Is “The image of a cruel and licentious last ruler” true?
The Old Book of Tang and the Book of Sui record that Emperor Yang of Sui was extravagant, lascivious, and abused the people's labor, ultimately being assassinated by Yuwen Huaji, leading to the fall of the Sui dynasty. The Romance of Sui and Tang writes: "如今再说炀帝荒淫之念，日觉愈炽，初命侍卫许庭辅等十人，点选绣女；又命宇文恺营显仁宫于洛阳；又令麻叔谋、令狐达开通各处河道；又要幸洛阳，又思游江都。弄得这些百姓东奔西驰。" (The Romance of Sui and Tang 027.txt) However, The Romance of Sui and Tang makes extensive artistic exaggerations based on historical facts, heavily embellishing details of his greed, murder, patricide, usurpation, and extreme debauchery in the harem, portraying him as a stereotyped absolute tyrant to highlight the legitimacy of the Tang dynasty replacing the Sui.
The last ruler of the Sui dynasty, whose licentiousness and cruelty are greatly exaggerated in the historical novel.
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