The Emperor Yang Di in the history books, including the current film and television works, is an arrogant, extravagant, ambitious and ignorant image of a bad king. He killed his father, his brother and sister-in-law. Goguryeo's Three Expropriations cost countless human and financial resources, and the Grand Canal was built to Yangzhou many times, which wasted human and financial resources. However, is Yang Di really just a cruel king in history?
In Bian Xiao's view, not necessarily. From an objective point of view, Yang Guang's life is not without its merits. This man is both civil and military, and quite talented.
Judging from Yang Guang's achievements, he is not worse than Li Shimin later. Now is not the time for the prince to go to Turkey to pay attention to people's livelihood. Realizing the second unification of the world since Zhou and Qin Dynasties, of course, his father, Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty, contributed greatly.
After he ascended the throne, he established the imperial examination system for the first time, which provided a channel for the central government to select talents. Talents from all over the world gather in Kyoto, breaking the gentry class and providing experience for future generations to recruit talents. He attaches great importance to education, runs schools and knows the importance of education to the country. Sorting out ancient books, stabilizing the western regions and reducing punishment have all contributed in history.
Dig the Grand Canal. Some people may say that Emperor Yang Di dug the Grand Canal to go south to the south of the Yangtze River, which caused many complaints. How can this be regarded as a feat? However, when future generations enjoy the convenience brought by the Grand Canal, will they think of the emperor who died because of the river? It was this lawless and ill-fated monarch who initiated the pioneering work, which made the Yellow River basin and the Yangtze River basin closely connected, and even now we are still enjoying the convenience brought by the Grand Canal. For example, the East Route Project of South-to-North Water Transfer Project was rebuilt on the basis of the Grand Canal.
Today, we cannot generalize. We should take a correct view of this emperor who once made great contributions to China's great reunification and economic construction. He is indeed lewd and dissolute, even occupying his mother, but besides that, he should not obliterate his achievements and the well-being of future generations. Moreover, Yang Guang has a wide range of hobbies and is proficient in poetry and prose. His good handwriting is just a stumbling block, because his mistakes have caused the collapse of a country.