The moon hung low as Li Wei stood with General Cao Ren and a detachment of soldiers at the edge of the forest. The glow of the bandits' campfires flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows against the trees. The hostages were held in the center, tied to crude wooden posts.
"Your Majesty," Cao Ren whispered, his voice tinged with worry, "you don't need to lead this charge. Let me handle the bandits."
Li Wei shook his head. "An emperor who hides behind his soldiers loses the respect of his people. They must see that I am willing to risk my life for theirs."
Cao Ren hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. But stay close to me."
Li Wei turned to his men, his voice low but firm. "These bandits have taken innocent lives and dared to challenge the crown. Tonight, we remind them who rules this land. Show no mercy."
The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their resolve bolstered by the emperor's presence. As the signal was given, they moved swiftly, their footsteps muffled by the forest floor. The element of surprise was on their side.
The attack was brutal and efficient. Li Wei fought alongside his men, wielding a sword with surprising precision for someone with little formal training. His modern knowledge gave him an edge he'd studied countless battle strategies and used them to outmaneuver the bandits. When one lunged at him with a spear, he sidestepped and struck with a well aimed blow, the adrenaline sharpening his instincts.
As dawn broke, the camp lay in ruins. The hostages, freed and unharmed, knelt before Li Wei, tears streaming down their faces. "Thank you, Your Majesty," one man said, his voice choked with emotion. "You saved us."
Li Wei wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaustion threatening to overtake him. "You're safe now. That's all that matters."
Cao Ren approached, his armor streaked with blood. "The remaining bandits fled into the hills. We'll send patrols to hunt them down."
"Do it," Li Wei said, his gaze steely. "Let this be a warning to anyone who dares defy the crown."
As he mounted his horse to return to the capital, Lin Mei rode up beside him, her expression unreadable. "You've won a battle tonight, Your Majesty. But wars are rarely this simple."
Li Wei glanced at her, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Then it's a good thing I'm not afraid of hard battles."
Unseen by either of them, a lone bandit watched from the shadows, his eyes filled with hatred. The emperor's victory was undeniable but the seeds of vengeance had been sown.