《资治通鉴·隋纪·隋纪六》
杨玄感挑选输送军粮的民夫中身强力壮者五千余人，丹阳、宣城的船夫三千余人，杀三牲誓师。他还对这些人说： 皇帝无道，不体恤百姓，使天下受到骚扰，死在辽东的人数以万计，现在我与你们起兵以拯救百姓于水火，怎么样？ 
玄感选运夫少壮者得五千馀人，丹杨、宣城篙梢三千馀人，刑三牲誓众，且谕之曰： 主上无道，不以百姓为念，天下骚扰，死辽东者以万计。今与君等起兵，以救兆民之弊，何如？ 
Yang Xuangan selected more than 5,000 strong men from the workers who transported military food, more than 3,000 boatmen from Danyang and Xuancheng, and killed three animals to swear an oath to the teachers. He also said to these people: The emperor has no way and does not care about the people, which has caused disturbances in the world. Tens of thousands of people died in Liaodong. Now I am raising an army with you to save the people from fire and water. How about it?