Title: Cannon Fodder Rebellion

CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14: The Battle for Freedom

The guards charged, their swords gleaming in the morning light. The sound of pounding hooves and clattering metal sent a ripple of fear through the crowd, but Xia Lin held her ground, heart racing as the inevitable clash loomed closer.

“We will not back down!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise, rallying the people around her. “Stand together! Remember why we fight!”

The crowd tightened their ranks, forming a human wall between themselves and the advancing guards. Some grabbed farming tools, sticks, and whatever they could find to defend themselves. It wasn’t much, but the determination in their eyes told Xia Lin that they were ready to fight.

The first guard reached the edge of the crowd, swinging his sword, but before he could strike, Xu Luanyo appeared, blocking the blow with a wooden staff. The clash echoed across the fields, and chaos erupted as the crowd surged forward to meet the oncoming forces.

Xia Lin quickly descended from the platform, weaving through the throng of people. Her heart pounded as she scanned the battlefield, searching for Ren. He had disappeared into the chaos, no doubt trying to slip away after delivering the Xu family’s forces right into their midst.

"Xia!" Mei’s voice cut through the din, and Xia Lin turned to see her friend fighting off a guard with a broken piece of wood. She rushed over to help, knocking the guard off balance before Mei delivered a blow to his side.

“We can’t keep this up forever,” Mei panted, her face smeared with sweat and dirt. “There are too many of them!”

Xia Lin nodded grimly, wiping the sweat from her brow. “We don’t have to win here. We just need to hold them off long enough for the rest of the town to see what’s happening.”

The people were holding their own, but Xia Lin knew they were outmatched. The guards were well-trained, armed with real weapons, while most of her followers were peasants with nothing but makeshift tools. If they were going to survive this, they needed a plan.

She spotted Mr. Chen nearby, struggling to fend off a guard with a long blade. She rushed over, kicking the guard in the side and knocking him off balance. “Mr. Chen, we need to fall back toward the forest!” she shouted. “If we can lead them into the trees, we’ll have the advantage!”

Mr. Chen, breathing heavily, nodded in agreement. “I’ll spread the word. But hurry, Xia. We don’t have much time.”

As Mr. Chen ran off to relay the message, Xia Lin turned back to Mei. “We’re retreating into the forest. Tell Xu Luanyo and the others to fall back.”

Mei nodded and darted off into the fray. Xia Lin’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched the battle unfold. The guards were pushing forward, gaining ground as her people struggled to hold the line. But they couldn’t stay here. If they didn’t move soon, they would be overrun.

With a sharp whistle, Xia Lin signaled the retreat. Slowly, the crowd began to pull back, moving toward the tree line on the edge of the fields. The guards pressed forward, but the townsfolk were quick, slipping into the dense underbrush and disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

Xia Lin stayed at the rear, ensuring that everyone made it into the forest safely. She could hear the guards shouting orders, their heavy armor slowing them down as they attempted to follow. But in the dense forest, the advantage was no longer theirs.

As the last of the people slipped into the trees, Xia Lin took a deep breath, her body tense with the weight of the moment. They had made it this far, but the fight wasn’t over yet. The forest would provide cover, but it was still dangerous. They had to be smart, had to use the terrain to their advantage.

The guards entered the forest, their swords drawn, but they were slow, unaccustomed to fighting in such conditions. Xia Lin motioned for her people to spread out, using the thick trees and undergrowth to confuse the enemy. It wasn’t long before the guards began to stumble, tripping over roots and losing their bearings in the unfamiliar terrain.

Mei reappeared by Xia Lin’s side, her face streaked with dirt and her breathing heavy. “They’re slowing down,” she whispered. “We have the upper hand now.”

Xia Lin nodded, her eyes sharp as she watched the guards flounder. “Let’s keep it that way.”

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of shouting. Xia Lin’s heart sank as she recognized the voice.

“Ren!” She turned to Mei, her eyes wide with realization. “He’s still here.”

Without another word, Xia Lin took off toward the sound, her feet flying over the forest floor. She could hear Ren’s voice growing louder, calling out to the guards, directing them toward the people’s hiding spots.

“Come out, Xia!” Ren’s voice echoed through the trees. “You can’t hide forever! This is your last chance to surrender!”

Xia Lin’s blood boiled as she raced toward him. He had betrayed them all, and now he was leading the Xu family’s forces right to them. She couldn’t let him get away with it.

Bursting through a thicket of trees, Xia Lin found Ren standing at the edge of a small clearing, flanked by two guards. His face twisted into a smug grin when he saw her.

“There you are,” Ren sneered. “I told you this was over. You should’ve listened.”

Xia Lin clenched her fists, her body trembling with anger. “You betrayed your own people, Ren. How could you?”

Ren shrugged, his expression cold. “Survival, Xia. It’s every person for themselves in this world. You were leading them to their deaths, and I wasn’t about to go down with you.”

Xia Lin’s eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward, her voice low and dangerous. “You may have sold us out, but you’ll never break the spirit of the people. We’ll keep fighting, no matter what.”

Ren’s grin faltered, but before he could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed behind him. The remaining townsfolk emerged from the trees, weapons in hand, surrounding Ren and the guards. They had rallied, and they weren’t going to let Ren walk away.

“Give it up, Ren,” Mei called from the crowd. “You’re outnumbered. There’s no escape.”

Ren’s face paled as he looked around, realizing he had lost. The guards shifted nervously, unsure of what to do. For the first time, Ren looked truly afraid.

Xia Lin stepped forward, her eyes hard. “This is the end of the line, Ren. You made your choice.”

Ren opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say another word, the townsfolk surged forward, disarming the guards and grabbing Ren by the arms. The battle was over.

As the dust settled and the guards were taken into custody, Xia Lin stood in the clearing, her heart pounding with the weight of the victory. They had won this battle, but the war with the Xu family was far from over.

Mei came to stand beside her, her face filled with exhaustion and relief. “We did it, Xia.”

Xia Lin nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on the horizon. “This is just the beginning, Mei. The Xu family won’t stop until they’ve crushed us completely.”

Mei’s expression hardened. “Then we’ll keep fighting.”

Xia Lin looked at her friend, a sense of determination settling deep in her chest. “Yes. We will.”

The first strike had been made, and though the cost was high, they had proven that they would not be silenced. The Xu family had underestimated the people’s resolve, and now, the fight for their freedom had truly begun.

As the sun began to set over the trees, Xia Lin knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult. But for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they could stand against the oppression that had ruled their lives for so long.

And they would not stop until they were free.