Although Fang Yun was the Pearl River Marquis, he did not have even a single personal soldier at his side. Only after reaching the Pearl River Army could he take command of a ten-thousand-strong Personal Guard Army.
Fang Yun studied the map, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes.
There was nothing particularly unusual about this royal decree, but its greatest problem was that it did not appoint Zhang Longxiang marshal of the Pearl River Army.
Both the Deer Gate Marquis and the Qishan Marquis, however, held the title of army marshal, each commanding two hundred thousand troops.
Fang Yun was now merely the Pearl River Marquis, not a marshal. That made him the nominal master of the Pearl River Army, rather than its actual commander.
Ten years ago, even without being marshal of the Pearl River Army, Zhang Longxiang would have had everyone in its ranks obeying his every command. But now, only half its officers had taken the initiative to send him letters, which spoke volumes about his standing in the army.
At the same time, Fang Yun noticed an even more serious problem.
Logically, once he had been released, the King of Chu should have immediately returned his Official Seal and ordered him to join the Pearl River Army. After all, the situation in the south was urgent, and the sooner he reached the army, the better. Moreover, the plan to attack Lotus Mountain Pass must have been drawn up long ago. Yet that was not what had happened.
Now, Fang Yun arrived at a disheartening conclusion: not only did the King of Chu not want him to reach the Pearl River Army early, he even wanted the Deer Gate Marquis to keep him under surveillance. They were supposedly heading south together, but in truth, it