Chapter 724: Father and Son Both Chancellors, One Family Two Dukes

In the seventh month of the eighth year of Qianyou, the Han Emperor issued an edict, appointing Duke of Xing, Guo Wei, as Grand Academician of Guangzheng Hall and Chief Minister, adding the title of Director of the Secretariat, entering the Hall of State Affairs to conduct matters, formally becoming chancellor. At the same time, for his contributions in planning the southern campaign, Commissioner of Military Affairs Guo Rong was elevated in rank to Duke of Chan, with an additional hundred households of fief.

Once the edict was issued, the entire court turned their eyes—two dukes from one family, father and son both chancellors, and with the newly entered Ning Consort in the palace, the Guo clan's prestige was unmatched at the time. Yet the Guo father and son found no flavor in their food and no rest in their sleep, clearly feeling a blazing fire beneath their seats—and the one who lit it was none other than the Son of Heaven of Han.

Walking slowly along the palace corridors, Guo Wei wore a grave expression, his gaze nearly without ripple, appearing utterly oblivious to what passed before him. In the days since becoming chancellor, apart from entering the palace to express gratitude, Guo Wei had made excuses to stay home, closing his gates to visitors. For this reason, Liu Chengyou was quite concerned, sending people several times to urge him into the Hall of State Affairs to manage matters. Unable to withstand the "gracious insistence," he finally entered the palace.

"We officials welcome Duke Xing!" As soon as Guo Wei entered the Hall of State Affairs, a group of Vice Ministers, Grand Masters, and court officials led by Chief Minister Li Tao bowed to him in unison.

This display of chancellors lowering their heads and the central government welcoming him made Guo Wei's heart stir slightly. Looking at those faces full of humility and flattery, Guo Wei hurriedly returned the salute, cupping his hands and saying, "You are all too kind. I, Guo, truly do not deserve this reception!"

"In the entire court, only Duke Xing is worthy of it!" Li Tao stepped forward, beaming, and said, "Duke Xing is a founding minister of the state, with outstanding achievements and deep familiarity with military and civil affairs. Now that you have entered the Hall of State Affairs, we can receive your guidance at all times!"

Hearing this, Guo Wei immediately shook his head: "Chancellor Li flatters me. I am but a mere military man—how could I understand the way of governing the state and managing affairs? His Majesty trusts me, so I must reluctantly take it on. The handling of great state matters still requires relying on great talents like Chancellor Li, Chancellor Fan, Chancellor Xue, and Chancellor Wei!"

"Duke Xing is too modest. In your three years at Xiangyang, you brought political harmony and prosperity to the people, with all six kinds of livestock thriving. When we heard of it, we were all deeply impressed!" Li Tao remained all smiles.

"I dare not accept such praise. It was all due to His Majesty's and the court's sound policies—I merely executed them as written, nothing worth mentioning!" Guo Wei waved his hand.

Seeing everyone still standing there, Guo Wei cupped his hands and said in a clear voice, "You are all important ministers of the state in key positions. Please return to your posts and do not neglect official business on account of this old man!"

At his words, the assembled staff on duty in the Hall of State Affairs dispersed. Seeing this, Li Tao said, "Duke Xing's selfless devotion is truly admirable!"

Glancing at Li Tao, Guo Wei's gaze gradually deepened. From the moment he entered the hall, this man had exhausted every means of flattery—which did not match his usual behavior and reputation—and Guo Wei could sense the jealousy and malice hidden behind that smile.

The Emperor's rewards to the Guo father and son had shocked the entire court, including Li Tao himself. And this time, the Emperor had issued the edict directly, without consulting Li Tao and the others at all—which in truth made Li Tao and his cohort quite dissatisfied, both with the Emperor's arbitrary decision and with Guo Wei entering the Hall of State Affairs.

The Great Han's current chancellors—Li Tao, Fan Zhi, Wei Renpu, Xue Juzheng, and Guo Rong—this team had operated smoothly for years, already settled into a state of balance. Guo Wei's elevation to chancellor immediately shattered that balance. Especially with father and son both in the chancellorship, one in military and one in civil affairs, it was a blow to the central leadership collective.

And for Li Tao personally, it was not a good thing either. Originally he had the most seniority and the highest standing in the Hall of State Affairs; with Guo Wei's arrival, he would have to lower his head.

Of course, to have risen to chancellor of the Great Han, served two emperors, and remained in the chancellorship for so many years—he was no simple man. When he temporarily suppressed his desire for power, cast aside his jealousy, and thought things over with a cool head, he gradually caught on that there was something suspicious in all this.

The Emperor's favor toward the Guo family was overly generous—so generous it seemed abnormal. If taking Ning Consort into the palace counted as normal operations, then father and son both in the chancellorship and both enfeoffed as dukes was truly excessive.

Recalling that in the fifth year of Qianyou, when Guo Rong was merely promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs, Liu Chengyou had sent Guo Wei out to be Military Governor of Xiangzhou—let alone now. The Guo family's strength in military, political, and court circles was something they chancellors both envied and feared—let alone the Son of Heaven. How could he continue to expand their power and influence like this?

Having reasoned this through, Li Tao caught on: there must be more changes coming—either Guo Wei or Guo Rong. And he guessed, or perhaps hoped, it would be Guo Wei.

Li Tao believed the others could see something too. That was why this time, the chancellors did not go to the Emperor to argue their case or oppose the matter, laying out all the hidden dangers and risks—including Fan Zhi, who though dissatisfied, did not voice his opinion. Fan Zhi was known for his uprightness, forthrightness, and willingness to speak out, but even he picked his moments.

And after consideration, toward Guo Wei's elevation to chancellor, Li Tao chose warm welcome, while harboring a calm yet expectant mood, sitting back to watch the Emperor turn his hand to make clouds and rain.

Although Guo Wei had become chancellor and been pushed into the Hall of State Affairs, Liu Chengyou had not assigned him any specific duties or areas of responsibility. Thus, though he sat within it, he had no matters to manage.

Of course, having no specific portfolio could also be interpreted as being able to oversee everything—but with Guo Wei's intelligence, he would never take the initiative to meddle. Li Tao did bring some matters to ask Guo Wei's opinion, but was refused, with Guo Wei telling him to handle them himself.

Seated behind a desk, Guo Wei observed the bustling activity around him, feeling a sense of being out of place. Of course, with his depth of character, he could sit there composedly. Sipping tea while reading *Chronicles Beyond the Passes*—a book he had read for decades without ever tiring of it. And he had brought it from home before leaving, as if he had long prepared to spend his time reading in the Hall of State Affairs.

In the afternoon, waking from a brief nap and stepping out of the rest room, the Hall of State Affairs was still immersed in a solemn atmosphere. A palace eunuch from Chongzheng Hall entered, walked straight to Guo Wei, and bowed.

"What is it?" Guo Wei looked the young eunuch over.

With a humble smile at the corners of his mouth, the eunuch presented the food box in his hands and said respectfully, "His Majesty was tasting wide-crisp cakes and specially bestows a box upon Duke Xing, ordering me to deliver it, saying it should be eaten while hot!"

Hearing this, Guo Wei's brow furrowed slightly, but his demeanor remained natural as he thanked the favor and accepted it. Opening the lid, looking at the plate of thin, crisp, appetizing flatbreads, he could not help but sigh. He took out a piece and tasted it—the flavor was indeed quite good.

Glancing around, he saw that it had indeed drawn the attention of the assembled officials, and the bitterness at the corners of his mouth grew stronger.

"His Majesty's care for Duke Xing is truly thorough—how enviable!" Li Tao walked up beside Guo Wei and remarked with feeling.

"His Majesty's grace—I, Guo, have no way to repay it!" Guo Wei also cupped his hands, looking at Li Tao: "Would Chancellor Li care to try one? This cake is crisp and flaky, quite delicious!"

Li Tao shook his head with a smile: "This is His Majesty's gracious gift to Duke Xing—I would not dare be greedy!"

"No matter..." Guo Wei was also all smiles.

That night, before returning home, Guo Wei personally drafted a resignation memorial and submitted it to Chongzheng Hall. His words were plain and earnest, saying that his virtue was shallow and his ability meager, truly unworthy of the chancellor's seat. To avoid harming the state and the people, he begged the Emperor to strip him of the chancellorship and appoint another worthy person.

In fact, when Liu Chengyou first issued the gracious edict, the Guo father and son had jointly declined, saying they dared not accept it, but Liu Chengyou had refused on the grounds that an edict could not be changed.

On Liu Chengyou's side, upon receiving Guo Wei's resignation memorial, his brow furrowed slightly, but the corner of his mouth twitched a little. This was only the first day in the Hall of State Affairs, and he could not take it anymore?

"Still too suspicious!" Liu Chengyou remarked with a sigh, then asked Zhang Dejun: "And the Duke of Xing?"

"He has already left the palace and returned to his residence!" Zhang Dejun replied.

"What affairs did he handle in the Hall of State Affairs today?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

Zhang Dejun reported: "Today Duke Xing did not read a single memorial or handle a single matter—he only drank tea and read a book, and so passed the day!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's eyebrows rose slightly, but beyond that, there was no other visible change on his face.

After considering for a while, Liu Chengyou issued his response to Guo Wei's resignation memorial: not approved.

But though Liu Chengyou did not approve, the very next day, Guo Wei requested leave. For Guo Wei, this feeling of wanting to retreat but being unable to was the hardest thing to bear.