Chapter 1449: Guo Rong Is Dead

"What has happened? Why such a grave expression?" Looking up to see Li Fang's solemn face, Emperor Liu couldn't help but ask.

Li Fang's tone carried an indescribable dejection. He clasped his hands and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, a death notice has come from the Duke of Ying's residence. Half an hour ago, the Duke passed away from illness at his mansion..."

"What?" Hearing this, Emperor Liu subconsciously asked, then quickly recovered his senses. The hand flipping through memorials visibly stiffened, and his voice grew as deep as Li Fang's: "How could this be so sudden!"

Li Fang heaved a heavy sigh and said: "The Duke had developed a malignant sore on his back, and the illness kept him bedridden. Today the poisonous sore burst, leading to his death! The Duke of Ying's residence has already begun mourning and reported the sad news!"

The news of Guo Rong's death stirred a ripple in Emperor Liu's heart. After a brief silence, he regained his composure and sighed with melancholy: "I have lost a good minister, and the Great Han has lost a pillar of state!"

Perhaps Emperor Liu's reaction was too calm, appearing not so grief-stricken, but Li Fang still advised in a respectful tone: "The departed are gone; please, Your Majesty, restrain your grief!"

Emperor Liu waved his hand and said: "Everyone has their day. After all these years, I've grown accustomed to it. Still, when old friends pass away one after another, it's hard not to feel sorrowful!"

"Your Majesty, regarding the Duke of Ying's funeral arrangements, how should the court express its condolences? Please give your instruction!" Li Fang requested.

Emperor Liu let out a light breath and gave his instructions with some listlessness: "Draft an edict: posthumously confer upon Guo Rong the title of King of Heyang, add the title of Grand Preceptor. All officials in the capital of the seventh rank and above shall go to pay their respects! Allocate fifty thousand strings of cash from the imperial treasury, and have the Ministry of Rites send men to handle the funeral affairs. Guo Rong was a founding meritorious minister of the state; the dead are gone, and he should be given full honor and glory!

Mingyuan, you have fine literary talent, so you shall personally write the spirit-path stele inscription. Be sure to let the world know of the Duke's civil and martial brilliance, his loyalty and diligence!"

"As you command!" Li Fang immediately acknowledged the order, and even as he bowed, he was already drafting the wording in his mind.

Emperor Liu thought for a moment, then added: "Also, pass the word down — I will personally go to his residence to pay my respects and see off an old friend!"

"Yes!"

Li Fang withdrew. Emperor Liu sat quietly for a while, then finally heaved a heavy sigh. From his slightly sorrowful expression, it was clear that Guo Rong's death had touched him to some degree.

Even among the ministers who had followed him from the very beginning, there were distinctions of closeness. Those old officials and companions who had followed him from the earliest days in Jinyang naturally held a special place in Emperor Liu's heart.

Among the old Jinyang ministers, some had grown old, some had died, some had retired. Those still shining brightly in the court were only Yang Ye and Han Tong. Xiang Xun had also begun to retreat behind the scenes. Zhang Yanwei died a desolate death, Murong Yanzhao passed away from illness, and now it was Guo Rong's turn.

As the core pillar of that group, watching the branches and leaves wither day by day, how could Emperor Liu not feel a pang of sorrow? In earlier years it was manageable, but with age, it inevitably brought grief. Emperor Liu's recent sighs about growing old were not mere posturing — there was genuine feeling behind them.

As for Guo Rong, in these last few years, even though plagued by illness, he had still spent his days in relative peace, enjoying a tranquil old age. In the past year, Emperor Liu had seen Guo Rong only twice — once when he personally visited after returning from the northern campaign, and once when his second daughter Liu Jian married Chai Zongxun.

Having had no contact for so long, hearing the sudden news of the tragedy, Emperor Liu's heart was filled with indescribable mixed emotions.

The north wind howled past, sweeping through the entire city, adding a touch more desolation and grimness to Luoyang's winter. Inside the Duke of Ying's residence, the world had turned white — plain cloth and white banners stood everywhere, and everyone within and without was immersed in an atmosphere of grief.

The death of the Duke of Ying, Guo Rong, was absolutely a major event in the Western Capital, shaking the court and the public alike. In fact, even without Emperor Liu's edict of lavish honors, there would have been no shortage of people coming to pay their respects on their own initiative.

In the current Great Han, Guo Rong was shrouded in too much glory — founding minister, meritorious general, Duke of the Great Han, one of the Twenty-Four Ministers of Qianyou. His status was eminent, his prestige immense. Among external ministers, few could match Guo Rong's honored position.

In the past, Duke Wei Murong Yanzhao and Duke of Ying Guo Rong had together been the banners of the Han army. Later, Guo Rong was paired with Zhao Kuangyin, and the two were called "Chai and Zhao." No matter whom he was paired with, he had his name — and this was no empty reputation, but a genuine representation of power and status.

Now, the hero had withered, the loyal soul had departed. Moved by his memory, a steady stream of people came to the residence — princes and imperial relatives, nobles and high ministers, generals and soldiers, officials and clerks. Whatever their private motives or purposes, all came to pay their respects with sorrowful and solemn faces.

From the mansion gate to the mourning hall, along the not-so-long passage, there was a constant flow of the Great Han's upper class. Though there were many people, order was maintained. Everyone showed respect for the deceased, not daring to disturb the solemn and dignified scene.

Even those powerful figures who normally carried themselves with great authority set aside their arrogance and adopted humble postures, leaving solemnly after paying their respects. Those fond of networking and social climbing also dared not chatter excessively or show off their presence.

Several military officers even knelt before the mourning hall with tears in their eyes and kowtowed heavily several times, not caring that their foreheads were broken, making no other sound — only expressing their respect and grief for Guo Rong in their own way. These men were all Guo Rong's former subordinates who had received his favor and promotion. It was not always obvious in ordinary times, but when their patron died, the depth of that bond finally showed.

From noon to evening, thousands of people of all kinds came and went from the Duke of Ying's residence. Perhaps even Guo Rong himself could not have imagined that after his death, his funeral would be such a grand affair, causing such a stir.

From another perspective, Guo Rong had lived a heroic life — honored in life, fully mourned in death. He had not lived in vain in this world.

In the mourning hall, incense smoke curled upward, white silk fluttered, and occasional sobs broke the silence. The atmosphere of grief was almost tangible. When Emperor Liu and Consort Guo Ning arrived together, they inevitably disturbed the mood of the hall.

Emperor Liu wore a black robe, Consort Guo Ning was dressed entirely in white, and both had white silk sashes tied around their waists. They stopped the ministers who moved to bow to them, indicating that the deceased took precedence.

Guo Rong's elder sons all held posts throughout the Great Han. Even upon receiving the death notice, they were still on their way back to the capital. Therefore, those hosting the funeral and receiving guests at the residence were the young couple Chai Zongxun and Liu Jian.

Looking at the young couple who had been married less than two months, Emperor Liu sighed and said: "The Duke was my loyal minister and close friend. Now that he is gone, I naturally must come to see him off. Please restrain your grief!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chai Zongxun, his eyes red, bowed deeply to the ground.

Emperor Liu spread his hand, and Yan Tuo immediately handed over three sticks of incense, presenting them respectfully. Together with Consort Guo Ning, he bowed before Guo Rong's spirit tablet. It must be said that when Emperor Liu worshipped the Buddha at Shaolin Temple, he was always careless and even contemptuous.

Standing in the hall, quietly gazing at Guo Rong's spirit tablet, Emperor Liu's eyes rarely showed genuine emotion — but it passed in a flash. Soon he turned and left without saying much, leaving space for others to offer incense and pay their respects.