The battle in the valley raged on, the air thick with the smell of smoke and blood. Su Jin stood atop the ridge, her sharp eyes surveying the chaotic battlefield below. Her ambush had worked, at least for the moment. The enemy's formation was broken, their forces scattered. But she knew this was only a temporary advantage—their overwhelming numbers were still a grave threat.
"Your Highness, the enemy's reinforcements are approaching fast, and they outnumber us far more than we expected!" a scout reported breathlessly, his voice filled with urgency.
Su Jin's brow furrowed as she glanced down at the map spread before her. She had hoped the ambush would disrupt the enemy's main force, but it was clear now that the situation was more dire than she had anticipated. The enemy was better prepared than she thought.
"What's the status of General Gu's forces?" Su Jin asked quickly.
"General Gu is holding off the enemy's flank, but their reinforcements are arriving at an alarming rate. The vanguard is already pressing hard against his lines," the scout replied.
Su Jin nodded, her expression grim but focused. "Send word to General Gu. He must hold the line at all costs. We cannot allow the enemy to surround us."
The scout hurried off, leaving Su Jin to turn back to her officers. "We need to adjust our strategy immediately. The enemy's elite troops will be here soon. All units should prepare for a defensive stand."
On the frontlines, Gu Tingfeng's detachment was locked in a brutal struggle against the enemy's flank. The enemy had quickly adapted to their ambush, and their vanguard was pressing forward with renewed ferocity. Gu Tingfeng fought at the forefront, his spear cutting through enemy ranks as his armor was stained red with blood.
"Hold the line! Don't let them break through!" Gu Tingfeng's voice rang out, hoarse but commanding. His troops, though exhausted, fought with everything they had. They knew that if the line broke, the entire battle could be lost.
"General, the enemy's elite troops are advancing fast!" one of his officers reported, panic edging into his voice.
"We have no choice but to hold." Gu Tingfeng's gaze was hard, knowing full well that this was a battle they could not afford to lose.
Back in the valley, Su Jin's mind raced. She knew that they couldn't afford to stay on the defensive for much longer. If they continued to fight a war of attrition, the enemy's numbers would overwhelm them.
"Your Highness, our archers are running out of arrows, and our lines are thinning. We can't hold this position for much longer," one of her commanders warned softly.
Su Jin nodded, her mind quickly settling on a bold decision. "We can't afford to wait any longer. Order the archers to focus fire on the enemy's rear. Have the infantry split into two groups and strike from the flanks. We need to throw them off balance."
"But, Your Highness, if the flanking attack fails, our entire line could collapse," the commander cautioned, concern clear in his tone.
"That's why it will succeed," Su Jin replied firmly. "The enemy doesn't expect us to go on the offensive. It's our only chance. If we stay passive, we'll be surrounded. We must strike first."
The commander took a deep breath and nodded, rushing off to relay her orders.
The plan was swiftly set into motion. Archers and slingers concentrated their fire on the enemy's rear, disrupting their formations and forcing their reserves into disarray. Meanwhile, Su Jin's infantry split into two groups, flanking the enemy from both sides in a sudden and unexpected assault.
The enemy, unprepared for such a bold move, faltered as their rear lines were bombarded and their flanks attacked. Chaos erupted within their ranks, and Su Jin's soldiers pressed their advantage, driving a wedge into the enemy forces.
"Charge!" Su Jin shouted, her voice carrying over the din of battle as her infantry stormed forward, cutting through the enemy lines. The sudden flanking maneuver caught the enemy off guard, and their formation quickly began to crumble.
The battle became a frenzied melee, with Su Jin's forces pushing deeper into the enemy ranks. Her troops fought with desperation, knowing that victory depended on their ability to maintain the momentum. Every swing of their swords and every clash of shields carried the weight of survival.
Just as it seemed they were turning the tide, a messenger arrived, breathless and pale. "Your Highness! The enemy's commanders have regrouped, and their elite forces are preparing a counterattack. They're advancing quickly!"
Su Jin's heart clenched. The enemy's quick recovery was a testament to their discipline and experience. They weren't going to be defeated so easily.
"The battle isn't over yet," Su Jin muttered under her breath. She turned to her officers. "Strengthen our defenses. Pull all available troops to the front lines. We need to brace for their counterattack."
On the front, Gu Tingfeng's forces were nearing their breaking point. His men were exhausted, and the battlefield was littered with the fallen. Yet, even as the enemy continued to press them, Gu Tingfeng refused to yield.
"Just a little longer…" Gu Tingfeng thought to himself, his grip tightening on his spear. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, but he knew they had no choice but to keep fighting.
With both armies on the verge of collapse, the next wave of the enemy's assault would be decisive. The true test of Su Jin's strategy—and their survival—was about to begin.