"I've been unconscious for so long. Can you tell me how long we've been fleeing the capital? And where exactly are we now?" Ronald's voice was heavy with fatigue, yet his tone demanded answers.
The young general hesitated for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, we are near the Canaan Pass, which marks the southern border of the kingdom. We've been on the run for five days since we managed to escape the palace."
"You were struck by an arrow and fell unconscious. After some discussion, we decided to escort you to the Yunqin Empire for refuge, and inform the emperor about Prince Cheng's rebellion, hoping to gain their support in exterminating the traitors."
He kneeled on one knee, his head lowered in shame. "I failed in my duty, Your Majesty. Please, punish me."
Ronald gazed at the blood-stained battle attire of the young general and his soldiers. His voice was firm as he spoke, "Rise, General. If not for your life-or-death loyalty, I would have long been dead. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
He paused, seeing the dejected expressions on his men's faces, and added, "General Liu, do you believe the Yunqin Empire will help us restore the kingdom?"
Liu Long hesitated, exchanging glances with Fan Qingyue and the other captains before cautiously responding, "Your Majesty, you are the rightful king of the Yunqin Empire. If they learn of the rebellion, they will not turn a blind eye."
Ronald shook his head slightly. "The palace coup was planned carefully by Prince Cheng and others, taking advantage of my wedding day. I doubt the Empire wasn't complicit in some way. If not, the Empire would have already punished the traitors. It's clear they were promised great rewards."
Fan Qingyue, a fierce woman, clenched her fists in anger. "That traitor Cheng probably sold the kingdom out for profit. If he were here, I would split him in two."
Ronald gave her a look of gratitude before nodding. "General Fan is right. The Empire's leaders only act when there is something to gain. Going to Yunqin may bring us more danger than hope. And the traitors are sure to have a tight grip on the borders, waiting for us to fall into their trap."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. If even the Yunqin Empire wouldn't support them, where could they turn? Were they truly trapped with no escape?
As Ronald scanned their faces, he could see the anxiety, but also the silent resolve. He couldn't help but admire them. A group of true warriors.
"General Liu, how many of our soldiers are still with us?"
Liu Long bowed his head. "Your Majesty, many of our brothers fell along the way. Now, only 255 of us remain."
Ronald nodded solemnly. "General Liu, you've served on the frontier. What can you tell me about the situation along our borders?"
Liu Long immediately responded, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"To the south and southwest, we border the Yunqin Empire. It's a weak point, with only the Canaan Pass as a defense, and even that garrison is under-manned, barely enough to hold off three or four soldiers."
"To the west lies the Western He Kingdom, another vassal state of Yunqin. Its defenses are similarly weak. To the north, we face the territory of the Manniu tribe. In recent years, they, along with other nomadic tribes, have occasionally raided our borders, putting significant pressure on our kingdom. As a result, most of our elite forces are stationed there."
"As for the east, it's the domain of the Elven race. You know that the Elves are of the Xuan level, a powerful species far beyond what our human race can contend with. So, the eastern border has minimal defenses, primarily to avoid provoking them."
"Xuan level?" Ronald murmured, slightly taken aback. He quickly processed the new information. The Elves... I should tread carefully.