Yueliduo had yet to return from leading her troops out to sweep up the horse bandits, but another party had arrived in Red Camel City.
Gao Gun brought a caravan and entered Red Camel City openly, without the slightest attempt at concealment. Wang Chong said nothing about the eight thousand cavalry and welcomed Gao Gun into Red Camel City with all the formal courtesies owed to a teacher.
Looking over Red Camel City, Gao Gun could not help remarking, "My disciple, your teacher has some skill at plotting, but even I cannot match your swift rise in barely a month." Wang Chong hastily replied with a sheepish smile, "It was all thanks to your teaching, Master."
Gao Gun shook his head with a smile. "I never taught you any of this."
"I came this time to remind you of something. You must attend the Heroes' Assembly."
Wang Chong was startled. "Your disciple is the Prince of Yan, the Empress's own son. Wouldn't attending the Heroes' Assembly be walking to my death?"
Gao Gun said gravely, "You don't understand the rules of the Great Grassland. Here, martial strength reigns supreme. This land belongs to whoever occupies it. There is no rule that it must belong to the Shangtuo Tribe. If A Hai, the Shangtuo Tribe's Great Chieftain, persuades several of the other Eighteen Tribes to send troops, your position will be as precarious as a stack of eggs. You could hardly withstand an all-out strike by the grassland armies. Your previous victories were heavily inflated. They don't count."
Wang Chong knew his own circumstances well enough. There had indeed been some tricks behind his earlier victories. When he defeated the two thousand cavalry, for instance, Yegeluo Clan Ye Hu had been absent. Wang Chong had killed one of his sons along