The siege of Xianfeng Village began with a ferocity the villagers had never seen before. The imperial forces, around 1,200 battle-hardened soldiers, quickly deployed around the reinforced walls that Xu Anping had ordered built months ago. But what the imperials didn't expect was the fierce resistance organized by Xu Anping's sister, Xu Sanhua.
Xu Sanhua, quiet and meticulous, had been preparing for this moment since her brother left for the front. While he stood out for his charisma and ability to inspire the troops, she had perfected her control of the finer details of defense, overseeing every small movement with precision. She knew that one organizational mistake could cost them all their lives, and she would not allow that to happen.
From the first hours of the siege, Xu Sanhua personally oversaw the distribution of supplies and organized the defensive lines with a precision that impressed even the veteran officers who were there, recovering from their wounds. These officers, though injured, were still valuable, and under Xu Sanhua's command, they were assigned to strategic points where their skills could make a difference.
The first wave of the imperial attack struck hard. Catapult projectiles crashed against the walls, but these, well-built and reinforced, withstood the initial onslaught. Xu Sanhua watched from a watchtower, evaluating every move the imperials made with an exterior calm that belied her constantly active mind.
"Only fire when you're sure of your target," she ordered the archers, knowing they couldn't afford to waste arrows.
The villagers, many of whom had never wielded a weapon before, joined the defense with a desperate resolve. They knew what awaited them if the imperial troops broke through the defenses: the nobility would punish all who had aligned with the rebels. This gave them an unexpected strength, and under Xu Sanhua's direction, they organized into small groups to defend different sections of the walls.
The imperials, however, were not easily demoralized. After the failure of the first assault, they began probing the defenses, looking for weak spots. Small groups of soldiers attempted to scale the walls with hooks and ropes, while others advanced under the protection of large shields. Xu Sanhua, ever cautious, had anticipated such maneuvers.
"Keep the torches ready," she said quietly to one of her officers. "When you see them nearing the walls, pour oil on them and set it alight."
The defense worked exactly as she had planned. The imperials trying to scale the walls were taken by surprise as burning oil was poured over them, forcing them to retreat with severe burns. Each time the imperials attempted to approach, they were met with a wall of fire and precise arrows that decimated their ranks.
Despite the casualties, the imperials didn't relent. On the second day of the siege, they managed to breach one of the weaker sections of the walls. A small group of imperials entered the village, but Xu Sanhua, always prepared, had established a second line of defense within the town. The villagers and wounded rebel officers fought with all their might, and after a bloody hand-to-hand struggle, they managed to push the imperials back to the walls.
Meanwhile, Xu Sanhua assessed the situation with an analytical mind. She knew that every hour they held out was another step toward salvation, but she was also aware that morale could crumble if they didn't act swiftly. As night fell on the second day, she called a meeting with the wounded rebel officers and some of the village leaders who had distinguished themselves during the defense.
"We cannot let the imperials see any sign of weakness," Xu Sanhua said, her tone low but firm. "We need to reinforce the walls while they regroup for the next attack."
One of the officers, a man with a bandaged arm, looked at her with admiration.
"Miss Xu, your plans have kept us standing so far, but we can't hold out forever. If reinforcements don't arrive soon…"
"The reinforcements will come," Xu Sanhua replied without hesitation. "My brother will not abandon us. But until then, we must hold on. If the imperials see us falter, they will increase their attacks. We must keep resisting until they have no choice but to retreat."
Her tone, though calm, left no room for doubt. The men nodded, understanding that there was no other option but to keep fighting.
On the third day of the siege, the imperials launched their fiercest attack yet. The catapults began hurling larger, heavier stones, and the walls, though reinforced, began to show signs of wear. Xu Sanhua ordered the villagers to start shoring up the weakened sections with whatever they could find: wooden beams, stones, anything that could stop the enemy's advance.
The imperial soldiers, seeing the pressure they were exerting on the walls, redoubled their efforts, launching wave after wave of attacks. The villagers and rebel officers were exhausted, but under Xu Sanhua's meticulous supervision, they didn't falter.
At a critical moment during the siege, one of the rebel officers came running toward Xu Sanhua, his face drenched in sweat.
"They're concentrating their attack on the north. If we don't send reinforcements, they'll break through that part of the wall."
Xu Sanhua, with her characteristic calm, thought quickly. She knew she couldn't divert too many forces from other key points, but she also understood that losing the north would mean the collapse of the entire defense.
"Send the younger villagers and the less experienced archers to reinforce the north. Have the wounded officers lead the defense there. The veterans will stay here and in the south. If they break through that part, we'll make them pay dearly."
The officer nodded and rushed off to carry out the orders.
The hours passed with unbearable tension. The imperials crashed against the walls like relentless waves, but each time they were repelled by the tenacity of the defenders. The villagers, many of whom had gone from simple farmers to improvised fighters, defended their homes with a bravery they didn't know they possessed.
By nightfall on the third day, the imperials began to show signs of exhaustion. The constant defeats and lack of clear progress were starting to take a toll on their morale. Xu Sanhua, ever cautious, knew they couldn't let their guard down, but for the first time since the siege began, she felt that victory was within reach.
"If we can hold out for one more day, they'll be exhausted," she told one of her trusted officers as she watched the flames flicker in the distance. "We just have to hold on a little longer."
But just as confidence was beginning to take root in the hearts of the defenders, a messenger arrived at the village with troubling news: a contingent of imperial reinforcements was marching toward them, and though their numbers weren't overwhelming, it would be enough to tip the scales against them if they didn't act quickly.
Xu Sanhua closed her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself a moment of reflection. Her brother would come to her aid, but would he arrive in time?