As the dark night began to give way to the first light of dawn, the battlefield was eerily quiet. Smoke still lingered in the air from the fierce battle, but the immediate threat had passed. The enemy forces, battered and disorganized, had been pushed back. The soldiers in Su Jin's camp were exhausted, but the tension still lingered. They knew that this was just the beginning.
Su Jin stood atop a small rise, her eyes fixed on the distant mountains, now touched with the faint glow of dawn. Though the battle had ended in their favor, the unsettling speed with which the enemy had mobilized continued to trouble her. Last night's victory was hard-fought, but something about the enemy's preparedness weighed heavily on her mind.
Gu Tingfeng, still bearing the grime and blood of battle, approached her, his face set in grim determination.
"We won this fight, but they'll be back," he said, his voice low and steady. "Their command system took a hit, but their defenses remain strong. Reinforcements are already on the way."
Su Jin nodded slowly, her gaze still locked on the horizon. "Yes, and we can't afford to wait for them to regroup. We need to strike back, now, while they're still disoriented."
"Strike back?" Gu Tingfeng's brows furrowed. "Our troops are exhausted. They need time to recover."
"I know," Su Jin replied, turning to face him, her eyes sharp. "But the enemy knows parts of our strategy. The longer we delay, the more dangerous this becomes. We also haven't rooted out the traitor in our ranks. If we strike now, while the enemy is confused, we can disrupt their reinforcements before they fully organize."
Gu Tingfeng stood silent for a moment, weighing her words. Finally, he nodded. "You're right. But we'll need more intelligence before we move."
The camp was bustling with activity as soldiers hastily replenished their supplies and prepared their gear. There was no time for rest, and every man and woman understood the gravity of the situation. Despite the victory, a greater challenge loomed ahead.
Inside the command tent, Su Jin poured over fresh intelligence with Zhang Huai, who had just returned from the scouts.
"Your Highness, our scouts report that the enemy reinforcements are advancing from the southwest. The force is larger than we anticipated, and they're moving quickly," Zhang Huai said, laying out the map in front of her.
Su Jin's brow furrowed as she traced the path of the enemy on the map. "The southwest? Their reinforcements are moving faster than we thought."
Zhang Huai nodded. "Yes, and they're well-guarded. If we attack now, we could disrupt their supply lines, but it would be a risky move."
Su Jin's eyes scanned the map, thinking quickly. "We'll use a flanking maneuver. Hit their supply lines from the side and cut them off before they reach their main force."
Zhang Huai hesitated. "Your Highness, this will be a dangerous attack. Our forces are already stretched thin. If the enemy recovers quickly, we could be caught in a counter-attack."
Su Jin's gaze hardened. "That's precisely why we need to act now. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become. Cut off their supplies, and they'll have no choice but to retreat. Time is not on our side."
Zhang Huai nodded, recognizing the urgency in her tone. Su Jin's decisions had always proven sound, especially in moments of crisis. Without further hesitation, he left to carry out her orders.
A few hours later, Su Jin and Gu Tingfeng's forces quietly moved through the forest, approaching the enemy's supply line. The soldiers were cautious, their movements calculated as they navigated through the underbrush. They knew the risk they were taking, but also understood that this move could cripple the enemy's advance.
As night fell once more, the darkness provided them with much-needed cover. The enemy was unaware of their presence, too focused on maintaining the momentum of their reinforcements. The long caravan of supply wagons stretched out across the narrow path, barely guarded, and completely vulnerable.
"There," Gu Tingfeng whispered to Su Jin, pointing to the supply wagons ahead. "Once we take out their supplies, their advance will grind to a halt."
Su Jin gave a brief nod. "Stick to the plan. Avoid direct confrontation. We strike, disrupt, and withdraw before they can retaliate."
Gu Tingfeng relayed the orders, and within moments, the soldiers moved into position. Archers drew their bows, and in the silence of the night, a volley of arrows soared through the air. In the blink of an eye, the supply wagons erupted into flames. Panic spread through the enemy's ranks as they scrambled to put out the fires, but it was too late. Gu Tingfeng's soldiers vanished into the darkness, leaving chaos in their wake.
"Retreat!" Su Jin ordered, her voice calm but urgent. The mission had been swift and precise, and now they needed to disappear before the enemy could respond.
As dawn broke once more, Su Jin's forces returned to camp, victorious. The enemy's supply lines were in shambles, their reinforcements delayed and thrown into disarray. The swift raid had accomplished exactly what Su Jin had hoped for: buying them time and weakening the enemy's position.
Gu Tingfeng stood on a hill, watching as the sky turned pink with the first light of morning. A rare smile crossed his face. "We've turned the tables, finally."
Su Jin joined him, her eyes focused on the distant horizon. "This is just the beginning. We've cut their supplies, but the real battle is yet to come. The enemy will retaliate, and they'll come back even harder."
Gu Tingfeng nodded, his smile fading. "You're right. We've gained the upper hand, but we can't get complacent. They'll want to recover from this as soon as possible."
Su Jin's eyes gleamed with determination. "We'll be ready. The dawn has broken, and now it's time to strike the final blow."