Ten miles away, facing Puyang City in the distance, Guo Wei and his party rested temporarily on the left side of the road. Two hundred Yu Longjie sergeants (guards and horse troops) patrolled the surrounding area, eating and feeding their horses.
Guo Wei looked at the secret message sent from Tokyo, his eyebrows were high, a cloud covered his forehead, and his expression was extremely serious.
"You've worked hard here, go down and rest first!" Guo Wei calmed down and said to the messenger coming from the north on Pegasus.
"yes!"
"Prime Minister, what happened?" Seeing Guo Wei's expression, a subordinate in his thirties couldn't help but ask.
His subordinate was named Wang Zan. He had a low position but outstanding temperament. He was a minor official in his youth. He was originally a pen official in Puyang. When Guo Rong moved to Zhenning and was stationed at the Army Festival, he discovered his abilities and thought that this person was capable of doing things and could understand the laws and orders clearly. He was a rare person. Talents.
Later, because Guo Wei lacked people around him (Guo Wei's original team was about to be poached by Liu Chengyou), he recommended him. Guo Weina took a look at him and found him to be a virtuous person. He was appointed as a minister of the Privy Council and acted as a secretary. After two years, he became his confidant.
Facing Wang Zan's curious gaze, Guo Wei handed him the secret letter and immediately called to a pro-schoolteacher next to him: "Li Shen!"
"Yes!" the principal responded.
"No one is allowed to come close within ten feet!" Guo Wei ordered sternly.
Although he was a little confused, the principal Li Shen didn't hesitate at all. After responding, he arranged for the escort to accompany him.
On Wang Zan's side, after reading the letter, he made a similar expression to Guo Wei, and even took a deep breath. What was written in the letter was concise and concise, which was Liu Chengyou's appointment of Wei Renpu and his decision to divide powers.
Looking at Guo Wei, who was standing with his hands behind his back with an indifferent expression, Wang Zan couldn't help but said: "Prime Minister, your Majesty's move is called reforming official officials, but it is actually dividing the power of the Privy Council, and it is to check and balance the Prime Minister!"
Guo Wei's upright figure is very stable, and only his beard and clothes fluttering in the wind set off the waves in his heart.
"I had expected it, but I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly and in such a way!" Guo Wei said with emotion.
"In today's world, one can be regarded as having been sent to the army, not being raised by women, who know the importance of soldiers and horses. In the past few years, banishing veteran generals, promoting junior generals, and dividing the bodyguard department have all strengthened the control of the Forbidden Army. Now the Forbidden Army basically operates on With the Emperor's hand, the military affairs of the whole country are under the control of the Privy Council. With the Emperor's character, how can we allow the Privy Council's family to become powerful?"
"Wei Renpu was assigned to the Privy Council almost from the beginning of the founding of the country. Later, Wang Jun was transferred to the Privy Council Deputy Envoy, which was obviously a check and balance on me. Wang Jun was transferred to the Guards Department. In less than half a year, there was a move to reduce power... .”
Hearing Guo Wei's emotion, Wang Zan said in a deep voice: "The division of military and political affairs into divisions is indeed conducive to the consolidation of imperial power. However, at this time, it is not beneficial or without disadvantages for the country. It took the Privy Council three years to make the military orders inside and outside the Han Dynasty Travel smoothly and reach the frontier fortress. Carrying out such a big move this time will inevitably cause chaos, and the army must not be chaotic. Moreover, as the chief minister of the Privy Council, His Majesty went beyond the Privy Council to carry out this matter. Such an approach is really... ....”
Wang Zan did not say anything, but his tone clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with Guo Wei.
"Now that I think about it, the emperor already had this in mind when he asked me to patrol the north!" Guo Wei shook his head and said: "Although our emperor is young, his methods sometimes have to be matched by others. !”
Wang Zan said in a reminding tone: "It's just that your Majesty went beyond the prime minister to do this, and it fell into the eyes of someone with ulterior motives in the court..."
"I understand what you mean!" Guo Wei said.
That was a signal that Guo Wei was about to fall out of favor and power, and he was afraid that someone would take the opportunity to add insult to injury. Over the years, among the Yuan ministers in Hedong, Guo Wei was the most valued by Liu Chengyou. Both father and son were important ministers. Standing alone in the central government, his reputation is growing, and he is envied and envied by others.
And Guo Wei represents not only his Guo family in Han Dynasty, but has quietly formed an interest group, including the army and bureaucracy, which are intricately connected. Once Guo Wei falls, it will inevitably affect the future of a large number of people, such as Wang Zan in front of him.
When Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, and Yang Bin were overthrown, many civil and military officials were involved. They resigned, seized titles, were imprisoned and exiled, and even lost their lives.
"How does the Prime Minister plan to deal with this matter?" Wang Zan asked after calming down.
"Now that the matter has come to this, what else can be done?" Guo Wei finally turned his head and looked at Wang Zan and asked.
Wang Zan thought for a while, took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and subconsciously lowered his voice: "It is easy for Your Majesty to make this decision, but it is difficult to implement it, and it is even more difficult to make a smooth transition. The Privy Council has been in office for many years, and his prestige among the DPRK and Chinese military is not good. If you don't cooperate or even conflict, your affairs will inevitably fall into trouble. If it causes chaos in the military and administrative orders, hinders the communication of superior information, and causes chaos in the army, your Majesty may be forced to compromise or change course..."
Wang Zan's words made Guo Wei's expression solemn and unhappy.
However, before Guo Wei could react, Wang Zan smiled bitterly and added: "It's just like this, there will be endless troubles, so it's not advisable!"
Seeing this, Guo Wei's expression softened. He closed his eyes for a long time and concentrated. When he opened his eyes, he returned to his usual calmness: "The army is not so easy to get into chaos. I also know Wei Renpu's talent. Even if the affairs are complicated, he can only I'm afraid it won't cause much trouble to him. Instead of going against his will, let's go with the flow..."
As he said that, Guo Wei laughed a few times, with a bit of sadness in his voice: "The founding fathers and ministers who assisted the government, Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Su Yugui, Yang Yi, Wang Zhang, and even many veteran generals in the army were either demoted or convicted. , or hiding, how can I, Guo Wei, be so virtuous and able to take care of myself alone?"
"Forget it, those who know the current affairs should not go against the emperor! He wants to change the system and take back power. Let him go. Guo should stay away and don't use his talents!"
"Is the Prime Minister planning to keep a low profile and retreat in order to advance?" Wang Zan asked.
Guo Wei shook his head and said calmly: "You are just protecting yourself!"
Looking to the southwest, the phoenix that stood there for a long time in winter and spring is still cold to the bones, but at this moment it is not as cold as Guo Wei.
"Send the order, speed up south and return to Tokyo!" Guo Wei ordered Wang Zan.
Wang Zan was stunned and asked: "Has the Prime Minister not seen Ambassador Guo?"
"At this time, it would be better for my father and son not to meet each other!" Guo Wei said.
In this way, Guo Wei led his people, passed Puyang without entering, ignored his adopted son, bypassed the city, and went straight to the ferry. He was walking in a hurry and his cold face reflected his uneasy mood.
In the evening, when he set foot on the south bank of the Yellow River, Guo Wei suddenly realized and murmured to himself: "Why should I be so eager to return to Beijing? Wouldn't that be causing trouble to others?"
After saying this, he ordered to the left and right: "We will stay at the ferry tonight, and we will be on our way again tomorrow. Walk slowly, don't be impatient!"
From the mouth of the Yellow River to Tokyo, the distance was only more than two hundred miles, and it was accompanied by many horse troops, complete with chariots and horses. Under Guo Wei's deliberate control, it took ten days to return to Kaifeng.
Entering the palace, he reported to Liu Chengyou the duties of patrolling the border, and submitted rectification opinions on the problems he observed.
After returning home, Guo Wei fell ill. He said that he was tired from traveling and the wind and cold invaded his body, so he urgently needed to recuperate, so he asked Liu Chengyou for leave to rest.
