Synopsis

The situation demanded a careful hand. High officials, sensing imminent danger, were among the first to abandon the capital. The royal troops, however, resolved to meet the threat head-on, planning an ambush for the approaching rebels. With insufficient forces to defend every location, a difficult decision loomed: where to best deploy their remaining strength. The aim was to undermine the rebels' resolve, to weaken their spirit of resistance. The palace itself lacked the manpower for a full defe