The night was slowly fading as dawn approached, with darkness still cloaking the land. Su Jin stood on a high vantage point, surveying the distant battlefield. The foreign army had temporarily retreated to their camp, and the rebels were also resting. But Su Jin knew the war was far from over. She had just learned from a spy that forces from the Northern territories were secretly pulling the strings, and this new information made her realize that immediate action was needed. If she didn't act, the kingdom would soon face an onslaught from both within and without.
In the military camp, Su Jin gathered her key generals. Gu Tingfeng, Zhang Huai, and a few other commanders assembled to discuss the next move. Su Jin spoke in a low voice, "The enemy is preparing a counterattack. We cannot sit idly by any longer. According to the spy, the foreign army is working under the Northern Lord's orders, and Cao Ying is merely their pawn. Their goal isn't just to take the capital—they want to conquer the entire kingdom."
The generals exchanged uneasy glances. Gu Tingfeng was the first to speak, "Your Majesty, are you saying we now face not only Cao Ying but also the Northern army?"
Su Jin nodded gravely, "Exactly. We can't stay on the defensive any longer. Now is the time to strike first and disrupt their plans."
Zhang Huai frowned, "But the enemy's defenses are growing stronger, and the full force of the foreign army has yet to reveal itself. Attacking hastily could be a great risk."
Su Jin's gaze was firm. "I understand the danger, but that's exactly why we need to strike while they're still off guard. If we wait for their full assault, we'll be overwhelmed."
Her voice was calm yet powerful, "Tonight, we'll launch a surprise attack. We'll strike before the foreign army and rebels have fully recovered, to break their momentum."
At midnight, Su Jin's forces quietly assembled. She personally led an elite unit, preparing to raid the foreign army's camp. She knew the success of this operation would determine the fate of the upcoming battle.
As the troops readied to march, Gu Tingfeng approached Su Jin and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, are you certain Cao Ying won't seize the opportunity to attack us from behind?"
Su Jin shook her head calmly. "Cao Ying is in disarray right now. He won't dare move against us yet, and he knows the foreign army is just as much a threat to him as it is to us. He'll stay put, hoping we and the foreign army wear each other down."
Gu Tingfeng nodded, though concern still weighed on him. He trusted Su Jin's judgment but hoped that the operation would succeed without further complications.
Under the cover of night, Su Jin's troops moved like shadows, silently advancing toward the foreign army's camp. She had chosen a hidden path that bypassed the enemy's outposts and avoided their main defenses. The foreign soldiers in the camp clearly hadn't expected Su Jin to launch an attack at this hour.
"Move in!" Su Jin whispered the order, and her troops swiftly charged into the camp. The enemy's outer defenses collapsed under the sudden assault, and the foreign soldiers, caught by surprise, scattered in panic.
Su Jin led from the front, her sword flashing as she cut through the chaos, leading her soldiers straight toward the enemy command center. Her objective was clear—eliminate the foreign commander and break their morale completely.
However, just as Su Jin was about to reach the command center, a horn sounded. From both flanks, hidden foreign troops sprang their ambush. The foreign army had been prepared for such an attack, and Su Jin's raid had been detected.
Realizing they had walked into a trap, Su Jin quickly ordered a retreat, instructing her archers to provide covering fire. Arrows sliced through the night sky, creating a barrier to slow the enemy's pursuit.
"We need to break out of this encirclement now!" Gu Tingfeng shouted as he rushed to Su Jin's side. "The enemy has us surrounded!"
Su Jin's gaze remained calm, her mind working swiftly. "We'll withdraw back to our camp. Alert the rear to prepare for defense—the enemy's counterattack is coming soon."
Just as Su Jin had predicted, the foreign army wasted no time in organizing a counterattack once they saw her forces retreating. The foreign commander, watching the fleeing soldiers, smirked coldly. He ordered his army to fully mobilize, intending to crush Su Jin's main force in one decisive strike.
But as the foreign troops assembled and prepared to advance, a sudden blaze erupted from the rear of their camp. Flames soared into the sky, lighting up the night. Unbeknownst to the foreign army, Su Jin had already sent a smaller, covert force to circle around and set fire to their supply depot.
The fire threw the foreign army into chaos. Soldiers scrambled in confusion, and their commander, unsure of what was happening, had no choice but to pull back his forces and regroup.
When Su Jin returned to her own camp, her troops had already fortified their defenses. Though the initial raid hadn't fully succeeded, her secondary plan had worked—her hidden force had set fire to the enemy's supplies, disrupting their plans. Su Jin stood atop a hill, calmly observing the battlefield.
"Your Majesty, the foreign army's assault has been stalled. We managed to drive them back," Zhang Huai reported breathlessly as he approached her.
Su Jin nodded but remained sharp-eyed. "This is only a temporary victory. The foreign army won't give up easily. They'll come back with greater force."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "We must use this time to regroup our forces. The enemy's supplies have been destroyed, so they won't be able to launch a major attack for a few days. But we can't let our guard down—the true battle is still ahead."