Chapter 401: Commissioner Guo Passes Through Xiangzhou

In the late winter of the third year of Qianyou, the cold air from beyond the northern frontier still lingered over the skies of Hebei, poised between dispersal and persistence.

Xiangzhou, Anyang, the Southern Shrine.

The shrine was cold and austere, wreathed in curling incense smoke, the atmosphere solemn and grave. Dozens of officials and junior officers from Xiangzhou, from Military Governor Liu Zhu on down, along with dozens of the prefecture's great clans and wealthy magnates, had gathered here to offer sacrifices in memory of the common folk who had perished in the Anyang massacre.

Of course, the generals and officials of Xiangzhou were not the principals; leading the ceremony at the center was the court's Chancellor of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Duke of Xing, Guo Wei.

Back then, when the Khitan destroyed the Later Jin and ran rampant through the Central Plains, they committed countless crimes against the people north and south of the great river, and none was more horrifying or more deeply etched into memory than the "Anyang massacre."

Thus, the tragedy of Anyang had become the symbol of the Great Han's people enduring that calamity and catastrophe. To commemorate the national tragedy, after Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, he issued a special edict to the Xiangzhou authorities to build the shrine, to honor the fallen commoners. The local government and the people offered sacrifices time and again, and when Liu Chengyou made his northern tour, he did not forget to personally offer several sticks of incense.

Passing through this place, Guo Wei naturally would not forget the matter either, so he had the Xiangzhou generals and officials organize the ceremony, and he offered sacrifices in person.

Last winter, Guo Wei, by imperial command, in his capacity as Commissioner of Military Affairs and Surveillance Commissioner of Hebei, had toured Hebei on behalf of the Son of Heaven, inspecting the frontier defenses, checking military preparedness, consoling the soldiers, gauging army morale, observing the situation both within and without, and holding detailed discussions with the frontier generals on defensive preparations. At the northernmost point, he had gone as far as Yongqing.

Now, the frontier inspection was complete, and he happened to be on the return journey.

After the sacrifices concluded, declining the warm invitation to a banquet from Military Governor Liu Zhu, Guo Wei planned to continue his journey south. At Yedu he needed to pay his respects to Fu Yanqing, and at Chanzhou his adopted son Guo Rong ought to be met with and given some words of admonition.

"Chancellor Guo, has Liu been lacking in hospitality in his welcome? Why rush south so hastily? Could it be you disdain my humble government office and are unwilling to set foot in it?" Xiangzhou Military Governor Liu Zhu's expression was somewhat displeased as he blocked Guo Wei's carriage and pressed the question.

"Lord Liu, you speak too gravely!" Facing Liu Zhu's discourteous blocking of the road, Guo Wei's face broke into a genial smile, saying, "Guo truly has urgent matters at hand—"

Liu Zhu interrupted Guo Wei very rudely again: "Chancellor Guo came north, was it not by His Majesty's command to inspect Hebei? What matter could be more urgent than that? Why pass through my Xiangzhou without stopping—what is the meaning of this? Could it be that my Xiangzhou's military and civil governance is too unsightly to behold?"

This Liu Zhu spoke most unpleasantly—blunt and audacious. Even with Guo Wei's depth of self-restraint and cultivation, he could not help but feel a surge of anger. Meeting the man's gaze, Guo Wei suppressed his displeasure and pointed toward the carriage: "Lord Liu, do not harbor suspicions. Guo truly has no other intention. Please, let us speak inside the carriage!"

Liu Zhu's eyes slanted, and he clasped his fists with force: "As you wish—I shall listen humbly to Chancellor Guo's instruction!"

Among the Great Han's veteran generals of long standing, Liu Zhu had a place. In his early years he had old ties with Liu Zhiyuan, and when the latter was Military Governor of Hedong, Liu Zhu was memorialized for a post within his administration. Liu Zhiyuan also treated him as a trusted intimate, often saying his courage and decisiveness resembled his own. He was deeply favored, and his grace and favor were no less than what was shown to Guo Wei.

At the founding of the Northern Han, he had merit in pacifying the Central Plains, was successively promoted through posts in Bian and Luo, then transferred to govern Qingzhou. Later, when Liu Chengyou carried out the rotation of governors, he was swapped with Xiangzhou Military Governor Guo Jin, and had served in that post ever since.

This Liu Zhu had a harsh, severe countenance—one look told you he was not an easy man to get along with. Hence, facing him now, Guo Wei felt somewhat helpless.

Once aboard the carriage and seated, Guo Wei finally said to him calmly: "Brother Liu and Guo are both old servants of Hedong, who followed Gaozu in pacifying the Central Plains and establishing the state. In the days of Jinyang, though we were not deeply acquainted, I have long known of Brother Liu's abilities. Since we meet here today, let me speak some words—you listen. If they are not to your liking, do not take offense!"

Hearing Guo Wei speak thus, Liu Zhu's expression improved somewhat, though it still carried a fierce, menacing quality.

Guo Wei raised a finger lightly: "I know that you, Lord Liu, have always established strict laws and enforced orders with absolute discipline—in the army, that is beyond reproach. But governing the people is not the same as commanding troops; one cannot be too harsh. When officials or commoners err, the matter should be weighed by its gravity, and punishment meted out according to the statutes. The people of Xiangzhou, having suffered devastation from the flames of war before, have yet to recover their livelihoods and spirits. Levying taxes and conscripting labor truly should not be too heavy..."

This Liu Zhu had always been cruel and fond of killing, ruthless in his methods, stubborn in temperament, and unable to brook defiance. Back when he was in Qingzhou, his governance of the people had been quite harsh and willful.

Whenever he personally heard cases, if there was the slightest offense against his will, he would order the man dragged out backward, not stopping until several hundred paces away, leaving no part of the body unbroken. Whenever he beat someone, he would have two rods strike from both sides, calling it the "Joyous Union Cane"; or he would beat a man a number of strokes equal to his age, calling it the "Years-Matching Cane."

After being transferred to Xiangzhou, he transplanted his Qingzhou methods wholesale. Thus, within barely two years of taking office, his fierce reputation spread far and wide, and none among the people under his rule did not fear him.

Guo Wei's reminder could be considered speaking deeply despite a shallow acquaintance. But Liu Zhu, hearing it, looked even worse than he had beneath the carriage, and said sullenly: "It seems Chancellor Guo truly looks down on my governance of Xiangzhou. No wonder—are you intending to use those few words just now to report me to His Majesty and have me condemned?"

At Liu Zhu's words, Guo Wei's brows immediately knitted, a murky light flashing in his eyes, his expression turning cold as he met the man's gaze.

After a moment of awkward silence, Guo Wei smiled faintly: "Guo truly has no such intention!"

His manner growing even more gentle, he added: "Of course, flaws do not obscure virtues. Your achievements, Lord Liu, in your post at Xiangzhou cannot be erased. In the early days of the state, when the court's finances were strained, Xiangzhou's annual revenues were delivered to the Eastern Capital without ever falling short or being delayed. Within your borders, bandits have vanished without trace, and no brigands arise. Since the Son of Heaven ascended, all policies enacted and regulations established have been promulgated and implemented in accordance with the edicts, with nothing omitted. Of these matters, Guo has heard, and His Majesty has greatly commended them..."

Hearing Guo Wei speak thus, Liu Zhu asked urgently: "Are these words true?"

"Absolutely no jest!" Guo Wei said seriously. Noting that Liu Zhu's gaze still flickered, he added with a smile: "The words Guo spoke just now were but one man's opinion. In these times, when the realm is not yet settled and we live in an age of chaos, for you to employ severe punishments to establish order can hardly be counted as a fault!"

Only after Guo Wei spoke thus did Liu Zhu feel comfortable...

After shaking off Liu Zhu, Guo Wei and his party hurried southward. Inside the carriage, Guo Wei's expression was very grim, and only after a long while did it recover. A trace of sardonic smile hung at the corner of his lips, quickly dissolving into a sigh.

He shook his head and muttered under his breath: "This Liu Zhu is so rigid and intractable—he may preserve himself for a time, but can he last a lifetime? All that breath I wasted on him—I fear it will not only fail to awaken his heart, but will instead have offended him. Unwise!"

Originally, after enumerating Liu Zhu's tyrannical governance, Guo Wei had some further words of admonition to follow, hoping he might reform. But observing his attitude, he felt he had been wasting his kindness. In Guo Wei's view, if Liu Zhu did not change his ways and alter his conduct, he would inevitably come to a bad end one day.

What Guo Wei did not know was that Liu Zhu's cruelty was ingrained to the very bone—how could it be easily changed? In the original course of history, the very man ordered to exterminate his entire clan was this same Liu Zhu.

Continuing south, passing through Yedu, Guo Wei composed himself and paid his respects to Fu Yanqing, spending the last night of the third year of Qianyou in Yuancheng.

Setting out anew, racing all the way toward Chanzhou, before he could even meet with his adopted son Guo Rong, he received bad news from the Eastern Capital. At least for Guo Wei, it was not a good omen.