The sound of horses' hooves echoed in the distance, blending with the whispers of the wind through the trees. The imperial troops, confident in their victory, relentlessly pursued the rebels. A sense of superiority intoxicated them; they were certain the enemy was defeated and all that remained was to crush them.
However, the terrain played a trick on them. The tall trees, hills, and bushes created a natural maze that reduced their visibility. The imperial columns began to scatter, fragmenting their lines as they ventured deeper into unknown territory. Exactly what Xu Anping and Wang Jian had planned.
From his hidden position on the hillside, Wang Jian watched intently as the imperial army marched straight into the trap. He was surrounded by a group of his best soldiers, battle-hardened and trained in ambush tactics. When the bulk of the imperial army was within range, he slowly raised his hand.
"Wait…" he murmured.
His soldiers remained completely silent, tense but prepared. The enemy army was getting closer. The imperial lines began to disperse even more, with their soldiers talking among themselves, confident and expecting no danger. The trap was ready to spring.
"Now," Wang Jian whispered.
In an instant, the rebel troops emerged from their hidden positions in the underbrush. Suddenly, a torrent of arrows flew through the air, striking the unsuspecting imperial soldiers with precision. Screams of pain and surprise echoed through the forest as the first men fell, dead or wounded. The ambush had begun.
Wang Jian, sword in hand, led his men with precision and determination. The clash between the rebels and the imperials was violent. The rebels, trained for quick and surprise attacks, moved fluidly among the trees, striking from every possible angle. The imperial soldiers, on the other hand, didn't know where the attacks were coming from and soon fell into chaos.
"Attack! Don't let them regroup!" Wang Jian shouted as he led his squad in a fierce assault on the disorganized enemy flanks.
The imperials tried to regroup, but every time they did, another wave of attacks hit them from different directions. The columns began to fragment even more, and the officers' orders were lost in the tumult.
From a safe distance, Xu Anping and Liang watched as the plan unfolded. Xu Anping remained outwardly calm, but inside, he knew this was the decisive moment. If the ambush failed, the imperial numerical advantage would eventually crush them. But Wang Jian was executing his part of the plan perfectly.
"It's time," Xu Anping said firmly.
Liang nodded. Both rebel leaders began to reorganize their troops, who were in retreat. The exhausted and wounded soldiers quickly regrouped under the orders of Xu Anping and Liang, who pretended to give instructions with urgency and desperation to maintain the illusion of a disorganized retreat in the eyes of the imperial spies.
"Regroup! We'll charge again!" Liang shouted, as Xu Anping mounted his horse and directed the formation.
The counterattack began. The rebel troops, now reorganized, charged back into the battlefield with renewed strength. The confusion among the imperial ranks became even more evident. The soldiers who had once confidently chased the rebels now found themselves caught between Wang Jian's ambush and Xu Anping's counterattack.
"They have no escape!" Xu Anping shouted, his voice echoing through the battle.
The imperials, surprised by the sudden turn of events, tried to regroup, but panic began to take hold of them. The officers shouted conflicting orders, and chaos spread like a plague.
At the center of it all, the veteran imperial strategist watched the battle unfold with a hardened expression. Although Xu Anping's plan had surprised him, he knew they still had the advantage. The imperial troops outnumbered the rebels, and if they held out long enough, they could regain control.
"Hold your ground!" he ordered firmly. "Hold the lines! If we keep the line, we'll win by numbers."
The imperial troops, despite the chaos, tried to regroup under the veteran's orders. The more experienced soldiers held firm, forming a shield wall as they tried to contain the rebel tide. For a few minutes, it seemed that the veteran might stabilize the situation.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The landowner in command, seeing the chaos unfolding before his eyes, was overcome by fear. Although the veteran had warned that the battle wasn't lost, the landowner was terrified of the possibility of dying on the battlefield. The screams, the sound of swords clashing, and the sight of his men falling around him filled him with panic.
Without consulting the veteran or his officers, the landowner made a selfish decision. He gathered his personal guards, a small elite group meant solely to protect him, and began to retreat from the battlefield.
"My lord, you can't do this!" one of the officers shouted as he saw the landowner beginning to flee. "If you leave, it'll be the end of our troops!"
But the landowner didn't listen. With his guards around him, he turned and rode away from the fight, leaving his men to their fate. Within minutes, the imperial leader had abandoned the battle.
The effect was immediate and devastating. The retreat of the landowner was seen by much of the imperial army, which relied on his leadership, even if only symbolic. The soldiers, seeing their commander had fled, began to lose what little morale they had left.
"He's abandoned us!" one of the soldiers shouted, as others began to retreat in panic.
Confusion and fear quickly spread through the imperial ranks. The veteran, who had until that moment maintained his troops' discipline, realized the situation was rapidly unraveling. He knew that without the presence of the landowner, it was only a matter of time before the entire army collapsed.
"Damn coward!" the veteran growled as he watched the rout.
He knew they still had the numerical superiority, but without leadership, that advantage meant nothing. He tried to reorganize the remaining soldiers, but panic had spread like wildfire. What had started as an orderly retreat had become a desperate flight.
Xu Anping watched from a nearby hill. The imperial retreat was obvious. His soldiers, encouraged by the sudden advantage, redoubled their efforts. Liang approached Xu Anping with a malicious smile.
"We did it," Liang said, his voice filled with satisfaction.
Xu Anping nodded, but his eyes remained focused on the battlefield. He knew the ambush had been a success, but it wasn't time to celebrate yet.
"It's not over," Xu Anping replied, gazing at the horizon where the imperial line was breaking more with every passing minute.
At the heart of the chaos, Wang Jian led his men with military precision, exploiting every advantage the terrain offered them. His ambush had inflicted enormous damage, but now, with the imperials in full retreat, it was time to deliver the final blow.
The sound of horses' hooves and clashing metal grew more intense. The battle still raged around them, but the decisive moment was near.
Wang Jian raised his sword, ready to give the order.
"Now!" he shouted, as his men prepared to launch the final assault on the remnants of the imperial army.
The ambush was about to culminate in a complete victory.