The cavalry cleared the way, and the honor guard accompanied them. With only three days left before the 21st year of Kaibao, Emperor Liu left the palace again. The Luan Jia walked slowly and stopped in front of Xing Guogong's mansion.
The ceremonial guard in Lubu is still as majestic and solemn, but in this mid-winter season, there is a bit more solemnity and depression visible to the naked eye. It wasn't until Luan Jia stopped and Yan Tuo came out to remind him that Emperor Liu suddenly came to his senses. With Concubine Guo Ning's support, they got out of the car together.
It is indeed very cold this year. It is bone-chilling. The Yellow River is frozen for thousands of miles, which can be used by cars and horses. The Huaihe River and Yangtze River in the south are also covered in large areas of ice. Even in Guangdong and Guangxi, there is heavy snow for many days. It is obvious that the climate is changing. Some bad changes.
When it rained hard, the cold wind hit him head on. Even though Emperor Liu was armed from head to toe, his body that was not cold-resistant could not help but shiver violently. According to his past habits, he had to stay in the palace during this season, staying in the warm spring-like palace room, not moving easily, until the spring flowers bloom.
But this time it didn't work. He had a reason that he had to give. Guo Wei, Duke of Xing State, passed away without any illness. He was eighty years old, which was considered a long life. Over the years, Guo Wei has been staying in the capital, enjoying his old age. From time to time, he would be called into the palace by Emperor Liu to have banquets and chats. Now he has a happy death.
At least compared to the official history of Guo Wei's wife who lost his wife and died young in middle age, in Emperor Liu's era, he may not have been able to reach that unattainable height and taste the throne, but it cannot be said that Guo Wei's fortune was not good. Furthermore, even if it is official history, his Guo family is not the final winner.
He enjoyed great honor during his lifetime and continued to be honored after his death. Emperor Liu fully paid tribute to him and came to express his condolences in person. This was only the first step. Wang Yucheng was writing the Shinto inscription, and the posthumous edict to King Guo Wei and Xing had already been drafted. , the conclusion is finalized and the evaluation is quite high.
Under the dim winter sky, with the cold wind blowing in his face, Emperor Liu looked up at the gold-plated plaque that read "Edict to build Duke Xing's Mansion". The hanging plain silk and the white flags erected were a bit dazzling.
Many past events came to mind, and with infinite emotion on her face, she whispered to Concubine Guo Ning, whose eyes were red next to her, "Let's go into the house!"
Following Emperor Liu, there were several other princes, Liu Yang followed closely, and the twelfth son Yue Gong Liu Han was specially summoned to be close by. After all, he was the grandson of Guo Wei.
Liu Han is now almost twenty-four years old. He got married early and married Wang Quanbin's granddaughter. Among the princes, Liu Han's background is not low, and his mother's family is not powerful, but his presence is not strong. However, He behaved in a well-behaved manner and never caused any trouble. Like his brothers, Liu Han was granted a title and opened a mansion very early. After three years of training in the imperial army, he was now assigned to work in the Young Mansion by Emperor Liu.
When he crossed the gate of the palace, Emperor Liu took a plain belt and tied it around his waist with his own hands. He walked to the mourning hall in silence. At this time, the palace was already crowded with people and busy. There were nobles and bureaucrats who came to express their condolences inside and outside the mourning hall. The mourning and music were desolate, and the chants of monks and Taoists continued.
At this time, it was Guo Wei's second son Guo Xin who was in charge of the affairs in the palace. When he saw Emperor Liu, Concubine Ning, and the prince coming hand in hand, he ignored his sadness and hurriedly led his people to greet him.
Guo Wei has three sons, and the eldest son, Guo Tong, has done the biggest job. Of course, because of the Yulin Rebellion, he was deprived of his post as chief minister and is still on his way back to Beijing. Guo Yizheng is young and seems to be the most qualified. He is working hard in Anxi with Wei King Liu Min.
The second eldest son, Guo Xin, was an ordinary person. Of course, his official position was not low. At that time, he was participating in the politics of Gyeonggi Province and was also a high-ranking official. However, although Guo Xin was ordinary, at the moment of Guo Wei's death, he was no longer ordinary. Many people looked at him with special meaning.
Being close to the water tower and serving as a filial piety, Guo Xin seemed to have a natural advantage over his two brothers. The difference between the three sons of the Guo family and their concubine is not obvious, because their mother became Guo Wei's first wife successively.
Under normal circumstances, Guo Tong is the best choice to attack the prince. The first-mover advantage is too strong, but there is no way. With the Yulin rebellion, all the advantages have been wiped out. It is not easy to escape guilt and immunity, let alone the Duke of Xing. Inherit such a big thing.
Of course, all this depends on Emperor Liu's attitude, but almost no one thinks that Guo Tong, who was affected by the Yulin Rebellion, still has a good impression on Emperor Liu.
Under the eyes of everyone with respect and fear, Emperor Liu stood in the mourning hall as if he was not aware of it. His powerful aura made the scene extremely quiet. Apart from the sounds of mourning music and chanting, there was no noise.
Emperor Liu looked at Guo Wei's spiritual tablet quietly, his thoughts flying, his eyes blurred and even muddy, muttering something silently in his mouth, as if communicating with Guo Wei who had probably arrived at Naihe Bridge.
After a long time, Emperor Liu took the three sticks of incense, bowed solemnly with the dignity of an emperor, and handed them to Yantuo to insert into the incense burner. After the ceremony, Emperor Liu looked around and discovered that his arrival made the atmosphere inside and outside the mourning hall become depressing and strange. The sad atmosphere seemed to be diluted a lot. He sighed in his heart and was about to leave.
"My condolences!" Emperor Liu didn't say much to Guo Xin, but the brief words and the pat on the shoulder made Guo Xin burst into tears of gratitude.
"Liu Han!" Emperor Liu called again before leaving.
"I'm here!" Liu Han had already changed into a filial dress.
Emperor Liu seemed very satisfied with this, and said as gently as possible: "You stay in the palace and watch the funeral for Duke Xing!"
"Yes!" Liu Han naturally could not object.
Concubine Guo Ning was deeply saddened and did not want to return to the palace. She wanted to stay in the palace to see her late father off for the last time. Emperor Liu did not force it and agreed. He said to take care of yourself and returned to the palace.
Although Emperor Liu's stay was short-lived, his impact was not small. Over the years, so many meritorious old friends and ministers of the country have died, but it is really rare for Emperor Liu to come to pay homage in person to such a mournful person.
Even when people like Wei Renpu left, they only expressed some condolences. At most, they asked the prince or a prince to express their condolences, that's all.
It can be seen that Guo Wei's status in Emperor Liu's mind is obviously different. Maybe the relationship between his father-in-law and his son-in-law is involved, but there are definitely other factors. Of course, to say how deep the friendship between Emperor Liu and Guo Wei is is just a joke. With Emperor Liu's current temperament, everything he does has special meaning.
From the interpretation of outsiders, this act of offering condolences in person means that he still values the Guo family. Although Guo Wei is dead, he is still the top dignitary of the Han Dynasty, and among the nobles, there are also high and low. The Guo family Obviously they are the most respected group.
Guo Wei's death was still a major event for the court, even though everyone inside and outside had become accustomed to the decline of nobles over the years, and even though Guo Wei's own influence on the court had long been weakened to the extreme.
However, when a person is alive, not many people pay attention to him, and he is even forgotten for a time. Once he dies, he will attract the attention of the whole world. Some veterans and nobles came to pay their respects one after another, not only because of Guo Wei's status, but also for basic human relations.
Naturally, the Zhao Kuangyin brothers were also among them, following the crowd. When they left, the two brothers strolled on the winter streets. Zhao Kuangyin is also nearly sixty years old. He has aged rapidly in the past few years. Due to years of alcoholism, his health has become increasingly weak. Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin also has a slightly sick look on his face at this time.
"Mr.
The Zhao family and the Guo family have a long history. In their early years, Zhao Hongyin served under Guo Wei for a period of time. Of course, after Emperor Liu succeeded to the throne, he carried out repeated military reforms, which fragmented the subordinate relationship in the military.
Until the rise of Zhao Kuangyin and the rise of the Zhao family's status until they became a powerful family on par with the Guo family, the relationship back then became increasingly weak. What's more, with the current momentum of the two families, it is not a big problem to say that the Zhao family has surpassed the Guo family. From the perspective of actual influence, this is indeed the case.
At this time, Zhao Kuangyin's emotion was a bit like someone hurting his own kind: "I don't know what will happen after I die!"
Such a day happens to us all, and everyone hopes that their posthumous affairs can be as glorious and dignified as this. Zhao Kuangyin retired bravely in his prime, suffered from many years of humiliation and depression, and it was inevitable that he would be touched by the scene.
After hearing what he said, Zhao Kuangyi immediately advised: "Second brother is in strong health, why do you say this?"
Zhao Kuangyin smiled: "How can people be immortal? Ambition is no longer there, ambition is no longer there, and now, I am getting old, and I can only remember this little name and things after death!"
Zhao Kuangyi was silent for a moment. He didn't know how to persuade him. Over the years, although Zhao Kuangyi was busy with official matters, the communication between the two brothers had never stopped. He could also feel the change in Zhao Kuangyin's mentality.
Today, Zhao Kuangyin is indeed late. No matter how fierce the tiger is, he has been trapped in the tiger's trap for more than ten years, and it is difficult to show his claws and teeth, so he will inevitably fall into laziness. Of course, as far as Zhao Kuangyi is concerned, he certainly hopes that Zhao Kuangyin can live a long life and live a few more years. Even if family ties are put aside, just from the analysis of interests, it can be concluded that the longer Zhao Kuangyin lives, the more beneficial it is to him. There is a huge difference in influence between people alive and dead, especially in politics.
Zhao Kuangyin is not Song Taizu but Rong Guogong, Zhao Kuangyi is not Jin King but a Han Dynasty minister. There is no conflict of power and interest between the two brothers, so this relationship can naturally be maintained for a long time.
(End of chapter)
