While Rong Kingdom was making intensive preparations for war, Mu Kingdom was plunged into an unprecedented predicament. Inside the main hall of the Mu Kingdom's palace, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. The Mu Kingdom's emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face terribly gloomy, his eyes bloodshot, like a wild beast trapped in a cage, exuding an aura of despair and anger.

"My army is fighting a bitter battle on the front lines, and now the country is facing a shortage of food and supplies. How can we continue this war?" the Emperor of Mu roared, his voice echoing in the empty hall, making the ministers tremble.

An old minister stepped forward tremblingly and said, “Your Majesty, I have sent people to procure provisions everywhere, but all the neighboring countries have closed their doors to grain trade with our country because of Rong’s diplomatic tactics. The grain merchants in our country have also been severely weakened by the previous incident with Mu’s Grain Store and are unable to provide sufficient grain supplies.”

The Emperor of Mu slammed his hand on the armrest of his dragon throne: "'Mu's Grain Store'! I shouldn't have trusted that unscrupulous merchant so easily and let him control most of our country's grain distribution. Now look what happened, Rong Kingdom has taken advantage of the situation, causing our army to fall into such a passive position."

It turned out that the powerful minister behind "Mu's Grain Store" was engaging in rampant speculation in the grain market for his own selfish gain. He not only hoarded grain but also secretly sold large quantities to Rong Kingdom. By the time the Emperor of Mu discovered this, it was too late. Rong Kingdom had already secured a significant grain advantage, while Mu Kingdom faced a severe food crisis.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Mu Kingdom's army camp was also dire. The soldiers were emaciated from hunger, their once strong bodies now weak and powerless. On the training ground, the once vibrant and energetic drills were nowhere to be seen; instead, a group of listless soldiers struggled to wield their weapons, their steps faltering.

"General, if this continues, the brothers won't even be able to stand, let alone fight," a soldier complained to his general.

The general sighed helplessly: "How could I not know? But now the country is out of food, and there is nothing I can do. I can only hope that the court can come up with a solution as soon as possible, otherwise our army will surely be defeated."

The people of Mu Kingdom were suffering terribly. Food prices skyrocketed, and ordinary people simply couldn't afford to buy grain, resorting to wild vegetables and tree bark to stave off hunger. Everywhere in the streets and alleys, there were starving victims on the verge of death, children crying loudly from hunger, and the elderly sighing helplessly in corners.

"We can't live like this anymore! What is the imperial court doing? Why are we suffering like this?" a commoner complained angrily.

In a small town in the Mu Kingdom, a young scholar named Zhao Xuan witnessed the plight of the people and was filled with compassion and anger. He had been well-versed in literature since childhood and harbored a patriotic ambition, but now, seeing the corruption and incompetence of the Mu Kingdom's court and the country's predicament, he couldn't help but feel disappointed in the government.

“When a nation is about to perish, monsters will surely appear. If the Mu Kingdom’s court does not change its course, how can it overcome this crisis?” Zhao Xuan muttered to himself.

Just when the people of Mu were in despair, news came from Mu's intelligence department that Xiao Yichen's Rong Kingdom team had infiltrated Mu's territory and was suspected of searching for Mu's granaries.

"What?! Rong Kingdom dares to send people deep into our territory!" Upon learning the news, the Emperor of Mu Kingdom was furious. "Immediately issue orders to strengthen the defenses of the country, especially around the granaries. We must find Rong Kingdom's squad and tear them to pieces!"

Therefore, the Mu army launched a large-scale search operation within the country. They blocked all major transportation routes and searched house to house, causing widespread panic throughout the Mu kingdom.

After a battle with the patrol, Xiao Yichen and his team successfully escaped the pursuit of the Mu Kingdom's garrison and temporarily hid in a deep mountain.

"Young Master, the Mu Kingdom is now on high alert, making it much more difficult for us to reach the granary," a team member said worriedly.

Xiao Yichen calmly analyzed, "Although the Mu Kingdom has strengthened its defenses, their predicament has also thrown them into disarray. We can take advantage of this to create some chaos and distract them."

"What are your plans, young master?"

"We can spread rumors in several major cities of Mu, claiming that the Rong army is about to besiege the city, making the people of Mu even more panicked. At the same time, we can send people to attack some small granaries or grain transport teams in Mu, making them mistakenly believe that our target is these places, thereby diverting some of the garrison troops around the granaries."

"This plan is brilliant!" The team members all nodded in agreement.

Xiao Yichen then began to plan the operation. He sent several team members in disguise to infiltrate the cities of Mu Kingdom and spread rumors quietly in crowded places such as markets and taverns. He himself led the rest of the team to look for opportunities to attack Mu Kingdom's grain transport convoys.

In a major city of the Mu Kingdom, rumors spread rapidly. Hearing that the Rong Kingdom's army was about to attack, the people panicked and began packing their belongings to flee. The entire city descended into chaos; people rushed to buy food and valuables, and cries, shouts, and curses mingled in the streets and alleys.

The officials of Mu tried to appease the people, but to no avail. The Mu army was forced to divert some of its forces to maintain order in the city, which weakened their defenses over the granaries.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen and his group discovered a grain transport convoy from the Mu Kingdom slowly traveling along a mountain path. The convoy consisted of more than a dozen horse-drawn carts, guarded by dozens of soldiers.

"Attack!" Xiao Yichen gave the order, and the squad members rushed towards the grain transport team like lightning. They first used concealed weapons to kill several soldiers guarding the wagons, and then engaged in fierce combat with the remaining soldiers.

Although the soldiers of the Mu Kingdom fought valiantly, they were no match for Xiao Yichen and his men. Soon, the grain transport convoy was brought under their control.

"Burn the grain on the spot, then evacuate quickly!" Xiao Yichen said decisively.

The team members lit torches and set the grain on the wagon ablaze. The raging fire illuminated the entire valley. Xiao Yichen gazed at the burning grain, thinking to himself, "Mu Kingdom, this is just the beginning. Your predicament will only worsen."

Upon learning of the chaos within the Kingdom of Mu at the border of Rong, General Li decided to seize the opportunity to launch a probing attack on Mu's border defenses. He led an elite force, stealthily approaching the Mu border under cover of darkness.

As they approached the border defenses of the Mu Kingdom, General Li gave the order, and the Rong Kingdom soldiers surged towards the Mu Kingdom's fortifications like a tidal wave. Although the Mu Kingdom soldiers fought valiantly, their fighting strength was greatly diminished due to hunger and domestic turmoil. The Rong Kingdom army quickly breached a weak point in the Mu Kingdom's border defenses, killing many Mu Kingdom soldiers.

General Li, seeing the advantage, led his troops to a swift retreat back into Rong territory. This probing attack not only allowed the Rong army to ascertain the strength and weaknesses of the Mu border defenses, but also further demoralized the Mu army.

Under the multifaceted attacks from Rong, Mu's predicament worsened. Domestic social order teetered on the brink of collapse, and the army's morale plummeted. Meanwhile, Rong, through the efforts of Xiao Yichen and others, gradually gained the initiative in the war. This war between the two nations seemed to be developing in Rong's favor, but numerous variables remained, and no one could predict the final outcome.

Under the shadow of war between Rong and Mu, the struggle for intelligence has become a key battlefield in the covert contest between the two countries, like a silent war of gunpowder that permeates every inch of land between them.

Inside a secret outpost in the capital of Rong Kingdom, the light was dim and the atmosphere heavy. Xiao Yichen's capable assistant, Su Jin, stood before a huge map of Mu Kingdom, detailing the mission to the intelligence team members seated around him: "Gentlemen, our intelligence network in Mu Kingdom has been initially established, but further infiltration is still needed. Our primary objective is to obtain more precise information about the Mu Kingdom's troop deployments, military movement plans, and their possible strategies and tactics against our army."

The intelligence team members listened intently, their expressions focused. One of them, skilled in disguise, asked softly, "Brother Su, the Mu Kingdom is currently very vigilant about intelligence gathering. How can we break through their defenses?"

Su Jin frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "We need to take advantage of the internal conflicts and chaos in Mu Kingdom. Recently, due to food shortages, the people of Mu Kingdom have been complaining bitterly about the court, and small-scale protests have occurred in many places. We can send people to infiltrate these areas to collect public opinions of discontent with the Mu Kingdom's court and army, and then sift out valuable intelligence leads. On the other hand, we can use this opportunity to approach Mu Kingdom's low-ranking soldiers or officers, and use large sums of money or persuasion to win them over to our side."

“This plan is good, but it’s extremely risky. If the Mu Kingdom finds out, our intelligence agents could be in mortal danger,” another member said worriedly.

Su Jin nodded, her eyes revealing determination: "Intelligence work is inherently fraught with danger, but for the victory of Rong Kingdom, we must take risks. During the operation, everyone must be extremely careful and make thorough disguises and cover. If danger arises, prioritize your own safety and never reveal your identity."

"Yes, Brother Su!" the intelligence team members responded in unison.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Mu Kingdom, its intelligence agencies were also operating at full speed. The Mu Kingdom's Minister of Intelligence personally oversaw the command center, his face grim as he addressed his subordinates: "The Rong Kingdom has been active frequently within our territory recently, and its intentions are obvious. We must not let them succeed; we must strengthen intelligence gathering and counter-infiltration efforts."

"Sir, we have increased our surveillance along the border and in major cities within the country, closely monitoring Rongguo's every move. However, Rongguo's intelligence personnel are very cunning; they are adept at disguise and are difficult to detect," an intelligence officer reported.

The Minister of Intelligence of the Mu Kingdom snorted coldly: "Then we will intensify the investigation. We will conduct strict screening of all foreign personnel, especially those merchants and vagrants who are suspicious and whose identities are unknown. In addition, we will send our elite agents to infiltrate Rong Kingdom to try to destroy their intelligence network and obtain their combat plans."

"My lord, Rong Kingdom has very strict border controls, and it will not be easy for our agents to infiltrate."

"I don't care about that! We must complete the mission by any means necessary, even at a cost. If Rong Kingdom gains the upper hand in the intelligence war, Mu Kingdom will undoubtedly be defeated," the Mu Kingdom's intelligence minister said sternly.

Under the command of their respective intelligence agencies, intelligence personnel from both countries launched operations.

Rongguo's intelligence team dispatched an experienced member, using the alias Lin Yu, disguised as a down-on-his-luck scholar, to infiltrate a small town in Muguo where protests were taking place. Lin Yu wore a tattered long robe, carried a simple bag, and looked haggard, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp intelligence. He arrived at the town's market and saw a group of people gathered together, angrily complaining about the Muguo court's inaction and the dire food shortage.

Lin Yu deliberately sighed in the crowd, attracting the attention of an old man nearby. The old man turned to look at him and asked, "Young man, you also look distressed. Are you also troubled by this chaotic world?"

Lin Yu clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Old man, I am a stranger in this land. I came here to seek refuge with relatives, but I never expected to encounter such a misfortune. Now I have not found my relatives, and I am penniless and cannot even afford a meal."

The old man felt pity and sighed, saying, "These days, no one has it easy. The court doesn't care about the lives of the people; all they know is to fight wars. Now we don't even have enough food. I heard that it's all because Rong Kingdom is pulling strings behind the scenes and has bought up all of Mu Kingdom's grain."

Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he feigned surprise, asking, "Old man, is that so? Doesn't the Mu Kingdom's army have any way to deal with this?"

The old man shook his head: "The army is in dire straits itself. I've heard that many soldiers are fighting on empty stomachs, so they have no strength left. Moreover, the army is in a state of panic, and no one knows how to continue this war."

Lin Yu spoke with the old man for a while longer, learning from him about the local situation of the Mu Kingdom's army and the soldiers' low morale. Afterwards, he inquired around the town and finally found a young man working as a cook in the Mu Kingdom's army. Lin Yu secretly observed him for several days and discovered that he also harbored considerable resentment towards the Mu Kingdom's court, so he decided to find an opportunity to approach him.

One evening, Lin Yu stopped the cook on his way home. The cook looked at him warily and asked, "Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?"

Lin Yu smiled broadly and said, "Brother, don't be afraid. I'm a desperate man who has nowhere else to turn. I heard you're in the army, and I'm hoping you can give me a meal. I can give you some pay, as long as it lets me survive."

The cook looked Lin Yu up and down and said disdainfully, "I'm almost starving myself, how can I take care of you?"

Seeing that the time was right, Lin Yu lowered his voice and said, "Brother, I know you're not having a good time in the army. Actually, you don't have to suffer like this. If you're willing to do me a small favor, I can give you enough money to leave this chaotic world and live a good life."

The cook's heart skipped a beat, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes: "What do you need my help with?"

Lin Yu looked around to make sure no one was there, then said, "I want to know your army's recent troop movement plans and deployment. If you can tell me, this money is yours." As he spoke, he took out a silver ingot from his bag, which gleamed alluringly in the moonlight.

The cook looked at the silver, struggled with the decision for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll tell you. But you absolutely cannot say that I was the one who revealed it, or my life will be in danger."

Lin Yu was overjoyed and quickly nodded: "Brother, don't worry, I will definitely keep my mouth shut."

In this way, Lin Yu successfully obtained some important intelligence from the cook. He quickly passed the intelligence on to other intelligence agents within the Mu Kingdom, and then sent it back to the Rong Kingdom through secret channels.

Meanwhile, on the Mu Kingdom's side, their agents were also attempting to infiltrate the Rong Kingdom. One agent, named Murong Shang, skilled in light-footed martial arts and concealed weapons, arrived at a valley on the Rong Kingdom's border under the cover of night. Dressed in black night clothes, Murong Shang moved nimbly through the valley like a ghost. He evaded the Rong Kingdom's border patrols and quietly crept deeper into the valley.

However, the Rong Kingdom had already laid numerous traps and sentries along the border. While crossing a grove of trees, Murong Shang accidentally triggered a mechanism. With a whoosh, several sharp arrows shot towards him from all directions. Murong Shang was terrified and quickly used his lightness skill to dodge. But there were so many arrows that, although he managed to avoid most, one still grazed his arm.

Just as he was wounded, a patrol from Rong Kingdom heard the commotion and rushed over. Knowing he was in trouble, Murong Shang gritted his teeth, pulled out several hidden weapons from his robes, and threw them at the patrol. The weapons gleamed coldly in the darkness, and the Rong Kingdom soldiers scrambled to avoid them. Murong Shang seized the opportunity to turn and flee, but the Rong Kingdom soldiers were not about to let him go so easily, and pursued him relentlessly.

During his escape, Murong Shang encountered another trap set by the Rong Kingdom. He lost his footing and fell into a deep pit. Rong soldiers surrounded him and trapped him inside. Murong Shang tried to resist, but wounded, he was too weak to fight and was eventually captured alive by the Rong soldiers.

Rong soldiers escorted Murong Shang to a border outpost for interrogation. Murong Shang remained defiant, refusing to reveal any information about Mu Kingdom. However, the Rong interrogators, through subtle methods, managed to glean some information about Mu Kingdom's intelligence agencies from his nuanced expressions and words.

As intelligence was continuously gathered and transmitted, Rong gained a deeper understanding of Mu's military movements and domestic situation, enabling them to adjust their combat strategies more accurately. While Mu suffered some setbacks in the intelligence war, they did not give up and continued to try every means to obtain intelligence from Rong in an attempt to turn the tide. This intelligence battle was like a marathon with no end in sight; both sides were gritting their teeth and persevering, because they both knew that the outcome of the intelligence war could directly determine its final course.

In the capital of Rong Kingdom, sunlight streamed onto the glazed tiles of the imperial palace, reflecting a dazzling light that seemed to foreshadow a momentous event about to unfold. Inside the palace, the Emperor sat high on his dragon throne, his majestic gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. Xiao Yichen, General Li, and the others stood tall and proud, their expressions resolute, awaiting the Emperor's decree.

"I have received reports from the front that although the Mu Kingdom is in dire straits, it is still putting up a stubborn resistance. Now, my Rong Kingdom has been preparing for a long time, with ample provisions, a gradually strengthening military, and high morale. I have decided to send an vanguard to probe the strength of the Mu Kingdom and lay the foundation for the subsequent great battle." The Emperor's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the hall.

Xiao Yichen stepped forward, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "Your Majesty is wise. I am willing to lead the vanguard to the front lines and will certainly live up to your mission by gathering intelligence on the Mu Kingdom's military situation."

The Emperor nodded slightly: "Minister Xiao, you are both wise and brave, and I trust you. This time, you are leading the vanguard in an attack, a great responsibility. Do you have a detailed battle plan?"

Xiao Yichen respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, I plan to lead three thousand elite vanguard troops in three columns. One column, led by General Zhao Hu, skilled in surprise attacks, will consist of five hundred light cavalry who will infiltrate the eastern valley of the Mu Kingdom's border. Utilizing the mobility of the cavalry, they will attack small outposts and patrols along the Mu Kingdom's border, creating chaos and drawing the attention of the main Mu Kingdom forces. Another column, led by Qian Feng, an expert in concealed weapons and stealth, will consist of five hundred infantrymen carrying specially made concealed weapons and poisons, who will quietly approach the Mu Kingdom's border defenses from the dense forest on the west side. Taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness, they will assassinate their key outposts and destroy their defensive facilities, creating an opening for our subsequent offensive. I will personally lead two thousand main vanguard troops to approach the Mu Kingdom's border from the center, feigning a large-scale attack while observing the Mu Kingdom's defensive deployments and troop movements. Once an opportunity is found, we will strike decisively.”

After listening, the Emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Minister Xiao's plan is very thorough. However, the vanguard must be extremely careful when penetrating deep into enemy territory and must not venture in rashly. If they are surrounded and annihilated by a large enemy force, they should retreat in time to preserve their strength."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have made all the necessary preparations and will not disappoint you," Xiao Yichen said firmly.

Afterwards, Xiao Yichen arrived at the military camp and convened the vanguard troops for a pre-battle mobilization. On the parade ground, three thousand soldiers stood in neat rows, each one heroic and spirited. They wore fine armor, held sharp weapons, and their eyes revealed a thirst for battle and confidence in victory.

Standing atop the high platform, Xiao Yichen proclaimed, "Soldiers, the war between Rong and Mu is a matter of national honor and destiny. As the vanguard, we bear the heavy responsibility of paving the way for the main army and advancing towards victory. Although Mu is in dire straits, it should not be underestimated. We must use our fearless courage, superb martial arts, and seamless teamwork to demonstrate the might of Rong's army to Mu!"

"Fight for Rongguo! Fight for victory!" The soldiers shouted their slogans, their voices shaking the heavens.

Under the cover of night, the Rong Kingdom's vanguard quietly advanced towards the border of the Mu Kingdom. General Zhao Hu led his light cavalry like a whirlwind, arriving first at the valley on the eastern side of the Mu Kingdom's border. They dismounted and proceeded on foot, using the valley's terrain for cover, stealthily approaching the Mu Kingdom's outpost.

Inside a border outpost of the Mu Kingdom, the soldiers were dozing off. They were completely unaware of the impending danger. Seeing the opportunity, General Zhao Hu gave the order, and five hundred light cavalry charged towards the outpost like tigers descending from the mountains. Wielding longswords, they instantly slaughtered most of the Mu soldiers inside. A few Mu soldiers awoke and attempted to resist, but were quickly wiped out by the fierce attack of the Rong Kingdom's light cavalry.

General Zhao Hu left some soldiers to clean up the battlefield, while he led the rest of the light cavalry deeper into the territory of the Mu Kingdom, ambushing any Mu Kingdom patrols they encountered along the way and creating chaos.

Meanwhile, Qian Feng led his 500 infantrymen to successfully reach the dense forest on the western side of the Mu Kingdom's border. They moved through the forest like ghosts. Qian Feng, with his mastery of concealed weapons and stealth techniques, led his soldiers stealthily towards the Mu Kingdom's defensive fortifications.

Soldiers were patrolling the border fortifications of the Mu Kingdom. Qian Feng seized the opportunity, flicking his wrist, sending several hidden weapons hurtling towards the Mu soldiers like meteors. The weapons struck their vital points precisely, and the Mu soldiers fell to the ground. Then, Qian Feng led his infantry swiftly towards the fortifications, engaging the Mu soldiers in close combat. Using poison and specially made weapons, they quickly seized control of a section of the fortifications, destroying Mu's defensive structures and creating favorable conditions for Xiao Yichen's central vanguard.

Xiao Yichen led two thousand vanguard troops, advancing ostentatiously from the central route towards the border of the Mu Kingdom. Upon seeing the Rong Kingdom's army approaching, the Mu Kingdom's forces hastily mobilized for defense. Xiao Yichen, mounted on his warhorse, observed Mu Kingdom's defensive deployment with keen eyes. He discovered that Mu Kingdom had deployed a large number of archers and spearmen along the border, forming a formidable defensive line.

"It seems that the Mu Kingdom intends to use this defensive line to block our army," Xiao Yichen thought to himself. He decided to first test the strength of the Mu Kingdom's defense line.

Xiao Yichen commanded his troops to advance, and when they approached the firing range of the Mu defense line, he ordered a halt. Then, he dispatched a small squad of soldiers, armed with shields, to launch a feint attack on the Mu defense line. Upon seeing the Rong soldiers approaching, the Mu army immediately unleashed a volley of arrows. The Rong squad used their shields to deflect the arrows and advanced slowly.

Xiao Yichen carefully observed the density and frequency of the arrow volley from the rear, discovering that the Mu army's arrow reserves seemed insufficient. An idea struck him, and he decided to intensify the feint attack to deplete the Mu army's arrow reserves.

Therefore, Xiao Yichen dispatched several small squads of soldiers to launch feint attacks on the Mu army's defense lines in shifts. Unaware of the trap, the Mu army continued to fire arrows in defense. After several rounds of feint attacks, the Mu army's arrows gradually dwindled.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Xiao Yichen prepared to launch a real attack. He divided his two thousand main vanguard into three echelons. The first echelon consisted of five hundred shield bearers, who, wielding huge shields, were closely arrayed, forming a moving wall that slowly advanced towards the Mu defense line. The second echelon consisted of one thousand spearmen, who, under the cover of the shield bearers, extended their spears through the gaps between the shields, preparing to engage the Mu soldiers in close combat. The third echelon consisted of five hundred archers, who followed behind the spearmen, ready to fire upon the Mu army at close range.

With Xiao Yichen's command, the Rong Kingdom's vanguard launched their attack. The first wave of shield bearers, braving the remaining arrows from the Mu Kingdom, struggled forward. As they approached the Mu Kingdom's defensive line, Mu soldiers brandished their spears, thrusting them at the Rong Kingdom's shield bearers. The Rong Kingdom's shield bearers did not flinch; they used their shields to block the Mu soldiers' spears, creating opportunities for the spearmen behind them.

The second echelon of spearmen swiftly surged out from between the shield bearers, engaging the Mu soldiers in fierce combat. Spears clashed, sparks flying. The Rong spearmen, highly trained, moved like dragons emerging from the sea, weaving through the Mu soldiers and inflicting heavy casualties on the Mu army.

The Mu army was equally determined, fighting desperately against the Rong spearmen. On the battlefield, shouts of battle and screams mingled, and blood stained the earth.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, Xiao Yichen noticed some chaos in the rear of the Mu army. It turned out that General Zhao Hu's light cavalry had created enough confusion within Mu territory before circumventing the Mu border defenses and launching a surprise attack on the Mu army.

Caught between attacks from both sides, the Mu army was thrown into chaos. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity, commanding the third echelon of archers to advance and engage the Mu army at close range. Countless arrows rained down on the Mu army, and soldiers fell one after another.

Under the fierce attack of Rong Kingdom's vanguard, Mu Kingdom's border defenses gradually collapsed. Mu Kingdom soldiers began to flee in all directions. Xiao Yichen did not order a pursuit, but instead ordered his troops to cease their advance, clean up the battlefield, and gather intelligence.

The Rong Kingdom's vanguard attack was a resounding success. They not only successfully probed the Mu Kingdom's strengths and weaknesses but also destroyed some of the Mu Kingdom's border defenses, killing a large number of Mu soldiers and greatly boosting the morale of the Rong army. Through this battle, Xiao Yichen gained a deeper understanding of the Mu Kingdom's military capabilities and defensive deployments, providing valuable experience and intelligence for Rong Kingdom's subsequent battles.