My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 242 Last Plan
Daxing.

The emperor's procession was grand, and the welcoming party was equally impressive.

Soldiers lined up in battle array, while the people knelt in the distance. Flags fluttered and drums beat loudly, welcoming the emperor's triumphant return with the highest honors.

Yang Guang stepped down from the carriage, his face grave.

Surrounded by numerous soldiers, he strode forward. The soldiers and civilians in the distance began to cheer, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" In the past, Yang Guang would usually be in a good mood, but now, he still had a stern face.

We just kept walking like that.

Finally, they met the important minister in charge of this grand welcoming ceremony, Yang Xuangan, the Minister of Rites.

Yang Xuangan prostrated himself before the sage, his former high spirits gone. He looked haggard, his face pale, and he buried his head deeply, saying nothing.

Yang Guang stood in front of him, looking down at him.

Yang Guang did not believe that Yang Xuangan had the courage to rebel.

The Sui Dynasty was more powerful than any dynasty in the past few hundred years. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the Eagle Banner Army were spread all over the country, and their fighting power was unparalleled. The grain piled up in the granaries in various places was enough for these soldiers to use for decades.

The country is at peace, its national strength is great, and no one can rival it.

Wherever the army marched, the Tuyuhun fled, the Turks bowed their heads, and the Western Regions paid tribute.

If we build canals, promote education and culture, and govern the country well, who would dare to rebel against us?
Because of the matter of private horses, he believed that Yang Xuangan was colluding with the Turks beyond the Great Wall, and therefore he was dissatisfied with him. He also heard many other news about Yang Xuangan colluding with other officials, and felt that he was suspected of forming cliques for personal gain. That was all.

Yang Guang slowly asked, "In your memorial to the throne, you pleaded guilty to me, asking me to punish you for your crimes and revoke your official titles. Your words were very humble, so why are you still issuing orders here as the Minister of Rites?"

"Welcoming Your Majesty is a major event. I know I have committed a grave offense, but I dare not delay the affairs of the state because of it."

Yang Xuangan replied.

"I hereby dismiss you from your post as Minister of Rites. You are no longer needed to issue orders here. Go back."

Yang Guang said coldly.

Yang Xuangan hurriedly kowtowed and wept bitterly, thanking the sage for his kindness.

Yang Guang walked away from him without ever looking at him a second time.

The emperor returned to Daxing. Having achieved such a great victory in the northwest, he was about to lavishly reward the soldiers who had distinguished themselves.

Yuwen Shu and the others were overjoyed.

To be honest, these military men from the Guanlong Group did not oppose the emperor's expedition; in fact, they were very supportive of sending troops. After all, military merit was a highly desirable thing. Due to the reform of the nobility system, a large number of fallen nobles had emerged in the country, and they all longed for an opportunity to rise above their circumstances. War was the best opportunity for them.

In this battle against Tuyuhun, a large number of noble sons received rewards, among whom Yuwen Shu received the most generous rewards. His status even surpassed that of several renowned veteran ministers, and he became the emperor's most favored minister. His status among the ministers was equal to that of Su Wei, and no one dared to defy his power.

Yang Guang believed that no one dared to rebel, probably because of the support of these military nobles. As long as these people were on his side, who the hell would dare to rebel? Even the Hu people beyond the Great Wall, who had hundreds of thousands of cavalry, were chased and killed by Yuwen Shu. So many of them were beheaded. How many heads do you have?
While the nobles were cheering and jumping for joy, Yang Xuangan was taking care of his uncle Yang Yue in the mansion.

Yang Yue lay on his sickbed, his eyes filled with bitterness.

"I should have died beside Li Yuan, or in front of the Emperor. Why am I so stubborn?"

"Uncle, please don't speak like that."

Yang Xuanzong, Yang Wanshuo, Yang Xuanting, Yang Xuanjiang, Yang Xuande, and other members of the Yang family gathered here, but they could only stand at a distance and dared not approach.

Only Yang Xuangan knelt before Yang Yue, holding the medicinal soup in his hand, his eyes red-rimmed.

Yang Xuangan and Yang Yue also had an excellent relationship.

When Yang Su was still alive, he always told Yang Xuangan that if he were gone, he should treat Yang Yue as his father. Yang Su also repeatedly instructed Yang Yue, hoping that he could help take care of the wayward child after he was gone.

Previously, when Yang Yue was serving the emperor, he neglected his duties because of the sacrifice to Yang Su, which displeased the emperor, who demoted him to a local post. It was only after Yang Xuangan pleaded for him several times that the emperor changed his mind and allowed him to return.

Yang Yue turned his head away with difficulty and looked at Yang Xuangan beside him.

"I'm already past my prime. If only I had a few more years..."

Yang Xuangan shed tears again and tried to feed Yang Yue medicine, but Yang Yue refused.

"I'm not going to live, there's no need for this." "The fact that the emperor hasn't arrested you means he has forgiven your crimes. Being stripped of your official position is nothing; you'll be reinstated sooner or later. This is a good thing for you. After I die, you must keep a low profile and bide your time. Absolutely, absolutely do not act rashly."

"When the emperor returns to Luoyang, Yang Wang will definitely cause trouble again, saying that your previous arrangement for your brothers to take up their posts is a bit difficult to handle. You need to set off immediately to find Minister of War Duan Wenzhen! He needs to speak up for you in time!!"

"Also, there's Wei Xuan in Luoyang."

"I"

Before he could finish speaking, his pupils suddenly dilated. He reached out and grabbed Yang Xuangan tightly, staring into his eyes. Although he still had countless things to say, he could only muster his last breath and say, "Speak less, do less, and observe the situation!"

"uncle!!"

Yang Xuangan stood up in a panic, shouting, "Healer!! Healer!!"

Before the doctor could enter, Yang Yue had already stopped moving. Even as he died, his eyes remained open, staring straight at Yang Xuangan.

In an instant, everyone burst into tears, and Yang Xuangan cried his heart out.

Yang Yue did not die by the side of the emperor or Li Yuan as he had hoped, but died in Daxing on the third day after his return.

The entire Yang family was heartbroken.

Soon, the Sage also learned of Yang Yue's death. Although the Sage did not say anything, he still sent people to attend the funeral.

At this moment, Yang Xuangan seemed to have lost his soul.

He knelt before his uncle's memorial tablet and couldn't recover for several days.

Yang Xuanzong sat to the side, looking at his grieving brother, but his face was filled with resentment. "If it weren't for Li Yuan, Uncle wouldn't have been able to travel back and forth feigning illness. Uncle's death was all because of the mistakes of Li Yuan and the others! Brother, we must avenge Uncle!"

Yang Xuande reminded him, "Brother, now is not the time to talk about revenge. Uncle once said that we must find Minister of War Duan Wenzhen as soon as possible before the Emperor arrives in Luoyang."

Yang Xuangan raised his head, a flash of anger in his eyes, but he suppressed it. "If you can't take revenge, then say less and do less."

"Seventh Brother, you must go to Luoyang now. Among all the brothers, you are the most eloquent. Send gifts to Duan Wenzhen, no matter the cost, just make sure he helps you with this."

"Here!"

"Erlang."

"Brother!"

"Keep an eye on your younger brothers and tell them not to be impulsive or reckless. Tell them to keep a low profile and not cause any more trouble."

"I see."

When the emperor arrived in Luoyang, many officials came to greet him.

The emperor immediately issued two edicts. The first was to go and secure the border, as Pei Shiju suggested. The second was to thoroughly investigate the household registration system, as Pei Yun suggested, to find those who had falsified their age, those who claimed to be too young or too old when they were of corvée labor age, and those who claimed to have not been granted hundreds of acres of land. The emperor ordered them to pay their taxes truthfully and perform their corvée labor on time!

The next day, Minister of War Duan Wenzhen paid a visit to the Emperor. He told the Emperor that because of this great victory, many nobles in the country were eager to make military achievements, wanted to enter the Eagle Banner Mansion, and came to him for help. It was clear that all the loyal and righteous people in the world wanted to repay the Emperor, and the country would surely prosper.

The emperor was overjoyed and ordered the establishment of the Eagle Banner Office to recruit more officers and soldiers.

It was at this time that Yang Wang met with the sage.

Just as Yang Yue had predicted, he recounted how Yang Xuangan had wanted to arrange for several of his disciples to be sent to Yingyang Prefecture, but he had refused, and believed that Yang Xuangan was plotting a rebellion.

However, Yang Wang did not expect that because of Duan Wenzhen's previous memorial, his report would directly run into a bullet.

The sage was furious.

Do you think that everyone in the world who wants to serve you and actively enter the Eagle Banner Prefecture is plotting a rebellion?

Several of your family members are also in Yingyang Prefecture. What's their story?

You bastard, you're clearly doing this on purpose for revenge!
Framed!

(End of this chapter)