Chapter 979: The Naval Commander

About sixty li northeast of Kaifeng, where the north-south official road ran, stood a sprawling relay station named Chenqiao Post. As a vital thoroughfare, it handled the north-south transit of officials, troops, merchants, and travelers. Over the years, it had grown increasingly prosperous, with enormous population turnover.

Its establishment had originally been conceived by Emperor Liu Chengyou, now fourteen years ago. A full command of the imperial army stood guard year-round, with over thirty clerks and attendants managing affairs, more than a hundred riding and post horses, and one hundred eighty-five guest rooms built, perpetually full. Together with Xiangfu Post to the west and Yong'an Post to the south, it was known as one of the Three Posts of the Capital Vicinity.

Along the flat, broad road stretching northward, a party rode swiftly—led by a middle-aged military officer with a thick beard and sallow complexion. The general was Guo Tingwei, Chief Commander of the Jinghai Army (upgraded from the Jingjiang Army), accompanied by only three riders. By court regulations, an officer of Guo Tingwei's rank could bring up to ten attendants when traveling.

As a surrendered general, Guo Tingwei had received rare respect and preferential treatment in the Great Han—especially as a rare naval talent in the north, he had been promoted far above the ordinary. Counting properly, he had commanded the main strength of the Great Han's navy for nearly ten years now, and in recent years had been responsible for the Han army's naval construction in Laizhou and Mizhou, spreading the Great Han's influence along the entire coast.

Especially after the northern expedition of that year, cross-sea operations had made the Great Han's ability to strike externally far more three-dimensional. Back then, he had led fifteen thousand naval troops north from Laizhou Bay, successfully landed on the Liaodong Peninsula, fought continuously, and captured several prefectures, displaying the Great Han's military might on that long-lost land.

Although he was later driven back by the Liao general Gao Xun due to factors of troop strength, supply, and popular sentiment—holding out for nearly three months before finally being pushed back into the sea—the positive effects remained. At the very least, it accumulated experience for cross-sea military operations, gave a true understanding of Liaodong's military, geographic, and folk conditions, and meant Liaodong was no longer a secure rear area for Liao.

In light of this, it was said that at the suggestion of Gao Xun, the Liao commander of the Eastern Capital, Liao had also begun forming a navy to guard against Han incursions. Yet for Liao, which had nothing to start with and not a shred of naval foundation, this step was proving extraordinarily difficult.

For Guo Tingwei, the failure in Liaodong was a disgrace—even though the Emperor had long since stated in advance that it was merely an attempt, with no regard for results. As for results, at the cost of over three thousand troops lost, he had achieved the annihilation of over ten thousand Liao soldiers—that could hardly be called a failure. But Guo Tingwei himself could not get past that hurdle in his heart.

The root of it all lay in his identity as a surrendered general, which meant that on his official path in the Great Han, he had to invest more, expend more energy and effort—this was an invisible pressure.

Thus, after retreating to Laizhou back then, the first thing Guo Tingwei did was submit a memorial to Liu Chengyou, who was still in Youzhou, begging pardon for the Liaodong campaign. Liu Chengyou naturally comforted him with kind words, had him report to the imperial presence, personally asked him about all manner of Liaodong conditions, and then encouraged him further, to ease his psychological burden.

Therefore, Guo Tingwei harbored deep gratitude toward the Emperor, single-mindedly wanting to render distinguished service to repay the imperial kindness. During these three years of lying low, he had supervised the construction of seagoing ships in the east, replenished troops, and trained for naval warfare, biding his time.

And this time, summoned to the capital, after receiving the edict and handing over military affairs, he had hurried westward with his attendants. Guo Tingwei was a general of considerable insight—from the Son of Heaven's recent actions, he could see that the opportunity had come, and the court must be deliberating a campaign against Tang. After all, when Liu Chengyou had originally ordered the establishment of a navy on the Eastern Sea, its primary target had been Jiangnan.

In earlier years, he might still have had some psychological qualms about fighting Tang, but after ten years in the Han, any feelings for his former country had long since been forgotten, and he dared not show any such attitude anymore. When he had first surrendered, the Son of Heaven might have praised his loyalty, but if he still acted coy now, that would be courting death.

On the other hand, only a few small states remained in the south. Unification was imminent, and the realm was about to return to peace. For military men like them, opportunities to build merit were growing fewer and fewer. If they did not actively distinguish themselves in the final war of unification, earning honors to ennoble their wives and children, then the future would only grow more hopeless.

By now, the Great Han had generals as numerous as clouds, and in terms of achievements, there was already a sense of too many monks and too little porridge. By comparison, Guo Tingwei was fortunate—in naval warfare, the competitive pressure was truly not great.

Before Chenqiao Post, the party reined in their horses, and a station clerk immediately came forward to greet them. Upon hearing the situation and learning their identities, the petty clerk grew even more deferential, his face wreathed in smiles, making his upturned mustache tremble slightly.

While arranging for someone to lead the horses away and feed them, he served with fawning enthusiasm, and as he led them into the station, asked considerately: "May I ask, General, whether you will be staying the night? If so, this petty clerk will make arrangements in advance!"

"No need. Prepare some food and wine—let us eat and drink our fill, then be on our way!" Guo Tingwei ordered.

"Yes! General, please follow me!" The station clerk's attentiveness did not diminish.

Upon entering, there was a din of noise. The interior of the station was like a tavern, built quite grandly—spacious and bright, with nearly forty dining tables in the main hall alone, and most of them occupied.

Those who could afford to stay at a relay station were no common folk—mostly passing officials and merchants. Gazing around, one saw people in fine silks and brocades, and some even wearing official robes directly.

His party's entrance drew considerable attention. Those who proactively came up to strike up conversation were all brusquely refused by him—he had entered the station only to eat.

Yet, seated and observing the scene around him, Guo Tingwei could not help but sigh: "The station is full of guests—truly a sight of flourishing times!"

In the Southern Tang, Guo Tingwei had witnessed prosperity and personally experienced war and chaos, but he had never felt at ease—perhaps that was the influence of a dynasty's fortune.

Waiting was a test of patience, especially the stage of waiting for food with an empty stomach. Guo Tingwei had patience in abundance, but his attendants were rather displeased—had Guo Tingwei not held them back, they would likely have been slapping the table and shouting.

At that moment, however, a man in silk robes with a black futou hat on his head walked up to the table and said to Guo Tingwei: "General Guo, my master requests your presence!"

"Oh?" A flicker of surprise and suspicion passed through Guo Tingwei's eyes. He sized the man up—thirty-some years old, a servant to be sure, but with a steady bearing that clearly marked him as no ordinary household's retainer.

"May I ask who your master is?" Guo Tingwei inquired.

The man leaned in slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke a name. Guo Tingwei's expression immediately turned solemn. He rose, clasped his hands in salute, and said humbly: "Trouble you to lead the way!"

He gave a few more instructions to his attendants, then followed the man to pay his respects.

"This subordinate pays respects to the Duke!" Entering a quiet room and seeing a middle-aged man seated upright behind a table, leisurely sipping tea, Guo Tingwei immediately stepped forward and bowed in salute.

"The General need not stand on ceremony!" Guo Rong rose to return the salute, his manner fairly cordial, and gestured: "Please, take a seat!"

Indeed, the nobleman in the room was none other than Guo Rong, Duke of Chan of the Great Han. After resting for roughly a year and recovering his health, Liu Chengyou had let him return to participate in court affairs. He had first served a year as Governor of Kaifeng, and last year had been ordered to tour the realm on the Emperor's behalf, going north to inspect border affairs—a journey of nearly half a year, from which he had only now returned.

"Many years have passed, yet the General's bearing is just as before!" Guo Rong looked at Guo Tingwei and smiled, a rare occurrence.

Guo Tingwei returned the compliment: "The Duke's noble aura is also imposing, and his dignity grows by the day!"

Not a trace of emotion showed on Guo Rong's face as he said evenly: "On this return to the capital, I stopped briefly at this post. Hearing that the General had arrived, I specially invited you for a chat!"

"This is this subordinate's honor!" Guo Tingwei maintained a certain deference toward Guo Rong.

Guo Rong's standing among the Great Han's ministers was very high, and his power and influence were heavy. Setting aside his personal ability and the Emperor's trust and reliance on him, the mere facts that he had long held military secrets and was also an imperial relative were enough to inspire awe in the vast majority of the realm.

Speaking of it, between Guo Rong and Guo Tingwei there was a certain bond of friendship. Back in the great Huainan campaign, in the Huai-dong region, Guo Rong, as the Pacification Commissioner, had faced Guo Tingwei as his greatest and most troublesome opponent. Later, Guo Tingwei's surrender had also involved Guo Rong's behind-the-scenes efforts.

Meeting by chance here this time, as they talked, there was indeed no small measure of emotion......

The two sat facing each other, sipping tea and conversing freely. Because of Guo Rong, Guo Tingwei simply chose to spend the night at Chenqiao Post, to enter the capital together with Guo Rong the next day.