I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 382 - 3: Building the Grand Canal and Expanding Luoyang, Arrogance and Excess

All he needs to do is casually throw out a piece of meat, and people will scramble for it.

Anyone in the world.

Is completely under his control!

In July;

Yang Guang officially held the grand ceremony for his ascension to the throne, and under the witness of all officials, he succeeded to the title of Emperor.

Change of era name to "Daye."

He used this era name to fully manifest the grand aspirations in his heart.

Immediately afterwards, he carried out a series of personnel changes, promoting all his confidants to key positions.

The entire court was swept up in a bloody purge.

Unlike any emperor before him.

While other emperors also promoted confidants, they were not as violent in their methods.

But Yang Guang was!

For ministers who did not support him previously, Yang Guang’s methods were extremely brutal.

Liu Shu and Yuan Yan, both former confidants of Yang Jian.

In addition.

Even those like Gao Jiong and He Ruobi, who had great contributions to the unification of the Sui Dynasty but previously did not support him, were implicated.

This was a massive purge.

And after settling all this, Yang Guang immediately began the first step of his ambitious plans.

Excavating canals!

He decided to divert Gu River, Luoshui River from Luoyang’s West Garden, reaching east to Xuyi to enter the Huai River.

Connecting the Yellow River and Huai River water systems!

This matter was truly earth-shattering!

Although construction had not yet begun, just hearing Yang Guang’s plans, the ministers could feel the enormity of the task.

But——

Perhaps because of Yang Guang’s purge, almost no one in the entire court dared to refuse.

Only a few suggested the project should be approached slowly and carefully.

But these individuals, without exception, all faced Yang Guang’s wrath.

Though he had just ascended the throne.

The methods Yang Guang displayed already instilled fear in everyone; this was an emperor who liked to have control over everything.

He did not like others to oppose him!

Thus, the decision was made.

In the first year of Daye, March;

Yang Guang formally decided to excavate a canal, ordering Yuwen Kai to preside, mobilizing over a million men and women from various counties in Henan to connect Tongji Canal.

——The entire court was in an uproar!

A project involving over a million people was unimaginable in this era.

But it was not over yet.

In the same year, Yang Guang again decided to dredge and widen the Han Canal originally excavated by King Wu Fuchai in the Spring and Autumn period.

Again, mobilizing over a hundred thousand people from Huainan to open the Han Canal.

The world was in turmoil!

Nobody expected Yang Guang to embark on such grand projects just after ascending the throne.

There was turmoil throughout the court!

Countless memorials flooded in, though Yang Guang’s imperial might was terrifying, at this point someone had to submit a memorial!

It was unbearable!

The court could not withstand such an enormous expenditure.

The world could not bear such heavy corvée labor!

Even Gu Zhe had no choice but to submit a memorial, along with other members of the Gu Clan who were born in succession.

Although some were not in the court but held office elsewhere.

But precisely because of this.

They could better see the exhaustion of the people across the world, how could they not submit a memorial?

But what use was it?

Faced with these memorials, Yang Guang was indifferent, and even planned the construction of the Eastern Capital Luoyang again!

This was completely different from the Luoyang of the Great Han.

Yang Guang intended to conduct a series of large-scale expansions on its foundations.

Setting Luoyang’s West Garden, spanning over two hundred li, with a "sea" over ten li in circumference built within, the northern garden built Dragon Scale Canal winding into the sea, with sixteen villas along the canal, the buildings and furnishings within were extremely luxurious.

Including the dragon boat representing his noble status!

For this, Yang Guang also mobilized over two million peasants from various regions!

The world was shaken!

This series of corvée labor was truly unprecedented.

The most crucial issue was——

In addition, Yang Guang also decided on the expedition to Linxi, appointing Liu Fang as the Grand Marshal of the Huanzhou Route Army, with Minister Right Assistant Li Gang as the army’s Sima, to attack Linxi.

The entire land of Kyushu was in a storm of blood and rain.

No feudal dynasty could withstand such large-scale actions.

Especially since Kyushu had just experienced years of turmoil.

The entire court was full of lament and complaint.

Endless memorials were presented to Yang Guang, including key ministers like Gao Jiong, Yuwen Bi, He Ruobi.

Everyone wanted to persuade Yang Guang.

And their voices grew increasingly alarming.

This time Yang Guang took action.

In the third year of Daye.

Yang Guang decreed under the charge of "defaming the government" to execute Gao Jiong, He Ruobi, Yuwen Bi, and exile all their sons, who were eventually killed on the way.

Additionally, the descendent of the deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong.

His eldest son Yang Yan was poisoned by Yang Guang.

All ten of his other descendants were exiled, dying tragically on the way.

King Qin Yang Liang raised an army.

Under the pretense of "Yang Guang’s unworthy succession," he decided to carry out a rebellion, which was suppressed by Duke Chu Yang Su, who bestowed death upon him.

All his descendants were imprisoned.

Yang Guang used a series of ruthless measures to suppress everyone who opposed him.

Under these circumstances.

The atmosphere in court finally began to change.

This was a destined change.

When everyone discovered that opposing Yang Guang led to death while flattering him led to promotion, people’s hearts began to change.

But they could change, what about the Gu Clan descendants?

Gu Yi had been watching all this, his thoughts were extremely complex.

This was equally a calamity destined by the division of the Gu Clan.

Whether it was the ambition in his heart;

Or the dissatisfaction with the long-standing silence of the Gu Clan;

When many Gu Clan descendants chose a different path and no longer worked together as one, all of this became inevitable.

Gu Yi had been silently watching all this, his thoughts were equally heavy-laden.

What kind of emperor was Yang Guang.