The Setting: A Nation in Turmoil

The summer of 1864 found China at a critical juncture in its history. The Qing Dynasty, ruling since 1644, faced its most serious internal challenge: the Taiping Rebellion. This massive civil war had raged for fourteen years, claiming millions of lives and devastating much of southern China. The rebellion, led by Hong Xiuquan who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ, had established its own capital at Nanjing and controlled significant territory along the Yangtze River.

The imperial forces, led by prominent Han Chinese commanders like Zeng Guofan and his brother Zeng Guoquan , had been gradually encircling the rebel capital. The siege of Nanjing had continued for years, with both sides suffering tremendous casualties. The hot summer months of 1864 saw the final push against the Taiping stronghold, with the entire imperial court anxiously awaiting news from the front lines.

Beijing in June was sweltering, with temperatures often exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. The Forbidden City, home to the young Tongzhi Emperor and his regents, the Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci’an, maintained its rigid protocols despite the oppressive heat. Messengers, officials, and courtiers moved through the capital’s streets with urgent purpose, all aware that the fate of the dynasty might hang in the balance.

The Midnight Arrival

On the night of June 20, 1864, the sound of galloping hooves and jingling bridle bells broke the stillness along Bingbu Street, just east of Beijing’s Zhengyang Gate. A fast horse approached from the south, its rider clearly a dispatch courier from the provinces. The horse raced past the Ministry of War building and headed straight for the residence of provincial communications officers.

As the rider reached the entrance, he sharply reined in his mount. The horse reared with a long whinny, throwing its rider to the ground. A third-rank official’s blue-buttoned red-tasseled summer hat rolled away as the man struggled to his feet. He staggered two steps toward the threshold before collapsing again, foam appearing at his mouth.

Those inside recognized him as Courier He, a former personal guard of the Ninth Marshal who had been promoted through battlefield merits to the rank of colonel but continued serving as a courier due to lack of official vacancies. Recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion from days of hard riding in extreme temperatures, the residents quickly carried him inside. They forced open his jaw to pour an entire bottle of “Zhuge’s Marching Powder” medicine down his throat while removing the dispatch case from his sweat-soaked back.

The Jiangsu communications officer opened the package, first checking the verification document issued by the Ministry of War before examining the delivery notice wrapped in oilpaper. What he saw made him gasp in astonishment.

The Extraordinary Dispatch

The delivery notice bore the large purple seal of the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu. It indicated that the dispatch had been sent from Nanjing on June 16 by Governor-General Yang Yuebin, Vice Minister of War Peng Yulin, and Zhejiang Governor Zeng Guoquan . Most remarkably, it specified in walnut-sized characters: “Eight hundred li express delivery, strictly limited to arrival in Beijing by June 20.”

The communications officer quickly checked his silver pocket watch. Both hands pointed to the Western numeral eleven—just minutes remained before midnight, when the deadline would expire. Violation of such strict military deadlines carried severe consequences. No wonder Courier He had risked his life racing against time.

The responsibility now fell to the communications officer himself. As he contemplated the words “eight hundred li express,” he suddenly realized the possible significance and exclaimed: “Could it be that Nanjing has been recaptured?”

This exclamation drew other provincial communications officers, who gathered around to examine the notice. Their reactions mirrored his—initial shock followed by dawning excitement. The postal system operated under strict protocols: the most urgent “six hundred li express” was reserved exclusively for reporting the deaths of governors-general, generals, or education commissioners in office, or for news of cities lost or recaptured. The fact that Yang and Peng were jointly submitting this report suggested it wasn’t news of a major commander’s death. Moreover, the unprecedented use of “eight hundred li express” with strict deadlines strongly indicated the recapture of Nanjing.

The Race Against Time

“Deliver it quickly!” someone urged. “From Nanjing to here is 2,445 li. To cover that distance in four days during the hottest period of summer—he practically killed himself! Don’t let it be delayed on your account.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll go to the palace immediately to deliver it,” the Jiangsu communications officer replied, clasping his hands respectfully. “Please look after Colonel He. He’s truly given his all!” After hurriedly dressing in proper attire, he mounted his horse and headed west.

According to protocol, urgent military reports went to the Outer Reporting Office, then to the Inner Reporting Office, before reaching the emperor directly. Through these layers of bureaucracy, the memorial finally reached the eunuch An Dehai around 2:00 AM.

“What? ‘Eight hundred li express!’ I’ve never heard of such a thing—isn’t this something new?” An Dehai expressed skepticism.

The Inner Reporting Office eunuch felt compelled to clarify seriously: “I already asked the Outer Reporting Office—it’s correct! The Jiangsu communications officer said so himself. He also mentioned that the courier from Nanjing collapsed from exhaustion after falling from his horse while racing to meet the deadline.”

The detailed account made it credible, but An Dehai still hesitated. The weather was extremely hot, and Empress Dowager Cixi had retired late. She would need to rise at dawn to prepare for meetings with the Grand Council, leaving only these few nighttime hours for rest. Waking her suddenly might disturb her precious sleep and earn him another scolding.

Palace Politics and Protocol

The Inner Reporting Office eunuch grew anxious. If An Dehai refused to accept the yellow box, the responsibility for delay would fall on him—a burden he dared not bear. “Take the box!” he urged, adding after handing it over: “Deliver it quickly inside. Don’t delay!”

Annoyed, An Dehai vented his frustration: “Whether it’s delayed or not is my business!” He glared with his slightly bulging goldfish eyes, his expression resembling that of a sharp-tongued young wife: “What’s it to you?”

“I’m telling you for your own good! This might contain the news the two empress dowagers have been day and night hoping for. If you delay it, you can forget about keeping your head!”

An Dehai felt both alarmed and excited: “What? Are you saying this is news of Nanjing’s recapture?”

“I didn’t say that. But it’s definitely a top-priority memorial.”

“Come now,” An Dehai immediately switched to a fawning manner, smiling ingratiatingly. “Elder brother, must we be so formal with each other? If you have information, share just a little bit. If there are benefits, we’ll split them fifty-fifty.”

Not daring to offend An Dehai and hoping to benefit from bringing good news, the reporting office eunuch explained the reasoning behind judging this likely to be victory news based on the extraordinary speed of delivery.

“Wait!” An Dehai became careful again. “Why isn’t the Governor-General of Liangjiang submitting the report? Could it be that Zeng Guofan has died?”

“Zeng Guofan is in Anqing, not Nanjing. Besides, if Zeng Guofan died, Jiangsu Governor Li Hongzhang should report it. What does Shaanxi-Gansu Governor-General Yang Yuebin have to do with it?”

“Right, right! Absolutely correct.”

Waking the Empress Dowager

The Inner Reporting Office eunuch departed through Yuehua Gate from West Second Long Street. An Dehai ordered junior eunuchs to secure Fuhua Gate before proceeding along corridors decorated with scenes from Dream of the Red Chamber to the rear hall of Changchun Palace. There he awakened the night-duty eunuch and gently knocked twice on the door.

When a palace maid opened the door, An Dehai whispered: “We must awaken Her Majesty. There’s an urgent memorial that must be reported immediately.”

The maid also showed reluctance, but as An Dehai was the chief eunuch of Changchun Palace and her direct superior, his word was command. She had no choice but to brace herself and wake Empress Dowager Cixi.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, An Dehai says there is an urgent memorial and requests your presence.”

“Where is he?”

As soon as Cixi asked, An Dehai called from outside: “This slave has heavenly great happy news to report to Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, Cixi’s sleepiness vanished completely. But she showed no immediate reaction, first ordering: “Bring me iced tea!”

A palace maid brought a cup of specially formulated tea from the Imperial Hospital designed to relieve summer heat, reduce internal fire, and replenish energy. After taking a sip, Cixi calmly said: “Let him in.”

The Moment of Revelation

An Dehai entered respectfully, holding the yellow box high with both hands. Cixi personally opened it, removed the memorial, and first examined the cover—exactly as the reporting office eunuch had described: jointly submitted by Yang, Peng, and Zeng. Her heart already leaned toward the possibility of victory news.

As she read further, her expression changed dramatically. The memorial indeed reported that imperial forces had breached Nanjing’s defenses on June 16 after intense fighting, with Zeng Guoquan personally leading troops into the city. The Taiping Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan’s son had been captured attempting to escape, and the fourteen-year rebellion appeared finally crushed.

Cixi’s hands trembled slightly. She read the memorial twice to confirm she hadn’t mistaken its content. Then, maintaining her composure, she said: “Summon Ci’an immediately. Also inform the Grand Councilors to prepare for an extraordinary audience at daybreak.”

She then instructed An Dehai: “That courier who delivered the memorial—reward him generously. Also ensure he receives proper medical care.”

The Historical Significance

The fall of Nanjing marked the effective end of the Taiping Rebellion, one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Estimates suggest the rebellion caused 20-30 million deaths through combat, famine, and disease. The Qing victory came at enormous cost but preserved the dynasty for another half-century.

The method of delivery itself—the unprecedented “eight hundred li express”—highlighted the importance the commanders attached to this news. In the Qing communication system, standard courier speed was about 200-300 li per day . “Six hundred li express” represented extreme urgency, reserved for the most critical news. The creation of an even faster “eight hundred li” category demonstrated how exceptional this development was considered.

The commanders’ decision to jointly sign the memorial reflected the collaborative nature of the final campaign against the Taiping. Yang Yuebin represented the northwestern forces, Peng Yulin the naval components, and Zeng Guoquan the siege army surrounding Nanjing. Their unified report signaled military consensus and political unity at a crucial moment.

Cultural and Social Impacts

The fall of Nanjing had immediate and profound effects on Chinese society. The defeat of the Taiping movement ended a radical alternative vision for China that had combined Christianity with utopian social reforms including land redistribution, equality for women, and communal property.

The victory solidified the position of Han Chinese officials in the Qing government. Commanders like Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang emerged from the conflict with enhanced prestige and power, beginning what historians would later call the “Tongzhi Restoration”—an effort to strengthen the dynasty through administrative reform and modernization.

For the common people, the end of the rebellion meant potential relief from years of warfare, displacement, and economic disruption. However, the extensive devastation in central China created enormous challenges for recovery and reconstruction that would take decades to address.

The reporting of the victory through established bureaucratic channels demonstrated the resilience of Qing administrative systems even during prolonged crisis. The elaborate courier network, the precise documentation requirements, and the protocol for handling urgent memorials all functioned effectively at this critical moment.

Legacy and Modern Relevance

The fall of Nanjing represents a significant what-if moment in Chinese history. Had the Taiping Rebellion succeeded, China might have developed along radically different religious and political lines. Instead, the Qing victory maintained continuity with traditional structures while creating space for the rise of regional leaders who would later play crucial roles in China’s modernization.

The event also illustrates the importance of information systems in governance. The efficient delivery of crucial military intelligence allowed prompt decision-making in the capital. This historical example finds parallels in modern discussions about the strategic value of communication networks and timely information.

Today, historians debate whether the Qing victory ultimately benefited China. While it preserved territorial integrity and cultural continuity, it also prolonged a dynasty that would prove unable to meet the challenges of foreign imperialism and domestic modernization in the coming decades.

The story of the midnight courier reminds us how historical turning points often arrive unceremoniously—through exhausted messengers, bureaucratic procedures, and the calculated decisions of officials navigating complex systems. The dramatic arrival of news that would shape China’s future serves as a powerful reminder that history is not just about grand events, but about the human mechanisms that transmit and interpret those events.

The fall of Nanjing did not immediately resolve China’s problems—foreign encroachment, internal rebellion, and institutional weakness continued to challenge the Qing state. But it marked the end of the most serious internal threat the dynasty ever faced and opened a period of relative stability that allowed for attempts at reform and modernization. The midnight arrival of that fateful dispatch thus represents both an ending and a beginning—a pivotal moment when one crisis concluded and new possibilities emerged for China’s future development.