The moment Li Yanbao declared, "The Sea-Shaking Army is Great Li's finest cavalry," the gathering erupted.
The northern army's generals angrily rebuked him one after another.
"Arrogant!"
"You dare deny the Futu Army's fighting strength? You're turning heaven and earth upside down!"
"Damn it, when the Futu Army was conquering territory and fighting to build Great Li's realm,
the fathers and mothers of you Sea-Shaking Army soldiers were still drinking milk!"
The southern army's generals refused to back down.
"So what if it's the Futu Army? All you did was get established a little earlier."
"Exactly. Armies compete in strength, not seniority."
"Our Sea-Shaking Army refuses to bow to your Futu Army. Fight us if you have the guts!"
That single remark instantly filled the gathering with the smell of gunpowder.
Li Yanbao even cast Gu Chenfeng a provocative look.
"General Gu, I heard that on the border battlefield, you led the Futu Army in a bamboo-splitting advance and routed the Barbarian Tribe's main camp.
Do you dare fight me? I'll lead a hundred Sea-Shaking Army cavalrymen, and you'll lead a hundred Futu Army cavalrymen.
We'll fight fairly before His Majesty and all the civil and military officials, and see who truly deserves to be called Great Li's finest cavalry!"
His words caused an uproar.
The southern army's spirits soared, while the northern army refused to yield an inch.
Emperor Xuan, however, frowned slightly.
"If two armies charge at each other, casualties could easily occur. That would hardly be appropriate."
The Sea-Calming King beside him gave a calm smile.
"Imperial Brother, we can have the soldiers on both sides replace their weapons with wooden sticks.
Both sides can make small-scale charges and stop short of going too far. At most, they'll suffer some injuries. It should be fine.
Besides,