Chapter 14 Shadows of War

[Doctor Zhen Jian]

During these three months, my life settled into a monotonous rhythm. Every day, I treated a few villagers and trained rigorously. Treatment and training. Training and treatment. My only forms of entertainment were the interactions with my patients, moments I indulged in sniffing my favorite drug, and a new hobby was rereading my mother's romance novel.

The village, usually a quiet and static place, had started to buzz with increased movement. There were rumors of the Huo Dynasty facing threats from the east, from the formidable Xiyun Dynasty. Normally, I wouldn't worry, living at the base of the largest mountain in the nation, nestled right below the capital. But the news was grim—the battles were not going in our favor. The Huo Dynasty, despite its war-forged origins, was still a relatively new kingdom. My father used to recount how, before the kingdom was established, our lands were a battleground for eight warring tribes, each vying for supremacy without a clear victor. It was only about fifteen years ago that one tribe managed to unite the rest under the threat of eradication. But how could these nomadic tribes stand against the legacy of dynasties that had endured for millennia, like the Xiyun Dynasty to the east?

I was sitting in the village hall, the air filled with the scent of burning wood and the chatter of worried villagers. As the only doctor here, I held a special place in their hearts, also I was well liked since childhood due to my father's kind demeanor. The villagers passionately debated how to respond to the threat of invasion and what our dynasty might do. I, however, was engrossed in my mother’s favorite romance novel, each page a refuge from the chaos around me. I was grateful the book had no cover; otherwise, I’d be too embarrassed to read it in public. Without a cover, I must have looked like a young scholar deep in research, not a man lost in a cheesy love story.

“Dr. Zhen, what do you think?” a voice broke through my reverie.

I looked up, realizing I hadn’t been listening. I couldn’t let them think I was reading a romance novel. I almost blurted out my thoughts on how the male lead’s antics to win over the female lead were over the top, but I caught myself just in time.

“Dr. Zhen?” the same man asked again.

“Ahem, sorry. I was lost in thought about what I was reading. Could you repeat the question?”

“No problem, doctor. We know how much you care about the village. We asked if we should move because we’re situated directly below the capital. If the capital is attacked, we might get involved.”

I pondered for a moment. “Hmm, I don’t really know what the right option is. However, I shall remain here.”

Another villager chimed in, “Why, doctor? You should value your life.”

I smiled, feeling the weight of my words. “My mother and father are here. I will not leave.”

No one could question that. Where my parents are, that’s where I’ll stay. Who could argue with that?

The meeting concluded with the decision that everyone should do what they felt was best. Some people left immediately, others began packing, and some, like me, chose to remain. Those who stayed were mostly the elderly, unable to travel far, or people who had abandoned city life for the forest's tranquility.

I decided to head towards a waterfall I recently discovered, still clutching my mother’s romance novel. The roar of the waterfall was a soothing backdrop, its mist mingling with the earthy scent of the forest. There was a large rock near the water where I spent most of my free time. After seeing my last patient, I often came here to practice my sword swings. I felt my movements were more powerful when my mind was calm, the fragrance was also stronger with stronger swings.

Leaning back against the tree, I gazed up at the towering waterfall, always awestruck by the mountain's height. Atop that mountain was the capital city, the last place I visited with my father. It was also where I met that pretty girl and promised to become a doctor. I smiled to myself, thinking, “I did it, hahah. I hope you accomplished your dream too.”

[Chief Huo Lian]

I stood before my troops, clad in my armor as black as night. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and metal, a testament to the rigorous training we had undergone. Four months ago, these soldiers saw me as a spoiled and angry princess. Now, they respect me. The change was palpable. In these first three months, I hadn't slept or eaten and spent the entire time cultivating pushing myself to the limit. And after awakening I spent the last month training them. My relentless dedication had earned their admiration. We were once warring people; we respect strength and admire hard work.

"We are at war," I declared, my voice steady and resolute.

I scanned the faces of my soldiers. There was no shock in their eyes—just determination. The rumors of our struggle must have spread further than I thought. Many undisciplined men had been weeded out, replaced by those who were stronger, more resilient. These were men I could fight with, wield like a finely honed sword.

"We will not wait for the invaders to come to our homes. I will take our finest and attack the strongholds they have taken. We will make a comeback and win this war. Are you ready for victory?"

"YES, COMMANDER!" they roared in unison, their voices a thunderous echo in the cold morning air.

I nodded, feeling the weight of my sword at my side. My first true battle was against a lazy chief who had abused his power his entire life. He couldn't be compared to the war veterans of the Xiyun Dynasty. Training with my soldiers was beneficial for them, but I needed to get used to my strength faster. Should I kill another bastard chief? No, we needed to appear unified. Otherwise, it would be better to hand over our kingdom on a silver platter.

But why were they attacking us? I didn’t question it before because my mind was preoccupied with my goal to ready my men for war. But now that I think about it I can't understand why. The Xiyun Dynasty had the fertile flatlands while we were surrounded by rocks and mountainous ranges. What could have fueled their drive to start an all-out attack against us? If I understood this, I could win the war easily. But the lack of information given to me was likely due to their prejudice against my gender. Even at a time like this, the old bastards couldn't get away from their pre-established beliefs.

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Wait. The man instantly ordered me to command over Luo’s forces, yet now, when we are at war, he isn't using his resources to the fullest. Something is wrong with the palace.

Chapter 15 War Games

[Chief Huo Lian]

"Second!" I called out.

"Present, Commander," Li Ming responded immediately.

"Go to the Lian estate and bring all the personnel here," I ordered.

He looked confused but knew better than to question me. "Yes, my lord."

I had a bad feeling about this. As I made my way towards the palace, my walking speed was brisk, but I took my time to observe the surroundings. People were leaving left and right. Why did it appear that the common people knew something that I, the chief of the empire, did not?

Approaching the gates of the palace, I felt a surge of unease. The palace, a place I would rather not see, held the answers to my questions. The gates opened naturally, my bloody image of a few months ago still holding significance in their hearts.

I walked straight into the council room, the scent of incense and old parchment filling the air. All members of the council were present. Huo Long looked up at me and said, "Good, I was about to call for you."

All members of the council sat. Huo Long looked at each member for a moment before speaking slowly.

"The Xiyun Dynasty is not responsible for the attack."

Chaos erupted in the council room. I was too confused—this contradicted the official letter. Huo Long raised his hand, and the chatter ended.

"Let me be clear," he said. "They are the sword; the hand is someone else. This hand is our greatest concern. They seem powerful, wealthy, and unyielding. I don't know what they could possibly want from us, but they appear to be unhappy that the mountains have united. This attack seems to have been in the works for many years now."

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. There was a more sinister force at play, one that threatened not just our lands but our very existence. The air in the room grew heavier, the weight of our predicament pressing down on us all.

The council room was thick with the scent of incense and tension. My eyes scanned the faces of the gathered chiefs, each etched with the lines of age and experience, each carefully masking their thoughts. The flickering candlelight cast shadows that danced across the walls, amplifying the gravity of our situation.

"They know about our strategic locations and the number of troops in each place," Huo Long stated, his voice a deep rumble that reverberated through the chamber. He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over us. The air was heavy with the scent of burning wood and sweat.

"Wait, doesn't that mean we have a spy?" I thought to myself looking around the room.

Dammit. I knew these savages were not to be trusted, but to go so far as to sell themselves to another master? My fists clenched involuntarily at the thought. Huo Long never directly said there was a spy, but his eyes scrutinized everyone’s expressions, searching for a flicker of guilt.

The realization hit me like a cold splash of water. No wonder there had been no offensive yet. If Huo Long ordered one of the chiefs to fight a specific army and that chief was the spy, it would mean he had let the spy go free with an entire army. This was a dire situation. The one who volunteers to fight is likely the spy.

The council room fell into a heavy silence. All these old dogs knew how to keep calm and collected, but I had a goal. I could not let this kingdom fall. I promised myself that I would be empress of these lands, that I would bring peace to my people. I could not let these old tricks hinder my goals.

"I volunteer the Lian estate to charge in and make an offensive attack," I loudly proclaimed, breaking the silence. The shock was palpable. Every head turned, eyes wide with surprise.

Huo Long's gaze bore into mine, a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny. "Hmmm, you want to go and fight?" he asked, staring at my determined face.

"Yes, my king. I will use a hit-and-run tactics. I am confident." I replied, standing firm. The room felt suffocating, but I held my ground. I didn't ask too many questions; the spy was likely here. A hit-and-run tactic might not be the most effective against an invading force, but it would confirm two things: the enemy knew every conversation that occurred in this room, and how I, a new commander, would fare against them.

General Zheng—the man I am destined to face. Back at camp, I gathered the people from the Lian estate, ordering them to act as logistics and support members of the army. The real reason, however, was my oath to protect them. I knew the spy might make a move on them. I also moved all the treasure, leaving the estate devoid of anything of interest. Now, I could have no distractions.

This is my first mission as a commander. I will end my enemies and protect my comrades. General Zheng is a formidable warrior, rumored to have made his second core, just like me. I will not risk a straight battle with him, though. I have little more than 5,000 troops, mostly regular martial artists, a few hundred at the qi-gathering stage, and only five foundation establishment warriors. And, of course, myself. A core formation stage.

As I surveyed the camp, the smell of campfires and the sight of soldiers preparing for battle filled my senses. The stark contrast between our humble encampment and the enemy's overwhelming numbers was daunting. They had more than 50,000 men, many of them at the qi-gathering and foundation establishment stages.

The terrain was our only advantage. This was our homeland, where every path was treacherous and mountainous. Their horses would be useless on the hard, rocky terrain.Hit-and-run tactics were perfect for my army. I could see the jagged peaks of the mountains surrounding us, their shadows offering both a challenge and a shield.

I took a deep breath, the cool mountain air filling my lungs. "Well, let the war games begin, with both hidden and open enemies," I whispered to myself, steeling my resolve.

***

The following night under the cover of darkness, my elite troops and I moved stealthily through the rugged terrain, our steps silent as we approached the enemy camp. The moon cast an ethereal glow over the landscape, illuminating our path as we crept closer to our target.

As we neared the outskirts of the enemy camp, I signaled for my troops to fan out, each group taking up strategic positions overlooking the encampment. The scent of wood smoke and sweat hung heavy in the air, mingling with the anticipation of battle.

With a silent command, we launched our attack. Like shadows in the night, we darted in and out of the camp, striking swiftly and retreating before the enemy could muster a proper defense. The chaos was palpable as screams echoed through the night and the clash of steel filled the air.

General Zheng emerged from his tent, his presence commanding respect and instilling fear in his troops. But even he was caught off guard by the speed and precision of our assault. We moved with calculated efficiency, exploiting weaknesses in the enemy's defenses and inflicting maximum damage before disappearing into the darkness once more.

It was a relentless onslaught, a barrage of hit-and-run attacks that kept the enemy off balance and prevented them from mounting a coordinated response. We targeted supply lines, destroyed key infrastructure, and disrupted communication channels, sowing chaos and confusion among our adversaries.

But General Zheng was no novice. With each passing moment, he adapted his strategy, fortifying his defenses and mobilizing his troops to counter our attacks. The battle became a deadly game of cat and mouse, with both sides vying for control of the battlefield.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, we made one final push, striking with all the fury and determination we could muster. We inflicted as much damage as we could before slipping away into the shadows, leaving the enemy reeling and demoralized.

The battle was over, but the war remained far from won. We had demonstrated our capability to strike with speed and precision, yet General Zheng would not rest until he had exacted his revenge. As we regrouped in the safety of the mountains, I understood that our struggle was far from finished. However, this successful hit-and-run attack bolstered our strength and resolve to ultimately claim victory. We managed to eliminate 2,000 of their 50,000 troops without suffering a single casualty. It was a small victory, but even the smallest spark can ignite a great fire.

As dawn approached, we melted back into the mountains, leaving the enemy camp in disarray. We had struck hard and fast, and though we had not defeated them, we had shown them the cost of their invasion.

Back in our camp, the scent of blood and sweat mingled with the fresh morning air. My men were weary but victorious in spirit. We had survived our first engagement, and more importantly, we had sown doubt and confusion among our enemies.

This was just the beginning. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but I would lead my people through it. For my kingdom, for my promise, I would not falter. The war games had begun, and I was ready.