The horizon was still shrouded in the dim light of pre-dawn as Su Jin's army pressed forward. Each step brought them closer to the capital, where their final battle awaited. The cold morning air was thick with tension, as if the earth itself knew the blood that would soon be spilled. Su Jin, mounted at the head of her forces, felt the weight of this moment in every breath she took. The fate of the kingdom hung in the balance, and every decision she made now could be the difference between salvation and ruin.
The capital's towering walls came into view, the silhouette of the city looming against the dark sky. From a distance, Su Jin could see the faint glow of fires—proof of the battles raging within the city. Even at this hour, the conflict hadn't paused. Loyalist forces were fighting desperately to hold back the tide of rebellion, but it was clear from the smoke and chaos that they were losing ground.
As her army approached the capital, Zhang Huai rode up beside her, his face grim. "Your Majesty, we've spotted the foreign army. They're camped just beyond the city's western gate. Their numbers are larger than we anticipated."
Su Jin's gaze hardened. "So, they've finally shown themselves."
Zhang Huai nodded. "But they haven't attacked yet. They're holding their position, watching the city burn."
Su Jin's eyes narrowed as she studied the situation. The foreign army had clearly chosen their moment carefully. They were waiting for the perfect time to strike—once the city was weak and vulnerable, and once Cao Ying's rebellion had done most of the damage.
"They want us to destroy each other," Su Jin said quietly, her voice filled with resolve. "They're waiting for whoever survives to be too weak to resist their takeover."
Gu Tingfeng, riding up on her other side, spoke cautiously. "If we confront both the foreign army and Cao Ying's rebels simultaneously, our forces will be overwhelmed."
Su Jin considered the grim reality. Fighting on two fronts—against both Cao Ying's rebels and this foreign force—was a risk she couldn't afford. But leaving either enemy unchecked would be a death sentence for the kingdom.
"We need to divide them," Su Jin said, her voice taking on a sharp edge. "We'll send a message to Cao Ying. Offer him terms of negotiation."
Zhang Huai raised an eyebrow. "Negotiate with Cao Ying? After all he's done?"
Su Jin's gaze remained fixed on the city. "He's not the real enemy here. The foreign army is. Cao Ying wants power, but if we can convince him that the foreign forces intend to seize the kingdom for themselves, we might be able to use his ambition against them."
Gu Tingfeng nodded, seeing the strategy unfold. "If we can turn Cao Ying against the foreign army, we stand a better chance of surviving."
Inside the capital, chaos reigned. Cao Ying's forces had taken control of most of the city, and loyalist troops were falling back to defend the final bastions near the palace. The civilians, trapped in the crossfire, hid in their homes or fled through the streets in panic. The kingdom's once-grand capital had become a war zone, its streets stained with blood and ash.
Cao Ying stood in the city's central square, surrounded by his commanders, as they planned their next moves. His rebellion had been wildly successful so far, but he knew the foreign army was the true wild card. They had yet to strike, and their silence gnawed at him.
Just as he was about to issue new orders, a messenger approached, out of breath and clutching a scroll. "General Cao, a message from Queen Su Jin."
Cao Ying's eyes narrowed as he took the scroll and broke the seal. He read the letter quickly, his expression shifting from suspicion to intrigue. Su Jin's proposal was unexpected—but not without merit.
"She wants to negotiate?" Liu An, his lieutenant, asked, his tone filled with disbelief.
Cao Ying smirked, folding the letter. "She knows she can't win this war on two fronts. She's offering me an alliance against the foreign army."
Liu An frowned. "Can we trust her?"
Cao Ying's smile was cold. "Of course not. But she's right about one thing—the foreign army isn't here to help us. They'll take the city for themselves the moment we're too weak to stop them."
Liu An hesitated, then nodded in agreement. "So, what do we do?"
Cao Ying's eyes gleamed with ambition. "We'll play along, for now. Let Su Jin think we'll work with her. Once the foreign army is dealt with, I'll take care of her."
The sun began to rise as Su Jin's forces drew closer to the city. She had already dispatched envoys to Cao Ying's camp, hoping to delay any immediate conflict. But she knew that time was running out. Every minute wasted in negotiation allowed the foreign army to solidify its position.
From her vantage point, Su Jin could see the scale of the destruction within the city walls. Smoke rose from multiple districts, and the sound of clashing steel carried on the wind. Her people were suffering, and the kingdom she had spent her life defending was on the verge of collapse.
Zhang Huai approached once more, this time with a concerned look. "Your Majesty, we've spotted scouts from the foreign army moving closer to the city. It won't be long before they launch their attack."
Su Jin nodded, her mind racing through the possibilities. "Then we'll force their hand. Prepare the troops for an assault on their camp."
Gu Tingfeng looked surprised. "You intend to strike first?"
Su Jin's eyes blazed with determination. "We can't afford to wait for them to make the first move. If we hit them hard and fast, we may catch them off guard."
Zhang Huai hesitated, but he understood the logic. "And what about Cao Ying?"
Su Jin's expression remained unreadable. "If he's wise, he'll join us against the foreign army. If not, we'll deal with him after."
As Su Jin's forces prepared to move, the capital's gates began to open. Her army watched in confusion as a small delegation emerged from the city, bearing Cao Ying's banner. Su Jin rode forward to meet them, her heart racing as she wondered whether Cao Ying had truly agreed to her terms.
At the head of the delegation was Liu An, his face serious but not hostile. "Queen Su Jin," he began, bowing slightly, "General Cao has agreed to your proposal. We will join forces to drive out the foreign army."
Su Jin kept her expression neutral, though a sense of relief washed over her. "Good. Then we move now."
Liu An nodded. "The foreign camp is lightly defended at the moment. If we strike together, we can overwhelm them."
Su Jin's forces, bolstered by this fragile alliance, surged forward. The combined armies of Su Jin and Cao Ying moved swiftly across the plains toward the foreign encampment. The element of surprise was on their side, and Su Jin knew that this would be their only chance to win the day.
As dawn fully broke, the battle began. Su Jin's forces clashed with the foreign soldiers, their initial charge shattering the enemy's outer defenses. The foreign army had underestimated the speed and ferocity of the attack, and for a moment, it seemed that victory was within reach.
But as the battle raged on, Su Jin realized that the true leader of the foreign army had yet to show themselves. Somewhere in the chaos, a greater force was waiting. And as the mist of war thickened around her, Su Jin knew that the final confrontation was still to come.