The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

Liu Bang felt as if a cat was scratching at his heart.

The imperial examination system!

It opened up a path for talented people from humble backgrounds to succeed.

This means that if they are properly supported, people from humble backgrounds will spontaneously resist the aristocratic families!

If handled properly, these two sides can be made to become sworn enemies!

Such a force to restrain the aristocratic clans is definitely more useful than the nobility group!

After all, nobles still have the potential to rise to power and control the entire court, but those from humble backgrounds have absolutely no chance!

Those who rise from humble beginnings to high positions are all born lone ministers!

Unfortunately, the words on the sky did not seem to offer Liu Bang any answers.

As the last words slowly faded away.

When the writing reappeared, Yang Jian's face darkened immediately upon seeing what it said.

Most emperors, it seems, cannot escape the fate of becoming senile in their later years.

Even in his youth, Yang Jian was suspicious and prone to distrust.

In his later years, he became even more susceptible to slander and indiscriminately killed ministers.

The descendants of several meritorious officials were killed one after another.

Furthermore, the legal system has become increasingly strict, and the severity of the criminal law is so great that the people feel terrified when they hear about it!

In addition, he also encountered major problems in choosing his successor in his later years.

Ultimately, Yang Yong was deposed, and Yang Guang seized the opportunity to ascend to the throne.

This decision sowed the seeds of the Sui Dynasty's eventual demise.

Yang Jian: "..."

He could easily understand why his mind became senile in his later years.

After all, many emperors had this problem.

No one can stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Now that the immortal has given him some pointers, he just needs to be a little more careful as he gets older.

But the following sentences are the key points.

There was a major problem with the selection of an heir.

Furthermore, his removal of Yang Yong from the position of crown prince, allowing Yang Guang to ascend to the throne, sowed the seeds of the Sui Dynasty's demise.

In addition, Li Er had mentioned, both openly and secretly, that he was related to him and had even called him his great-uncle.

It's not hard to guess that.

The Sui Dynasty was no different from the Qin Dynasty; both perished after only two generations, and both were destroyed by Yang Guang!

"Yang Guang, you bastard, get out here and face me!"

"Even if I was indeed senile in my later years, the foundation of the Sui Dynasty was still solid, especially since I decided to let the people recuperate and thrive in my early years. What did you do to make my Sui Dynasty perish after only two generations, just like the Qin Dynasty?"

"You destroyed my Great Sui Dynasty, why the hell aren't you on the list of tyrannical emperors?!"

The more he talked, the angrier he became, and in the end, Yang Jian simply started cursing.

As the founding emperor, suddenly learning that his dynasty had only lasted two generations would be unsettling for most people.

Yang Guang dared not utter a sound at this moment.

He didn't know what he had done, why his country had fallen, or why he wasn't listed among the tyrannical rulers.

Fortunately, Li Er guessed it.

There can only be one reason why the immortals did not include Yang Guang, the culprit who brought about the downfall of the Sui Dynasty, on the list of incompetent rulers.

"It's probably because the immortals felt that although the Sui Dynasty died under Yang Guang, his actions had both advantages and disadvantages."

"Even if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages in the short term, there are still lasting benefits. Therefore, we made an exception and did not put him on the list of tyrannical rulers."

He participated in the war to destroy Chen, the three campaigns against Goguryeo, the imperial examination system, and the construction of the Grand Canal.

Even though each achievement had significant side effects, and the Sui Dynasty even perished because of these achievements.

But it must be admitted that everything he did was meaningful.

"I've already said it: what I've done is a crime in my time, but a merit for future generations. I've done so much already, what's wrong with indulging in some pleasure!"

"You traitors and rebels, if you had any conscience, you shouldn't have rebelled against me!"

Yang Guang was immediately filled with pride and joy.

In his view, even the traitor Li Er spoke up for him, so didn't that prove that everything he did was right?

Unfortunately, both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhao Kuangyin subsequently gave him negative evaluations.

"A crime committed in this generation, but a meritorious deed for posterity?"

"Stop trying to glorify yourself. The three campaigns against Goguryeo only show that you are ambitious and eager for quick success."

"As for the Grand Canal of the Sui Dynasty, its original purpose was simply to make it more convenient for you to enjoy yourself."

"You are indeed guilty in this era, but your so-called merits for posterity are mostly just coincidences!"

Old Zhu didn't give him any face at all.

The Grand Canal of the Sui Dynasty was useful only because the Tang Dynasty never abandoned the project.

Otherwise, the little thing that Yang Guang built would have been blocked off eight hundred years ago!

It can be said that if the Tang Dynasty had not been maintaining the operation of the Grand Canal, the countless people who died during the Sui Dynasty's construction of the Grand Canal would have died in vain!

"Li Er, don't let your personal biases influence your evaluation of the tyrant. Even if he's your relative, you should still criticize him."

"To be honest, Yang Jian left Yang Guang with a very deep foundation, yet he squandered it all. This shows just how incompetent he was!"

Zhao Kuangyin was equally scathing in his words.

An emperor who died after only two generations, no matter what he did, is absolutely not a reason to whitewash his actions!

The two men's conversation left Yang Guang blushing deeply.

But he didn't know how to refute the two of them.

After all, these two knew everything about his deeds, while he knew nothing about them.

Just as Yang Jian made up his mind that the position of crown prince should never be given to Yang Guang, the writing on the sky began its final change.

Yang Jian was the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty, also known as Emperor Wen of Sui.

It ended the centuries-long chaos of the Northern and Southern Dynasties and, following the Western Jin Dynasty, once again accomplished the great feat of unification!

During his 24-year reign, he unified the currency, reformed the household registration system, implemented the equal-field system, and allowed the people to recuperate and thrive.

The Nine-Rank System was changed to the Five Provinces and Six Ministries System, which marked the first time the imperial examination system was established.

It split and subjugated the Turks.

He devoted himself to governing the country in the first half of his life, personally handling all matters and achieving remarkable political achievements.

Even though he became senile in his later years, his merits outweighed his flaws.

Throughout thousands of years of history, their names should be among the ranks of wise rulers.

The flaws don't detract from the overall excellence!

Yang Jian was already satisfied with the immortal's final evaluation.

Thousands of years!

How many emperors were there?

To stand out among so many people and be ranked among the top ten wise rulers!

Whether it was the division and subjugation of the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates, the reforms that ushered in the Kaihuang era of prosperity, or the achievement of unification, these were all merits.

Even if he is missing just one of these factors, he could be pushed out of the competition.

Tenth!

This position is too dangerous!

One wrong move and you'll be left out of the list!

Not to mention, according to the immortal, he became incredibly senile in his later years!

The Sui Dynasty's indecisiveness in choosing a successor, its decision to depose the eldest son and establish a younger one, led to the dynasty's demise after only two generations!

If we really have to rank them, he should bear half the responsibility!

In this situation, the fact that he could still rank in the top ten is not only because he accomplished great things in his youth, but more likely because the immortals showed him leniency due to his great achievements in unifying the empire.

Otherwise, he would most likely have become the first founding emperor to fail to make the list of wise rulers...

Think about the consequences of such a disgrace, both in ancient and modern times, and across the world.

Although he was already on the list, Yang Jian's back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Fortunately, the immortals showed mercy!