Karl, too, was calculating at breakneck speed. Luo Yao's sudden rebellion was like a stone tossed into stagnant water; the eyes of the Northern Territory, and even the Royal Capital, would all converge here. This rebel army would become the target of every arrow, and it would also be used in secret by certain powers. How furious would the Empress Dowager become? How would she deploy troops? And how would Boles move in the northwest? The situation had suddenly grown several times more complicated.
More importantly, Mario Fortress had fallen. Luo Yao had seized supplies, and might even have swept up the garrison and commoners with him; his strength had surely recovered to some degree. Where would they go next? Hold the city? Plunder the surrounding villages and towns? Flee west back to Field Territory? Or... worse still, go north and throw themselves in with the Sauron? No matter what, this fire had to be put out as soon as possible. They absolutely could not let it burn larger.
"Father," Karl said first, forcing down the stormy waves in his heart, his speech a little faster than usual, "Luo Yao's people have just taken Mario Fortress. Their arrogance is at its height, and now that they've obtained the city's provisions and military equipment, I'm afraid they've already grown into a force to be reckoned with."
"Most of them are Veteran Soldiers of the Northern Territory Border Army. If it really comes to a fight, they won't be weak. If we let them roam everywhere, sweeping up commoners with them, the disaster will be great. What's even more frightening is that they may collude with the Sauron, or simply go north and defect to the enemy—then the situation in the Northern Territory will be adding frost to snow."
"The rebel army