The night was full of suppressed tension, and the cold wind seemed to echo the anticipation in the air. In the darkness, the imperial camp was surprisingly quiet, immersed in the silence of soldiers who slept confidently in their superiority. It was a confidence that would soon turn against them.
From her elevated position, Xu Sanhua observed every detail. Her eyes fixed on the enemy camp like a watchful hawk, waiting for the exact moment to launch the attack. Beside her, the rebel captain waited nervously, gripping the reins of his donkey, ready to act at the first signal. The sight of an improvised cavalry mounted on donkeys and mules would have seemed ridiculous to any outside observer. But in Xu Sanhua's hands, every piece of the plan, however absurd it seemed, had its place.
"Proceed," she ordered in a calm but firm voice.
It was the beginning of something chaotic. At that moment, the rebel men released the farm animals they had so carefully prepared. Horses, sheep, and even pigs and goats, with torches or burning rags tied to their bodies, charged into the enemy camp. The animals, terrified by the fire, ran wildly, their cries and squeals echoing through the night.
Chaos was immediate.
The burning animals rampaged through the tents, trampling everything in their path, while the imperials, still half-asleep, stampeded out to avoid the fire and frenzied animals. The donkeys and mules, mounted by rebel warriors, galloped through the enemy lines, crashing into tents, charging towards the campfires, and causing an indescribable panic.
The camp, in minutes, went from being a safe haven to a deadly trap wrapped in confusion. The imperial soldiers, used to discipline and numerical superiority, didn't know how to react. In their desperation, some tried to put out the flames, while others stumbled over the rampaging animals or their own comrades.
Xu Sanhua, observing from a distance, knew that this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. Her meticulous planning had paid off: the imperials, accustomed to the logic of traditional warfare, were unprepared for such an unconventional attack. She knew the psychological impact of this blow would be devastating.
"Send the message to Xianfeng," Xu Sanhua said, her tone controlled and serene, though urgency was present in her voice. "Have them send all available troops to take advantage of this moment. Now is the time to strike with everything we have."
The messenger nodded quickly, with no need for her to repeat herself. In seconds, he mounted his horse and galloped off towards Xianfeng. Xu Sanhua watched him disappear into the distance, knowing that every second counted. If the reinforcements arrived in time, they could crush the imperials before they had the chance to regroup.
As the night raid continued, Xu Sanhua ensured that her troops remained organized. She knew that chaos could be both a weapon and an enemy. She had seen before how armies, drunk on initial success, crumbled when they failed to maintain discipline. She wouldn't let that happen under her command.
She moved quickly through the ranks, giving clear and concise orders to the rebel officers. Despite the losses, her soldiers held their formation, striking the imperials where it hurt most: in their disorganization. Xu Sanhua, ever cautious, never let her guard down. She knew that at any moment, the imperials could reorganize, and then the advantage would be lost.
A few minutes later, a young rebel officer came running towards her, panting and covered in sweat.
"Miss Xu, the imperial forces have started to regroup on the western flank. They're trying to organize a retreat towards the river. We need reinforcements there!"
Xu Sanhua frowned. Despite the initial success, she couldn't afford to let the imperials escape. She knew that if they managed to regroup and retreat in an orderly fashion, they could reinforce themselves at another location and come back to attack with renewed strength.
"Send the light cavalry to the western flank," she ordered quickly. "Cut off their retreat. We can't let them cross the river."
The young officer nodded and hurried off to relay the order. Meanwhile, Xu Sanhua directed her gaze to the horizon, where she hoped to see the arrival of troops from Xianfeng. She knew that the success of this attack depended on coordination with the forces she had left in the village. If they arrived in time, they could completely surround the imperials and ensure they had no escape.
As she waited, the tension grew. The surprise attack had been a heavy blow, but the real challenge would be maintaining the advantage in the coming hours. Xu Sanhua never stopped observing every movement on the battlefield. From her position, she could see the imperials trying to regroup, but their efforts were continually sabotaged by the constant pressure from the rebels.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Xu Sanhua spotted dust in the distance, kicked up by the approaching troops. The reinforcements from Xianfeng. A small wave of relief washed over her, though her face remained as impassive as ever.
"Perfect," she murmured to herself. The timing was flawless.
The reinforcements arrived swiftly, joining the battle just as the imperials began to organize their retreat. With the forces from Xianfeng entering the fight, the rebels managed to completely surround the imperial army. Xu Sanhua watched from her command post as the rebel officers directed the final assault.
The sound of clashing steel and the cries of soldiers intensified as the imperials, trapped between the walls of their own tents and the rebel forces, were gradually defeated. Many tried to flee towards the river, but the rebel light cavalry, following Xu Sanhua's orders, intercepted them before they could escape.
The battle was short but brutal. The imperials, demoralized by the surprise attack and surrounded on all sides, couldn't organize an effective defense. The enemy officers were cut down one by one, and within hours, the imperial camp had become a graveyard of bodies and destroyed tents.
By dawn, the battle was over.
Xu Sanhua slowly descended from her command post, walking through the remnants of the imperial camp. The rebel soldiers looked at her with respect as she passed. They knew that the victory that night wouldn't have been possible without her meticulous leadership. Though she wasn't the type of leader to raise her voice to rally the troops, her calm and precision were just as inspiring.
One of her officers, a young man who had been at the forefront of the assault, approached her.
"Miss Xu, the imperials have been completely defeated. There are no survivors who could regroup."
Xu Sanhua nodded slowly, surveying the battlefield with a distant gaze. This decisive victory had allowed the village of Xianfeng to free itself from a possible occupation, and the rebel power here wouldn't be ousted by the imperials anytime soon.