Ouchi Yoshioki vs Yang Guang

Ouchi Yoshioki marched his army to Kyoto and restored Ashikaga Yoshitane as shogun, ending the exile of the Ashikaga shogunate. This action reasserted Ouchi influence over central politics and demonstrated his military power.

Ouchi Yoshioki defeated the forces of Hosokawa Takakuni at Funaokayama in Kyoto, securing the position of the restored shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane. The victory solidified Ouchi control over the capital region.

Ouchi Yoshioki returned to his domain in Yamaguchi after a decade in Kyoto, leaving central politics. This withdrawal allowed the Hosokawa clan to regain influence in the capital and marked the end of Ouchi direct involvement in shogunate affairs.

Emperor Yang Guang ordered the construction of the Grand Canal, linking the Yellow River and Yangtze River. The project mobilized millions of laborers and created a vital waterway for grain transport and trade, but the immense human cost led to widespread resentment and rebellion.

Yang Guang launched three massive military campaigns against the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. The first invasion in 612 ended in catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Salsu, with hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers killed. The repeated failures drained the treasury and sparked widespread revolts.

While Yang Guang was campaigning against Goguryeo, the noble Yang Xuangan launched a major rebellion in the rear. The revolt was suppressed, but it exposed the fragility of Sui rule and encouraged further uprisings across the empire.

As rebellions engulfed the empire, Yang Guang was strangled to death in Jiangdu by his own guards led by Yuwen Huaji. His death marked the effective end of the Sui dynasty, which collapsed shortly after, leading to the rise of the Tang dynasty.