Chapter Forty-Two: Another Identity

On this Mid-Autumn Festival, I wish all book lovers a joyful family reunion and may all your wishes come true.

Furthermore, let us not forget the historical significance behind our Han tradition of eating mooncakes on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month—it once symbolized resistance against the Tartars.

Remember our history, do not forget our grievances, and study hard for the revival of the Han people!

...

"Our house?"

When the old eunuch referred to himself in this manner, Song Bangde and the others were all struck dumb with astonishment. In the Ming Dynasty, only court eunuchs—those men within the palace who had been castrated—used such a form of address.

Could this old man really be a eunuch from the imperial palace?

Amid their shock, confusion mounted. What on earth was a palace eunuch doing in this godforsaken place, fleeing for his life alongside them? The whole affair was utterly inconceivable.

Before long, all eyes turned to Lu Qing. Those like Zhou Yunyi, who knew the old eunuch's true identity, remained unmoved.

The sudden interjection from the eunuch, inviting everyone to follow him, caught even Lu Qing off guard. He was at a loss, uncertain of the old man's intentions. But seeing the questioning looks from Song Bangde and the others, he set aside his doubts for the moment, stood, and introduced the old man: "Gentlemen, this is Eunuch Guo Jing, the Imperial Supervisor of Datong."

"Eunuch Guo?!" Lin Xiaoqi cried out in disbelief, unable to reconcile the unremarkable, shabby old man before him with the towering figure of the Imperial Supervisor of Datong.

Could this really be true?

The others exchanged uneasy glances. To them, the Imperial Supervisor of Datong was an untouchable dignitary, a legendary "treacherous power among eunuchs," shrouded in mystery. Yet here he was—fugitive, filthy, and in their midst. The contrast was so stark, they could hardly believe their eyes.

Seeing their skepticism, Eunuch Guo was unperturbed. He drew from his robe the imperial waist tablet bestowed upon him and tossed it before the group.

Ji Xiaoqi picked it up and examined it. The inscription was unmistakable: "Imperial Commissioner and Chief Eunuch Guo." He looked again and again, his hands trembling. Abruptly, he scrambled to his feet and knelt on the ground, bowing his head. "Your humble servant Ji Chang pays his respects to Eunuch Guo!"

As Ji Xiaoqi bowed, Song Bangde and the others could no longer remain seated. They had seen clearly that the waist tablet was genuine. They hurriedly rose and knelt as well.

"Enough, get up. When a general is in the field, even the emperor's orders may not be obeyed to the letter. We're on the run now—what use are such empty formalities?" Eunuch Guo waved them up with a casual gesture, then clasped his hands behind his back. "You all heard what I said earlier. Do you wish to die, or do you wish to live?"

"This..." Song Bangde and Lin Xiaoqi were at a loss. None of them understood what the eunuch meant, so no one spoke.

What is Guo Jing planning?

Lu Qing observed coolly from the side, curious to see what the old eunuch was plotting.

Zhou Yunyi, Fan Ruo, and Jiang Tong knew that Eunuch Guo was actually a criminal who had fled the battlefield at Datong, a prisoner just the previous night. Now, with his official credentials, he was intimidating Song Bangde and the others. They wanted to expose him, but seeing that Lu Qing made no move—and recalling how insistent he was that the eunuch must escape with them the previous night—they held their tongues, too, waiting to see what would unfold.

Seeing their silence, Eunuch Guo would not let the moment drag on. He spoke up: "Don't be afraid of me. I'm not a tiger ready to devour you. Speak openly, whatever you wish to say."

After exchanging glances, Song Bangde finally mustered his courage and replied, "Eunuch Guo, we do not wish to die, but we don't know why you say that if we go to Xuanhua, it will surely be our doom?"

Eunuch Guo had expected this question. He asked, "Tell me, was Dushibao lost?"

"The Tartars broke through the border—of course Dushibao is lost." Song Bangde was taken aback. Eunuch Guo himself had escaped from Dushibao; surely he knew its fate. Why bother asking?

But Eunuch Guo paid no heed to the redundancy and pressed on: "Then tell me, who were the commanders defending Dushibao?"

"Commander Zhao Mei of the Kaiping Garrison," Song Bangde replied promptly.

"And who else?"

"Also Commander Yang Jun of the Wanquan Command," Song Bangde added hastily.

Eunuch Guo nodded slowly. "Zhao Mei and Yang Jun were responsible for the defense; as the garrison commanders, tell me—did they perish with the fortress when it fell?"

At that, Song Bangde's face flushed with anger. He shook his head vigorously. "Those two valued their lives too highly to die with the fortress. They abandoned us and fled long before!"

The memory of Zhao Mei and Yang Jun abandoning them to save themselves filled Lin Xiaoqi and the others with rage as well. They began to curse the two men bitterly.

Eunuch Guo let them vent their anger. Only when they had finished did he speak: "There you have it. Since Zhao Mei and Yang Jun did not perish with Dushibao, I can assure you—if you go to Xuanhua, you will surely die."

"Why is that?" Song Bangde and Lin Xiaoqi were stunned by this conclusion. How could their commanders' flight mean certain death for them in the city?

Lu Qing, too, was puzzled, unable to see the connection. But he knew that the veteran eunuch had served through four reigns, seen more tempests than he himself ever had, and committed more unspeakable deeds as well—old ginger is the spiciest, as the saying goes. Though the old eunuch feared death, his experience was not in question. If he was so certain that going to Xuanhua meant certain death, there must be a reason. Perhaps things truly were as he said. So Lu Qing kept his peace, waiting for the rest of the explanation.

With Lu Qing silent, Zhou Yunyi and the others were even more eager to hear why the old eunuch was so sure—curiosity gnawing at them, especially since their lives were at stake. They held their tongues and listened attentively.

"Why, you ask?" The old eunuch threw back his head and laughed, though the sound was harsh and grating, sending a chill through everyone present.

His laughter died abruptly. He gave Song Bangde and the others a meaningful look and asked, "And what sort of men are Yang Jun and Zhao Mei?"

Song Bangde, still bewildered, answered reflexively, "One is the commander of Wanquan, the other of Kaiping."

But the old eunuch suddenly raised his voice and demanded, "I am asking about their other identities!"