My palace is full of female protagonists.

However, General Meng did not immediately mention the granary. Instead, with his back to them, he gently stroked the spear beside him. The spear gleamed coldly, seemingly foreshadowing the impending battle. General Meng took a deep breath, slowly turned around, his gaze piercing, his voice firm and powerful: "Something must have happened in the capital. The attackers at the granary are merely trying to draw our attention. A few centurions are more than enough to handle the granary; they are well-trained and will surely drive away those 'bugs.'"

Upon hearing this, the lieutenants looked surprised, exchanging bewildered glances, unable to process this sudden news. Seeing this, General Meng raised his voice again, his tone revealing an unwavering resolve: "Now, gather your trusted men. We must act immediately to defend the capital from the outside! If the capital falls, our families will be executed."

As he spoke, General Meng took a closer look at the carrier pigeon message in his hand. The handwriting on the message, though small, struck him like a hammer blow. He knew that this message from the capital not only carried urgent news but also the hopes and expectations of countless people. He had to lead his army, with the utmost speed and unwavering resolve, to protect the capital, the city that held the fate of the nation.

At General Meng's command, the lieutenants sprang into action, turning and departing to gather their trusted soldiers. Silence returned to the tent, but General Meng's heart pounded like a drum.

After donning light yet sturdy armor, the soldiers quickly led General Meng a magnificent warhorse, its mane billowing in the wind, seemingly anticipating the upcoming journey. General Meng nimbly leaped and landed steadily on the horse's back. His hands instinctively reached for his token at his waist, but his gaze fell upon the imposing city gates faintly visible in the night. A thought struck him: the city gates are narrow; showing the token would be inconvenient. Why not find another symbol? So, he gestured to the cavalrymen beside him to tightly bind a large banner embroidered with the character "Meng" to his back. The banner fluttered in the wind, displaying the commander-in-chief's authority and determination.

Following closely behind were several lieutenants, each with a solemn expression, surrounding General Meng like a pack of wolves protecting their master, never abandoning him. Adding to this were a group of trusted guards, totaling over seven hundred elite soldiers. Though the force was not large, each soldier was brave and fearless, their morale soaring.

General Meng gave the order: "A curfew is imposed in the outskirts of the capital. People must avoid the area!" His voice was deep and powerful, piercing the night and striking straight to the heart. The lieutenants responded immediately, repeating the order loudly. More than seven hundred soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens. Then, like an unstoppable torrent, they rushed out of the camp and sped towards the capital.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the barracks, several centurions were busy directing their soldiers to extinguish a fire that had broken out for unknown reasons. The firelight illuminated their anxious and focused faces. Although the fire was under initial control, the air was still thick with the smell of burning embers. The centurions noticed that apart from the charred wooden throwing devices scattered all over the ground, the surrounding area was eerily deserted.

An experienced centurion pondered for a moment, then decisively ordered: "Send men to thoroughly search the area around the camp, leaving no corner unchecked. Before the general returns, we must completely eliminate all possible threats and ensure the camp's safety."

Upon hearing this, the other soldiers nodded in agreement and quickly sprang into action. They spontaneously formed several small teams, armed with torches and weapons, and ventured into the darkness in different directions, beginning a tense and meticulous patrol. In the night, their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving only a series of firm footsteps echoing in the silent camp, adding a touch of solemnity and tension to this extraordinary night.

"Curfew imposed in the outskirts of the capital, civilians must avoid the area!" The shouts echoed like thunder in the night sky, conveying an undeniable sense of authority and urgency. Deputy General Zhang stood tall and firm atop the city gate, his gaze piercing the darkness, instantly spotting the distant "Mongol" battle flag fluttering in the wind. A surge of respect and anticipation welled up within him. He swiftly deployed his troops, ordering them to move rapidly to the recessed positions in the city wall, draw their bowstrings, and let the arrowheads gleam coldly in the moonlight, forming an impregnable defensive line.

Just then, an eagle that had been circling above the city walls seemed to be startled by the sudden, enormous sound of horses' hooves. It flapped its wings and flew away, disappearing into the vast night. The people in the suburbs, hearing the commotion, quickly closed their doors and windows and retreated indoors. The entire outskirts of the capital fell into silence, broken only by the occasional sound of horses' hooves in the distance.

General Meng, leading over seven hundred elite soldiers, rode to the city gate. The sight before him surprised even him slightly. Archers stood guard on the city walls, arrows pointing skyward, an invisible pressure emanating from them. He laughed loudly and shouted, "Deputy General Zhang, are you preparing some special welcoming ceremony for me?"

Hearing this, Deputy General Zhang leaned out with a smile and replied, "Lord Meng, since you've come to the city walls in person, why not lend a hand and eliminate these archers' targets? Thank you for your trouble, sir! I'll go to the city right away and prepare a few jars of the finest Daughter's Red wine for you, awaiting your triumphant return!"

Upon hearing this, General Meng's smile widened, but he did not forget the main matter and said, "That's easy to say, but His Majesty just sent me a message by carrier pigeon, ordering me to come to his rescue immediately. With such a scene, how am I supposed to get into the city?"

Just as the two were talking, a panting voice suddenly interrupted: "Lord Meng! His Majesty has issued another decree, ordering you to search carefully outside the capital and find clues about the rebels!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Prefect looking anxious. He had finally climbed onto the city gate and had obviously run all the way there.

Seeing this, Deputy General Zhang had no choice but to speak again, repeating the prefect's words: "General Meng, listen to my order. The prefect has conveyed a message that the Emperor has ordered you to immediately search the outskirts of the capital and find the traces of the rebels!"

Upon hearing this, General Meng's expression turned solemn, as he was well aware of the arduousness and urgency of this mission. He nodded, signaled to Deputy General Zhang and the Prefect, and then waved his hand, leading his soldiers to begin a thorough search of the outskirts of the capital. A contest concerning the safety of the nation had quietly begun.

With a hint of teasing in his smile, Deputy General Zhang said to the Prefect, "It seems that the cost of this Daughter's Red wine will have to be covered by Your Excellency." The Prefect, still catching his breath, immediately raised his hand upon hearing this and said repeatedly, "I'll pay, I'll pay! As long as it can lend General Meng a hand, a few jars of wine are nothing to me!"

At this moment, Fang Hujie, following behind the prefect, walked steadily up the city wall. His gaze was particularly sharp in the night, as if it could pierce through all darkness. He looked at Deputy General Zhang and slowly said, "Tonight, I'm afraid I'll be spending a sleepless night on this city wall. I hope Deputy General Zhang will take good care of me."

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang helplessly spread his hands and laughed, "Whether you sleep on the floor or a bench, Lord Fang, you can decide for yourself. There are no luxurious palaces for you to enjoy on my city walls." Fang Hujie smiled faintly upon hearing this, clearly not taking the matter to heart.

Immediately afterward, Fang Hujie's expression turned serious. He took out a secret edict from his pocket, slowly unfolded it, and said to Deputy General Zhang, "Deputy General Zhang, His Majesty has another oral decree for you." Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang immediately put away his smile, solemnly cupped his hands in a bow, and showed respect.

Fang Hujie cleared his throat and continued to convey the Emperor's decree: "Outside, rebels are stirring, intending to overthrow the court; inside, treacherous officials are colluding with the rebels, becoming their inside agents. Yesterday, four loyal ministers were brutally murdered—two dead and one wounded, and another was also badly frightened. Several of your men were also injured, all because of the assassin's inside collusion with the accomplice. Regardless of whether the city gates are closed or not, you must do everything in your power to root out these hidden spies one by one to prevent future troubles."

After listening, Deputy General Zhang's expression became even more solemn. He took a deep breath and said firmly, "Zhang Zhengting obeys! I will certainly live up to the Emperor's high expectations and vow to wipe out these rebels and traitors in one fell swoop, restoring a bright and clear world to our beautiful land!"

As Deputy General Zhang finished his oath, the atmosphere on the city wall became even more tense and solemn.

As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight gently fell, heralding the arrival of a new day. However, at this time that should have been filled with hope, an unusual atmosphere pervaded the palace. The morning bell tolled, and the footsteps of a hundred officials echoed through the empty palace, each step seemingly carrying a heavy burden. Their faces were solemn, their steps hurried, yet no one dared to utter a word, for fear of touching a nerve in this sensitive moment.

Outside the imperial city gates, officials waiting to enter the palace shivered in the cold wind, yet they still whispered among themselves, discussing the events that had occurred during the curfew the previous night. Their eyes were filled with unease and fear, as if the darkness of the night still concealed unsolved mysteries. However, once they stepped through the palace gates, they immediately fell silent, as if bound by an invisible force, silently enduring the oppressive atmosphere.

Zhao Chengyu, the ruler of the nation, was not wearing the magnificent dragon robe symbolizing imperial power at this moment. Instead, he was still dressed in loose casual clothes, appearing relaxed and unrestrained. A roaring fire sat on either side of him, dispelling the winter chill, but his face remained as cold and stern as ice. He sat quietly on the dragon throne, his gaze deep and penetrating, as if he could see into people's hearts.

As the court officials prepared to bow as was customary, Zhao Chengyu suddenly stood up, his tone tinged with helplessness and heaviness: "No need, no need. I don't know if this will be the last time I see you, so let's skip it! You've all heard, haven't you? Last night, several more officials were murdered in the street to silence them. They were loyal ministers who had previously impeached Fang Hujie. Think about it carefully, haven't you also considered impeaching Lord Fang? Or is that impeachment memorial still lying quietly in your study, never to be submitted? Then perhaps, I will never see you again tomorrow. In that case, why do you still bow to me? Another day, I'll probably be the one offering incense to you."

As soon as Zhao Chengyu finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. The ministers exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with fear and unease. They all knelt on the ground, unsure of what to say, silently bearing the weight and sorrow emanating from their monarch. Only Zhao Chengyu's somewhat lonely yet resolute voice echoed within the hall, as if recounting the tragedy and helplessness of an era.

We are very sorry for the misunderstanding. Let's re-examine and expand on this plot:

At this moment, a series of hurried footsteps broke the tense atmosphere in the hall. A soldier, holding an urgent report, rushed into the hall, knelt on the smooth floor tiles, and said in a somewhat anxious voice, "Your Majesty, this is an urgent report from the city gate." Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly, signaling the soldier to continue.

The soldier hurriedly reported: "Lord Zhang Zhengting at the city gate reports that General Meng has led his troops to wait outside the city gate. The situation is currently stable. We request His Majesty's permission to lift the city lockdown."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu slowly rose from the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping across the court before finally settling on Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao. His tone carried a hint of consideration: "Your Excellencies, what are your opinions on whether or not to lift the city's lockdown?"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "Your Majesty, although the lockdown is a precautionary measure, if it continues for too long, it will inevitably cause panic among the people and will also affect the supply of materials within the city. Since General Meng has already led his troops to stabilize the situation outside, it would be a wise move to lift the lockdown in time and restore normal exchanges between the city and the outside world."

Prime Minister Gao, however, adopted a more cautious approach. He stroked his beard and said in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, while the lockdown has its inconveniences, lifting it prematurely when the situation remains unclear could give potential rebels an opportunity. Although General Meng is stationed outside the city, if there are colluding agents within the city, the consequences would be unimaginable. I believe that the lockdown should be maintained, and patrols within the city should be strengthened to ensure the safety of the imperial city."

The two prime ministers held diametrically opposed opinions, and the court fell into a brief silence as all the officials held their breath, awaiting the emperor's final decision.

Zhao Chengyu listened quietly, his gaze deep, as if weighing the pros and cons of each option in his mind. He knew that this decision concerned not only the safety of the capital, but also the stability and public morale of the entire country. At this critical moment, he had to make the wisest choice.

After a moment, Zhao Chengyu slowly spoke, his voice firm and powerful: "You've said so much, do you think I haven't thought of these things? If you can't give me a satisfactory answer, I'll have you surround my bedchamber and pave the way for me even if it kills you!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials knelt down. Even Prime Minister Su and Prime Minister Gao knelt down reluctantly.