"Your Majesty, I have news from Lhasa. The earth demons have finished blocking the rivers into Eastern Theos." Announced a proud looking earth general

"Thank you general. Please begin phase two; evacuate the villages between the cities and the border. Burn any food or supplies that can not be taken with them, but leave the buildings standing." Ordered Ling

"What shall I do with the pale humans within some of those villages?" The general asked. The humans he was referring to were refugees who had fled into the Xianese mountains from Theos, and built villages in the few hospitable places it offered. They'd been largely ttolerated for years, so long as they paid taxes and followed the laws. But with the outbreak of war those few thousand humans could prove to be a wild card.

Ling leaned back in his golden throne, pondering this situation. Finally he said "provide them with a simple choice. Either swear loyalty to me using unbreakable magic and become Xianese, or leave them behind with a week's worth of food. Most of those people are apostates so I am sure anyone that stays behind will be killed when their army comes through."

The general bowed politely and left to complete his orders. It would have to be quick, it would only be a month or two before whatever was left of Theo's army came to the gates of Chen or Lhasa.

(Ooc: I hope you don't mind me adding in refugees who fled your country. It seems realistic that at least a few thousand people would flee because they didn't want to convert)