As the first light of dawn illuminated the battlefield, the chaos of the surprise attack had already begun to subside. Su Jin's forces, although outnumbered, had managed to push deep into the enemy's ranks, disrupting their formation. However, the enemy's resolve quickly hardened, and they started to regroup, preparing for a counterattack.
Su Jin, ever watchful, noticed the shift in the enemy's tactics. She could see their commanders shouting orders, rallying their troops, and tightening their defenses. The battle was far from over.
"Hold the line!" Su Jin's voice cut through the din of battle as she rode along the front, her sword raised high. "We must not let them regain their footing!"
Her words were met with a renewed surge of energy from her soldiers. They knew that if they could keep the enemy from regrouping, they stood a chance at turning this into a decisive victory. But the enemy was relentless, and soon, they began to push back with greater force.
The clash intensified as both sides fought fiercely for control of the battlefield. The enemy, though caught off guard initially, was now pressing forward with sheer determination. Their superior numbers began to tell, and Su Jin's forces found themselves slowly being pushed back.
Gu Tingfeng, fighting alongside his men, glanced toward Su Jin. He could see the concern in her eyes as the tide of battle seemed to shift. But there was also something else—a spark of determination that he knew all too well.
"Your Highness, we must consider a tactical withdrawal to regroup!" Gu Tingfeng called out over the noise of battle.
Su Jin shook her head, her gaze locked on the enemy lines. "No retreat! We hold this position until I give the order. We've come too far to fall back now."
Gu Tingfeng nodded, trusting her judgment, even as doubt gnawed at him. He knew Su Jin had a plan, but the odds were growing steeper by the minute.
Amidst the fierce fighting, Su Jin's mind raced, analyzing every possible outcome. She knew they couldn't sustain this fight indefinitely; the enemy's numbers would eventually overwhelm them. But she also knew that a retreat could spell disaster, giving the enemy the advantage they desperately needed.
Suddenly, an idea struck her—one that was as risky as it was necessary.
"Gu Tingfeng!" Su Jin called out, beckoning her general to her side.
Gu Tingfeng fought his way through the melee, finally reaching her. "Your Highness?"
"We need to draw them in closer," Su Jin said, her eyes narrowing as she pointed to a narrow pass further back in the valley. "If we can lure them into that pass, we can use the terrain to our advantage. It will funnel their forces into a bottleneck where their numbers count for less."
Gu Tingfeng looked at the pass, then back at Su Jin. "It's a gamble, but it could work. I'll start pulling our forces back in stages, to make it look like we're retreating."
Su Jin nodded. "Make sure it's convincing. We need them to believe they have us on the run."
The plan was set into motion. Su Jin's forces began a slow, controlled withdrawal, feigning desperation as they retreated toward the narrow pass. The enemy, seeing what they believed to be a retreat, pressed forward eagerly, sensing victory within their grasp.
As they advanced into the pass, the terrain worked against them. The narrow space prevented them from using their numbers effectively, forcing them into a tight, disorganized cluster. It was exactly what Su Jin had hoped for.
"Now!" Su Jin shouted, signaling her forces. From the heights overlooking the pass, her archers and slingers unleashed a deadly volley, while the infantry charged in from both sides, cutting into the trapped enemy.
The enemy, caught in the bottleneck, was thrown into disarray. Their confidence shattered as they realized too late that they had walked into a trap. Su Jin's forces, reinvigorated by the success of their ruse, fought with renewed vigor, driving the enemy back and inflicting heavy losses.
As the battle raged on, Su Jin knew they were turning the tide. But she also knew that this was just one battle in a much larger war. The enemy had been wounded, but they were far from defeated.
With the enemy forces in full retreat, Su Jin ordered her troops to regroup. She knew they needed to press their advantage, but caution was still necessary. The enemy would regroup and counter again; they had to be ready for whatever came next.
Gu Tingfeng approached Su Jin, his armor splattered with blood and dirt, but his eyes shining with respect and admiration. "Your Highness, that was a brilliant maneuver. You've turned what could have been a defeat into a victory."
Su Jin nodded, her expression serious. "This victory is only a step forward. The enemy is still out there, and they won't rest until they've crushed us. We need to stay ahead of them at every turn."
As her soldiers tended to the wounded and gathered the spoils of battle, Su Jin stood alone for a moment, her mind already on the next steps. She knew that the real test was yet to come. The enemy would return, and next time, they would be more prepared. But so would she.