Chapter 4: Hope in the Flames

The moment Zhang Xing charged toward the enemy, time seemed to slow, leaving only the sound of his own breath and the dust kicking up under his feet. He knew this battle was crucial—not just for his survival, but for the fate of the entire village.

The enemy pressed closer, and the villagers tightened their grips on their makeshift weapons. Though untrained, they were filled with a fierce will to live. Their flimsy barricade wouldn't hold for long. What they needed was time—time to find an opportunity, a chance to survive.

Zhang Xing's eyes scanned the enemy lines coldly. Though outnumbered, the soldiers were not invincible. Some were clearly fatigued, their eyes betraying exhaustion from days of suppression duties. Zhang Xing spotted this vulnerability, and a glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

"Release the arrows!" Zhang Xing shouted, waving his hand. A few villagers, positioned behind the barricade, loosed their arrows. Though their bows were crude and more suited for hunting than battle, under Zhang Xing's direction, they managed to strike down several soldiers in the front line. A few fell with painful cries.

"Charge!" Zhang Xing seized the moment, breaking through the barricade and leading the villagers in a full-on assault. Behind him, the villagers roared, brandishing their hoes, scythes, and wooden clubs as they clashed head-on with the soldiers.

Chaos quickly erupted. Zhang Xing's hoe smashed into a soldier's shield with a heavy thud, catching the soldier off guard. A nearby villager took advantage of the moment, clubbing the soldier to the ground.

But Zhang Xing didn't stop. He knew this was their only chance. They had to overwhelm the enemy before the soldiers could regroup. Every second was a matter of life and death.

However, as the battle dragged on, the soldiers' superior training began to show. They regained their formation and mounted a counterattack. Zhang Xing's forces, comprised of untrained villagers, began to falter. Bloodied bodies littered the ground, and the survivors were growing frantic.

"We're not holding up, Zhang Xing!" Li He shouted, swinging his weapon desperately, his face etched with anxiety.

Zhang Xing's heart sank. Their strength was limited, and it seemed this battle might end in defeat. Could this really be their end?

Just then, a deep horn sounded from the distance. Zhang Xing whipped his head around and saw a group of dark figures approaching rapidly from the hills. His heart skipped a beat—it wasn't the enemy's reinforcements but farmers from nearby villages coming to their aid!

"It's reinforcements!" Li He, too, saw them, and his face lit up with hope.

Zhang Xing's eyes brightened with renewed determination. He immediately shouted, "Hold on, brothers! Reinforcements are here!"

The cry filled the villagers with newfound strength. They gritted their teeth and continued to fight, while Zhang Xing led a small group to meet with the arriving farmers.

As the reinforcements joined the fray, the tide of the battle shifted. Though just as untrained, the sheer number of new fighters injected fresh energy into Zhang Xing's side. The government soldiers, already weary, found themselves facing a larger, more united force and began to panic.

"Push forward!" Zhang Xing roared, charging again toward the enemy. The villagers, fueled by their sudden advantage, surged forward, encircling the soldiers. The once confident troops started to scatter, overwhelmed by the unexpected reinforcements.

Finally, as a few more soldiers fell, the remaining government forces broke into a full retreat. Zhang Xing and the villagers pursued them for a short distance before halting, satisfied that the enemy had been thoroughly defeated.

Standing in the center of the battlefield, Zhang Xing listened to the villagers' cheers mixed with groans of pain. They had won. The village was safe, at least for now, though the cost had been high. The ground was stained with blood, and the dead and wounded lay among the victors.

Wiping the sweat and blood from his face, Zhang Xing turned to the survivors. Their faces were worn with exhaustion, but their eyes sparkled with the light of victory. This battle had shown them they weren't helpless—they could win the right to survive through unity and courage.

"We did it," Li He said, approaching Zhang Xing with a weary but relieved smile. "You really led us through an impossible fight."

Zhang Xing didn't respond immediately, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. They had won, yes, but he knew this was just the beginning. The imperial court would not take this lightly. They would send more soldiers, perhaps even a full military force. As they stood, they were far from being able to withstand that kind of might.

"What's our next move?" Li He asked, his voice tinged with worry. He knew Zhang Xing had a plan, but the path ahead would undoubtedly be even more treacherous.

Zhang Xing stood silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. He understood that their only chance of survival was to grow stronger. They needed more people, more resources, and more time.

"We need more people," Zhang Xing said firmly. "More villages, more food, more weapons. We must become a force strong enough to stand against the government soldiers."

Li He nodded, still uneasy, but trusting in Zhang Xing's judgment. This once quiet farmer had become their leader, guiding them down a path from which there was no turning back.

Zhang Xing turned to address the villagers. "Brothers, we've won this battle, but we can't let our guard down. Starting now, we must unite with more villages, gather more resources, and prepare for the next fight. We're no longer just isolated farmers—we're an organized resistance!"

A cheer rose from the villagers. Their trust in Zhang Xing deepened, and they realized that only through unity could they truly change their fate.

As the sky darkened and the setting sun bathed the mountains in a fiery glow, Zhang Xing's heart burned with an even brighter hope. He knew that this rebellion had only just begun. The road ahead would be fraught with danger, but as long as they persisted, victory would one day be theirs.