The sun rose slowly, bathing the rebel camp in an orange glow as Xu Anping gave the final orders for what would be the third day of the siege. The imperial lines, though worn down, continued to resist with a stubbornness that began to worry their commanders. The imperial veteran, with his group of loyal soldiers, had proven to be a worthy opponent, far more than Xu had anticipated.
"Today, we will intensify the attacks," Xu Anping said to his commanders gathered in his tent. "We won't give them any respite."
Liang, sitting on a nearby stool, struck the ground with the tip of his spear.
"They've held on for three days, but they're already at their limit," he remarked, his face serious but full of confidence. "If we keep up the pressure, their line will break before dawn on the fifth day."
Xu nodded, aware that while his army was well-fed and organized, the wear and tear were beginning to take their toll on his own troops. Wang Jian, standing near the map, added:
"The scouts have reported that the imperial veteran keeps moving his men from one flank to another. He's playing defense, but his margin for error is shrinking. We just need to keep applying pressure, as we've been doing. With each passing hour, they are closer to defeat."
Xu Anping, thoughtful, walked to the opening of the tent and looked toward the enemy camp. Across the hills, the imperial banners still waved, though not with the same arrogance as before. He knew he was winning the psychological war. The veteran was on the verge of defeat, but he wasn't yielding. Every time they launched an assault, the imperial defenses wavered, but somehow, they always managed to regroup.
The first day of the siege had begun with a series of carefully planned frontal attacks. Xu Anping's troops, confident from their recent victories, charged at the improvised walls of the imperial camp. However, the veteran's soldiers were prepared. From the heights, they rained down arrows and rocks, causing significant casualties in the rebel ranks. While the rebels managed to get close to the walls, they couldn't breach the camp, forcing them to retreat as night fell.
Xu Anping, though frustrated, wasn't ready to give up. He ordered his engineers to start building heavy siege ladders and preparing catapults to attack the weakest points of the imperial defenses.
The second day brought even more violence. The rebel siege ladders slowly moved toward the imperial walls, while the catapults hurled projectiles in an attempt to break through. The imperials fought back with ferocity, defending every inch of their ground. The veteran's soldiers showed surprising tenacity. Xu Anping launched several offensives throughout the day, but none succeeded in breaching the camp's inner defenses.
As the second day wore on, the imperials' morale began to falter, but the veteran kept a tight grip on his troops, moving his best men to the critical points of the defenses, holding off the rebels time and again.
Now, on the third day, Xu Anping began to feel optimistic. Despite the fierce imperial resistance, the signs of exhaustion were evident. Arrows on the walls were starting to run out, and the veteran's movements were becoming more predictable. Liang, with his elite infantry, had managed to breach part of the outer defenses, allowing the rebels to establish an advanced position within the imperial camp.
Xu knew he was close to victory, but he also understood that the enemy wouldn't surrender easily. The imperial veteran had shown impressive cunning. Xu respected him, though he couldn't let that respect divert him from his goal.
"Keep up the pace. Don't give them a second to reorganize," Xu ordered firmly.
The dawn of the fifth day was different. The battlefield was shrouded in a light fog, and the air was thick with the tension that had built up over the past few days. Xu Anping knew this would be the last day of the siege. The imperial camp was on the verge of collapse, and his men knew it.
"One more push, and we'll break their defenses," Xu Anping told his commanders. "They're exhausted, just like us, but our morale is higher. Don't let them recover."
Liang nodded with a confident smile.
"We're so close. This day will end with our victory."
However, just as the troops were preparing for another assault, a messenger arrived at the rebel camp. He quickly dismounted his horse and ran toward Xu Anping's tent, his face pale and covered in dust. The soldiers let him pass immediately, knowing that any urgent message in the middle of a siege couldn't be ignored.
"Sir!" the messenger gasped. "Urgent news from Xianfeng. An imperial detachment of 1,200 men has begun a siege on the village! The rear is in danger!"
The impact of the messenger's words hit the tent like a hammer. Xu Anping stood still for a moment, processing the news. The village of Xianfeng… his sister, Xu Sanhua, was there, organizing supplies and securing the rebel rear.
"How long have they been there?" Xu asked, his voice tense.
"The siege began two days ago," the messenger replied. "The defenses are minimal, and they won't hold out much longer."
Liang, always impatient, immediately intervened.
"We have to act fast. If we lose the rear, our campaign here will be a failure. But if we withdraw now, we give the veteran time to regroup. We lose all the ground we've gained."
Xu Anping clenched his fists. Frustration welled up inside him. He had been so close to destroying the veteran, the man who had caused so many problems for his army. Now, just steps away from victory, a new threat loomed behind him, one that endangered both his sister and his strategic position.
"What are we going to do?" Wang Jian asked, who had been silent until then, though his eyes reflected the same concern as the others.
Xu looked at the map. He knew that retreating meant leaving a dangerous opponent alive. The imperial veteran could regroup, gather more troops, and return stronger. But he couldn't risk losing the village of Xianfeng or his sister. He couldn't allow the imperials to cut off his supplies.
Finally, Xu Anping made the hardest decision of his career up to that point.
"We retreat," he said firmly, though his heart resisted saying the words. "I can't let Xianfeng fall, nor can I let my sister be in danger. We will order an organized and swift retreat. Prepare to leave the positions by nightfall."
Liang looked at him, visibly frustrated, but he understood the gravity of the situation. Wang Jian nodded, recognizing that family and supplies had to be the priority.
Xu Anping stepped out of the tent and looked at his troops, who had fought bravely for days and now had to retreat just before victory. Frustration consumed him, but he knew he had to keep a cool head.
"We've fought well, but the battle isn't over," he said aloud, addressing his soldiers. "We retreat for now, but we will return stronger. Do not doubt. Every step back is preparation for the next advance."
With those words, Xu Anping gave the order. The rebel army began its retreat at dusk, with the shadow of the battle still lingering in their hearts.