Chapter 155

In the spring of the second year of Broad Obedience of the Later Zhou, the willow branches by the road sprouted tender green new buds; the morning sunshine, passing through thin mist, fell on the palace walls, adding a touch of warmth to this imperial city. Yet the atmosphere of the early court inside the Hall of Purple Clarity was utterly out of place with the spring vitality outside the window.

Civil and military officials, arranged by rank, stood in orderly rows on either side of the great hall; their scarlet, green, and blue robes layered upon each other, yet not a bit of the usual court murmurs could be heard.

Upon the Dragon Throne sat the founding emperor of the Later Zhou, Guo Wei, wearing a yellowish-red dragon robe. Though the fabric was still fine cloud brocade, the marks of repeated starching and washing were clearly visible, the edges even somewhat faded; compared to the usual splendor of an emperor's dragon robe, it had an added plainness.

He sat upright on the Dragon Throne, his back straight as ever, but his face was unusually calm; his gaze slowly swept over the officials below, lacking any bit of imperial menace, instead bearing a tranquility born of worldly experience.

Yet beneath this calm, the traces of time could not be hidden. His temples were streaked with large patches of gray, his once sharp, bright eyes now showed a hint of fatigue, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deeply etched, far deeper than at his accession, as if he had aged ten or so years.

Everyone knows that since Guo Wei's accession, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to governance: reducing taxes to let the people rest and recover, reforming the bureaucracy and severely punishing corrupt officials, repairing waterworks to restore agricultural production—in just over a year, the mess left by the Later Han gradually improved, the whole nation thrived, and the people's lives grew steadily stable. Yet behind these achievements lay Guo Wei's daily toil, the fatigue of countless nights spent reviewing memorials; time ultimately gave no special favor to this diligent emperor.

"Report matters early, retire court if none." The nearby eunuch's shrill voice broke the hall's silence; he shouted these words, his voice echoing in the spacious Hall of Purple Clarity, yet it did not elicit the usual eager step forward from the officials.

Just as the eunuch's words faded and the hall was about to fall silent again, a figure slowly stepped forward from the civil officials' ranks. It was the current chancellor, Fan Zhi, already white-haired and beard-white, each step trembling and unsteady, his green chancellor's robe hanging loosely on him.

He walked to the center of the hall, stopped, bowed slightly; his voice was not loud, but carried a steadiness forged by court storms, clearly reaching every corner of the hall: "Your servant, I have a memorial to present."

Guo Wei on the Dragon Throne also sat up a little straighter, his eyes falling on Fan Zhi; his brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He had long known the officials' recent worries, and now they would finally be brought into the open.

"Chancellor Fan, what is the matter?" he asked, feigning calm.

Fan Zhi did not answer directly, but first lavishly praised Guo Wei's achievements since his accession.

"…Since Your Majesty's accession, you have lightened taxes and reduced corvée, letting the people rest; you have straightened military affairs, punished treachery within, and repelled strong foes without. Thus the realm's hearts turn to you, and all peoples look up in admiration. I believe that the glory of our Great Zhou already far surpasses that of previous dynasties. Your achievements may be compared to those of the Han founder and the Tang ancestor!"

That flattery was laid on a bit too thick, yet all the civil and military officials nodded in agreement.

A faint smile appeared on Guo Wei's face. "Chancellor Fan overpraises me. I have merely done what ought to be done."

"No!" Fan Zhi's tone suddenly rose fervently: "Your Majesty, what you have done is already enough. However, the memorial I present today concerns the succession of our Later Zhou realm and the peace of the world's people; I cannot refrain from speaking!"

Saying this, he fiercely lifted his court robes and knelt before Guo Wei.

"Please, Your Majesty, appoint an heir early to set the hearts of the realm's people at ease!"

His kneeling was like a signal.

Clatter…

All the civil and military officials of the court, regardless of what they thought, now dropped to their knees in unison.

"Please, Your Majesty, appoint an heir early to set the hearts of the realm's people at ease!"

A sound like mountains shouting and seas roaring echoed throughout the vast hall.

Guo Wei's smile vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised weariness and sorrow.

Heir?

How could he not want to establish an heir?

But what could he use to establish one?

His several biological sons had long since died under the butcher's knife of that madman, Liu Chengyou.

He now has not even a single offspring who can carry on his bloodline.

He fell silent.

Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell; only the officials' heavy breathing remained.

"Your Majesty!" Fan Zhi raised his head, tears streaming down his aged face, "I know this is Your Majesty's heartache. But the state cannot go a day without an heir! Although our Great Zhou has just risen, powerful enemies still surround us on all sides: the Khitan to the north, the Southern Tang to the south, and Later Shu to the west. They are all waiting to see our Great Zhou become a laughingstock!"

"If... if Your Majesty's health fails while the succession remains undecided, it will surely cause great turmoil! By then, the hard-won favorable situation of our Great Zhou will be destroyed in an instant! The world will once again plunge into war! Your Majesty, can you bear to see the myriad commoners suffer again?"

Fan Zhi's words were spoken with every word dripping with blood.

Guo Wei's heart ached as if being pricked by needles.

He knew that everything Fan Zhi said was correct.

This is not pressuring the palace.

This is, for the dynasty he founded with his own hands, the most helpless yet most realistic consideration.

He slowly closed his eyes.

In his mind appeared the faces of his several sons who had died tragically.

The eldest, Qingge'er, accomplished in both civil and military affairs, bearing the demeanor of his youth.

The second, Yige'er, intelligent and eager to learn, the most filial.

……

If they were still alive, how wonderful that would be.

After a long while, he finally reopened his eyes, his voice hoarse as he said, "All officials... rise."

The officials hesitated for a moment, then still rose to their feet.

"This matter... I, I know." Guo Wei's tone was full of helplessness, "Allow me... to think again."

"Your Majesty!" Fan Zhi still wanted to urge further.

Guo Wei, however, waved his hand, indicating he should say no more.

"Let's dismiss court."

Having said that, he rose from the dragon throne, walked into the rear hall without looking back, leaving only a desolate, aged silhouette.

……

The news that the morning court had ended unhappily still quickly spread throughout the whole city of Kaifeng.

Discussion of the succession became the hottest topic in the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns.

"Have you heard? Today at the morning court, the entire civil and military establishment pressed Your Majesty to appoint a crown prince!"

"Appoint a crown prince? Your Majesty, you don't even have a son left!"

"Exactly! What are we to do? If Your Majesty suffers any mishap, won't the world fall into chaos again?"

"Alas, heaven envies talent! After finally hoping for a wise ruler, he... he is about to have no heir."

The people's worries are genuine.

They truly fear that the peaceful days, which have barely lasted two years, will be lost again.

And the officials in the court then began various forms of "advice and remonstration."

Some suggested that Guo Wei adopt a child from the imperial clan's collateral branches and make him crown prince.

Guo Wei's Guo surname is not a major clan. The collateral branches of the imperial clan are so convoluted that blood ties are already very thin. Moreover, those so-called "relatives" are all mediocre and utterly incapable of shouldering great responsibility.

Guo Wei didn't think much of it.

Others suggested that Guo Wei follow the example of ancient sage rulers and abdicate in favor of someone virtuous and capable.

For example, Chancellor Fan Zhi, or those meritorious generals who followed him in conquering the realm.

This suggestion is even less reliable.

Guo Wei himself was a powerful minister of the previous dynasty, rising step by step. He knows better than anyone that once he shows any intention of abdicating, it will stir up a bloody storm.

At that time, his arrogant troops and fierce generals, vying for the throne, would likely turn Kaifeng City into a new battlefield of carnage.

Still others were bolder.

They suggested that Guo Wei widely collect beauties from all over the world to fill the harem. While his health is still fairly robust, he should make another effort; perhaps he could still father a son or daughter.

Upon hearing this suggestion, Guo Wei was so angry he nearly drew his sword and struck someone on the spot.

He is already over fifty, and still doing this? Isn't that just letting the world laugh at him?

Adoption, no.

Abdication, no.

Having his own offspring, even less possible.

Guo Wei realized he had fallen into a dead end.

Even if he truly possessed great talent and strategy, he could not untie this dead end.

He began to suffer insomnia, sitting all night in his study, staring at the huge map of the realm on the wall, saying nothing.

His ambition remains. He wants to launch a northern expedition against the Khitan, go south to pacify rebellions, and unify the realm.

But all of this requires time.

And what he lacks most is time.

He felt like an artisan who had exhausted everything to build a magnificent palace.

But in the end, he discovered he had no heir to inherit that palace.

After his death, the palace will either fall into ruin from lack of maintenance, or be overrun by a pack of vicious wolves that will devour everything, leaving only broken walls.

That immense sense of helplessness and resentment almost crushed him.

Just when he was exhausted and out of ideas,

a eunuch attendant cautiously entered.

"Report to Your Majesty. Outside the palace, someone claiming to be from the Wang Family of Jiangnan requests an audience."

"The Wang Family?"

Guo Wei's spirits were lifted.