Beyond that, Cecilia had no further understanding of the Empire's situation. Moreover, the intelligence she provided was at least three to five days delayed and not necessarily entirely accurate.
This warrant, granting Bai Xiaowen the title of Grand Lord of the Northland and the authority to act at his own discretion, had been delivered from the Central Province to White Stone City through a special channel. It had taken two days to arrive.
In other words, Nicholas IV had sent out the urgent message two days earlier.
"There's a major intelligence gap..." Bai Xiaowen said with a frown. "According to Cecilia, Nicholas IV's throne should have been fairly secure. After all, he controlled the Central Province, and the Imperial Legions under his command should all have supported him. Otherwise, Gulamans couldn't have been driven out of the Central Province so easily..."
After a pause, Bai Xiaowen continued, "In terms of combat strength, the private armies of the West Desert Province nobles should have been inferior to the Imperial Legions. Take the Remnants' invasion of the Northland, for example. Even with so many Northland nobles' private troops gathered together, they were, at best, cannon fodder. The true elite had still been the First Imperial Legion Nicholas brought with him."
"For Nicholas IV to offer such enormous benefits and seek your support, Brother, his situation must be grim," Xiao Jun said. She had also finished reading the letter. Although she was not particularly proficient in Old Latin, she could still sense the urgency between the lines.
"Yes, that means Gulamans' faction must have gained some additional strength. Perhaps some Imperial Legions defected, or perhaps a group of great nobles changed their previous wait-and-see stance..." Qiao Rui, who had just entered, joined the discussion as well.
Bai Xiaowen lightly tapped the table and