Di Nian took a quick step to block her, disregarding proper etiquette as he stretched his arm to bar her way, urgently saying: “What does Lord Meng intend to do? His Majesty ordered that Lord Meng must not go one step near the city camp!”
Meng Tinghui gently gathered her sleeves and said: “With Colonel Di leading hundreds of imperial guards carrying spears and riding horses here, how would the rebels on the wall easily trust the court’s sincerity in offering amnesty? If you order someone to shoot arrows from a distance, not only are we beyond effective range—even dozens of arrows couldn’t reach the wall. Moreover, if the rebels see imperial guards taking action, would there still be room for reconciliation? Could Governor Shen Zhishu’s life still be protected?”
Di Nian made two hand gestures behind her back, and all the imperial guards put down their bows and arrows, retreating much further. Many of these imperial guards were sons of court nobles who had been specially recruited into the Palace Guard after attending military academies. Quite a few had ancestors with battle merits. Being treated this way by the rebels on the wall, none could contain their anger. Though they followed Di Nian’s order to disarm and retreat, their eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Meng Tinghui continued: “The rebels aren’t fools either. They know that if the court sends a pacification envoy, it must be a civil official carrying an imperial edict. Though Colonel Di had someone shout up to them, the rebels didn’t see any civil officials there. How would they easily open the city and send someone out to hear the edict?”
Di Nian frowned and said firmly: “Even so, Lord Meng cannot approach the city alone!” His tone was as resolute as thunder.
Meng Tinghui smiled slightly and said: “Colonel Di needn’t worry. I’ll only walk forward a dozen steps so the rebels on the wall can clearly see my official robes and hat, see that I carry no weapons. Only then will they know the court has truly sent a pacification envoy to proclaim the imperial edict.”
After thinking for a moment, Di Nian moved slightly to the side but followed anxiously behind her as they walked forward, saying in a low voice: “Under no circumstances can Lord Meng go forward alone.”
Meng Tinghui smiled without speaking, allowing him to stay beside her. After walking about forty or fifty steps, indeed no more arrows came from the rebels on the wall. She stopped, raised her head to look toward them, her hands still gathered in her sleeves, motionless.
In the distance, the azure sky was like a glaze; nearby, under the gray and solemn city walls, dust swirled around her official boots. Her crimson official robes billowed in the fierce wind, the wide sleeves fluttering up and down like the wings of a red butterfly—the most dazzling sight in this desolate autumn landscape.
Before long, they heard the rebels on the wall shouting down that they would not open the gates to send someone out to receive the edict. They would only allow the pacification envoy alone to carry the edict up onto the wall to proclaim it before the rebels.
Di Nian was furious. Gritting his teeth, he said: “Lord Meng, give me His Majesty’s edict. I’ll go up and meet these bastards!”
Meng Tinghui lowered her eyes in thought for a while, then said: “The rebels have already seen me here. If Colonel Di carries the edict up the wall, what will they think? They will certainly believe the court has no sincere intention to offer amnesty, and it would be difficult for Colonel Di to return safely.”
Seeing her immovable, Di Nian turned and was about to order men forward if she truly intended to go up the wall so recklessly.
She lightly tugged at his sleeve and said softly: “Colonel Di.” Seeing him turn with a frown, she continued: “Fifteen lie to the west, there are still ten thousand troops under General Song. Colonel Di must remain here to command these troops and must not act on impulse. The court has sent a pacification envoy thousands of li to proclaim the imperial edict. If the rebels don’t see the court’s sincerity and decide to fight to the death regardless, Governor Shen’s life will surely be lost, and both you and I will be guilty ministers before His Majesty. Surely Colonel Di doesn’t wish to see events develop that way?”
Di Nian grew anxious and said harshly: “Lord Meng, say no more. Either give me His Majesty’s edict, or you and I will wait here outside the city with the rebels and see what happens in the end!”
Meng Tinghui raised her eyes toward the high city wall. “Wait? You and I have no fear for our lives here, but how do we know Governor Shen’s situation inside the city? How do we know what extreme actions the rebels might take if they see the imperial guards outside neither retreating nor advancing? While you wait here, are General Song’s ten thousand troops also waiting on the barren mountainside, or should they first return to the Qingzhou garrison to await further orders? If the rebels are pushed to desperation and suddenly open the gates to attack, will you disregard the lives of these hundreds of imperial guards? We must first enter the city to stabilize the rebels, learn when they are willing to surrender and open the gates, then secretly order Song Zhirui’s troops to come to the city. This way, we won’t arouse the rebels’ suspicion and can keep the situation in our control.”
Di Nian stared at her. “Has Lord Meng forgotten that she is a woman? If you rashly go up the wall like this, who knows if those rebels might commit beastly acts?”
Meng Tinghui shook her head and said: “Since the rebels have captured Governor Shen in the city to force the court to issue an edict pardoning their crimes, they must have the intention to surrender. Otherwise, why would they occupy the city for many days without action? Now they ask the court’s pacification envoy to go up the wall only to prevent the court from setting an ambush outside. Understandably, they won’t open the city gates wide. If the rebels humiliate or capture me, they would be insulting His Majesty’s imperial dignity, leaving them no grounds for pardon—how could they not know this? If they didn’t want to live, why would they remain at an impasse with the court until now without killing Governor Shen? They simply know that Governor Shen has a deep personal relationship with the Emperor and are using him to bargain with the court for their survival. Since they want to live, they certainly won’t harm or humiliate me. Colonel Di can rest assured.”
Di Nian thought for a moment but still frowned, unwilling to agree. “If something unexpected happens to Lord Meng, how would I explain to His Majesty!”
Meng Tinghui smiled slightly and said: “I have been without a father or mother since childhood and have no attachments in this world. If I have any thoughts in my heart, it is only to be loyal to His Majesty. Colonel Di is well-versed in military strategy and is the heir of the Military Duke. In the future, you will surely be a powerful assistant to His Majesty both within and outside the court. If something were to happen to Colonel Di, not only could I not face His Majesty, but I also could not face all the civil and military ministers at court. Let me go up the wall while Colonel Di manages military affairs outside. Once the gates open, you can lead troops to accept their surrender. If the rebels change their minds, you can also surround the city with General Song to eliminate them. If Colonel Di goes up the wall, how would I, who knows nothing of military affairs, manage outside?”
Di Nian bowed his head, hesitating without immediately answering.
She thought for a moment and added: “Before leaving the capital, His Majesty didn’t know the rebels would be so stubborn, which is why he ordered me not to go near the camp. Now that you and I see the current situation, how can we as subjects not think of relieving our ruler’s worries, only fearing for our safety? Colonel Di, you must trust me this once.”
Behind them, the dozens of imperial guards who had advanced on Di Nian’s order stood rigidly, not daring to move forward or backward, only waiting for Di Nian to speak.
After a long silence, Di Nian finally waved his hand toward the back. “All retreat!” Turning to face Meng Tinghui directly, he said: “If something happens to Lord Meng, I fear His Majesty… I hope Lord Meng will remember my words.”
Meng Tinghui nodded, giving him a slight bow as she said: “I have never understood military affairs, so I won’t say much about these matters outside the city. Colonel Di should make his judgment. If by nightfall there’s still no sign of the rebels inside opening the gates, then don’t wait any longer—order General Song to attack the city under cover of darkness.”
Seeing how lightly she spoke these words, Di Nian was startled. “By nightfall? Is Lord Meng truly so careless with her own life?”
Meng Tinghui lowered her eyes and smiled slightly. “It’s not that I’m careless with my life. If the rebels are willing to surrender, they should trust the court’s sincerity as soon as I go up the wall. If after an entire day, they still refuse to open the gates, it likely means they have other plans and truly don’t want this chance to live. If so, the court should attack and clear the city earlier, sparing Governor Shen and me from further suffering. One day already seems too long.”
Without waiting for Di Nian to respond, she turned to Cao Ziong and the others, saying: “Today I go up the wall alone of my own volition, not because Colonel Di urged me to do so. If something happens to me, and later there are those at court who criticize Colonel Di, I hope you all will bear witness, not allowing ill-intentioned people to take the opportunity to tarnish Colonel Di’s loyal heart for his ruler and country.”
Her words were spoken with dignity, not loudly, but everyone present was moved. Di Nian took a deep breath, turning to order someone to shout up to the wall that the court’s pacification envoy wished to go up alone, requesting that ropes be lowered from the wall.
Meng Tinghui carefully arranged her official robes and, without bidding farewell to Di Nian and the others, slowly walked toward the base of the wall. Fifty paces away there was a deep moat, which she crossed with considerable effort. When she reached the high, solid brick wall, a long rope with a bamboo basket attached was being lowered from the battlements.
Perhaps considering that she was a woman, the rebels showed this “consideration,” not using the ordinary hemp rope that soldiers typically used to climb walls, but instead providing her with a wide, large bamboo basket for her to sit in.
She was hoisted up by the rebel guards, but as she neared the top, the long rope suddenly twisted, tilting the basket and giving her a small fright. In the next moment, her arm was grabbed, and she was pulled and dragged onto the high platform of the city wall.
Immediately, a circle of people surrounded her, blocking her in completely.
Meng Tinghui didn’t look at them. She just struggled to stand up, slowly brushing the dust off her official robes and long skirt, tidying the loose hair at the sides of her face. Only then did she raise her eyes and speak: “I wish to see Shen Zhishu first. After seeing that Governor Shen is unharmed, I will present His Majesty’s edict for your inspection.”
Before these men could respond, they were stunned by her calm tone. The group of men in complete armor looked at her strangely, examining her up and down several times, their facial expressions as if they had never seen a woman before. After a long while, one who seemed to be a leader came forward and said: “Are you truly the pacification envoy sent by the court?”
Meng Tinghui looked up at the man, seeing his unkempt beard and bloodshot eyes, clearly showing that he hadn’t rested for many days. Only his eighth-rank military officer’s armor was still somewhat bright. Though she didn’t understand military matters, she knew that in the imperial guards of various border regions, it took at least ten years to rise from an ordinary unranked soldier to an eighth-rank junior officer. This man before her must be someone who could manage affairs among these rebels.
So she lowered her gaze, untied the fish pouch from her waist, placed it in her palm, and handed it to the man, saying coldly: “Although I wear crimson, my position is not equal to ministers of the Two Departments, but I enjoy considerable favor from His Majesty. This time I have been personally sent as His Majesty’s envoy to pacify you all to surrender to the court. How dare you question me like this?”
The man carefully examined the fish pouch, then looked at her official robes before finally putting aside his suspicious expression. “Are you Meng Tinghui, the one who came from Northern Potian Road?”
She nodded.
The gazes of those around changed, clearly having heard her name before.
She twisted the corner of her mouth, thinking these people must have heard nothing good about her. In the capital, she had already been labeled as a treacherous official; how much worse must her reputation be in the border regions?
The man turned and pushed several people beside him, impatiently saying: “What are you all standing here for, waiting for me to reward you? Quickly go tell Commander Huo that Pacification Envoy Meng Tinghui has come up the wall and wants to see Shen Zhishu!” After speaking, he turned back to examine Meng Tinghui. “Come with me!”
Meng Tinghui collected herself and followed the man down from the wall, casually asking: “May I ask who you are?”
The man was powerfully built, walking beside her like a towering tree. Along the way, soldiers who saw him all dodged fearfully. Hearing her question, he gave an odd smile and said: “With things as they are now, Lord Meng still has the heart to ask people’s names?”
Meng Tinghui then closed her mouth and focused on watching her steps.
After descending from the wall, they walked for a long time before entering the inner city. At a glance, the streets were deserted, eerily cold and silent. Occasionally, soldiers walked by in twos and threes, their armor disheveled and their manner lewd, shouting and making noise, appearing lawless.
She suddenly felt a chill down her spine and abruptly raised her head to stare at the man. “After you occupied the city, what happened to the civilians inside?”
The man raised his eyebrows indifferently and instead asked her: “What else could have happened?”
Meng Tinghui was about to speak again when she noticed his eyes fixed on something ahead. She followed his gaze and looked in that direction.
Not far away, in the heart of the city was a wide road where a wooden post stood tall, with a human head hanging at the top.
The head was no longer recognizable, the skull had been smashed, and it was filled with arrows. Sharp blades could hardly fit anymore, and the rotten flesh and decayed bones were horrifying.
When she saw this, her abdomen suddenly convulsed, and she nearly vomited. It took her a long time to suppress it, but her fingers trembled uncontrollably. After a good while, she finally lowered her eyes and turned back to look at him.
The man also turned to look at her, a smile crossing his lips as he said: “Do you know who that is? That’s Gao Hai, the magistrate of Liuqi County who publicly flogged and killed soldiers from our regiment!”
Meng Tinghui’s hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves. She struggled to maintain a composed expression, knowing this man deliberately wanted to instill fear in her. She bit her teeth and remained silent.
While in the capital, when Tian Fu reported on the rebel situation, she learned that Magistrate Gao Hai of Liuqi County had been brutally murdered by the rebels. But now, seeing with her own eyes Gao Hai’s severed head hanging high on a post, used as a target for the soldiers’ archery practice, the reality was so visceral it made her shudder with cold.
The city had been looted empty by the regiment of rebels. Whether the civilians were safe, she didn’t know, but they certainly couldn’t be faring well. On her journey here, she had imagined countless scenarios of rebel conditions, but never had she anticipated such a horrific scene!
Only now did she understand why, that day in Ruisi Hall, he had so ruthlessly and mercilessly issued the order to slaughter all the rebels.
At that time, she had only thought his methods were too cruel, but now she realized it wasn’t that he was ruthless and heartless—it was that these rebels’ actions were so appalling that they had to be killed to appease public outrage!