Twilight was fading, giving way to the night as Xu Anping watched his men finish setting up camp. The elongated shadows of the tents and barricades were swallowed by the growing darkness, but his mind was restless. He knew they were in dangerous territory, just a few kilometers from the enemy. The alliance of landlords had formed a provisional army, relying on numbers and the security their feudal power gave them. But that didn't worry him as much—the man in charge was an inexperienced landlord, arrogant and used to having others fight his battles.
That was what Xu Anping wanted to exploit.
In his command tent, Xu Anping was surrounded by his closest commanders, including Liang, who studied the map of the enemy's position with a focused expression.
"The enemy leader is a landlord," said Xu Anping, his voice low but firm. "He's never been in a real battle in his life. Although I can't claim to be a seasoned veteran, I've learned some basic things. Thanks to Li Heng, I understand the value of a well-executed ambush."
Liang nodded. He had spent enough time with Xu Anping to trust his decisions, even if the forming plan seemed bold. Xu Anping had shown that he knew how to exploit the enemy's weaknesses.
"The attack will be tonight," Xu Anping continued. "We'll take 500 elite troops and strike in the dark. Our goal isn't to destroy their entire army, but to sow chaos and disorganize their forces. We know they have no night defenses prepared; their guards are few and scattered. We'll take advantage of their complacency."
Wang Jian added, "There are rumors they've hired a veteran from the imperial army. If it's true, he might be the only one with some combat experience. If they manage to organize, the attack could drag on longer than expected."
Xu Anping nodded seriously.
"It's a risk we have to take. But if we can break their lines before that veteran intervenes, we'll cause enough damage to prevent them from regrouping immediately. The element of surprise will be on our side."
The men nodded, understanding the plan. Liang, as always, offered additional strategic insight.
"We'll use the confusion to set fire to some of their main tents. That will demoralize the younger troops and force their leaders into a panic. The key is to retreat before the veteran can rally his forces."
The air inside the tent was tense. The planning was over; now everything depended on execution. Xu Anping took a deep breath and stood up.
"Prepare yourselves. We move out in an hour."
The moon was hidden behind a blanket of clouds, plunging the landscape into almost total darkness. Xu Anping and his 500 elite troops advanced silently toward the enemy camp, their footsteps muffled by the soft ground. They had left the rebel camp in the hands of a small group of guards, knowing that the success of this mission depended on speed and stealth.
Nerves were on edge. Many of his men were veterans of previous skirmishes, hardened by the discipline Xu Anping had instilled in his army. But even the most experienced could feel the weight of what was to come. A night attack was always risky, but the enemy leader's inexperience gave them a unique opportunity.
As they approached the perimeter of the enemy camp, Xu Anping could see the weakness of their defenses. The guards, scattered and poorly organized, patrolled with evident disinterest, as if they expected no danger to lurk in the night.
"Silently," Xu Anping whispered to the captains beside him. "Split into groups and move toward your entry points. We don't want them to raise the alarm until it's too late."
Liang nodded, leading one of the groups toward the left flank of the enemy camp, while Xu Anping directed his group toward the center, where the main command tents were located. He knew that if they could set those tents on fire, chaos would ensue.
The first signal came in the form of a muffled cry. An enemy guard had been taken down before he could raise the alarm, and Xu Anping's men swiftly advanced through the camp. Within minutes, the first tents were ablaze. Smoke rose into the night sky, and chaos gripped the enemy camp. The landlord's troops, poorly trained and caught by surprise, ran in all directions, scrambling for weapons and organizing haphazardly.
Xu Anping smiled in satisfaction. The attack was going according to plan. The confusion was total, and his elite troops were taking full advantage, eliminating enemies who tried to mount a defense.
But then, something changed.
Amidst the chaos, a loud, authoritative voice rang out across the enemy camp. An elderly man, clad in armor that still bore the colors of the imperial army, began shouting orders. He was the retired veteran Zhao Yuan had warned them about. Xu Anping watched as the man efficiently organized a group of soldiers around him. The troops, who had been in disarray minutes before, began forming ranks, and the enemy's casualties started to decrease.
"Damn," Xu Anping muttered to himself, recognizing the danger of allowing that veteran to take control of the situation. "Regroup! Don't let them stabilize!"
His orders echoed among his men, but the initial momentum of the attack was starting to fade. The veteran had managed to gather a small but effective group of soldiers who formed a defensive line, protecting the landlord's officers while the fire continued to consume the rest of the camp.
Xu Anping knew they couldn't afford a prolonged fight. The attack had fulfilled its initial purpose—sowing chaos and causing significant casualties. But now, with the enemy organizing resistance, continuing the battle could result in a more drawn-out and costly conflict than planned.
"Retreat!" Xu Anping finally shouted. "Return to camp!"
His men, well-trained to obey without hesitation, began to pull back in an orderly manner, covering each other as they left the enemy camp. The veteran, seeing the rebel troops retreating, did not order an immediate pursuit. He knew his own men were exhausted and disorganized. Instead, he opted to consolidate his defenses and stabilize what remained of the enemy army.