Chapter 18: The First Clash
The night sky was ink-black, the only light coming from the flickering torches lining the camp. The wind whispered ominously through the narrow pass, carrying with it the tension of the impending battle. Li Yuhua stood silently at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the small forces she had gathered. Her heart was steady, but her mind was racing.
Fang Wei's army would soon be upon them, and she had no illusions about the battle that was to come. Outnumbered and facing a well-trained battalion, her only hope was to use the natural terrain to their advantage. Her forces were hidden among the rocks and trees, waiting for the enemy to approach. Every detail of their ambush had been meticulously planned.
Lady Zhen stood beside her, her usually calm demeanor now marked by a deep frown. "Are you certain this will work?" she asked quietly.
"It has to," Li Yuhua replied, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the dark horizon. "We have no other choice."
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Hours later, the faint sound of marching echoed through the night, the rhythmic beat of hundreds of soldiers' boots reverberating off the rocky walls of the pass. Li Yuhua's heart quickened as she signaled her men to hold their positions. The enemy was close.
Through the dim light, she could make out the silhouettes of Fang Wei's vanguard, moving cautiously through the narrow pass. They were well-organized, their armor gleaming faintly under the moonlight. Fang Wei himself was not visible, but his lieutenant, a tall man with a scarred face, led the way, his sword drawn.
Li Yuhua waited, every muscle in her body tense. The signal to attack would come at the perfect moment—just when the majority of the enemy was within the choke point. Her men were poised like coiled springs, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.
The first rank of Fang Wei's soldiers entered the heart of the pass, unaware of the danger lurking above them. Li Yuhua held her breath. Then, just as the lieutenant signaled his men to advance, she gave the order.
"Now!"
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With a thunderous roar, the ambush began. Boulders tumbled down from the cliffs above, smashing into the front lines of Fang Wei's army, crushing armor and bone alike. Arrows whistled through the air, raining down on the disoriented soldiers below. Chaos erupted as the once-organized battalion scattered in confusion.
Li Yuhua's men surged forward from their hidden positions, attacking with precision and ferocity. The narrow confines of the pass worked in their favor, preventing Fang Wei's larger force from overwhelming them with sheer numbers. The sound of steel clashing against steel filled the night as Li Yuhua herself leapt into the fray, her sword flashing in the torchlight.
The lieutenant, caught off guard by the sudden attack, tried to rally his men. But the terrain and the relentless assault made it nearly impossible. One by one, Fang Wei's soldiers fell to the ground, either crushed by the falling rocks or struck down by Li Yuhua's swift warriors.
For a moment, it seemed as if the battle might be over quickly. But then, from the rear of the enemy forces, a second wave of soldiers appeared, larger and better equipped. Fang Wei's true strength had arrived.
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Li Yuhua's heart sank as she realized the full scope of the enemy's power. She had underestimated them. While the initial ambush had been successful, it was clear that this would not be enough to turn the tide of battle. Fang Wei had brought more troops than she had anticipated, and they were closing in fast.
"We need to fall back!" Lady Zhen shouted over the din of battle, her sword stained with blood. "We can't hold them off here for long!"
Li Yuhua gritted her teeth. Retreat was not an option she favored, but she knew Lady Zhen was right. If they stayed, they would be overwhelmed. "Signal the retreat!" she ordered, her voice firm. "We'll regroup at the secondary position."
Her men, though exhausted and bloodied, obeyed without hesitation. The retreat was swift but organized, with Li Yuhua and Lady Zhen covering the rear as their forces withdrew from the narrow pass. They would regroup at a more defensible location further up the mountains, where the terrain would once again work to their advantage.
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As they climbed higher, the sound of battle grew fainter, but the weight of the loss hung heavily in the air. Li Yuhua's forces had fought valiantly, but they had not escaped without casualties. Several men had fallen during the ambush, and others had been wounded in the retreat.
Li Yuhua felt a deep ache in her chest as she surveyed the weary faces of her soldiers. These men had placed their lives in her hands, and while they had survived the first clash, the battle was far from over.
"How many did we lose?" she asked quietly as Lady Zhen approached.
"Too many," Lady Zhen replied, her face grim. "We managed to hold them off for now, but Fang Wei's forces are still out there. They'll regroup and come after us again."
Li Yuhua clenched her fists, her mind racing. They had bought themselves some time, but the real challenge lay ahead. Fang Wei would not stop until he had crushed them completely. She needed to come up with a new plan, and quickly.
But even as her thoughts turned to strategy, a nagging doubt crept into her mind. Could they truly outlast Fang Wei? Or were they simply delaying the inevitable?
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Later that night, as the camp settled into an uneasy silence, Li Yuhua stood alone at the edge of the cliff, staring out into the darkness. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—strategies, regrets, fears. She had led her men into battle, and while they had survived, the victory felt hollow. Fang Wei's army was vast, and his resources seemingly endless.
She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Lady Zhen approaching, her expression serious but calm.
"You did what you had to do," Lady Zhen said quietly, sensing the turmoil in her friend's heart.
"I know," Li Yuhua replied, her voice heavy. "But it doesn't feel like enough."
Lady Zhen placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not over yet. We still have time. And as long as we stand together, we have a chance."
Li Yuhua nodded, though her doubts remained. She knew the road ahead would be long and fraught with danger. But for now, she had to focus on the next battle. Fang Wei was relentless, but so was she.
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End of Chapter 18
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