Emperor Yang of Sui

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Emperor Yang of Sui China (隋煬帝 569 - March 11, 618), or Yangdi was the son and heir of Emperor Wen of Sui, and then the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.

Yangdi, ruling from 604 to 617, committed to several large projects during his rule, most notably the completion of the Grand Canal. He also caused the reconstruction of the Great Wall, a project which took the lives of nearly six million workers. These expeditures, along with a series of disastrous campaigns against Korea, left the empire bankrupt and the people in revolt. An uprising forced Yangdi to flee to South China, where he was eventually assassinated.

Yangdi committed almost eight million people to constructing roads, palaces, the Grand Canal, the Great Wall and ships. The re-designing of Luoyang alone consumed a quarter of that amount, and the building of the Grand Canal took up 2 million men.

Equally manpower-consuming were the 3 expeditions against Korea, each one needing about a million men. Due to tactical errors, though, the huge army was unable to conquer Korea. A million people died in the 3 campaigns.

Even with many books describing his achievements, Yangdi is still considered a tyrant in China, and the reason for the Sui Dynasty's relatively short rule.

Legend claims Yang sent a series of messengers to Hua Mulan with the message to come to him as his concubine. She refused and committed suicide, afterwards. The Emperor then held a funeral with honors for her.

Preceded by Emperor Wen of Sui

Emperor of the Sui Dynasty 604–617

Succeeded by Emperor Gong of Sui China