Kouprasith wanted Royalist control of Kong Le's Neutralists. Kham Ouane became the supreme commander of the Patriotic Neutralists in Military Region 1. The Patriotic Neutralists allied themselves with the Pathet Lao. The Patriotic Neutralists split off as a pro-communist faction. Kong Le and his Neutralists finally withdrew northward to the Plain of Jars. Both interventionists and neutralists were outraged by the man's death. By the 10th, the repelled Neutralists were back at their starting point of Muang Soui.