairs. Readers can interpret it for themselves; I will not elaborate further.
After a night of revelry, at dawn, Emperor Yang wished to return to the mortal realm to admire the Qionghua flower once more.
Shichong immediately reported, "The Qionghua flower has long since withered and become extinct; Your Majesty need not make the futile journey." Emperor Yang was greatly disappointed and instead visited other scenic spots, also considering a trip east to Kuaiji. He then ordered the dredging of the Jiangnan Canal, stretching over eight hundred li from Jingkou directly to Yuhang, to facilitate the passage of imperial boats.
However, the project could not be completed immediately, and Emperor Yang remained in Jiangdu.
At this time, news arrived of a victory from General Chen Leng, who had raided and captured Ryukyu, taking thousands of men and women prisoner. Emperor Yang, who was ambitious and eager for glory, was displeased with the victory. However, he repeatedly demanded tribute from King Gao Yuan of Goryeo, who ignored his requests. Therefore, Emperor Yang decided to personally lead an expedition against Goryeo. He issued an edict ordering generals from near and far to assemble troops in Zhuojun, Shuntian Prefecture, Zhili, to launch an eastern campaign against Goryeo. Emperor Yang also traveled by dragon boat from Yongji Canal to Zhuojun. En route, he ordered Yuan Hongsi, the governor of Youzhou, to build 300 ships at the port of Donglai, Shandong. He also ordered the construction of 50,000 war chariots in Jiangnan, Huainan, and Henan. He further ordered the transport of grain from the granaries of Liyang, Junxian and Luokou in Daming Prefecture, Zhili, to Zhuozhou, creating a continuous line of ships stretching for thousands of miles. Hundreds of thousands of people traveled back and forth day and night, dying one after another, causing unrest throughout the land. When Emperor Yang arrived in Zhuojun, he only requisitioned grain in the morning and soldiers in the evening, disregarding the lives of the soldiers and civilians, repeatedly issuing orders. It wasn't until mid-spring of the eighth year of the Daye era that all the military and civilian supplies and provisions from across the land were gathered in Zhuojun. Emperor Yang then ordered the entire army to divide into left and right wings. The left twelve armies advanced towards Loufang and Lelang; the right twelve armies advanced towards Nianchan and Xiangping, converging at Pyongyang. The army was vast and imposing, claimed to be two million soldiers, but in reality, it numbered over 1.13 million. Emperor Yang personally bestowed command, and they marched out of Zhuojun, their ranks stretching endlessly, drums and horns resounding, banners fluttering for over 960 li—a truly rare military spectacle. Midway, he appointed Duan Wenzhen as the Left General of the Imperial Guard, leading them out of Nansu. Wen Zhen fell ill midway through the journey, his condition becoming increasingly serious. He submitted a memorial to Emperor Yang, stating: "I have observed that the barbarians of Liaodong, before undergoing severe punishment, have surrendered to the six armies from afar, earning the Emperor's personal favor. However, barbarians are often deceitful, and we must remain vigilant. Even if they surrender today, it is not advisable to accept it hastily. I am concerned that the floods are just beginning, and there may be delays. I humbly request that all troops be strictly ordered to set out swiftly, by both land and water. A surprise attack will allow us to capture the isolated city of Pyongyang. If we destroy its foundation, the remaining cities will fall on their own. If we do not act quickly, the autumn rains will be difficult to stop. With our supplies exhausted, a powerful enemy ahead, and the Mohe tribes behind, hesitation and indecision are not the best course of action. My life hangs in the balance. I hope Your Majesty will return in triumph soon, so that I may die in peace. I respectfully submit this memorial."
Emperor Yang, after reading Wen Zhen's memorial, still considered it excessive. A few days later, he received news of Wen Zhen's death. Although deeply saddened, the Sui army did not follow Wen Zhen's strategy of advancing swiftly. It took them a long time to reach the Liao River, where they assembled, only to find the Goguryeo troops blocking the river and holding out. The Sui army suffered a defeat in the first battle, losing three generals: Right Guard General Mai Tiezhang, Tiger General Qian Shimeng, and Meng Yi. In the second battle, however, He Chou, the Director of the Imperial Treasury, oversaw the construction of a bridge across the Liao River. The army advanced with great force, crossed the river, and defeated the Goguryeo troops. Capitalizing on their victory, the Goguryeo troops fled into Liaodong City and fortified themselves. The Sui army besieged the city but could not break through. Emperor Yang severely reprimanded the generals for their cowardice and reluctance to exert their full strength, and the generals could only apologize.
Right Guard General Lai Huer then led the Jianghuai naval forces across the Pae River, and more than sixty li from Pyongyang, encountered the Goguryeo troops and decisively defeated them. Lai Huer, greedy for glory, wanted to press his advantage and was thus tricked, suffering a crushing defeat and fleeing to Haipu. Meanwhile, the Sui army's Left Wing Guard General Yuwen Shu marched out of Fuyu Road; Right Wing Guard General Yu Zhongwen marched out of Lelang Road; Left Valiant Guard General Jing Yuanheng marched out of Liaodong Road; Right Wing Guard General Xue Shixiong marched out of Woju Road; Right Garrison Guard General Xin Shixiong marched out of Xuansou Road; Right Strike General Zhang Jin marched out of Xiangping Road; Right Martial Marquis General Zhao Xiaocai marched out of Jieshi Road; Zhuojun Prefect Cui Hongsheng marched out of Suicheng Road; and Tiger-like General Wei Wensheng marched out of Zengdi Road. These nine armies, totaling over 350,000 men, converged at the Yalu River. They fell into a trap set by the Goguryeo minister Eulji Mundeok, were surrounded and attacked by Goguryeo troops, and suffered a crushing defeat. Xin Shixiong was killed in battle, and the remaining troops fled back to Liaodong City, leaving only about 2,700 men.
Emperor Yang was furious, severely reprimanded the generals, reorganized the army, and planned another major campaign to conquer Goguryeo. But the country was already rife with bandits, and chaos reigned. Wang Bo, Zhang Jincheng, Gao Shida, and Dou Jiande rebelled. Even the descendants of a meritorious official rebelled, leading to repeated internal strife. Emperor Yang was forced to withdraw his army. Indeed: The expedition had already resulted in the loss of many generals, and internal strife only exacerbated the turmoil caused by bandits.
To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.

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