Xu Anping arrived at the village of Xianfeng just before dawn, with the first rays of sunlight barely illuminating the hills. As he approached, his gaze fixed on the village's worn-down walls. They were the same defenses he had inspected weeks ago, but now they looked worse. Deep cracks ran through the stones, and the wood was splintered in several places. The place seemed to have endured a harsh siege, but what troubled Xu Anping the most was the complete absence of activity around. There were no signs of the imperial army that should have been camped nearby. No smoke, no sound of soldiers marching or setting up tents. The situation made him frown immediately.
Xu Anping tightened the reins of his horse, slowing its pace. His group of escorts followed closely, also alert, scanning their surroundings. The wind was cold and heavy with a sense of uncertainty. Each step toward the village increased his concern. "Have they fallen? Have the imperials retreated?" he wondered, with no clear answers in sight. The silence in the air and the seemingly abandoned walls made him fear the worst. If the imperials had taken Xianfeng while he was away, he could have lost his rear defense and his ability to protect his territories.
His horse began to move more restlessly, as if sensing its rider's tension. Anping took a deep breath and stopped in front of the village gates, which were closed. He signaled one of his men to check the situation. As the soldier stepped forward, the gates slowly began to open, and upon seeing this, Xu Anping tensed, ready to draw his sword. What emerged from the gates left him completely baffled.
It was his sister, Xu Sanhua.
Xu Sanhua walked toward him with a firm step, her usual calm and unflappable expression in place. Although her clothes showed signs of having been in combat—dirt stains and slight tears in her sleeves—her face retained that calculated serenity he had always admired in her.
"Brother," she said in a neutral tone, stopping a few steps away from Xu Anping, who was still on high alert.
Xu Anping felt a mix of relief and confusion. His sister was fine, but the village didn't seem to have escaped unscathed. Where were the imperials? What had happened? The sight of the damaged walls didn't match the lack of combat signs or bodies.
"What happened here?" Anping asked in a grave voice, still mounted on his horse. "The walls look like they've been attacked, but I see no trace of the imperials."
Xu Sanhua looked at him for a moment, her gaze calm but with something else in it, something Xu Anping couldn't immediately identify. Then, she began to speak, describing the nighttime attack she had led days ago. She narrated how they had used farm animals with torches tied to their bodies and an improvised cavalry of donkeys and mules to wreak havoc on the imperial camp. It had been an unexpected victory—the enemy hadn't anticipated such a bold and unconventional maneuver. The imperials, caught in the chaos, had fled or been annihilated by the rebel forces.
Xu Anping listened intently as his sister's voice maintained its usual meticulous tone, but there was something in the coldness of her words that revealed just how close the village had come to a catastrophic defeat. If the imperial forces hadn't been caught off guard by Xu Sanhua's ingenuity, Xianfeng would have fallen, and he would have lost his most important base.
The thought that his rear defenses had almost been destroyed filled him with deep concern. He had underestimated the threat the imperials posed. He had been too focused on the battles at the borders, unaware of how vulnerable his internal territories were.
"We almost lost the village…" Xu Anping murmured as he dismounted and walked toward his sister. "That cannot happen again."
His mind began to work quickly. If Xianfeng had come so close to falling, it meant other villages and fortresses he controlled might be in the same or worse condition. He needed to act swiftly to strengthen his defenses.
"We need to reinforce the village walls and all the territories we control," Xu Anping said resolutely. "If the imperials come back, they won't find us this vulnerable again." His eyes scanned the walls once more, mentally assessing the repairs needed.
Xu Sanhua nodded silently, sharing the same sentiment. Although her ingenuity had saved the village this time, they both knew they couldn't always rely on unpredictable tactics to win.
"Moreover," Xu Anping continued, "we need to improve the training of our troops—not just the regular soldiers, but the reserves too. If we're attacked again, we must be prepared to hold out longer. We can no longer afford to keep the reservists as mere armed peasants."
As he spoke, an idea formed in his mind. He remembered the wounded soldiers who had survived the battles on the frontier. Many of them had fought valiantly and gained significant experience on the battlefield, but now they couldn't return to the front due to their injuries. These men, he thought, were an invaluable resource. While they could no longer fight, they could teach.
"I will send our wounded soldiers and veterans to train the reservists," Xu Anping declared, certain he had found the solution he was looking for. "The veterans have the experience our new recruits need. That way, when the imperials attack again, we will not only have well-trained soldiers but men who understand what it means to be in a real battle."
Xu Sanhua watched him closely, evaluating his plan. Though she didn't say it out loud, she knew her brother was right. Battlefield experience was something that couldn't be learned through simple military drills. Only those who had felt the heat of combat, who had faced death up close, could teach the new recruits what truly mattered in a battle.
"It's a good idea," Xu Sanhua finally admitted. "But it will be a long process. If the imperials return soon, we won't have time to train everyone."
Xu Anping knew this, but he also knew he couldn't sit idly by.
"I know. But we must start now. Every day that passes, our soldiers will be stronger. And when the imperials return, we will be ready to face them again."
With that plan in mind, Xu Anping began giving orders to his officers to start the preparations. Immediately, the men dispersed, organizing work teams to repair the walls and beginning to recruit veterans to serve as instructors.
Meanwhile, Xu Anping and Xu Sanhua moved through the village, inspecting the damage and ensuring everything was in motion. As they went, the villagers greeted them with respect and gratitude, aware that if not for them, Xianfeng would no longer exist.
With the sun now high in the sky, the village began to fill with activity. Blacksmiths started forging new weapons, carpenters reinforced the walls, and young recruits lined up to receive training from the veterans.