Just as the Imperial Allied Forces fought a bloody battle at Jialing Pass, fires began breaking out in the Heaven Dou Empire's rear.
The Balak Kingdom lay along the Heaven Dou Empire's southern border, adjoining Fasinuo Province. Though called a kingdom, its territory was only three-quarters the size of Fasinuo Province. It was subordinate to the Heaven Dou Empire and was one of the four kingdoms within its borders.
Since the Balak Kingdom's southern border directly adjoined the Spirit Hall Empire, it possessed the strongest military among the Heaven Dou Empire's four kingdoms. It could also be called the gateway to the Heaven Dou Empire.
There were two cities of paramount importance within the Balak Kingdom. One was its capital, Balak City, where Kundera, the previous king of Balak who had died in the same incident as Xue Ye, had resided. It was the political and economic center of the entire kingdom. The other was Suotuo City, situated in the heart of the kingdom's most fertile region, the Lima Plain, and known as Balak's granary.
In this era of raging war, Suotuo City also bore the heavy responsibility of supplying grain to the Imperial Allied Forces at the front, making its importance second to none. At the same time, however, so many elite troops had been transferred to the front that only the old, weak, sick, and disabled remained to defend it. Among its top-tier combatants, only Bone Douluo Gu Rong was stationed there.
Suotuo City, military camp.
An old man stared at a map with a dark expression, remaining silent for a long time.
A communications staff officer stood trembling before him, his head hanging low without a word, terrified that the old man would vent his anger on him.
The old man had a withered face and an