The night was thick with anticipation. The mountains loomed large over Li Yuhua's forces as they took their positions within the narrow confines of the northern pass. The wind whistled between the cliffs, carrying the scent of impending rain, and the sound of distant footfalls reached their ears—Fang Wei's forces were closing in.
Li Yuhua stood at the forefront of her men, her armor catching the dim light of the moon. Her eyes were sharp and unwavering as she surveyed the terrain, each rise and fall of the landscape etched into her memory. Behind her, the guards whispered in nervous tones, but none dared to voice their fears aloud.
"Stay sharp," she called back, her voice cutting through the night air. "We fight with the mountain at our backs. Use its strength."
Lady Zhen moved up beside her, her face set in a grim expression. "I've positioned our archers on the cliffs. The eastern flank is secure, but the storm's rolling in fast. If the rain hits before the enemy, it could give them the advantage."
Li Yuhua's lips pressed into a thin line. "We'll have to rely on the terrain. The pass will force them into a bottleneck. Our archers can rain down arrows, and our spearmen will hold the line."
Lady Zhen nodded, though the uncertainty in her eyes was clear. She glanced at the sky, dark clouds swirling ominously above. "Let's hope it's enough."
---
The hours passed in a slow crawl. Every sound, every rustle of leaves, set the soldiers on edge. Li Yuhua could feel the tension tightening in her own chest, but she remained outwardly composed, her mind focused on the battle ahead.
Suddenly, the distant rumble of hooves broke through the night. A ripple of movement passed through the ranks as Fang Wei's forces appeared at the far end of the pass, a sea of soldiers marching in formation. The metallic glint of their weapons shone in the faint moonlight, and their banners fluttered menacingly in the wind.
Li Yuhua raised her hand, signaling for silence among her troops. She watched as Fang Wei's forces slowly advanced, their numbers seemingly endless. At the head of the army, she could make out the figure of a general—his armor glistening, his posture commanding. This was no ordinary skirmish. Fang Wei had sent his finest.
As the enemy reached the mouth of the pass, they came to a halt. The general raised his sword, the blade catching the light of a lightning flash from the oncoming storm.
"Lady Li Yuhua!" the general's voice boomed through the pass, echoing off the cliffs. "You and your pitiful band are surrounded. Surrender now, and your lives will be spared. Resist, and we will show no mercy!"
Li Yuhua stepped forward, her voice clear and resolute. "I am Li Yuhua, daughter of the northern frontier! Your threats do not frighten me. I will not bow to cowards who serve the likes of Fang Wei. If you wish to fight, then fight—but know that this pass will be your grave."
The general sneered, lowering his sword. "Then you have chosen death."
With a single command, the enemy forces surged forward, their war cries echoing through the night. The ground trembled beneath their feet as they charged toward the narrow pass, weapons gleaming.
"Archers!" Li Yuhua shouted, raising her hand. "Loose!"
A volley of arrows darkened the sky, raining down on Fang Wei's men. The first line of soldiers fell, arrows piercing their armor and shields, but more came, pushing forward with relentless determination.
Li Yuhua drew her sword, the blade humming as it cut through the air. "Spearmen, hold the line!"
Her forces formed a tight phalanx, their spears braced against the ground as the enemy crashed into them. The narrowness of the pass worked in their favor, preventing Fang Wei's soldiers from overwhelming them with sheer numbers. The clang of steel against steel rang out as swords met shields, and the screams of the wounded filled the night.
---
Atop the cliffs, Lady Zhen commanded the archers, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield below. The storm clouds had thickened, and the first drops of rain began to fall, making the ground slick and treacherous.
"We need to slow them down!" she shouted to her archers. "Target their rear ranks!"
Another volley of arrows flew through the air, striking the enemy soldiers trying to push forward from the back. But the rain was beginning to hamper their efforts, the wet strings of the bows making it harder to maintain accuracy.
Below, Li Yuhua fought with the ferocity of a lioness, her sword flashing in the dim light as she cut down soldier after soldier. Her breath came in heavy gasps, but she did not falter. The pass was holding, but barely. The enemy forces were relentless, and with every man they lost, another seemed to take his place.
"Lady Li!" one of her guards shouted as he blocked an enemy's strike. "Their numbers are too great! We can't hold them off forever!"
Li Yuhua gritted her teeth. She knew he was right. They were outnumbered, and if the battle dragged on, her forces would be overwhelmed. She needed to find a way to turn the tide.
Her eyes flicked toward the cliffs, where Lady Zhen's archers were still firing down into the fray. An idea began to form in her mind—dangerous, but their only chance.
"Lady Zhen!" she called up to the cliffs. "Prepare to collapse the eastern rock face!"
Lady Zhen's eyes widened in shock. "But if we do that—"
"I know!" Li Yuhua's resolve stiffened. The fire within her refused to be extinguished, even in the face of overwhelming odds. She turned away from the edge of the cliff and faced Lady Zhen fully, her eyes gleaming with a steely determination.
"You're right," she said, her voice stronger now. "We'll face whatever comes, but we need to be smarter. Fang Wei's numbers may be great, but I know these mountains better than he does. We'll lead him into terrain that works for us, not for him."
Lady Zhen gave her a firm nod, a flicker of hope returning to her eyes. "Then we'll prepare for the next move."
As Li Yuhua's mind raced with strategies, she felt a strange sense of calm washing over her. Yes, they were outnumbered, but they weren't defeated yet. Not as long as they had the will to fight.
---
Morning came, and the camp was abuzz with preparation. The soldiers, though weary, were ready for what lay ahead. Li Yuhua's orders were clear—everyone was to prepare for a prolonged defense. The terrain ahead would allow for a series of hit-and-run tactics, using the high ground and the narrow mountain paths to outmaneuver Fang Wei's larger forces.
As they moved further up the mountain, the narrow paths became treacherous, and the thick foliage provided ample cover. Li Yuhua's men, though fewer in number, moved with the precision of those who had lived in these mountains their entire lives. Fang Wei's forces, on the other hand, would find it much harder to navigate the unfamiliar terrain.
Li Yuhua and Lady Zhen climbed a ridge to survey the area ahead. From this vantage point, they could see far into the valley below, where Fang Wei's army was already on the move again, though slower than before.
"They're regrouping," Lady Zhen observed, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "It won't be long before they try to push through this pass."
Li Yuhua nodded. "They're cautious now, which works in our favor. We'll let them come, but not all the way. If we play this right, we can weaken them before they reach our main defense."
"Then let's hope we have enough time to prepare," Lady Zhen said quietly, her brow furrowing.
Li Yuhua watched the approaching army with a calm intensity. "We will. And when they come, we'll be ready."
---
The next few days were spent reinforcing their positions. The mountain pass provided natural choke points where a small group of soldiers could hold off a much larger force, but it was still crucial to set up traps and ambush points to further hinder Fang Wei's advance.
Li Yuhua worked tirelessly alongside her men, ensuring every detail was in place. She knew that the coming battle would be the most difficult yet, but she was confident that her strategies would at least slow Fang Wei down.
---
When Fang Wei's army finally arrived at the next pass, the clash was immediate. Once again, Li Yuhua's forces struck swiftly and without warning, using the terrain to their advantage. Arrows rained down from the cliffs, and rocks were rolled down onto the advancing soldiers, creating chaos in the enemy ranks.
But this time, Fang Wei's men were more prepared. They advanced with shields raised, their formation tight and disciplined. Even as Li Yuhua's forces struck from above, Fang Wei's army continued to push forward, their sheer numbers slowly overwhelming the defenders.
Li Yuhua stood on the ridge, her eyes narrowing as she watched the battle unfold. She could see the determination in Fang Wei's soldiers—they were not easily deterred. But that only meant they would have to fight smarter.
"Signal the retreat!" she ordered, and her men, well-practiced by now, began to fall back in an orderly fashion. They had inflicted significant damage on the enemy, but they couldn't afford to be drawn into a prolonged battle.
As Li Yuhua and her forces retreated further into the mountains, the sound of battle faded behind them. But she knew this was only a temporary reprieve. Fang Wei would not stop until he had captured her—and he had the resources to keep pressing forward.
---
That night, as the soldiers rested, Li Yuhua gathered her commanders around the fire. The mood was tense, but there was still a glimmer of hope in their eyes. Despite the odds, they had held their ground so far.
"We'll continue to draw them further into the mountains," Li Yuhua said, her voice calm and steady. "The deeper they go, the harder it will be for them to supply their troops. We'll strike when they're weakest, but we need to be patient."
Lady Zhen glanced at the weary soldiers around them. "And what if Fang Wei tries to cut off our escape? He may decide to stop chasing us and wait for us to starve."
Li Yuhua's jaw tightened. She had considered that possibility, and it was a real concern. Fang Wei was not a man to be underestimated.
"If it comes to that," she replied slowly, "we'll have to rely on our allies outside these mountains. Lord Sun may not be able to send a large force, but even a small relief force could make all the difference."
Lady Zhen nodded, though the worry in her eyes remained. "Let's hope we won't need it."
---
As the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Li Yuhua found herself standing once again at the edge of the cliff, looking out into the dark expanse below. The stars above were bright, but they felt distant, cold. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, her thoughts heavy.
This battle was far from over, and with each passing day, the weight of leadership pressed harder on her shoulders. She had led these men into this fight, and she owed it to them to see it through.
Her mind drifted to Fang Wei, the unseen adversary who pursued her relentlessly. What drove him? Was it mere ambition? Or was there something more? She didn't know, but she intended to find out. And when they finally met, she would be ready.
---
End of Chapter 17
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Author's Thoughts: This chapter deepens the strategic complexity of the war between Li Yuhua and Fang Wei's forces. I wanted to show how even in the face of overwhelming odds, Li Yuhua's tactical brilliance and deep knowledge of the terrain give her an edge, but it also highlights the emotional toll that leadership takes on her. The war is not just a battle of swords, but also one of patience and intelligence. The coming chapters will continue to build on this tension, as both sides prepare for the inevitable clash.