Upon hearing this question, Wang Yong said, "Your Highness, indeed there is such a possibility. The Emperor has long been plotting to eliminate our ancient families, but due to concerns over our power and influence, he has been able to suppress us only at court, never daring to directly lay hands on any ancient family."
"Even after the Emperor reclaimed the military power, he still hesitated to take action against the families."
"But with the fifty thousand heavy cavalry from North City, it's different. These troops are entirely the Emperor's own, and none of the families can intervene in matters of this cavalry, not even able to plant a single spy within. It can be said this is the Emperor's strongest card and the greatest confidence he holds in acting against the families."
"Without this card, the Emperor would no longer have such confidence. If at this time our families were to unite with other dynasties to pressure the Emperor, he would ultimately be left with no option but to compromise."
After listening to Wang Yong's analysis, Lu Shuyun fell into thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, our next step is to join forces with several of my brothers and find a way to dismantle the fifty thousand heavy cavalry of North City, ideally forcing my father to abandon his original plans."
"Rising in rebellion is always the last resort. I believe my brothers are also very wary of that fifty thousand heavy cavalry."
Wang Yong echoed, "What Your Highness says is true."
Subsequently, they gathered to discuss some plans on how to dismantle the fifty thousand heavy cavalry of North City.
The Sum Emperor, clad in a yellow dragon robe, stood beside the lotus pond, watching the fish swim to and fro. At this time, Situ Ce was in the pavilion beside the lotus pond.
The Emperor opened his mouth and asked, "You met with Chen recently. What do you think of him?"
Situ Ce answered in one sentence, "He possesses the ambition of the Great Ancestor."
Hearing this, the Emperor's face immediately darkened, naturally averse to hearing Situ Ce's praise for Lu Chen, who was his least favorite child.
Yet the Emperor did not delve deeper; he chuckled and said, "I didn't expect the State Preceptor to hold Chen in such high regard."
Continuing, the Emperor asked, "State Preceptor, having spent some time in North City, you must have learned something of its affairs. There are several points that puzzle me, and I would like to ask you to dispel my doubts."
Situ Ce replied, "Please speak, Your Majesty."
The Emperor went straight to the point and asked, "Based on intelligence from various sources, I have a rough understanding of the battle at Wanning Valley, but I just can't fathom how Chen, even with the fifty thousand heavy cavalry, could so easily defeat the barbarian tribe's three-hundred-thousand strong army."
"Moreover, according to General Lin's report, North City lost only twenty to thirty thousand soldiers, an unbelievable casualty rate when compared to the history of great dynasties. But the battlefield was indeed cleaned by the Imperial Army, and the number of dead counted by the Imperial Army, leaving no doubt as to its truth."
"I am very curious as to what kind of troops Chen commands that he could defeat three hundred thousand barbarian cavalry with a mere casualty of twenty to thirty thousand, especially in Wanning Valley, terrain that limits maneuverability and necessitates a head-on confrontation."
"State Preceptor, having been in North City for some time now, you must have seen Chen's cavalry and be familiar with their condition."
The Emperor had tasked Situ Ce to go to North City, evidently not just to relay a message to Lu Chen or entice him with grand promises; he wanted Situ Ce to see for himself what sort of demons and monters North City harbored, allowing the North Prince to raise fifty thousand heavy cavalry in such a short span of time.
As a Grandmaster, it was easy for Situ Ce to infiltrate anywhere, and even if someone spotted him, he could leave effortlessly.
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Situ Ce smiled slightly, well aware of what the Emperor was seeking to know, and he said directly, "Your Majesty, I indeed saw the heavy cavalry under the North Prince's command. And upon observation, the strength of most soldiers in this cavalry seemed to be above first tier."
On hearing this from Situ Ce, the Emperor's brow immediately knitted into a "川" shape. Where had his son found so many Martial Artists to form a force of approximately fifty thousand first-tier soldiers?
Situ Ce continued, "Of course, I believe that Your Majesty is not really concerned about this heavy cavalry. What you truly care about is the possibility of a Grandmaster's presence in North City."
Indeed, what the Emperor really wanted to know was whether there was a Grandmaster in North City. General Lin Xiuming's report mentioned a suspected appearance of a Grandmaster on the battlefield, but he was unable to confirm it.
If a Grandmaster truly emerged, the victory of the battle wouldn't seem so strange. But Grandmasters were not commonplace, so how could North City possibly have one?
This was what the Emperor couldn't fathom.
Moreover, the Emperor had already ordered the Shadow Guards to investigate. According to the intelligence he received, Mysterious Moon Palace had only begun making contact with his son and had provided no aid to North City.
It could be said that Mysterious Moon Palace chose to invest in the North Prince due to his potential, not because it assisted him, which is why the North Prince augmented his power.
This prompted the question—if it was not Mysterious Moon Palace aiding Lu Chen, then what power was secretly assisting him, allowing him to suddenly command fifty thousand heavy cavalry and even leading to the suspected traces of a Grandmaster in North City.