Chapter 402: Guo Wei Falls Ill

Ten li away, facing Puyang City across the distance, Guo Wei and his party rested by the roadside, with over two hundred soldiers of the Longjie Army (cavalry of the Imperial Guard) patrolling the vicinity, eating and feeding their horses.

Guo Wei looked at the secret message sent from the Eastern Capital, his old brows rising high, a shadow of gloom hanging over his forehead, his expression extraordinarily grave.

"You have worked hard coming here; go rest for now!" Steadying his mind, Guo Wei said to the messenger who had ridden north posthaste.

"Yes!"

"Your Excellency, what has happened?" Seeing Guo Wei's expression was amiss, a subordinate beside him, around thirty years of age, could not help asking.

The subordinate was named Wang Zan, low in rank but distinguished in bearing. In his youth he had been a minor clerk, originally a scribe in Puyang. When Guo Rong was appointed Military Governor of Zhenning Army, he discovered Wang Zan's ability, believing this man to be capable in handling affairs and clear in his knowledge of statutes—a rare talent.

Later, because Guo Wei lacked capable men around him (Guo Wei's original core team had nearly been dug out clean by Liu Chengyou), Guo Rong recommended him. Guo Wei accepted and observed him, and indeed found him worthy, employing him as a bureau official in the Bureau of Military Affairs, serving in a secretarial capacity. Over two years, he had come to rely on him as a trusted confidant.

Meeting Wang Zan's curious gaze, Guo Wei handed him the secret letter, then immediately called out to a personal officer at his side: "Li Shen!"

"Here!" the personal officer answered.

"Within ten zhang, no one is permitted to approach!" Guo Wei ordered sternly.

Though somewhat bewildered, the personal officer Li Shen did not hesitate in the slightest. After acknowledging the order, he began arranging the accompanying guards.

As for Wang Zan, after reading the letter, he wore an expression similar to Guo Wei's—he even drew in a sharp breath of cold air. What was written in the letter was concise and to the point: Liu Chengyou's appointment of Wei Renpu and the decision to divide authority.

Looking at Guo Wei, who stood with hands clasped behind his back and an indifferent expression, Wang Zan could not help saying: "Your Excellency, His Majesty's move—called a reform of official posts, it is in truth a division of the Bureau of Military Affairs' power. It is meant to check Your Excellency!"

Guo Wei's upright stance was steady; only his beard and robes fluttering in the wind betrayed the turmoil within him.

"I had long anticipated this, yet I did not expect it to be so sudden, nor in such a manner!" Guo Wei said with a sigh.

"The present Son of Heaven was also forged in the ranks, not raised by a woman's hand; he knows the weight of armies. These past years, setting aside old generals, promoting the young, dividing the Imperial Guard Command—all of it has been to strengthen control over the imperial army. Now that the imperial army is essentially in his grasp and all military affairs of the realm have been gathered under the Bureau of Military Affairs, given the Son of Heaven's temperament, how could he tolerate the Bureau holding sole and excessive power?"

"Wei Renpu was placed in the Bureau of Military Affairs almost from the founding of the state. Later, Wang Jun was transferred in as Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs—clearly also to check me. And now, not even half a year after Wang Jun's transfer to the Imperial Guard Command, there is already this move to strip authority..."

Hearing Guo Wei's lament, Wang Zan said in a low voice: "Separating military and political affairs into different bureaus does indeed benefit the consolidation of imperial authority and sovereign prestige. But for the state at this time, it is not without drawbacks. The Bureau of Military Affairs spent three years of effort to make the Great Han's military orders flow smoothly throughout, reaching the frontier passes. Now undertaking such a major move will inevitably cause chaos—the army absolutely must not be thrown into disorder. Moreover, you, sir, are the principal official of the Bureau. His Majesty bypassed Your Excellency to carry this out—such a method truly..."

Truly what, Wang Zan did not say, but his tone clearly conveyed indignation on Guo Wei's behalf.

"Thinking on it now, when the Son of Heaven had me make the northern inspection tour, he already harbored this intention!" Guo Wei shook his head and said: "This emperor of ours, though young, his methods—sometimes one cannot help but admire them!"

Wang Zan said in a tone of reminder: "Only, Your Excellency, His Majesty bypassing you for this matter, in the eyes of those with discerning minds at court..."

"I understand your meaning!" Guo Wei said.

It was a signal that Guo Wei was about to fall from favor and lose power, and he feared someone might take the opportunity to kick a man when he was down. Over the years, among the founding ministers of Hedong, Guo Wei was the one Liu Chengyou valued most; father and son were both important ministers. Standing alone and unique at court, his prestige growing daily, he had long been the object of envy and jealousy.

And what Guo Wei represented in the Great Han was not merely his Guo clan alone—silently, an interest group had formed around him, with roots and branches tangled deep in the army and the bureaucracy. Once Guo Wei fell, it would inevitably affect the prospects of a great many people—for instance, Wang Zan standing before him.

When Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, and Yang Bin had fallen back then, many civil and military officials had been implicated—stripped of office and rank, imprisoned and exiled, some even losing their lives.

"Your Excellency, how do you plan to respond to this matter?" Having calmed down, Wang Zan asked.

"Things have come to this—what more can be done?" Guo Wei finally turned his head and looked at Wang Zan as he asked.

Wang Zan thought for a moment, drew a deep breath, clasped his hands, and instinctively lowered his voice further: "His Majesty's decision is easy to make, but difficult to implement, and harder still to transition smoothly. Your Excellency has served in the Bureau for many years, with no small prestige at court and in the army. Should you refuse to cooperate, or even resist, the matter is bound to fall into difficulty. If it causes confusion in state affairs and military orders, obstructs the flow of commands from above, and the army falls into disorder—perhaps His Majesty might be forced to compromise and change course, who knows..."

Wang Zan's words made Guo Wei's expression turn extremely grave, and displeasure rose within him.

However, before Guo Wei could react, Wang Zan added with a bitter smile of his own: "Only, such a course would bring endless troubles; it is not advisable!"

Seeing this, Guo Wei's expression finally relaxed. He closed his eyes and composed himself for a long while, and when he opened them, he had regained his usual composure: "The army is not so easily thrown into disorder. Wei Renpu's talent—I know it well. However complex the affairs, I doubt they will cause him much trouble. Rather than going against the sovereign's will, it is better to go with the current..."

As he spoke, Guo Wei chuckled a few times, and there was even a note of desolation in his voice: "Founding elders, ministers who assisted governance—Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Su Yugui, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, and even many old generals of the army—have been demoted, condemned, or retired into obscurity. What virtue or ability do I, Guo Wei, possess to alone preserve myself?"

"Enough. A man who knows the times should not go against the Son of Heaven! If he wants to reform the system, if he wants to gather power, let him. I, Guo, will keep my distance and not cross blades with his edge!"

"Your Excellency intends to bide your time, retreating in order to advance?" Wang Zan asked.

Guo Wei shook his head and said faintly: "Merely self-preservation!"

Gazing southwest, he stood for a long while. The wind at the turn of winter into spring still cut to the bone with cold, but at this moment it could not match the chill in Guo Wei's heart.

"Pass the order: hasten southward, return to the Eastern Capital!" Guo Wei instructed Wang Zan.

Wang Zan was taken aback and asked: "Your Excellency will not see Governor Guo?"

"At a time like this, it is better that father and son do not meet!" Guo Wei said thus.

And so it was: Guo Wei led his men past Puyang without entering, did not see his adopted son, skirted around the city walls, and headed straight for the ferry crossing. In hurried haste, his cold and stern countenance only set off the restless state of his mind.

When he set foot on the southern bank of the Yellow River in the evening, Guo Wei suddenly seemed to come to himself and muttered: "Why am I in such a hurry to return to the capital? Wouldn't that just be causing trouble for others?"

Having said this, he instructed those around him: "Tonight we rest at the ferry crossing. Tomorrow we continue the journey—take it slow, no need for haste!"

From the mouth of the Yellow River to the Eastern Capital was a distance of only a little over two hundred li, and most of his escort was cavalry, with carts and horses in full supply. Under Guo Wei's deliberate control, they managed to stretch the journey to a full ten days before finally returning to Kaifeng.

He entered the palace to report to Liu Chengyou on the border inspection tour, presenting the problems observed and submitting recommendations for rectification.

After returning to his residence, Guo Wei fell ill—claiming fatigue from the journey and wind-cold invading his body, urgently needing rest—and requested leave from Liu Chengyou.