Hunting the Realm, Part Five: One Family Under Heaven

Er Zhu Rong paid for his arrogance with his life, but the Northern Wei Empire had also reached the end of its road. Gao Huan, Yang Zhong, Yuwen Tai, and other founders of the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou dynasties stepped onto history's stage. Countless heroes composed the centuries-long pageant of the Sui and Tang golden ages. For the sake of the realm, Yuan Ziyou embarked on a mad path of revenge. Er Zhu Rong was arrogant by nature. Even when the empress and his daughter warned him time and again, he paid them no heed. Ma Fonian died in battle, and Yang Zhong sought revenge for his sworn brother. He slipped into Luoyang, where Yuan Ziyou recruited him. At Mingguang Hall, he assassinated Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu. Er Zhu Dulu and Er Zhu Zhao captured Luoyang. Seeking revenge for Mingyue, Yang Zhong once again helped the Er Zhu clan capture Yuan Ziyou alive. Gao Huan deceived Er Zhu Zhao and retained command of the Six Garrisons' troops. Using Jinyang as his base, he steadily expanded his power and allied himself with the great families of Hebei. During the decisive battle against the Er Zhu faction, Yang Zhong and Little Monkey, who were in charge of the supply battalion, defected in the midst of the fighting, leading to the Er Zhu faction's crushing defeat. After his great victory, Gao Huan married Empress Er Zhu Ge. He ultimately rose to power like Cao Cao, becoming the de facto ruler of Northern Wei. His son Gao Yang declared himself emperor and founded Northern Qi. Yuwen Tai took control of the Western Wei regime, and his son Yuwen Jue became emperor and founded Northern Zhou. At last, Lu Tao'er and Yang Zhong came together and had a son, Yang Jian, who was raised by the wise nun Zhi Xian. Yang Jian married Dugu Jialuo, daughter of Dugu Ruyuan, usurped the Northern Zhou throne, and founded the Sui dynasty. Yuwen Tai's granddaughter married Li Yuan and gave birth to Li Shimin. Deeply resentful of Yang Jian's slaughter of the Northern Zhou imperial clan, Li Yuan bided his time until, near the end of the Sui dynasty, he finally raised an army in Jinyang and founded the Tang dynasty. Gao Huan's grandson, Gao Changgong, was the famous Prince of Lanling, whose legend has endured through the ages.