6 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
China (5)
Yang Liang, Prince of Han, was made commander with 300,000 men by land and sea to attack Goguryeo, but in the ninth month he withdrew because of plague. (History of the Northern Dynasties (Beishi), Annals 北史 卷11 開皇18年)
Yang Liang, Prince of Han, was appointed Acting Marshal and led 300,000 by land and sea to attack Goguryeo. (Book of Sui (Suishu), Imperial Annals 隋書 卷002 帝紀 開皇18年2月)
Yang Liang's army was struck by epidemic and withdrew; eight or nine out of ten of the dead. (Book of Sui (Suishu), Imperial Annals 隋書 卷002 帝紀 開皇18年9月)
The king led more than ten thousand Malgal troops to raid Liaoxi, but was driven back by Wei Chong, governor of Yingzhou. Emperor Wen of Sui sent three hundred thousand men to invade. (Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) 卷20 嬰陽王 9年)
In February 598, Emperor Wen appoints King Yang Liang of Han and Wang Shiji as Commanders of the March and sends 300,000 by land and sea to attack Goguryeo. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 권178 598년 항)
Korean Peninsula (1)
Zhou Luo□ sails from Donglai across the sea toward Pyongyang city, but he too meets the wind, and most of his ships drift off and sink. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 권178 598년 항)