Chapter 418: Matters Concluded

While Commissioner of the Wude Office and Commandery Duke of Shouyang, Li Shaoyou, was throwing his weight around in the main hall of the Wude Office, at the Duke of Xing's mansion, in the study of the rear residence, Guo Wei learned from Zhang Yongde of the Son of Heaven's visit to Guo Rong in prison.

Slowly blinking his eyes, wearing a contemplative expression, Guo Wei's aged eyes revealed no ripples—utterly calm.

"Father-in-law, judging by His Majesty's intent, he has no mind to deal severely with Brother Rong. That stern posture was likely only to give the outside world an explanation. Before long, Rong will be released from prison and take up his post in Xuzhou." Looking at Guo Wei, Zhang Yongde continued.

"Mm..." Guo Wei gave a light response, still pondering something.

Though Zhang Yongde was not the sharpest man, his qualities were still high. Seeing this, he could not help asking: "Is there something improper in your son-in-law's considerations?"

Slowly turning his head to look at this imposing son-in-law, Guo Wei's features relaxed, and he said with a faint smile: "What you see is not wrong. Your wife's elder brother killed the Prefect of Puzhou without authorization—rash as it was, the man deserved death. How could a mere Zhang Jianxiong cost my son his life? With the Son of Heaven's wisdom, he weighs everything in his heart."

"However, after this setback, it counts as a tempering for Guo Rong as well. Don't be fooled by his usual caution and sincerity—his upright and fiery nature runs deep in his bones. What is too rigid easily breaks. After this affair, I imagine he too will understand this principle."

Having said this, he looked at Zhang Yongde again and admonished: "You too must remember: when serving in the Inner Palace in the future, do not flaunt yourself. Be humble in conduct, steady in your work!"

"Your son-in-law will bear your teachings in mind!" Zhang Yongde was by nature an easy man to get along with, and he held even greater respect and deference toward Guo Wei.

"As for Chongjin, pass my words on to him as well. His temperament..." Guo Wei stopped mid-sentence, rubbed his forehead, and shook his head: "Never mind—what words of yours would he ever heed? I'll find an opportunity to speak to him personally!"

Letting out a soft sigh, Guo Wei's tone was noticeably more relaxed: "But this time, for my Guo family, it may not be a bad thing!"

"Why?" Zhang Yongde was slightly curious.

"In recent years, the Guo family has flourished. Dozens of our clansmen draw state salaries, and among the army and the court there are no few old subordinates and former officials—our power is vast. Now the old ministers are gradually withering away, and only my Guo family still stands tall—too conspicuous. And the Son of Heaven..."

Guo Wei spoke with evident emotion: "A storm like this just happens to ease the jealousy of those petty men. It also lets us see clearly who clings to power and influence, who is worth befriending, who can be trusted—that is a great gain."

"A man must know contentment and cherish his blessings! The overturned cart ahead is a warning to those behind. Otherwise, I fear the fate of elder ministers like Su and Yang will be my family's end!"

Guo Wei's words startled Zhang Yongde. On that handsome face appeared a trace of hesitation: "Surely it won't come to that. The Son of Heaven's gaze is piercing—he can tell loyal from treacherous. Moreover, your son-in-law observes that His Majesty still greatly values and protects you, Father-in-law, and Brother Rong, and treats your son-in-law generously as well..."

Seeing Zhang Yongde's reaction, Guo Wei might have sighed that you are too young, but he was even more moved that, imperceptibly, the Son of Heaven had already won such loyalty from men's hearts.

To Zhang Yongde, however, he expressed agreement: "What you say is right. The Son of Heaven still values my Guo clan. But precisely because of that, we should examine ourselves well and not fail His Majesty's grace."

Had Liu Chengyou known of the conversation between Guo Wei and Zhang Yongde, he would likely have sighed: Guo Wei is either a great loyalist or a great traitor. Then he would have continued using him while guarding against him.

Zhang Yongde nodded, but Guo Wei's words still gave him pause. After thinking it over, he could not help asking: "Father-in-law, after His Majesty finished visiting Brother Rong, I came straight to the Guo mansion to pay my respects. If His Majesty learns of this, will he think otherwise?"

At the question, Guo Wei lightly stroked his beard, a look of "the lad is teachable" in his eyes, and asked gently in return: "Have you considered why the Son of Heaven specially had you accompany him to visit the prison, and then granted you leave afterward?"

Zhang Yongde drew in a slight breath and said with some uncertainty: "His Majesty deliberately let your son-in-law inform you, Father-in-law, of Brother Rong's situation?"

Guo Wei nodded, giving him a confirming response, and murmured softly: "His Majesty is showing me his stance, to set my heart at ease!"

After further deliberation, Guo Wei wore the look of one who had made a major decision. Without paying Zhang Yongde any mind for the moment, he lowered his head, picked up a brush, and wrote on a memorial—completed in one stroke. He affixed his seal, sealed it up, and handed it to Zhang Yongde with instructions: "Go into the palace again and present this memorial to His Majesty on my behalf!"

"Yes!" Zhang Yongde stepped forward to receive it. Even as he accepted the order, he could not suppress his curiosity: "Father-in-law, this is...?"

Guo Wei did not put on an air of mystery to conceal it, saying: "Merely my petition to retire from office."

That lightly spoken sentence left Zhang Yongde greatly astonished.

Later the next day, Liu Chengyou received the memorial from Guo Wei, forwarded by Zhang Yongde, who had come on duty at the palace.

Liu Chengyou seemed to be in quite a good mood—nothing like the fury of the previous day. After reading Guo Wei's resignation request, he was quite surprised. After a moment's thought, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Looking at Zhang Yongde, who stood bowed in the hall awaiting orders, Liu Chengyou said directly: "Minister Guo is a veteran of two reigns, a pillar of state, in the prime of his vigor. Why speak of retiring? Would that not be the court's loss?"

"Zhang Yongde!"

"Your servant is here!" Zhang Yongde responded.

Liu Chengyou instructed him: "Since you delivered Minister Guo's letter, you shall also carry a message for me. Tell Minister Guo that I still have much need of his support—I absolutely will not permit his resignation. That said, I know not how his health fares; let him rest a while longer, and once he has recovered, he may serve the court again!"

"Yes!" Having heard Liu Chengyou's words, Zhang Yongde felt an indescribable sensation—an inexplicable relief in his heart.

After Zhang Yongde withdrew, Liu Chengyou looked at Wang Zhu, who was attending before the imperial presence: "Tell me, why would Guo Wei submit a resignation request at this time?"

Facing the Son of Heaven's inquiry, Wang Zhu thought for a moment and answered: "Your servant boldly ventures that it is for Guo Rong's sake. The censors and the investigators of the Wude Office have all returned to the capital to report. Your Majesty must have already reached a decision on the Zhang Jianxiong case of Puzhou. Duke Guo seeks to trade a memorial for Guo Rong's life!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help taking a longer look at Wang Zhu, and saw that his face still bore that air of self-satisfied confidence. This man, after all, was young, with no depth of cunning—he truly said everything straight out, and dared to say it...

"Lately, because of the Puzhou affair, there has been much discussion throughout the court and the realm, has there not?" Liu Chengyou said.

"Indeed!" Wang Zhu was somewhat curious as to why the Son of Heaven asked what he already knew.

Liu Chengyou's tone turned stern: "Go to the Hall of State Affairs and transmit my decree. I find that of late the tide of opinion in the court has been surging, men's hearts unsettled, to the point that governance has been neglected—this vexes me greatly. Let all ministers be vigilant, devote themselves to governance, and cease idle rumor-mongering!"

Liu Chengyou's words were already quite severe. Once this decree was issued, any intelligent man could see that, regarding the storm stirred by the Puzhou case, the Son of Heaven intended to cool things down and rein it in.

Another day, Liu Chengyou issued a decree to deliberate on the crimes committed by the late Prefect of Puzhou, Zhang Jianxiong, during his tenure. There was no leniency for the dead. With the evidence complete, what could the ministers say? His Majesty's stance was plain to see. And so Zhang Jianxiong found no peace even in death—fourteen more crimes were added posthumously, and his reputation was utterly destroyed.

Several days later, Liu Chengyou again had the ministers deliberate on the crime of Guo Rong, Military Governor of Zhenning Army, in "wrongfully killing" the criminal official Zhang Jianxiong. The ministers deliberated: the crime was unforgivable, yet the circumstances were understandable. His noble rank and office were stripped, and he was demoted to serve as Patrol Inspector in Xuzhou.

During this period, as the ministers could see, more than a dozen censors of the Three Courts, both within and outside the capital, were dismissed and punished.

What the ministers could not see was that within the Wude Office, a purification had been carried out—far quieter in its movements, but extraordinarily harsh in its methods. Men like Hou Zan, Chief of the Capital District, had vanished as if they had never existed, their traces naturally lost without a word...